I shouldn't love this lens. Every card in the deck is stacked against it: It's a zoom. It's a superzoom (wide to tele). It's one of the first of its kind. It's old as dirt. It doesn't meter on my D5000. It's manual focus.

However, it's probably my favorite lens. I have a fondness for my KMZ Helios 58 f/2, but this lens... I get out and use this lens.

I love it for its character. It flares pretty badly, but it does so in an aesthetically-pleasing way. My 18-55 VR Nikkor is nearly impossible to make flare, and when it does, it ain't pretty! It has excellent bokeh characteristics, and its color reproduction is superb. It's not the sharpest lens in the world, but it's far from bad. It will quite happily fit on just about any camera, thanks to its innovative adapter system. I personally can fit it on my film Nikons, my digital Nikon, my Zenit-E and my Cosina, and I used it frequently with my EOS Digital Rebel back when I had that.

I love this lens.

See some of the things I've shot with this lens (and remembered to tag!)

View Large if you want to eat a pixel-y death.