Vintage lenses: Five great reasons why you should be using them

Modern camera lenses are fantastic for many reasons; however, they’re boring, predictable and have hardly any character, which is a complete 180 compared to vintage lenses.

Modern lenses have many advantages over vintage lenses. Nobody can deny this. Lightweight yet rigid plastics make carrying around modern lenses easy. Most modern lenses also feature weather sealing and fast autofocus motors. Modern lenses also have optics that make images nearly flawless. Still, modern lenses use multiple dispersion elements and overkill coatings that make their optics too clinical. These “advances” in technology suck the life out of images.

Vintage lenses, however, add style, flair and character to pictures that modern lenses can only dream about. Have you ever wondered why items like pro mist filters are suddenly becoming so popular? It’s because modern lenses have no character. Another advantage of vintage lenses? They will truly help you become a better photographer.

So, below, we’ll look at five reasons why your next lens should be vintage. Be warned, though. Once you go down the vintage lens rabbit hole, you’ll have so much fun that you might not want to return to modern lenses.

Vintage lenses are easy to adapt to digital cameras

Manually focusing vintage lenses on modern digital cameras is easy thanks to focus peaking and enhanced digital zooming in EVFs and LCDs. As a bonus, if your camera has IBIS, you can use vintage lenses with stabilization. That’s a huge win!

But what about adapting vintage lenses? Have no fear. There are affordable adapters from Fotasy, Viltrox, URTH, Fotodiox and others for just about every mount out there. Simply buy an adapter for your current camera mount that also matches the mount of the lens you are adapting. It’s that easy. For example, to use M42 screw mount lenses on a Lumix S5 (read our review here), all you need is an inexpensive M42 to L-mount adapter.

As a note, I want to add that adapting vintage lenses is easier on mirrorless cameras than on DSLRs. Sometimes with DSLRs, the mirror can clip the rear of the lens. However, very few lenses cause this problem; still, you need to do a little research. Lens clipping is not an issue at all with mirrorless cameras, though.

You can try many lenses without breaking the bank

Imagine this. Your favorite optic manufacturer just released a new lens. You think you need it, but it’s a focal length you’ve never used before. So, do you A, drop big money on it and hope you like it? Or, B, buy a no-risk vintage lens with the same focal length for $100 or less?

My money will always go on the second option, and I highly recommend you give this a shot, too. Sure, you’re spending money that could be put towards a modern lens. However, buying a cheap lens with a focal length you’ve not used before is smart.

For a little outlay, you’ll be able to experiment to your heart’s content. If you don’t like the lens, you can resell it and get your money back. On the other hand, if you like the focal length, you can purchase your modern lens, knowing that you’ll enjoy it. Alternatively, you might even find that the vintage lens is more than good enough for you.

Vintage lens choices are nearly endless

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Another plus when it comes to vintage lenses is that some stunning options don’t cost a fortune. For example, the spectacular Meyer Optik Gorlitz Domiplan 50mm f/2.8 (pictured above with image samples) can be yours for around $50. The bokeh and the colors it renders will leave you speechless.

There are affordable lenses from Auto Rikenon (Auto Sears), Minolta and Fujifilm Fujinon. You also have the Asahi Pentax Super Takumar lineup to play with. Then there are Carl Zeiss Jena lenses. Russian Helios, Jupiter and Zenit Tair lenses are glorious and affordable, too. Don’t forget about Canon FD glass! All of these lenses feature spectacular build qualities, too. It’s really hard to go wrong. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Vintage lenses will make you a better photographer

Modern lenses and cameras have spoiled us rotten. We have autofocus systems and burst rates that allow us to capture shots that would have been impossible just a short few years ago. You can point, shoot, spray and pray, and capture anything and everything. But where’s the skill (and fun) in that?

Vintage lenses will slow you down; trust me, this is good. That’s right; vintage lenses will make you think. You’ll evaluate your shots and compositions more than you would with modern lenses. You’ll also be more inclined to learn about terrific techniques like zone focusing and more.

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Use vintage lenses for a tiny amount of time, and your muscle memory will improve so much that you’ll have no problem switching to manual focus to nail the shot, even when you use autofocusing lenses. Vintage lenses will enhance your skills across the board. It’s guaranteed.

So, don’t be afraid of vintage lenses. Learn, grow and create with them. I promise that when you use vintage lenses and nail the shot, you’ll cherish your images more than ever.

Vintage lenses are oozing with character

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Are you tired of sitting in front of your computer trying to create the perfect vintage look? Believe it or not, old lenses will give you those vintage looks on your DSLR or mirrorless cameras. You’ll be able to create images with beautiful colors, surreal, dreamlike bokeh, and other unique characteristics in camera! That’s right, bye-bye computer!

The amount of time that can be saved during post-processing is enormous. In fact, when I shoot with vintage lenses, I usually only shoot in JPEG. There’s simply no need to fire up Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One or anything else. The images that you get straight out of the camera will mesmerize you. There’s no modern lens out there that can create images like a good vintage lens.

You’ve got nothing to lose

I’m not going to lie by saying that every vintage lens is good. Some are truly terrible. However, others are gems. The fun is in the process of creating and finding out which lens is which. I’m also not going to say that every vintage lens is affordable. Some vintage lenses are costly. Canon dream lens (50mm f/0.95) anyone?

Vintage lenses are readily available and easy to find. Dig around eBay, KEH, garage sales and stores like Goodwill, and you’ll find a whole world of affordable vintage lenses. There are plenty of cheap lenses out there to start with. Take a look at lenses like the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 and the Super Takumar 135mm f/3.5. These lenses cost less than $100 and will create images that will outshine pictures made with modern glass. So, before you drop a large chunk of change on a modern plastic fantastic, see what vintage lenses are out there. You’ve got nothing to lose.

Do you use vintage lenses? What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.