Kitstar Multi Coated 1:4.5 80-200mm

Cost: 15$ (average market price unknown)

Also this was a a local Thrift Store find (Salvation Army). The lens looks as new, dust free, and includes the original lens cap. The rubber was a little worn, but that was easily corrected some gentle brushing with a toothbrush. The lens is a "Push and Pull" type of zoom lens and has a nice look to it, with a solid metal build, and smooth handling of the focus and the zoom. The aperture ring was a little to loose for my liking. I prefer some resistance.

As this is a re-branded lens, so not from the original manufacturer, there is almost no information available online. However, the build, length and and weight of the lens makes me believe the design is based on the Tokina RMC 80-200mm 1:4.5. This specific Tokina lens is considered to be a "better" consumer grade level, and should perform with adequate sharpness over most of the focal length. The 4.5 aperture is nothing special, but it is constant over the complete focal length.

I did not expect to much from a re-brand lens, but was presently surprised with the sharpness and ease of use. Not the sharpest, but pretty good for a lens of that age. Colors were a little flat, but not sure if that was the lens of the current "drab" weather in Vancouver. In any case, it was fairly easy to correct in Lightroom. It is a little confusing that the aperture steps are going from left to right with the widest opening to the left (opposite from most lenses I used).

The macro option is a nice addition. It will not allow for high-detailed insects but with 1:4 magnification, it's sufficient for flowers and similar subjects. Easy to use...

What is unique to this lens though, is that by pressing a button, you can remove the complete aperture section. Not sure what the advantage is here, aside possibly from supporting different mounts natively. It is however concerning that one wrong press of a button can cause the lens to fall out of the mount.

So, in summary, a decent zoom lens... but doubt it will become one of my favorites.

Lens Specification:
Focal Length: 80mm-200mm
Maximum Aperture: F4.5
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: MD (Minolta)
Optics: 12 elements in 9 groups (if based on the Tokina 80-200mm 1:4.5)
Blades: 6 blades
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 2m
Maximum Magnification: 1:4
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 590g
Length: 130mm
Production: likely in the 1970's
Serial Number: 104157

Samples:
It's pretty dark and cloudy in Vancouver around this time, so a higher ISO was required. Luckily not a problem on the Sony a6000.

1/400 sec - ISO800 - Macro

1/1250 sec - ISO800

1/640 sec - ISO800 - Macro

1/2000 sec - ISO1600

1/320 sec - ISO1600

1/500 sec - ISO800

 

1/2000 sec - ISO1600

Sources:
 

Sigma UC Zoom 1:4-5.6 70-210mm

Cost: 15$ (average market price $32)

I found this lens at a local Thrifty's Store (Salvation Army). It's a "Push and Pull" type of zoom lens and one the early lenses where Sigma tried a new Ultra-Compact lens design to minimize weight and bulk. The lens looks nice, handles good, but feels a little cheap. There is very little available online on this lens aside from a few user reviews stating that the lens is slow and not always sharp over the complete aperture range.

As the lens is very compact for such a focal range, I would consider this a useful walk-around lens, so my testing was done without a Tripod (almost a must for 210mm without in-lens or in-camera stabilization). I compensated by upping the ISO settings a little.

Some pictures definitely has some sharpness issues, but in general, I was able to make more then a few sharp pictures. Not extremely sharp, but acceptable for a lens in this low to mid-range quality segment. I plan to take this lens out again on a clearer day, to really validate the sharpness. Color wise, I thought the results to be a little flat, so had to add some contrast and color back in Lightroom.

So, in summary, a compact, long range zoom lens... nice to use as a casual street and landscape lens, but limited in quality.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 70mm-210mm
Maximum Aperture: F4.0-5.6
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: MD (Minolta)
Optics: unknown
Blades: 6 blades
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 1.2m
Maximum Magnification: unknown
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 402g
Length: 88mm
Production: 1992 to 2000
Serial Number: unknown
UC: Ultra Compact lens design, reducing weight and size of the lens.

Samples:

Pictures were taken just before dark, so had to choose a higher ISO in order to get decent shutter speed to maximize the sharpness.

1/800 sec - ISO400

1/500 sec - ISO400

1/160 sec - ISO400

1/400 sec - ISO400

1/160 sec - ISO400

1/400 sec - ISO400

1/1000 sec - ISO800

Sources:

All Photo Lenses

Auto Mamiya Sekor SX 1:2.8 135mm

Cost: 0$ (average market price $200)

I was looking forward to playing with this lens, as it was another one passed on from my dad. I remember taking this lens with us when I was travelling in Afrika with my brother over 30 years ago.

But oh, the disappointment! After reading online reviews, raving about excellent sharpness and color, my expectations were mile-high. This is a big and sharp lens, equipped with a retractable hood.
The SX series lens was manufactured by Mamiya for Mamiya "SX" cameras, enabling open aperture metering with Mamiya MSX/DSX camera's where a small pin transmits the selected aperture value to the camera.

To use this camera on any other M42 mount camera or adapter, you need to press the aperture pin in order to get the aperture blades as chosen on the aperture ring. If the pin is not pressed, the lens remains wide open. Most adapters for M42 will push the pin correctly and so was mine.

However, when testing the lens, it became obvious very quickly that the blades are stuck. As I do not have the correct tools, and without a manual on how to open the lens, I was forced to take all shots wide open, possible reducing the sharpness.

Additionally, due to how the lens is constructed, the aperture ring is hanging over the mount base, causing the aperture ring to get stuck against the adapter. Due to this aperture ring overhang, I was also not able to fully reach infinity focus. So the samples below will show the worst the lens can do.

Lens Specification:
Focal Length: 135mm
Maximum Aperture: F2.8
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: M42
Optics: 4 elements, 4 groups
Blades: 6 blades
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 1.5m
Maximum Magnification: ??0.15x
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 520g
Length: 108mm
Production: unknown
Serial Number: unknown

More information on Mamiya

Samples:



Taken with this lens on Pentax SV (35mm film) over 30 years ago...

1/1000 sec - ISO-100

1/1000 sec - ISO125

1/1600 sec - ISO100

Sources:
Wikipedia - Mamiya
The Unofficial Homepage for Mamiya NC Series Cameras
All Photo Lenses
aflenses.net

SMC Pentax-A 1:1.7 50mm

Cost: 15$ (average market price $63)

Again a very smooth, fast, prime lens from Pentax. I found this lens in a Thrift Store in North Vancouver. A true testimony you can still find great lenses for almost nothing.

The lens is Pentax smooth, but it's one of the first lenses where Pentax started to use plastic instead of metal to make the lens lighter. Especially the aperture ring feels very brittle. But it looks great on the Sony a6000. The APS-C crop factor of 1.5 results in 75mm. Decent sharpness and color rendition. Will try it soon on some portrait photography... A please to walk around with.

To combat partial reflection, Pentax developed chemical coatings for the lens surfaces with minimum light loss. SMC is "a remarkable seven-layer lens coating process that cuts the reflection ratio down to just 0.2% per lens surface. The result is a dramatic improvement in both color fidelity and brightness and the elimination of flare and ghost images."

SMC was patented and first applied in 1971, when Pentax was still making screw mount equipment. The multi-coated lens lines changed from Takumar and Super-Takumar to Super-Multi-Coated Takumar and later on to SMC Takumar. SMC Pentax was used for the newly introduced K-mount lenses. Pentax's SMC is still today considered as one of the best lens coatings on the market.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 50mm

Maximum Aperture: F1.7
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Pentax K
Optics: 6 elements, 5 groups
Blades: 6 blades
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 45cm
Maximum Magnification: 0.15x
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 165g
Length: 38mm
Production: 1984 until 1989
Serial Number: 1833185

More information on Pentax

Samples:

Sources:
Wikipedia - Pentax
Pentax Forums
All Photo Lenses