gear10 min read26 April 2026
Vintage lenses on modern cameras: a practical guide
Why photographers are using 40-year-old glass on €3,000 cameras — and how to do it well.
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The vintage lens renaissance
Walk through any photography market in Tokyo, Amsterdam, or Berlin and you'll find shelves of Takumars, Nikkor-Hs, Contax Zeiss, Russian Jupiter glass, and Canon FD lenses. Prices that were €30 ten years ago are now €200. Still cheap compared to modern equivalents.
Photographers and cinematographers use vintage glass for specific reasons. This guide explains what those reasons are, how to adapt lenses to modern cameras, and which lenses are actually worth buying.
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