GAS GAS: Please share your latest near acquisitions - a.k.a. "what did you ALMOST buy"

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

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Photo from the seller

Lost out on this set yesterday, €50 plus postage. It was gone in 20 minutes and someone was quicker than me on the trigger.

What should I use it for?

Probably shoot a couple of rolls with 110 film and then use the lenses on one of the small M43 bodies. It would also make for a stand-in set for the one my paternal grandfather used to have, in the heritage photographic equipment shelfs.

I have owned a few (double copies of the entire set) over the years and some of the lenses have quite the character and personality when used on a Micro Four Thirds camera. I especially loved the 18mm f 2.8 and the 24mm f 2.8, very bubbly renditions of the bokeh and worked exceptionally well at close and minimum focus distances. At infinity or past 10 meters, they might not be so great with average sharpness and really bad sharpness in the corners.
They do look cute though and weigh almost nothing, except for the 70mm f 2.8, that's a hunk of glass. I never tried to shoot film with them (I did have the camera) because I didn't know if there was anyone left in the UK that can develop 110 films.... you can but it sure, but not sure about developing it.

I also had the leather case and I quite liked it, I used it a bit even with my Micro Four Thirds cameras, very retro looking and feeling.

 

[nivaunrahne]

I have been thinking about getting the new Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR Lens.

My wife and I live on our bicycles touring and I carry a Fujifilm XT5 while my wife carries our XT4. We carry four lenses, the XF 8-16 f/2.8, XF 16-55 f/2.8, XF 70-300 f/4-5.6, and the XF 18-120 f/4 PZ. Space is limited on a bicycle and weight is always a concern.

The new 8mm would replace our 8-16mm that weighs 1.14-lbs (851g) and is nearly 3x the size of the new 8mm. It would also allow me to use ND filters that I have missed not using because I can't use them on the 8-16 without getting a whole new filter system.

 

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

I have been thinking about getting the new Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR Lens.

My wife and I live on our bicycles touring and I carry a Fujifilm XT5 while my wife carries our XT4. We carry four lenses, the XF 8-16 f/2.8, XF 16-55 f/2.8, XF 70-300 f/4-5.6, and the XF 18-120 f/4 PZ. Space is limited on a bicycle and weight is always a concern.

The new 8mm would replace our 8-16mm that weighs 1.14-lbs (851g) and is nearly 3x the size of the new 8mm. It would also allow me to use ND filters that I have missed not using because I can't use them on the 8-16 without getting a whole new filter system.

Fujifilm X-mount lenses in 2023 - Current complete list

Have you considered the Laowa 9mm f 2.8 or 10mm f 4 which have Filter Threads and are small and lightweight? They are Manual Focus only but at such wide angles, the hyperfocal distance tends to be huge unless you are shooting under 1 meter from your subject.
There's also the Nisi 9mm f 2.8 with 67mm Filter Thread.

 

[nivaunrahne]

Fujifilm X-mount lenses in 2023 - Current complete list

Have you considered the Laowa 9mm f 2.8 or 10mm f 4 which have Filter Threads and are small and lightweight? They are Manual Focus only but at such wide angles, the hyperfocal distance tends to be huge unless you are shooting under 1 meter from your subject.
There's also the Nisi 9mm f 2.8 with 67mm Filter Thread.

Yes. I returned the Laowa 9mm as I didn't like the image quality from it and if I remember right it isn't weather sealed which is always a deal breaker for me. My gear is outdoors nearly 24/7 365. Gear has to be reliable in every weather condition which is a big reason I have stayed with Fujifilm since 2012 (I still use my X-Pro1 when I can). All my lenses are abused with the exception of my 100-400. It was replaced after dropping it off a cliff and I got my 70-300 so haven't used it much. About every two years I send my lenses off for cleaning and calibration. I'm not one to shy away from a storm or stand for hours in minus temperatures.

I Haven't tried the Nisi 9mm. If I don't get the Fujifilm 8mm I will probably get the WonderPana filter holder that fits the 8-16mm.

Thanks for the suggestions!!

 

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

Yes. I returned the Laowa 9mm as I didn't like the image quality from it and if I remember right it isn't weather sealed which is always a deal breaker for me. My gear is outdoors nearly 24/7 365. Gear has to be reliable in every weather condition which is a big reason I have stayed with Fujifilm since 2012 (I still use my X-Pro1 when I can). All my lenses are abused with the exception of my 100-400. It was replaced after dropping it off a cliff and I got my 70-300 so haven't used it much. About every two years I send my lenses off for cleaning and calibration. I'm not one to shy away from a storm or stand for hours in minus temperatures.

I Haven't tried the Nisi 9mm. If I don't get the Fujifilm 8mm I will probably get the WonderPana filter holder that fits the 8-16mm.

Thanks for the suggestions!!

I understand the sentiment. I don't shy away from bad weather or harsh conditions either, the storms that I went through with my Olympus setup a few years ago would have made most people call me a madman. I value reliability and weather resistance as 2nd on my list of priorities for any gear (the first one being versatility, which is why I prefer zooms almost every time outdoors).

 

[nivaunrahne]

I understand the sentiment. I don't shy away from bad weather or harsh conditions either, the storms that I went through with my Olympus setup a few years ago would have made most people call me a madman. I value reliability and weather resistance as 2nd on my list of priorities for any gear (the first one being versatility, which is why I prefer zooms almost every time outdoors).

The majority of my gear is stored in a handlebar bag of my bicycle and the rest in the frame bag. At night they are in the tent. For my situation versatility is also important but doesn't matter if the gear is not reliable enough or weather sealed to use its versatility. Zoom lenses are preferred but when it comes to the 8mm I can save a lot of space and weight by not carrying the 8-16mm. Then I would have the small 8mm lens and still have the 16-55mm. However, I do use 12mm a lot so I may just forget the whole idea and keep lugging around my 8-16.

A close friend of mine takes the most emotional and beautiful photographs with his Olympus. I am not quite at his level yet, he was a photojournalist and has won many awards.

 

[Charzes44]

A close friend of mine takes the most emotional and beautiful photographs with his Olympus. I am not quite at his level yet, he was a photojournalist and has won many awards.

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It's not about the gear Nivaun!

 

[nivaunrahne]

It's not about the gear Nivaun!

On one side of the coin that is very true and on the other side of the same coin it is very important. Like telling a painter that the brush and the paint do not matter. 😂

 

[AndyH44]

Still on the fence about a Panasonic Leica 50-200 f2.8-4 in supposedly mint condition ..... 🤔

 

[JensM]

Still on the fence about a Panasonic Leica 50-200 f2.8-4 in supposedly mint condition ..... 🤔

You wont regret it, source the matching 1,4X TC sooner rather than later, if you get the lens. It is a splendid combo!

 

[AndyMcD]

Got really hooked into the idea of an AF capable adaptor for either Canon or Nikon to Fuji, so I could get cheaper telephoto. Narrowed it to Nikon because afaik Canon didn’t include aperture rings with any AF lenses (aperture rings are a must for me). That cuts down the adaptor options because not many people make Nikon adapters. Started looking for lenses then realised that the adapter won’t drive older AF lenses (that rely on in camera motor) and none of the newer lenses had aperture rings.

Back to looking for a decent manual telephoto now…

 

[tonyturley]

There is a nice silver Pentax KP on eBay being sold by mapcamera, a fine company with which to do business. The price is very attractive. I gave it strong consideration, but decided it is not the right fit for me. My Pentax 24-35 f3.5 should still find a good home mounted to my X-T3. After all, a 70s era MF lens will operate just fine on a MILC, and I won't have to concern myself with stop-down metering or aperture block failure, something that I've read has plagued various Pentax models since the K30, if not before.

 

[agentlossing]

I don't know about a near buy, because it was overpriced ($600) but I finally handled a Konica Hexar AF, and it might be one of the top five cameras in terms of design that I've ever held. Just such a fantastic size and shape, and look. It's way too bad that it only goes up to 1/200 because I would find that limiting as a street camera, and it's purely a street camera by design. I didn't want to put it back down, though.

 

[mike3996]

aperture block failure

Pentax KP isn't known to exhibit the ABF 😅

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Stuff I nearly bought recently;

-WW2 USAAF Cineflex 35mm movie camera, complete in outfit case with motor drive.
-US Army Signal Corps Kardon camera

Hanging on to my cash a bit longer though.

 

[Aviator]

I found locally two vintage lenses that catched my attention.

-Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm F1.2
-Super Takumar 85mm F1.9

But... lately I have been a little bit hesitant of buying more expensive vintage glass with cemented elements, because a few of my vintage lenses are showing signs of separation, so most likely (as much as I want the Zuiko) I will pass on these ones.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Nearly 'won' a DeVry 35 'Lunchbox', but it turned out it wasn't the correct model I was after. Luckily I was outbid for quite a bit more on the last second! 😆

 

[John King]

Nearly 'won' a DeVry 35 'Lunchbox', but it turned out it wasn't the correct model I was after. Luckily I was outbid for quite a bit more on the last second! 😆

Serendipity, Rick?

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Serendipity, Rick?

Possibly. It saved me quite a bit in the end, particularly on shipping and import duty.

I guess I'll have to stick to carrying my Zeiss Super Ikonta or Voigtlander Bessa for my World War 2 Army Film & Photography Unit re-enactment get-up, for now. 😅

 

[William Lewis]

Came "That Close" to winning a plain prism Nikon F. Would have been nice but I couldn't really afford it so it was a good thing to get outbid after the beer was talking that night 😎