Gear Reviews

Comparison reviews:

• Comparing bright 35 mm (semi-wide) lenses (9 lenses ranging from the Nikkor 35/1.4 to the Flektogon)
• Comparing 9 fast fifties (a comparison of nine 50–58 mm f/1.4 lenses, ranging from the famed Carl Zeiss Planar (C/Y) to the obscurity of a Revuenon)

Reviews, walk-arounds, data sheets:

First, if you’re not already familiar with JAPB’s approach (what is a walk-around), you might want to read up on that here. Second, the list below is very much work-in-progress, but you can take it as a statement of intent that each lens listed below will soon have either a review, walk around or data sheet available. Also, when a lens is covered in a comparison, that is mentioned.

In many cases, you might find an obvious omission (such as a manufacturer’s legendary lens not being mentioned). These are always caused by the fact that the JAPB team does not have access to that lens (and we do not do lens reviews/etc. without laying our hands on a sample). If you have the chance to help us address the omission (such as by lending the lens or by writing a data sheet/walk-around/review), be in touch.

CanonMeyer-OptikPentacon
Carl ZeissMinoltaPentax
Carl Zeiss JenaNikonPorst
Fuji Photo FilmOlympusVivitar
KonicaOthers

Canon

See also: JAPB articles on Canon FL, FD, and FDn mounts; Canon EF mount

Carl Zeiss (West German and post-reunification)

See also: JAPB Articles on Icarex mount and on Contax/Yashica mount

  • Carl Zeiss Skoparex 35 mm f/3.4 (Icarex mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Ultron 50 mm f/1.8 (Icarex mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Tessar 50 mm f/2.8 (Icarex mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Super-Dynarex 200 mm f/4 (Icarex mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Distagon 28 mm f/2.8 (Contax/Yashica) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Planar 50 mm f/1.4 (Contax/Yashica) [data sheet] [comparison]
  • Carl Zeiss Planar 50 mm f/1.7 (Contax/Yashica) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Planar 85 mm f/1.4 (Contax/Yashica) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm f/2.8 (Contax/Yashica) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 28-85 mm f/3.3-4 (Contax/Yashica) [data sheet]

Carl Zeiss Jena (Prewar and East German)

See also: JAPB articles on the following lens mounts: M42, Exakta and Praktica B

  • Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 20 mm f/2.8 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 25 mm f/4 (Exakta mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 35 mm f/2.4 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet] [comparison]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35 mm f/2.8 (M42-mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 50 mm f/1.4 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet] [comparison]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50 mm f/1.5 (Contax/Kiev) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50 mm f/1.8 (M42-mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50 mm f/2 (Exakta mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50 mm f/2.8 (M42-mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58 mm f/2 (Exakta mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 80 mm f/1.8 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 135 mm f/3.5 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Triotar 135 mm f/4 (Praktina mount) [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Vario-Prakticar 35–70 mm f/2.7–3.5 [data sheet]
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Vario-Prakticar 80–200 f/4

Fuji Photo Film

  • Fujinon X 50mm f/1.9 (Fujica-X) [data sheet]
  • Fujinon X 55mm f/1.6 (Fujica-X) [data sheet]
  • Fujinon EBC 55mm f/1.8 (M42)

Konica

See also: JAPB articles on the Konica AR and Konica F mounts.

  • Konishiroku Hexanon 52 mm f/1.4 (Konica F-mount) [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 24 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 28 mm f/3.5 (5-element) [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 28 mm f/3.5 (7-element) [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 35 mm f/2 [data sheet] [comparison]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 35 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 40 mm f/1.8 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 50 mm f/1.4 [data sheet] [comparison]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 50 mm f/1.7 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 52 mm f/1.8 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 57 mm f/1.2 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 57 mm f/1.4 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 85 mm f/1.8 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 100 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm f/2.5 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm f/3.2 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm f/3.5 [data sheet]
  • Konica Hexanon AR 200 mm f/4
  • Konica Hexanon AR 35-70 mm f/3.5
  • Konica Hexanon AR 65-135 mm f/4
  • Konica Hexanon AR 80-200 mm f/3.5
  • Konica Hexar AR 28 mm f/3.5
  • Konica Hexar AR 200 mm f/4
    (All lenses Konica AR mount unless expressly mentioned otherwise)

Meyer-Optik Görlitz

See also: JAPB articles on the following lens mounts: M42, Exakta and Praktina

  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 29 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Lydith 30 mm f/3.5 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primagon 35 mm f/4.5 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Oreston 50 mm f/1.8 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Telefogar 90 mm f/3.5 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan N 100 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestor 100 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestor 135 mm f/2.8 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Telemegor 180 mm f/5.5 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegor 200 mm f/4 [data sheet]
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Telemegor 250 mm f/5.5

Minolta

See also: JAPB article on the Minolta SR mount

Nikon

If you’re not familiar with Nikon lens families (F, C, K, Ai, Ai-s, AF, AF-D, etc.) look up the JAPB article on the Nikon F-mount.

Primes

Zooms:

  • Nikkor AF-D 20–35 mm f/2.8
  • Nikkor AF 24–50 mm f/3.3-4.5
  • Nikkor Ai 25–50 mm f/4
  • Nikkor K 28–45 mm f/4.5 [walk-around]
  • Nikkor AF 28-85 mm f/3.5–4.5
  • Nikkor AF-D 28-105 mm f/3.5–4.5
  • Nikkor AF-D 35-70 mm f/2.8
  • Nikkor AF 35-70 mm f/3.3-4.5
  • Nikkor Ai 35–70 mm f/3.5
  • Nikkor Ai-s 35–70 mm f/3.5
  • Nikkor Ai-s 35-105 mm f/3.5
  • Nikkor AF 35-135 mm f3.5-4.5
  • Nikkor AF 35-135 mm new f/3.5-4.5
  • Nikon series E 36-72 mm f/3.5 [data sheet]
  • Nikkor Ai 43-86 mm f/3.5
  • Nikon series E 70-210 mm f/4 [data sheet]
  • Nikkor AF 70-210 mm f/4
  • Nikon Series E 75-150 mm f/3.5 [data sheet]
  • Nikkor AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ED
  • Nikkor Ai 80-200 mm f/4.5
  • Nikon 100-300 mm f/5.6

Olympus

See also: JAPB’s article on the Olympus OM mount. (All lenses Olympus OM-mount unless otherwise specified)

Others

(because every system of classification needs an ‘others’ class)

Pentacon

See also: JAPB articles on the following lens mounts: M42 and Praktica B

  • Pentacon Prakticar 28 mm f/2.8 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet]
  • Pentacon auto 29 mm f/2.8 Multi Coating (M42) [data sheet]
  • Pentacon auto 50 mm f/1.8 Multi coating (M42) [data sheet]
  • Pentacon electric 50 mm f/1.8 Multi Coating (M42) [data sheet]
  • Pentacon Prakticar 50 mm f/1.8 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet]
  • Pentacon Prakticar 50 mm f/2.4 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet] [walk-around]
  • Pentacon auto/electric 135 mm f/2.8 (M42) [data sheet]
  • Pentacon Prakticar 135 mm f/2.8 (Praktica B-mount) [data sheet]
  • Pentacon auto MC 200 mm f/4 (M42) [data sheet]

Pentax

See also: JAPB Articles on M42 and Pentax K mounts.

  • SMC Takumar 50 mm f/1.4 (M42)
  • SMC Pentax-M 50 mm f/1.4 (Pentax K) [comparison]
  • SMC Pentax-A 50 mm f/2 (Pentax K)
  • SMC Takumar 55 mm f/1.8 (M42)
  • SMC Pentax-A 35-105 mm f/3.5 (Pentax K)
  • Takumar-A Zoom 28-80 mm f/3.5-4.5 (Pentax K)
  • Pentax-110 18 mm f/2.8 (Pentax-110)
  • Pentax-110 24 mm f/2.8 (Pentax-110)

Porst

See also: JAPB Articles on M42 and Pentax K mounts.

  • Porst WW MC 35 mm f/1.8 [review] [comparison]
  • Porst Color Reflex 50 mm f/1.2 UMC (Fujica X) [data sheet]
  • Porst Color Reflex MC auto 55 mm f/1.2 (Pentax K) [data sheet]
  • Porst Color Reflex MC Auto 55 mm f/1.4 (M42) [data sheet]
  • Porst TELE MC AUTO 135 mm f/1.8 (M42)

Vivitar

(Vivitar is the classic 3rd party manufacturer and sold lenses in nearly every significant mount)

  • Vivitar 24 mm 1:2 (M42)
  • Vivitar 28/2.5 (Nikon F)
  • Vivitar 28/2 (Pentax K)
  • Vivitar 100/2.8 (Konica AR)
  • Vivitar 35-85/2.8 Variable Focusing (Minolta SR)