Old Glass versus New Glass: Discuss!

AgentDrex · Mar 16, 2011

Is there really any reason for me to go out and buy one of dem dere fancy mcfancy pants new lenses with dem fancy built-in motors or should I stick with old glass if I plan on manually focusing. And why?

PASM · Mar 16, 2011

Probably. Why not?

AgentDrex · Mar 16, 2011

Nice answer sir! So, for the why not? I don't use auto-focus at all for the reason that I can manually focus quicker generally than the camera can automatically. If its a still subject, its about the same speed. If its a moving subject, you have to move with the subject long enough for the camera to lock focus. My eyes can lock in much quicker. I don't see any other benefit of new glass. Obviously, I'm usually wrong, but its simply an opinion I guess.

tirediron · Mar 16, 2011

The higher-end new glass will probably provide slightly better IQ, greater flare and CA reduction, but for the amount of old glass you can buy on Craig's List, at Pawn Shops and/or garage sales for the price of one new, fast lens, based on what you've said, I'd go with the old stuff. Some of it is awesome!

Patrice · Mar 16, 2011

Old glass vs new glass is a personal decision based on taste, economics, necessity, preference, ....

Old glass is not necessarily bad glass. New glass is not necessarily good glass. The technology in photography, as for other fields, is continually evolving. The glass formulations, the coatings, the grinding techniques, the micro circuitry and the machining precision used in todays newer lenses, mid range and high end as well, is miles ahead of what was available 15-25-35 years ago. This of course is reflected in the cost of these new lenses. Now weather all this technology is necessary to take a good photography is a question best answered by yourself.

Does this answer your question? Probably not!

PASM · Mar 16, 2011

I don't need AF. I'm a happy snapper amateur. I got all day

I'm not doing nature or sports. Often, I could just zone focus and snap away (in fact, with a few of my cameras that's what I have to do anyway). But I like manually focussing. Same as I like combing through the wavebands of old analogue radios. Same kind of thing. Plus all the old magic IMO of researching and using lenses like Takumar, German optics, Soviet glass, obscure M42s.

But AF is great! bzzzzzzz click. cool!

AgentDrex said:
Nice answer sir! So, for the why not? I don't use auto-focus at all for the reason that I can manually focus quicker generally than the camera can automatically. If its a still subject, its about the same speed. If its a moving subject, you have to move with the subject long enough for the camera to lock focus. My eyes can lock in much quicker. I don't see any other benefit of new glass. Obviously, I'm usually wrong, but its simply an opinion I guess.

AgentDrex · Mar 16, 2011

Oh man! I used to love using my uncle's short/long wave radio...hours and hours of fun listening to music all over the world...

My favorite, favorite favorite lens I have, is my Pentacon Multi-coated 1.8/50 I bought for 10 bucks off of keh.com
Great little multi-purpose lens...not good for close-up really...but not too bad for landscapes and headshots...if I have my camera with me, chances are really good its either on or with me

AgentDrex · Mar 16, 2011

on me? eww!

PASM · Mar 16, 2011

The 1.8/50 Pentacon. If that's your favorite you have some wonderful discoveries ahead

..without even leaving the factories of Jena. But I just looked at your profile and saw the Praktica TL. That's the way I got into it too. TL/MTLs, ME Super, F3, D1X. Now defected from the SLR and became EVIL.