This video takes a look at the best vintage 55mm to 58mm lenses for producing great bokeh, including:
- Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar T 58mm f2 (17 blades version)
- Helios 44
- Helios 44-2
- Helios 44-3
- Helios 44M
- Helios 44M-4
- Takumar 58mm f2
- Auto-Takumar 55mm f1.8 and f2
- Takumar 55m f1.8 (Auto, Super, Super-Multi-Coated and SMC versions)
- Tomioka Auto Revuenon 55mm f1.2
- Fujinon 55mm f1.8
- Mamiya/Sekor 55mm f1.4
The lenses are all M42 mount - excellent and good value film era lenses that are easy use on today's digital cameras.
The video starts with a description of the characteristics of great bokeh, which is a lot more than just smooth blur. It then goes on to consider a range of highly rated 55mm to 58mm lenses from Japan, Germany and Russia.
It is part of a series of videos covering under 50mm lenses, 50mm lenses, 55-58mm lenses and over 58mm lenses.
My photos with all these (and other) lenses can be seen in albums here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95859572@N06/albums