If you've read this site for a while, you know that we're smitten with vintage lenses. There's something about the feel of metal lenses that makes everyone on our Reviews Team smitten. What's more, vintage lenses have a look that's not too clinical.
"With vintage lenses being made decades before the internet, it's hard to verify the information you find online," says bokehsommelier aka Wolfgang. A researcher, collector, and expert on classic lenses, he's in the process of setting up what he hopes will become Europe's first dedicated vintage lens rental store.
Fact: Vintage lenses are superior to modern lenses in most ways. Modern post-production is so good that it can remove any flaws in a photo. However, if you want to engineer them back in, it becomes more expensive and annoying.
Make no mistake about it; modern lenses are fantastic. Optically, it's pretty amazing what they can do. New lenses render sharp detail on demanding digital sensors. Distortion is becoming better controlled all the time.
Not so long ago, we gave a rundown of Canon FD cameras for photographers who are thinking of going back to their film roots and first-time film photographers looking for their first 35mm SLR camera. Now, it's time to pair them up with some of the best Canon FD mount lenses.
We all know and love Instax cameras. The ability to be able to capture and print candid moments with our friends is quite honestly, priceless. Instax cameras are great, but have you ever wished for an affordable interchangeable lens Instax camera that could use some classic vintage lenses? If so, you need to check out this Kickstarter campaign for the NONS SL42, the world's first M42 mount interchangeable lens camera that uses Instax film. Click past the break for all of the details.
Unless you live under a rock or have refused to succumb to the powers of Instagram, you've no doubt seen the images of the movie star, Gal Gadot posing with a classic Nikon FM. The Nikon FM is, of course, one of the great classic 35mm film cameras, and in recent times its popularity has surged as people's love of all things film returns.
DXOMark are famous for the lab tests that they run on camera sensors, and lenses, and while the data can help consumers make more informed decisions, some of their rankings can be a little strange. After digging through their database recently, we found that some rather old (could almost be considered vintage) lenses still rank highly in their charts.
Hipsters sure have ruined film photography and vintage gear for a lot of photographers. It's certain that there have been one too many passionate film photographers who have been wrongfully slapped with the label.
Whether you're a digital photographer with a soft spot for vintage lenses, or a hybrid shooter of both film and digital cameras, you'll want to check out this interesting lens comparison. In the video below, we get to see which vintage lenses can give you bang for your buck if you prefer to go big on bokeh using your Micro Four Thirds camera.
Jennifer Carter fell into concert photography through circumstance. Her love for music and passion for photography were brought together and she hasn't looked back since. Her images provoke connection and feeling, almost to the point you can hear and feel the music from her subjects.
If you're a film photographer or an avid collector of decades-old photography gear, chances are, you've run into some or heard about radioactive lenses. Or, you could be actively shooting with them right now and are completely unaware of it.