Promaster Spectrum 7 100-300mm f/5.6-6.7

The Promaster Spectrum 7 100-300mm f/5.6-6.7 MC Tele Macro is a telephoto zoom lens for 35 mm SLR cameras.  The one I own has a Pentax K-mount and was mounted to my Samsung NX1 using a Fotasay adapter.

Given a 1.5 crop factor for the NX1's mirrorless system, that makes this lens a 450mm equivalent.  Let's see how the lens performs from the photos below.

 100mm Focal Length   f16  /  1/100 sec  /  0EV  /  ISO100

    ....and zoomed-in below:

           300mm Focal Length   f16  /  1/100 sec  /  0EV  /  ISO100 

 200mm Focal Length   f8  /  1/60 sec  /  0EV  /  ISO100

Testing a Tokina 28-70mm

Nikon-mount RMC Tokina 28-70mm f4 lens (SN 8444718) adapted to the NX1.   Took it out for a few photographs today.  The adjustment ring closest to the camera (not the aperture ring), sets the focal length (28mm-70mm).  The wider ring toward the from of the lens is for focusing.  

Note: I noticed when taking long distance photographs, I had to back-off infinity to achieve focus.

This is a good sharp lens for it's age. 

Townsite of Arivaca, Arizona near the international border with Mexico.

70mm       f11      1/200sec       ISO100       0.0EV

 

 28mm    f4    1/1000sec     ISO100      -0.3EV

  

28mm     f8       1/1000sec    ISO100      -0.3EV

  

50mm   f11   1/640sec  _ISO200   -.3EV

28mm    f8   1/640sec    ISO200   -0.3EV

50mm   f11   1/800sec   ISO200    -0.6EV

50mm   f5.6     1/800sec    ISO200    -0.6EV

 35mm     f8    1/640sec    ISO200    -0.3EV

Samsung 85mm f/1.4 ED SSA

This 85mm f/1.4 ED SSA (Super Sonic Actuator) is a professional prime lens from Samsung Electronic, made for their NX-mount line of cameras including the NX1.   It is a very sharp lens with fully automatic electronic functionality with the NX1 via firmware.   The only drawback with this lens is the automatic focusing which can be clunky at time - hunting for the right focus especially when light is poor or when you add a Neutral Density (ND) filter.  

The photographs below are presented 'as-photographed'.  These photographs show the exceptional imaging quality of the Samsung NX1 camera with its back-lit 28-megapixel APS-C sensor.

Note: With sensor crop factor, this lens images at 35mm focal length equivalent of 130mm

f2.8  /  1/1000sec  /  ISO100  /  0EV 

f2.8  /  1/1000sec  /  ISO100  /  0EV 

 f1.8  /  1/320sec  /  ISO100  /  0EV

 f7.1  /  1/1000sec  /  ISO100  /  0EV 

 f3.2  /  1/1600sec  /  ISO125  /  0EV 

f4  /  1/1600sec  /  ISO100  /  0EV 

Tele-Astranar 400mm f6.3 Lens Test

Found this Tele-Astranar 400mm f6.3 lens in a thrift store for $15.  The thread mount looked like a M42, and although the diameter was about right, the threads on the Astranar looked dense (finer) than the M42 mount adapter I have for my NX1.   

Then after doing some research I found that threads where for a T-mount (or T2-mount) so I ordered T2-to-NX adapter online.
  

The Astranar is a 'preset' lens meaning There is a second ring which lets you control where the other aperture ring stops (the one that actually closes the aperture down). So if you recompose an image you can quickly turn the aperture all the way open so the viewfinder is bright, then stop back down to your shooting stop without taking your eye away from the viewfinder (below).

Below are test photographs. All images are at f-stop 6.3 (open).  All images below are 'as-photographed'

 f 6.3  /  1/500s  /  ISO100  /  EV 0.3 

f 6.3  /  1/500s  /  ISO100  /  EV -0.3 

f 6.3  /  1/200s  /  ISO100  /  EV 0.0 

Close-up showing resolution

 f 6.3  /  1/125s  /  ISO100  /  EV 0.0

f 6.3  /  1/125s  /  ISO100  /  EV 0.0 

f 6.3  /  1/125s  /  ISO100  /  EV 0.0

Overall I really like this lens even though the it is not that sharp and lacks in contrast and color saturation.  However, the photo above shows this lens has some inherent artistic potential.

I will have to try next taking some RAW format photographs and try to improve in some of the lens's shortcomings in post. 

Olympus ZUIKO Auto-W 28mm f2.8 - VIDEO TEST

This is a 4K video test of a vintage Olympus ZUIKO Auto-W 28mm f2.8 adapted to a Samsung NX1.  I'm impressed with this Olympus lens. Nice and sharp.  I will add some still images and lens specifications at a later date.

There are two parts to this video: As recorded and fast grade using Film Convert.  Skip to 2:47 to begin the 'graded' part of video.

[Please note that the point of this test is for the video only. The camera-recorded sound is poor due to acoustics of the setting and crowd noise.]  

Very Nice - A Vintage CHINON Lens (28mm / f2.8)

Not sure where I picked-up this CHINON 28mm f2.8 Multi-Coated Lens (Olympus Mount).  It is speculated Chinon lenses was made by Tamron in Japan; but my initial search for information turned-up a paucity of background information.  It's a solid looking and well-built to the touch.  A smooth focusing ring and a half-stop aperture.  

Mounted to the NX1, the whole set-up looks snazzy.  I used a Fotsay Olympus (OM) to NX mount adapter.  Then I went out on the streets of downtown Phoenix, Arizona to try the lens out.

Right off the bat I know I had a nice 28mm in my hands.  I like to photograph architectural styles. This first photograph stuck me with its warmth in a clean image.

f5.6    1/60sec     ISO100     0EV 

Next I opened the aperture to f2.8 and used the protruding flower to expose the len's Bokeh.  

f2 8    1/320sec    ISO100    0EV 

I like how the camera's sensor along with this lens elegantly captured the light and shadow of this pre-sunset photograph.  

 Half-Stop Between f5.6  & f8      1/125sec     ISO100   0EV

In this photograph below, I had an opportunity to give the 28mm CHINON Lens a chance to visually express the attributes of the 28mm angle lens (42mm equiv on the NX1), with foreground and background subjects.

 f5.6    1/60sec   _ISO100      0EV

Just at sunset I park light went on and I used it as an opportunity to see how an artificial and natural lighting can work together in the composition.  I set the focus on the pole-light, the f5.6 aperture setting softened the background a bit.

f5.6    1/60sec   ISO100     0EV 

Another architectural statement.

f5.6    1-40sec     ISO200     +0.3EV

This photograph really put the hook in me that this is a lens I'm going put aside for future use.  There is 'clarity' along with rich yet comfortable texture.

f5.6    1/40sec      ISO200      +0.3EV

The last two photographs were taken on a different day at 12-noon, with a hazy sky.   I wanted to get a couple of people images in order to get a sense of the look.   From the 'March for Our Lives" rally downtown Phoenix (March 24th, 2018).

f5.6    1/500sec    ISO100     0EV

 f11    1/200sec    ISO100    0EV

My thoughts reviewing these images was that the CHINON 28mm f2.8 is a quality lens delivering the essence of the analog camera era with images nicely saturated color, sharp, yet providing warmth.  I'm going to hold onto this one.

             Chinon   f2.8  ISO6400   0.3EV   1-60sec

I opened the aperture full to f2.8 for this night shot (hand-held).  Diffused Bokeh and the indirect light from a single lamp add nicely to the photograph.  

Russian INDUSTAR-50 First Photographs

So I decided to plunge into the genre of vintage Russian lenses from the 'Soviet' era.  I was curious about the optical properties.  In this post is featured a INDUSTAR-50mm,  f3.5-f16 SN6885394

A tiny lens that is awkward to operate.  The aperture ring is at the front of the camera and provides resistance when trying to adjust.  The aperture ring is attached to the focus ring, so you have to hold the focus ring firm while adjusting the aperture, then adjust the focus.  Appropriately, but strangely, when you adjust the focus ring, the aperture ring also rotates but does not change its setting.  But the opposite is not true when changing the aperture.  You'll have to refocus with any aperture adjust.

The first photograph came out beautiful. Here are the camera and lens setting for the picture:

ISO6400  /  0EV  /  f3.5  / 1/180-sec