Prologue
Once I was really hooked on photography, I ran around and shot at everything I could for a year. I always felt like I lacked something, a goal, a target to shoot my proverbial arrows at. Until I found a particular lens. I don’t remember which one. I do recall I searched and searched online, for reviews, opinions or just pictures taken with it. I found nothing.
I decided I’d document my experience and thoughts of such lenses and later I decided I’d just do it for all my lenses. Hey, who knows, someone might be in the same boat one day and actually find these useful. I certainly hope so.
I spent two years collecting lenses and reviews before I jumped the gun and libraryoflenses.com was born.
Before you continue:
These reviews are my personal opinion, affected by my experience with a lens, my mood, my inspiration levels and whether or not I had coffee before I put a camera in my bag.
In all seriousness thought – handling, copy variation and technique can all attribute to how a lens performs – so take everything with a grain of salt.
All images are taken with the Sony A7 full-frame mirrorless camera, unless stated otherwise on the review page. Images are processed in Lightroom, as I believe it’s important what a lens can do in real life use. I don’t post test charts and raw files. (I neither have the patience, nor gear to give proper and accurate results)
List of lens reviews
M42 lenses
Aus Jena T 50mm 2.8
Auto Revuenon 135mm 2.8
Carl Zeiss Biotar 58mm F2
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm 2.8
Fujinon 55mm 1.8 Ebc
Helios 44 2 58mm 2
Helios 44 M 4 58mm 2
Jupiter 39 135mm 5.6
Pentacon 29mm 2.8
Pentacon 50mm 1.8
Porst Weitwinkel 35mm 2.8
Schneider-Kreuznach Edixa-Tele-Xenar 135mm 3.5
Super Takumar 35mm 3.5