10 tips for photographing with a vintage lens

Monday 25 May 2026, 20:02 by Nando Harmsen | 1,645 views | 4 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Do you want to start photographing with a vintage lens? You’ll notice that it’s very different from using modern lenses. If it sounds like something you’d enjoy, these tips are for you.

Vintage lenses is a popular name for old or antique lenses. This could be a lens from the 1980s, or one that is much older. My oldest lens dates from 1947. It is almost eighty years old, and it works perfectly.

The typical bokeh of the Carl-Zeiss Jena Biotar T 7.5cm f/1.5 from 1947 is beautiful.
The reason people choose to use old, antique or vintage lenses is often the unique look they give photos. Swirly bokeh, soap-bubble bokeh or another unique type of bokeh can make a lens attractive.

Before you start using old, antique or vintage lenses, it is worth keeping a few things in mind. That is why I have ten tips to help you start using these lenses and enjoy them.

1. Start with a Helios 44

You have to start somewhere. Choose a lens that is not too expensive if you do not already have one lying around. A Helios 44 lens is a perfect starting point. It is a 58mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/2 and swirly bokeh.

The Helios 44 is a lens you can hardly go wrong with. A perfect starting point.
The Helios 44 comes in many versions. The 44-2 is the most sought-after, and is often a little more expensive. The other versions, such as the 44-3 and 44M, are also fine. You can often find a good example for less than 70 euros.

2. Buying online is fine, if you pay attention

There are shops where you can buy vintage lenses. They are often expensive, but you can hold the lens before you buy it. Marktplaats and eBay work perfectly too, with the latter offering a huge range.

The range online is huge, especially on eBay. Make sure you are certain before you buy.
Almost all my lenses were bought through eBay. If you are critical and take your time when shopping, the chance of buying a bad lens is small. But do not forget about flea markets or charity shops. You can sometimes find some lovely things there.

3. Don't buy a pig in a poke

Be careful what you buy. These are antique lenses, and they can show considerable signs of use. The aperture may be stiff or there may be oil on the blades. Focusing may not work properly, or there may be fungus on the lenses.

Antique lenses can be stiff. The lubricant on the focusing ring may have hardened. It is often easy to fix this.
Always look carefully at the photos and the description. Especially when buying online. If you have doubts, do not buy it. But be realistic too. Old lenses naturally have signs of use. If you buy one in mint condition, you will pay top price.

4. Choose an M42 thread

There are many different mounts. Exakta, M39 and M42 are the most common, but they are not the only ones. As a starting point, choose an M42 thread. It is perfect for use on modern cameras with an adapter.

The M42 thread is probably the most common. Choose it when you are starting out.
Before buying a vintage lens, make sure that your camera is suitable. Mirrorless cameras are always suitable, but not all DSLRs are.

5. Choose a good M42 adapter

You can get an adapter from an M42 thread to your camera mount for a few euros. Cheap does not always mean good. An adapter must fit properly, and it must certainly not have any play.

An M42 to EF adapter, and an EF to RF adapter. It works, but an adapter that goes directly from M42 to RF is simpler.
It is extremely important that the distance from the vintage lens to the sensor is exactly right. Otherwise, focusing will not work correctly. You will almost always find the required accuracy in good-quality adapters.

6. Enable shooting without a lens

A vintage lens does not communicate with the camera. The camera therefore does not see that a lens is attached. Usually, a camera has to 'see' a lens before it will work.

Photographed with the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 V and extension tubes. Make sure you can shoot without a lens. The camera thinks that no lens is attached.
If you find that you cannot take a photo with the vintage lens, you need to enable the 'shoot without lens' option in the menu. Only then can you take photos with a vintage lens.

7. Use focusing aids

A vintage lens does not have autofocus. You therefore have to focus manually, and that can be difficult. Especially when using a shallow depth of field. Fortunately, there are aids for manual focusing.

Joyce photographed with the Carl-Zeiss Jena Biotar T 7.5cm at f/1.5. Manual focusing can be difficult, especially with a shallow depth of field.
Do you have focus peaking? Turn it on. You can also use a black-and-white picture profile to make the focus peaking easier to see. Or enlarge the image in the EVF or on the LCD. This makes focusing much more precise. Take your time.

8. Take your time

Photographing with vintage lenses means slowing down a few gears. You are no longer taking photos quickly. You need to take your time, especially when focusing with a shallow depth of field.

Wendy (Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiron 2/50mm - ISO400 - f/2 - 1/100s - flash with umbrella)
With a vintage lens, you are not meant to work in a hurry. It is often about creative photography. Make sure the photo is how you want it to be. But do not be afraid to try things either. Take your time.

9. Use cards to tell them apart

When you have one vintage lens, it is simple. If you have several vintage lenses, it becomes more difficult. Which lens did you use for which photo? Do you still remember? If this is not important to you, there is no problem.

Make cards to tell the photos taken with your vintage lenses apart.
If you want to know which lens was used for which photo, you need to find a way to tell the photos apart. You can use cards for this, one for each lens. Write down which lens you are using and take a photo of the card after changing the lens.

10. Always edit afterwards

Do not think that a photo taken with a vintage lens has to come straight out of the camera. Just as with the darkroom and prints in the past, it is best to edit your photos now too. This allows you to make the photo look as good as possible.

My faithful four-legged friend Bruc, photographed with a Helios 44, the predecessor of the popular Helios 44-2 version.
Some lenses produce an image that is too soft, or the colours are a little dull. Editing is exactly what can make the photo shine. That is what it is all about, a photo that appeals to people.

Bonus tip: Enjoy using it

Photographing with vintage lenses is not for everyone. It is a different way of taking photos that can be very creative, but also very demanding. It gives you time to enjoy the entire process.

Photographing tree frogs with a Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 V with extension tubes (photo by Peter)
When using these lenses, I am not only focused on the end result. I am involved in the entire process of taking photos. From the settings, to taking the photos, to the eventual result. That is what makes it enjoyable.

Do you also use a vintage lens, or several lenses? Tell us in a comment which ones you have and what you enjoy about them. Share your experience, and if you have another tip...

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