L
lrc@red4est.com
Sun, May 24, 2026 11:23 PM
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
GD
Godfrey DiGiorgi
Sun, May 24, 2026 11:49 PM
What makes a lens "cool"?
G
—
No matter where you go, there you are
—
Godfrey DiGiorgi - godfreydigiorgi@me.com - 408-431-4601
On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
%(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List
To unsubscribe send an email to pdml-leave@pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
What makes a lens "cool"?
G
—
No matter where you go, there you are
—
Godfrey DiGiorgi - godfreydigiorgi@me.com - 408-431-4601
> On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
>
> In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
>
> This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
>
> I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
> --
> Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
> --
> %(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List
> To unsubscribe send an email to pdml-leave@pdml.net
> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
GD
Godfrey DiGiorgi
Sun, May 24, 2026 11:54 PM
What makes a lens "cool"?
G
—
"No matter where you go, there you are."
On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
What makes a lens "cool"?
G
—
"No matter where you go, there you are."
> On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
>
> In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
>
> This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
>
> I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
L
lrc@red4est.com
Mon, May 25, 2026 12:38 AM
That depends on the photographer. Someone who does Astro landscape would have a different definition than a bird photographer.
That is also a different question than what makes a selection of lenses cool.
So for you, what mount has the coolest selection of lenses?
On May 24, 2026 4:54:04 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi godfreydigiorgi@me.com wrote:
What makes a lens "cool"?
G
—
"No matter where you go, there you are."
On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
--
%(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List
To unsubscribe send an email to pdml-leave@pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
That depends on the photographer. Someone who does Astro landscape would have a different definition than a bird photographer.
That is also a different question than what makes a selection of lenses cool.
So for you, what mount has the coolest selection of lenses?
On May 24, 2026 4:54:04 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi <godfreydigiorgi@me.com> wrote:
>What makes a lens "cool"?
>
>G
>—
>"No matter where you go, there you are."
>
>> On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
>>
>> In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
>>
>> This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
>>
>> I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
>--
>%(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List
>To unsubscribe send an email to pdml-leave@pdml.net
>to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
>
--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
GD
Godfrey DiGiorgi
Tue, May 26, 2026 1:42 AM
In other words, "whatever you like most" is cool. And you want to put that on a scale of "coolness per dollar" ...
I've always felt that the obsession with the cost of things is one of the dumbest points of foolishness when selecting or rating equipment.
I can't participate in this "personal, subjective coolness per dollar" rating game.
The lenses I have now ... some of them acquired quite inexpensively, others fairly high priced ... are all superb performers and I've chosen to keep them over many others that I have owned and used. One of these keepers does happen to be a Pentax lens ... the SMC-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special in Leica Thread Mount. It was not particularly inexpensive; they made ~2200 of them total, about half in black and half in silver-chrome finish. It is optically identical to the FA-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Limited sold in Pentax K-mount, which was the one lens of my Pentax gear many years back that almost had me retain one Pentax SLR body so I could continue shooting with it.
G
On May 24, 2026, at 5:38 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
That depends on the photographer. Someone who does Astro landscape would have a different definition than a bird photographer.
That is also a different question than what makes a selection of lenses cool.
So for you, what mount has the coolest selection of lenses?
On May 24, 2026 4:54:04 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi godfreydigiorgi@me.com wrote:
What makes a lens "cool"?
G
—
"No matter where you go, there you are."
On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
In other words, "whatever you like most" is cool. And you want to put that on a scale of "coolness per dollar" ...
I've always felt that the obsession with the cost of things is one of the dumbest points of foolishness when selecting or rating equipment.
I can't participate in this "personal, subjective coolness per dollar" rating game.
The lenses I have now ... some of them acquired quite inexpensively, others fairly high priced ... are all superb performers and I've chosen to keep them over many others that I have owned and used. One of these keepers does happen to be a Pentax lens ... the SMC-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special in Leica Thread Mount. It was not particularly inexpensive; they made ~2200 of them total, about half in black and half in silver-chrome finish. It is optically identical to the FA-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Limited sold in Pentax K-mount, which was the one lens of my Pentax gear many years back that almost had me retain one Pentax SLR body so I could continue shooting with it.
G
> On May 24, 2026, at 5:38 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
>
> That depends on the photographer. Someone who does Astro landscape would have a different definition than a bird photographer.
>
> That is also a different question than what makes a selection of lenses cool.
>
> So for you, what mount has the coolest selection of lenses?
>
> On May 24, 2026 4:54:04 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi <godfreydigiorgi@me.com> wrote:
>> What makes a lens "cool"?
>>
>> G
>> —
>> "No matter where you go, there you are."
>>
>>> On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
>>>
>>> In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
>>>
>>> This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
>>>
>>> I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
L
lrc@red4est.com
Tue, May 26, 2026 3:03 AM
It must be nice to not have financial constraints
On May 25, 2026 6:42:20 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi godfreydigiorgi@me.com wrote:
In other words, "whatever you like most" is cool. And you want to put that on a scale of "coolness per dollar" ...
I've always felt that the obsession with the cost of things is one of the dumbest points of foolishness when selecting or rating equipment.
I can't participate in this "personal, subjective coolness per dollar" rating game.
The lenses I have now ... some of them acquired quite inexpensively, others fairly high priced ... are all superb performers and I've chosen to keep them over many others that I have owned and used. One of these keepers does happen to be a Pentax lens ... the SMC-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special in Leica Thread Mount. It was not particularly inexpensive; they made ~2200 of them total, about half in black and half in silver-chrome finish. It is optically identical to the FA-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Limited sold in Pentax K-mount, which was the one lens of my Pentax gear many years back that almost had me retain one Pentax SLR body so I could continue shooting with it.
G
On May 24, 2026, at 5:38 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
That depends on the photographer. Someone who does Astro landscape would have a different definition than a bird photographer.
That is also a different question than what makes a selection of lenses cool.
So for you, what mount has the coolest selection of lenses?
On May 24, 2026 4:54:04 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi godfreydigiorgi@me.com wrote:
What makes a lens "cool"?
G
—
"No matter where you go, there you are."
On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
--
%(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List
To unsubscribe send an email to pdml-leave@pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
It must be nice to not have financial constraints
On May 25, 2026 6:42:20 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi <godfreydigiorgi@me.com> wrote:
>In other words, "whatever you like most" is cool. And you want to put that on a scale of "coolness per dollar" ...
>I've always felt that the obsession with the cost of things is one of the dumbest points of foolishness when selecting or rating equipment.
>
>I can't participate in this "personal, subjective coolness per dollar" rating game.
>
>The lenses I have now ... some of them acquired quite inexpensively, others fairly high priced ... are all superb performers and I've chosen to keep them over many others that I have owned and used. One of these keepers does happen to be a Pentax lens ... the SMC-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special in Leica Thread Mount. It was not particularly inexpensive; they made ~2200 of them total, about half in black and half in silver-chrome finish. It is optically identical to the FA-Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Limited sold in Pentax K-mount, which was the one lens of my Pentax gear many years back that almost had me retain one Pentax SLR body so I could continue shooting with it.
>
>G
>
>
>> On May 24, 2026, at 5:38 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
>>
>> That depends on the photographer. Someone who does Astro landscape would have a different definition than a bird photographer.
>>
>> That is also a different question than what makes a selection of lenses cool.
>>
>> So for you, what mount has the coolest selection of lenses?
>>
>> On May 24, 2026 4:54:04 PM PDT, Godfrey DiGiorgi <godfreydigiorgi@me.com> wrote:
>>> What makes a lens "cool"?
>>>
>>> G
>>> —
>>> "No matter where you go, there you are."
>>>
>>>> On May 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>> In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
>>>>
>>>> This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
>>>>
>>>> I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
>--
>%(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List
>To unsubscribe send an email to pdml-leave@pdml.net
>to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
>
--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
PM
Pete McIntosh
Tue, May 26, 2026 3:26 AM
I took my 18-135 with me into -21DegC in Norway and Finland recently...
and it performed flawlessly.
So, literally cool :-)
Ciao,
Pete Mac in Melbourne
On 25/5/26 09:23, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
I took my 18-135 with me into -21DegC in Norway and Finland recently...
and it performed flawlessly.
So, literally cool :-)
Ciao,
Pete Mac in Melbourne
On 25/5/26 09:23, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
> In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
>
> This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
>
> I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
MW
mike wilson
Tue, May 26, 2026 7:12 AM
If we're having a cool wall, my stuff has been in Siberia in February. Early 2000s. Didn't keep much track of temps but definitely in the colder parts of minus 20/30 for much of the time. I remember at one time having to take my camera directly from outside into a warm cafe and using most of their counter stock of napkins to wipe off condensation over the following half hour. I bet Canadians can beat that - and Jostein has been in the Antarctic...
On 26/05/2026 04:26 BST Pete McIntosh petergly@gmail.com wrote:
I took my 18-135 with me into -21DegC in Norway and Finland recently...
and it performed flawlessly.
So, literally cool :-)
Ciao,
Pete Mac in Melbourne
On 25/5/26 09:23, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
If we're having a cool wall, my stuff has been in Siberia in February. Early 2000s. Didn't keep much track of temps but definitely in the colder parts of minus 20/30 for much of the time. I remember at one time having to take my camera directly from outside into a warm cafe and using most of their counter stock of napkins to wipe off condensation over the following half hour. I bet Canadians can beat that - and Jostein has been in the Antarctic...
> On 26/05/2026 04:26 BST Pete McIntosh <petergly@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> I took my 18-135 with me into -21DegC in Norway and Finland recently...
> and it performed flawlessly.
>
> So, literally cool :-)
>
> Ciao,
>
> Pete Mac in Melbourne
>
> On 25/5/26 09:23, lrc@red4est.com wrote:
> > In at a tango festival this weekend and the photographer is shooting Sony. He has a couple of lenses that I covet. One is a 135/1.8 also a 50-150/2.
> >
> > This brings up a couple of questions. Which mount has the the coolest lenses available? But, then, for what sort of photography?
> >
> > I think that with potential we might still have an advantage in coolness per dollar.
BW
Bob W PDML
Tue, May 26, 2026 9:28 AM
I had a similar experience with my LX in Moscow in November 1998, at -20. I hadn’t thought about condensation, and went into a cafe thinking I could take pictures of the people in there. No such luck!
On 26 May 2026, at 08:12, mike wilson m.9.wilson@ntlworld.com wrote:
If we're having a cool wall, my stuff has been in Siberia in February. Early 2000s. Didn't keep much track of temps but definitely in the colder parts of minus 20/30 for much of the time. I remember at one time having to take my camera directly from outside into a warm cafe and using most of their counter stock of napkins to wipe off condensation over the following half hour. I bet Canadians can beat that - and Jostein has been in the Antarctic...
I had a similar experience with my LX in Moscow in November 1998, at -20. I hadn’t thought about condensation, and went into a cafe thinking I could take pictures of the people in there. No such luck!
> On 26 May 2026, at 08:12, mike wilson <m.9.wilson@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
> If we're having a cool wall, my stuff has been in Siberia in February. Early 2000s. Didn't keep much track of temps but definitely in the colder parts of minus 20/30 for much of the time. I remember at one time having to take my camera directly from outside into a warm cafe and using most of their counter stock of napkins to wipe off condensation over the following half hour. I bet Canadians can beat that - and Jostein has been in the Antarctic...
>>
M
Mark
Tue, May 26, 2026 9:40 AM
Not only has Jostein been to Antarctica, I'm pretty sure he lives in Norway!
Not only has Jostein been to Antarctica, I'm pretty sure he lives in Norway!
