Haven’t you heard? Retro is back! As a reviewer of camera gear for over a decade I’ve had the privilege of test driving some of the latest, greatest and sharpest lenses ever to grace the photography world — but there’s still a time and a place for the dreamy softness, subdued colors and retro flare that comes from shooting with a vintage lens.
While maybe not the sharpest optics, vintage lenses are often budget-friendly and full of character, charm and not least — they’re incredibly fun to use and play around with! Legendary retro optics include the likes of the Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 which can be picked up secondhand for around $30, and if you’ve ever wanted to experiment with super wide apertures there’s the Canon FD 50mm f/1.2 which costs around $200. One of my favorite lenses from yesteryear is the legendary Helios 44-2 58mm f/2, renowned for its beautiful swirly bokeh that draws attention directly to your subject — it too can often be picked up for under $100.
