{"id":109609,"date":"2017-09-20T07:58:20","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T06:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amateurphotographer.co.uk\/?p=109609"},"modified":"2017-09-20T07:58:20","modified_gmt":"2017-09-20T06:58:20","slug":"using-classic-lenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/camera_skills\/using-classic-lenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Glass from the past: Using classic lenses"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0Using classic lenses &#8211; Kit list<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Camera<\/strong> Old lenses work best on mirrorless cameras: I use the full-frame Sony Alpha 7 II and Micro Four Thirds Olympus OM-D E-M5. It\u2019s also possible to use DSLRs in live view.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lenses<\/strong> If you want to start buying old lenses to experiment with, it\u2019s cheapest and easiest to choose one old, obsolete mount. I happen to use Olympus OM, but alternatives include Canon FD or Minolta MD.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mount adapters<\/strong> Adapters are simple devices, and cheap ones superficially look the same as more expensive versions. But the more you pay, the better machined they\u2019re likely to be.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lens hoods<\/strong> Older lenses can often be more susceptible to flare, so it\u2019s always best to use a hood. They come in a variety of materials and types.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spare batteries<\/strong> Mirrorless cameras tend to be more power-hungry than SLRs. The obvious solution is to make sure you always carry a couple of spare batteries when you\u2019re out shooting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_109623&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109623 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-Zuiko-200mm-f4.jpg\" alt=\"using classic lenses Olympus OM Zuiko 200mm f4\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-Zuiko-200mm-f4.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-Zuiko-200mm-f4.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-Zuiko-200mm-f4.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-Zuiko-200mm-f4.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-Zuiko-200mm-f4.jpg?resize=562,375 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Here my Olympus OM Zuiko 200mm f\/4 gave me excellent sharpness and attractive bokeh, for a mere \u00a370. Sony Alpha 7 II, Olympus 200mm f\/4, 1\/200sec at f\/4, ISO 400<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>Not so long ago, it was rare to find people using old manual-focus lenses on their cameras. It\u2019s just not very practical with most DSLRs: few lenses can be adapted from one SLR mount to another, and doing so requires sacrificing the considerable convenience of automatic aperture operation. The small optical viewfinders of APS-C DSLRs make accurate manual focusing very difficult, and exposure metering often stops working reliably, too. Even with Nikon and Pentax cameras, which can mount older F or K mount lenses, there are myriad compatibility issues.<\/p>\n<p>The advent of mirrorless cameras changed all this, and brought an explosion of interest in using older lenses. Initially, the motive was to bolster the small lens ranges that were available when new systems were introduced, but it rapidly became clear that these lenses are far easier to use with live-view cameras, as the image sensor itself is used for both focusing and metering. The ever- increasing usability of live view on DSLRs means that it\u2019s more feasible than ever to use them with older optics, too.<\/p>\n<p>So, why might you do this? First and foremost, manual-focus lenses are cheap second-hand, especially those for long-dead SLR mounts such as Olympus OM, Canon FD, or Minolta MD. For example, you can often pick up a 50mm f\/1.8 prime for less than \u00a330, or a 50mm macro for under \u00a3100. So it\u2019s a great way to experiment with new types of shooting on a budget.<\/p>\n<p>Manual-focus prime lenses also tend to be impressively sharp, especially when stopped down, and they can also give really interesting bokeh effects with out-of-focus backgrounds. However, the same can\u2019t necessarily be said of older zooms, which tend to be noticeably worse than their modern counterparts. They\u2019re not unusable, but in general sticking with primes is a better bet.<\/p>\n<p>Shooting with manual-focus lenses isn\u2019t, however, quite as easy as using modern lenses with autofocus and image stabilisation. But if you pay attention to your technique and learn the qualities of your lenses, you should be able to get some great results.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_109622&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109622 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-50mm-f3.5-macro.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses Olympus OM 50mm f3.5 macro\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-50mm-f3.5-macro.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-50mm-f3.5-macro.jpg?resize=135,100 135w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-50mm-f3.5-macro.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-50mm-f3.5-macro.jpg?resize=533,400 533w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-50mm-f3.5-macro.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Olympus-OM-50mm-f3.5-macro.jpg?resize=562,422 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Manual focus macro lenses can be found relatively cheaply. I shot this using an Olympus OM 50mm f\/3.5 Macro that I bought for about \u00a360. Olympus OM-D E-M5, 50mm f\/3.5 1\/160sec at f\/5.6, ISO 1600<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0Using classic lenses &#8211; Understanding the basics<\/h2>\n<p>The majority of the old lenses you can pick up second-hand were designed for use with 35mm film SLRs, so they\u2019ll behave as they were originally intended when used on full-frame cameras. Most digital cameras, of course, have smaller sensors, and this imposes a field-of-view crop. If you mount a 50mm lens on an APS-C camera, it will give the same a field of view as a 75mm lens does on full frame, and on Micro Four Thirds it will behave like a 100mm lens.<\/p>\n<p>This may sound obvious to experienced photographers, but it has a profound effect on the practicalities of using older lenses. If you have a nice set of old lenses you want to resurrect, then a full-frame Sony Alpha 7-series camera is the vehicle of choice. If you shoot with an APS-C camera then a 28mm or 35mm lens becomes a handy \u2018normal\u2019 lens and a 50mm f\/1.8 or f\/1.4 prime a nice portrait lens, but you\u2019ll struggle to get a real wideangle. Meanwhile on Micro Four Thirds, old lenses are best used to gain ultra-telephoto reach, especially with the remarkable in-body image stabilisation on recent bodies (particularly from Olympus).<\/p>\n<p>To use old lenses on a modern camera, you\u2019ll normally need a mount adapter \u2013 essentially a metal tube with a mount to fit the camera body at one end, and another to accept the lens at the other. These almost invariably employ stop-down operation \u2013 in other words, rotating the lens\u2019s aperture ring closes the diaphragm directly. This means you always view the image at the shooting aperture, effectively providing a full-time depth-of-field preview.<br \/>\nWith no electronic connection to the camera, you won\u2019t get any EXIF data in your images telling you the lens, focal length or aperture that you used. The camera won\u2019t know you have a lens attached, either, and with many mirrorless models this will prevent the shutter from releasing. You\u2019ll have to find a menu item called \u2018Release without lens\u2019 (or similar) and enable it.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_109627&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109627 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Tamron-sP-500mm-f8-mirror-lens.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses Tamron SP 500mm f8 mirror lens\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Tamron-sP-500mm-f8-mirror-lens.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Tamron-sP-500mm-f8-mirror-lens.jpg?resize=135,100 135w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Tamron-sP-500mm-f8-mirror-lens.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Tamron-sP-500mm-f8-mirror-lens.jpg?resize=533,400 533w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Tamron-sP-500mm-f8-mirror-lens.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Tamron-sP-500mm-f8-mirror-lens.jpg?resize=562,422 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Manual lenses are great for ultra-telephoto shooting on crop-sensor cameras. Here I used a Tamron SP 500mm f\/8 mirror lens. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, Tamron SP 500mm f\/8, 1\/320sec at f\/8, ISO 400<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0Using classic lenses &#8211; Focusing<\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to shooting with old lenses, you\u2019ll need to pay attention to technique. To get the best results, you need to understand the various different focusing strategies you can use, and when each is most appropriate. At the simplest level, you can judge your focus simply by gauging when the image is sharp in the viewfinder, but this isn\u2019t very accurate. However, most cameras provide a couple of focus aids to make your life easier.<\/p>\n<p>First is magnified view, which is usually available at several zoom levels and with the ability to move the area of interest over your subject. This usually gives the most accurate focus possible, but it\u2019s relatively slow to use, and gets increasingly difficult with longer lenses due to hand-shake, especially if your camera doesn\u2019t have image stabilisation. Even so, it\u2019s my most-used focus method, and I assign it to a function button for easy access.<\/p>\n<p>Second is focus peaking, where the camera highlights high-contrast edges of the image with a coloured outline: red, yellow or blue. This is much quicker to use than magnified view, but less precise. It tends to be most effective with lenses that have relatively shallow depth of field: telephotos or fast primes. Most cameras offer different strengths of peaking, with higher levels suitable for softer, lower-contrast lenses.<\/p>\n<p>As mentioned earlier, most adapters stop the lens down to the taking aperture as a matter of course. This means that you\u2019re not necessarily focusing wide open, and sometimes this isn\u2019t the best idea. For example, when I\u2019m shooting at small apertures, I sometimes open up a couple of stops for focusing, to judge better the point of sharpest focus on the subject.<\/p>\n<p>If you shoot with fast primes, you might also find them hard to focus at maximum aperture. In fact, it can be really disconcerting to see just how hazy many old fast primes can be wide open, as a result of spherical aberration. In such cases, even if you want to shoot at maximum aperture for creative effect, it can be a good idea to stop down a bit for focusing, to cut through the aberrations and find the best focus point.<\/p>\n<p>Of course you can, if you like, use the lens\u2019s distance and depth-of-field scales to judge focus, and this can be particularly effective with wider lenses for subjects such as street photography. If you\u2019re using a mount adapter, though, it\u2019ll need to be precisely the right length for this approach to work effectively \u2013 which won\u2019t necessarily be the case with cheap brands. It\u2019s also crucial to understand that depth-of-field scales on lenses are calculated for a specific film format, and if you\u2019re using 35mm lenses on an APS-C camera, you\u2019ll need to close the aperture down by an extra stop to get the desired depth of field. On Micro Four Thirds, you\u2019ll need to select an aperture that\u2019s two stops smaller.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0Using classic lenses &#8211; Cleaning up images<\/h2>\n<p>While a lot of old lenses are very sharp, they\u2019re not free from aberrations. But if you shoot raw, some of the most visible defects can be corrected in post-processing, in a fashion that was simply impossible with film. Let\u2019s look at how this is done, using Adobe Camera Raw (Lightroom has all the same tools). Other programs provide similar options.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_109648&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 920px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109648 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-fringing-1.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses fringing\" width=\"900\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-fringing-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-fringing-1.jpg?resize=135,100 135w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-fringing-1.jpg?resize=300,220 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-fringing-1.jpg?resize=545,400 545w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-fringing-1.jpg?resize=562,412 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Lateral CA: Green and magenta fringing is visible in this corner segment of an image<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_109649&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 920px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109649 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-removing-chromatic-aberration-1.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses removing chromatic aberration\" width=\"900\" height=\"659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-removing-chromatic-aberration-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-removing-chromatic-aberration-1.jpg?resize=135,100 135w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-removing-chromatic-aberration-1.jpg?resize=300,220 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-removing-chromatic-aberration-1.jpg?resize=546,400 546w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-removing-chromatic-aberration-1.jpg?resize=562,412 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">CA corrected: It can be removed simply by clicking &#8216;Remove Chromatic aberration&#8217;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>Chromatic aberration takes two forms \u2013 lateral and longitudinal. The former shows up as complementary-coloured fringing around high contrast edges that\u2019s strongest towards the corners of the frame; it can be suppressed by clicking \u2018Remove Chromatic Aberration\u2019 in the Lens Corrections palette (see above). The latter is fringing around out-of-focus elements, and tends to be most visible with fast primes or telephotos. To remove it, experiment with the Defringe control in the Manual tab (see below).<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_109646&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 920px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109646 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Defringe-controls-1.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses Defringe controls\" width=\"900\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Defringe-controls-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Defringe-controls-1.jpg?resize=300,178 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Defringe-controls-1.jpg?resize=630,373 630w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-Defringe-controls-1.jpg?resize=562,333 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Longitudinal CA: This type of fringing can be suppressed using the Defringe controls<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>Distortion is the bending of straight lines towards the edges of the frame, which will typically be of the barrel type with wideangle lenses, and pincushion with telephotos. It usually only has to be corrected with certain geometric subjects such as architecture. For a prime lens, the distortion will be the same for every single shot, so you only need to work out the right value to enter once.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_109647&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 920px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109647 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-distortion-1.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses distortion\" width=\"900\" height=\"626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-distortion-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-distortion-1.jpg?resize=300,209 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-distortion-1.jpg?resize=575,400 575w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-distortion-1.jpg?resize=562,391 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Distortion: Brick wall shots are ideal for judging how to set distortion correction<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>Full-frame lenses generally show very little vignetting when used on cameras with smaller sensors: the darker corners are simply cropped away. But if necessary it can also be reduced using the Amount and Midpoint sliders. The latter adjusts for how gradually vignetting progresses across the time; setting a small value corrected for the gradual fall-off typical of fast primes, while a large value deals with the abrupt drop in brightness in the corners sometimes seen with zooms.<\/p>\n<p>If the lens you\u2019re using is soft \u2013 for example, a fast prime at a large aperture \u2013 then careful use of the sharpening controls can tease out the maximum possible detail. It\u2019s also well worth experimenting with the clarity control to enhance local contrast \u2013 in particular when making relatively small prints.<br \/>\nIf you take all these principles into account, from shooting through to processing, then you should be able to get the best from your lenses. In fact, you might be surprised just how good image files you can get from surprisingly inexpensive optics. Learning to use manual focus and aperture operation can also kindle new kinds of creativity in your photography, and hopefully you\u2019ll also have fun along the way.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0Using classic lenses &#8211; Shooting technique<\/h2>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-109626\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-shooting-technique.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses shooting technique\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-shooting-technique.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-shooting-technique.jpg?resize=135,100 135w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-shooting-technique.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-shooting-technique.jpg?resize=533,400 533w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-shooting-technique.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-shooting-technique.jpg?resize=562,422 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n<p>To get the best results with old lenses, you\u2019ll need to use proper technique<\/p>\n<h2>1 Aperture selection<\/h2>\n<p>For sharpest results, it\u2019s usually best to close the aperture down a stop or two to suppress aberrations. However, going too far will cause excessive diffraction blurring. The optimum aperture depends on your camera\u2019s sensor size; I\u2019d usually avoid going beyond f\/8 on Micro Four Thirds, f\/11 on APS-C, and f\/16 on full frame.<\/p>\n<h2>2 Shutter speed selection<\/h2>\n<p>With a lot of cameras, you won\u2019t get image stabilisation, so be sure to select a high enough shutter speed to avoid blur. Employ the 1\/equivalent focal length rule as a minimum; for example with a 100mm lens on APS-C, use at least 1\/160sec. To be absolutely sure of sharp images, go a stop faster.<\/p>\n<h2>3 Don\u2019t be afraid of high ISO<\/h2>\n<p>A grainy image is almost always far better than a blurred one. So don\u2019t be afraid to raise the ISO to get a fast enough shutter speed or small enough aperture.<\/p>\n<h2>4 Use a lens hood<\/h2>\n<p>Older lenses are usually less effectively coated than modern ones, which makes them more susceptible to flare, particularly from light hitting the front element obliquely. So be sure to use a hood, which will also protect the front element.<\/p>\n<h2>5 Don\u2019t use UV filters<\/h2>\n<p>When using older lenses on digital, UV or protective filters simply add to the risk of flare. Unless I need to protect the lens from spray or dust, I don\u2019t use them.<\/p>\n<h2>6 Shoot raw<\/h2>\n<p>You won\u2019t get any in-camera lens corrections when shooting JPEGs, so you\u2019ll see such things as curvilinear distortion and colour fringing due to chromatic aberration. But if you shoot raw, you can correct these in post-processing.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Testing lenses<\/h2>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-109628\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-testing-lenses.jpg\" alt=\"Using classic lenses testing lenses\" width=\"1000\" height=\"929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-testing-lenses.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-testing-lenses.jpg?resize=300,279 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-testing-lenses.jpg?resize=431,400 431w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-testing-lenses.jpg?resize=900,836 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/09\/Using-classic-lenses-testing-lenses.jpg?resize=562,522 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n<p>To get the best from your lenses, it helps to understand their optical characteristics, such as which apertures are sharpest. You can test this using a subject that has detail across the frame, such as a landscape or, if you\u2019re feeling less imaginative, a brick wall. Mount the camera on a sturdy tripod, set it to its lowest ISO, turn on the self timer, focus using magnified view, then shoot a series of frames across the aperture range. Bear in mind that if you use the same lens on cameras with different sensor sizes, the optimum aperture is likely to be different for each.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Using in-body IS<\/h2>\n<p>If you have a camera with in-body stabilisation, you\u2019ll have to manually enter the focal length of the lens you\u2019re using for it to work properly. This is fine with primes, but if you use zooms, it\u2019s easier to turn IS off.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On Panasonic cameras with in-body stabilisation, the camera prompts you to specify the focal length when you turn it on.<\/li>\n<li>On Sony cameras, first locate the SteadyShot Settings menu item, then adjust the SteadyS Focal Len value to match your lens. I prefer to assign this to a custom button for one-touch access. Sony\u2019s in-body works well at focal lengths up to about 200mm, but becomes increasingly less effective with longer telephotos.<\/li>\n<li>On Olympus cameras, things are more convoluted. Press the OK button to access the onscreen Super Control Panel, enter the IS option lower left, and press the Info button to access the focal length selection setting. Fortunately, recent cameras including the PEN-F and OM-D E-M1 Mark II have a short cut \u2013 they allow you to program the camera with the names and focal lengths of your lenses. You can then set a Fn button to recall your lens list: selecting one then sets the IS system, as well as adding the lens name to the EXIF data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s now easier than ever to use old manual-focus lenses on your camera. Andy Westlake talks you through how to get the most out of them, from shooting to image processing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":109629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[371],"tags":[484,759],"product-category":[],"class_list":["post-109609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camera_skills","tag-homepage","tag-tips"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.8 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Glass from the past: Using classic lenses - Amateur Photographer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s now easier than ever to start using classic lenses on your camera. 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