Are vintage Yashica ML lenses a good buy for Canon EOS, and how do they compare with modern Canon lenses?
Asked 10/5/2013
2 views
2 answers
0
I found a bundle for about $90: Yashica ML 28mm f/2.8, Yashica 50mm f/1.9, Yashica 135mm f/2.8, plus a Yashica-to-Canon EOS adapter. Assuming the lenses are in good condition, is this a worthwhile option for use on a Canon EOS body?
What limitations or issues should I expect with adapted manual-focus lenses beyond no autofocus and no camera-controlled aperture? Does the adapter itself affect image quality? More specifically, how might the Yashica 50mm f/1.9 compare with a Canon 50mm f/1.8, and how might the Yashica 135mm f/2.8 compare with a modern Canon zoom used at 135mm?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
1
I'm not sure exactly how close they would be in terms of sharpness, but it's worth pointing out that since they are legacy lenses, you are not going to have AF or Auto-Aperture. You also aren't going to have the anti-reflective coatings on the inner surfaces that modern optics have. This is important because CMOS sensors are much more reflective than film and bounce light back into the lens.
Without the coating, internal reflection and ghosting is a far bigger problem. Outside of those shooting scenarios where that is a problem though, legacy lenses can be a good option to save money and get some solid capability. Overall, it sounds like $90 is a pretty competitive deal for the lenses you are talking about, so I'd honestly probably take it even if the quality isn't as good, that's a lot of lenses to be able to play with for very little money (comparatively speaking anyway).
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, it sounds like a reasonable deal if the lenses are clean and you’re comfortable with manual operation.
Main tradeoffs:
- no autofocus
- no auto-aperture control from the camera
- manual handling is slower than modern EF lenses
- older lenses may show more flare/ghosting in some situations
A key point is coatings: older lenses generally lack some of the internal anti-reflective treatments common in newer lenses. On digital cameras, that can make internal reflections, ghosting, and flare more noticeable, especially in difficult lighting. Outside of those situations, legacy lenses can still give solid results.
An adapter by itself does not necessarily reduce image quality if it is just a mechanical mount adapter and is made correctly. The bigger practical impact is loss of automation, not optical degradation.
As for image quality versus modern Canon lenses, the provided answers don’t support a precise sharpness ranking. Expect modern Canon lenses to be more convenient and often better controlled for flare, while the Yashicas can still be perfectly usable and good value for the money.
So: if you want inexpensive manual-focus lenses and accept the limitations, the bundle is worth considering.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
What modern digital camera works best with Olympus OM Zuiko lenses?
Can I use Canon EF-S lenses on an EOS R or R5, and what image quality do I lose?
Will a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro work on an EOS 450D for insect photography?
Why do an EF 50mm lens and an EF-S zoom at 50mm look the same on a Canon 550D?
How do coatings on older M42 lenses compare with modern lenses, and do they affect image quality?