Page 109 - (DK) Advanced Photography Guide

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MANUAL-FOCUS LENSES LENS MOUNT PRODUCED FOCAL LENGTH

Buying lenses secondhand is a good way to keep Canon FD 1971–1992 7.5–800mm
costs down. It’s also the only way to buy lenses Olympus OM 1972–2002 8–1,000mm
that are no longer produced. Old manual-focus
lenses are often as sharp as modern autofocus Nikon F 1959–present 6–2,000mm
versions, and they are particularly suited to CSCs Minolta MD 1977–1985 7.5–800mm
if you have a suitable adapter. Where older lenses
lose out to newer designs is in the coatings used, M42 1949–present 8–1,000mm
so flare may be more of an issue; images shot at Leica M 1954–present 10–135mm
maximum aperture may be softer; and the aperture Leica R 1964–present 15–800mm
ring will need to be set manually.
Contax/Yashica 1975–2002 15–800mm

MIRROR PETZVAL

Also known as a catadioptric lens, a mirror lens uses a Modern lenses are of incredible quality, but in recent years,
combination of glass optics and a system of mirrors to photographers looking for something different have turned
produce an image. This creates a long-focal-length lens that to 19th-century designs. These retro lenses emulate the
is both lighter and smaller than an effects created by less sophisticated
equivalent glass lens. There are several lenses and give rise to a number of visual
drawbacks, though: it has a fixed quirks. A good example is the Petzval
aperture, it is slightly less sharp and has lens, which was first produced in the
lower contrast than a glass lens, and 1840s and is now back in production.
any out-of-focus highlights have a It creates a softer image than an
distinctive ring shape. It is these equivalent modern lens, and when
characteristics, however, that can help shot wide open, it produces a swirly,
you create some interesting effects. out-of-focus bokeh effect (see below).

BEST FOR BEST FOR
◾ ◾ Wildlife and sports subjects ◾ ◾ Romantic portraits
◾ ◾ Astronomical photography ◾ ◾ Backlit subjects
◾ ◾ Candid, long-distance street photography ◾ ◾ Flowers and nature

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