Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)?
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:18 pm    Post subject: Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)? Reply with quote
[edited title to hopefully make it more clear that I'm not looking for a traditional 50mm 'normal']

Hello,

Sorry if this is an FAQ... I can't quite see why it wouldn't be Smile

I've been thinking of getting a normal prime (which as you all undoubtably know means moderate wideangle, 28 - 35ish) for my Samsung GX-1S (I lied in the title; not really a pentax). The 31/1.8 is attractive, but obviously very expensive. I already have a Vivitar 28/2.8, but I ideally want something a bit faster and with better optics. There're the various incarnations of Pentax 35/2 which seems like it may be my best bet.

Call me superficial, but there's something about the look of the FA version that just doesn't grab me (reminds me of my old kit lens, which did serve me well, but still)... and I know that I will probably want to use MF quite a lot, so I'd been thinking about hunting out an older MF version of that instead. However, they are not so easy to find and, it seems, not much cheaper and possibly marginally optically inferior to the FA.

Thanks to a comment on dpreview (along with a link to here), I've just realised that M42 lenses work better with my camera body than I thought, so now I'm very intrigued about the wider glass prospects that entails... maybe there're some Zeiss optics or something with my name on. However, of course most lenses that were originally designed as wide-angle don't have particularly fast apertures or nice bokeh. I don't know much about what's out there in M42, so I thought I'd post here to see if anyone has any advice for me.

Cheers,
Peter

Last edited by ptodd on Fri May 02, 2008 8:46 pm; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hallo!

The SMC FA50/1,4 is good-very good by f5,6, but not excellent.
The lens make a good bukeh and a soft tough if open.

The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/2,8 or the Jena T50/2,8 DDR are my favorites, I used it today (look the story jena 50/2,Cool, if you want beginn with aperture 2,8

I am also happy with my fujinon 55/1,8, quick fokus, soft and clear (also a story in the forum)

I am waiting for a meyer görlitz diaplan, also a winner.

regards Peter


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for responding. Actually, I already have a Pentax A 50/1.7, which I use all the time, as well as an M 50/1.4 which tends to stay at home as it's softer than the 1.7 at <=2.8.

However, remember that on my APS-C DSLR (and yours) these lenses take on the short-portrait-ish perspective of a 75mm on a 35mm camera. So what I'm really wondering, is which wide-angle (by design) lenses would serve me well as 'normal' on this body.

I notice there's a few threads related to 35mm lenses going at the moment. A focus for me is fast aperture, though, which has not always been a very strong point for lenses of this focal length since they were designed with different priorities than fast normals, it seems.


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Unfortunately, my 28's and 35's are 2.5-2.8 so I can't help you there. But the 43/1.9 ltd is pretty damn nice on digital, even though it works out as a long-normal on digital.


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It looks like perhaps I'll be best off going with some newer lens for my normal prime needs... either a future Pentax, or maybe one of the current Sigmas... or maybe a 35/2, which could include things that are more the domain of this forum.

Parallel thread on dpr, in case anyone's interested: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=27784899

p.s. this forum may not have seen the back of me yet... I still like MF lenses, and will still probably be looking at acquiring a few more before too long...


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thought about a Vivitar 28/2.0 (Kino made) ?
One of the very few fast 28's and really good ....
Quite common in Pk mount too.


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Here you go Peter. Distagon 35/2 in PK mount.
Cool
http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B58B9?Open



PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)? Reply with quote
ptodd wrote:
I've been thinking of getting a normal prime (which as you all undoubtably know means moderate wideangle, 28 - 35ish) for my Samsung GX-1S


I have the same problem as yours. I have tried quite a bit of lenses and have still to find one that I really like.

I first tried the "modern" lenses, as they are the fastest lenses available for Pentax in this focal range. I was disappointed by the ubiquitous purple fringing and the soft edges of the Sigma 30/1.4. The rendering of the Pentax FA 35/2 was too harsh for my taste.

Then I looked at old lenses. There aren't really any Pentax fast lenses in that focal range. The fastest is F/2.0 (except for the 35/1.4 lens, but it is basically only a dream for most of us). There is one lens that I really want to try, it's the legendary SMC Pentax 28/2 (clone of the Zeiss "Hollywood" Distagon), unfortunately, it's quite rare and tends to fetch high prices.

As for as third party lenses, there aren't many fast lenses either. I don't know the Kiron/Vivitar 28/2. The Tamron 28/2.5 is not bad from F/4 but that hardly makes it a fast lens.

Actually I use either the Sigma 24/1.8 (OK, this one is off topic here), which is fast and has a very useful field of view on a crop format camera, or the Flektogon 35/2.4 for a longer focal length. I will surely buy the Pentax FA 31/1.8 at some point in the future. Any other suggestion???

Cheers!

Abbazz

Last edited by Abbazz on Sat May 03, 2008 1:12 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
F16SUNSHINE wrote:
Here you go Peter. Distagon 35/2 in PK mount.
Cool
http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B58B9?Open


It does look absolutely beautiful.... maybe even more desirable than the Pentax 31/1.8 ltd in some ways.


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 12:06 am    Post subject: Re: Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)? Reply with quote
ptodd wrote:

I've been thinking of getting a normal prime (which as you all undoubtably know means moderate wideangle, 28 - 35ish) for my Samsung GX-1S (I lied in the title; not really a pentax). The 31/1.8 is attractive, but obviously very expensive. I already have a Vivitar 28/2.8, but I ideally want something a bit faster and with better optics. There're the various incarnations of Pentax 35/2 which seems like it may be my best bet.


Not quite as wide as the 35 you are looking for, but have you considered a 40?

Available in PK mount, very nice build quality, excellent optics; Ultron 40mm f/2.

http://www.cameraquest.com/Voigt_SL2.htm
http://pentaxlife.com/voigtlander-ultron-and-nokton-lenses-for-pentax


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 12:31 am    Post subject: Re: Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)? Reply with quote
ChrisLilley wrote:
Available in PK mount, very nice build quality, excellent optics; Ultron 40mm f/2.
Now that is interesting. I had heard of them when they came out, but I forgot about them. That Ultron is a pancake, but unlike the Pentax pancakes still pretty fast and designed for MF... also not so pricey as the Distagon.

Certainly, 40mm is not the length I was after; I think I'd rather have something slightly on the wide side of normal, if anything (quite like the FOV of my 28mm Vivitar), but it could still potentially fit...


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 12:38 am    Post subject: Re: Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)? Reply with quote
Abbazz wrote:
As for as third party lenses, there aren't many fast lenses either. I don't know the Kiron/Vivitar 28/2.

An interesting prospect, at least...

Quote:
Actually I use either the Sigma 24/1.8 (OK, this one is off topic here), which is fast and has a very useful field of view on a crop format camera

Off topic because it's slightly too wide, or because it's AF? The FOV sounds great. There's also a Sigma 28/1.8 which at least one person on dpr speaks highly of, but again, we're straying into AF.


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 4:51 am    Post subject: Re: Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)? Reply with quote
ptodd wrote:
Off topic because it's slightly too wide, or because it's AF?

Because it's AF Embarassed. To me, the slightly wider field of view (like a 36mm on a full frame camera) is very convenient for street shooting and family snapshots. The lens close focuses to 18cm (1:2.7 magnification), which is very convenient (here are some pictures taken with this lens). The Flektogon 35/2.4 has a similar close focus feature.

Cheers!

Abbazz


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 9:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi, another Peter! Smile
My favourite length for a "normal" lens on the 400D is 35mm, 28 is just a little too wide for me. The Flek 2.4/35 is a great lens, especially for close-ups, but if you want something a little faster maybe the Mir-24M 2.0/35 might be an idea. Sharpness-wise it's not quite so hot as the Flek wide open (particularly in the corners on FF) but at 2.8 there's nothing to choose between them. However at all apertures the Mir gives much more solid colours. It doesn't show up on Ebay too often, but it's worth waiting for.



PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
peterqd wrote:
Hi, another Peter! Smile
My favourite length for a "normal" lens on the 400D is 35mm, 28 is just a little too wide for me. The Flek 2.4/35 is a great lens, especially for close-ups, but if you want something a little faster maybe the Mir-24M 2.0/35 might be an idea. Sharpness-wise it's not quite so hot as the Flek wide open (particularly in the corners on FF) but at 2.8 there's nothing to choose between them. However at all apertures the Mir gives much more solid colours. It doesn't show up on Ebay too often, but it's worth waiting for.

Thanks Peter... is anyone here not called Peter?!

Aaargh... a good friend of mine also with an interest in photography has been living in Moscow for the last few years, and returns to the UK today... and I never got 'round to asking him to get me any lenses... I bet he could've found a Mir somewhere there. I was meaning to get a Zenitar fisheye as well. His sister is still there, but somehow I don't think she'd be so good at trawling camera shops (and she works too hard...).

Any images from the Mir (or the Flek) online?


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 11:00 am    Post subject: Re: Fast 'normal' lens for Pentax DSLR (wide for 35mm)? Reply with quote
Abbazz wrote:
ptodd wrote:
Off topic because it's slightly too wide, or because it's AF?

Because it's AF Embarassed.
Fair enough - it is mflenses.com, after all.


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
How much would anyone say it's worth paying for the Mir?

I quite like the look of this image I found (although I don't much like the sound of soft corners at open aperture, of course)


(from
http://www.fotografowac.pl/uzytkownicy/enter/chmielna-wosp.html#title)


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Here are two images I took with the Mir-24M and one with the Flek 2.4/35 to compare. The soft(ish) corners aren't a problem at all, they only appear at the widest aperture, and on the crop camera they will be out of shot anyway. Sadly I can't help you very much with the price (mine came in a deal for 4 lenses), but it's much cheaper than the Flek, perhaps around ?40-?50. One or two forum members have the 24H (Nikon) version, maybe they have a better idea than me.

Mir-24M


Mir-24M


Flektogon 2.4/35


I think both these shots are at 5.6. There's very little to choose between them for sharpness, but compare the colours. The green leaves of the tree on the right are more vivid with the Mir and the colour of the stonework on the building is warmer. This is typical of many Russian lenses.


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There are several on sale on the 'bay at present! I waited months for mine Sad

This is probably the best value and a very well-respected seller:
Click here to see on Ebay


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'd (once again) like to agree to Peter(QD).
Although 28mm lenses are not bad for a crop DSLR, I prefer 35mm lenses as a "normal" lens on my Canons.

...

And WOW, this Zeiss IS a beauty!


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I found this list:

http://www.goeldenitz.org/pentax/

regards Peter


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 10:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
peterqd wrote:
There are several on sale on the 'bay at present! I waited months for mine Sad

This is probably the best value and a very well-respected seller:
Click here to see on Ebay
Thanks. Actually, I was already watching that and am considering going for it. On the dpr pentax forum, there's a fairly accepted rule of not posting about ebay auctions that are still active. I don't mind, but that's why I was keeping a little bit quiet.


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm sorry if you think I ruined your chances but as the minimum bid is only ?5 lower than the BIN price, is it really worth waiting and watching?

Actually, on this forum we have our own private area for discussing auctions but I'm not sure whether you're allowed to see it yet. If you can then maybe this thread should be moved there.

No comment on the pictures I did for you?


PostPosted: Sun May 04, 2008 5:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
peterqd wrote:
I'm sorry if you think I ruined your chances but as the minimum bid is only ?5 lower than the BIN price, is it really worth waiting and watching?

I really don't mind at all, it's just a different ettiquette I'm used to... it did seem a bit artificial not mentioning it.
Quote:
Actually, on this forum we have our own private area for discussing auctions but I'm not sure whether you're allowed to see it yet. If you can then maybe this thread should be moved there.


Indeed, it's not that I think anything spectacular is going to happen; just that I wanted to get used to the idea that I did definitely want to buy the lens.

Quote:
No comment on the pictures I did for you?
Embarassed they were very interesting to see... just posted in a hurry before leaving my house to see my best friend who's just come back to the UK after three years living in Moscow... and now it's nearly 7am, so I guess I should sleep Wink maybe some more appreciation later...

Thanks again...


PostPosted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
peterqd wrote:
I think both these shots are at 5.6. There's very little to choose between them for sharpness, but compare the colours. The green leaves of the tree on the right are more vivid with the Mir and the colour of the stonework on the building is warmer. This is typical of many Russian lenses.

I certainly see what you mean about the warmer stonework. I don't as yet have very strongly formed opinions about colour rendition (nor do I have a callibrated screen), although I do appreciate that it is important (perhaps more so for film, which I might go back to a bit). I'd tend towards things being neutral and of course I haven't seen the scene with my own eyes to know how it really looked. I don't want to be too disparaging about my Vivitar, but colour is one area where I'm not sure I particularly enjoy its character; in fact, something warmer as I see here would be an improvement, I think.

The Mir images I've seen look like it should satisfy me fairly well. Unfortunately some hot-shot has placed a bid on that auction (I think the item has actually been relisted a couple of times, so perhaps they thought it was safe). The result is that the buy it now option has gone, but I might well put a punt in and see how it goes.
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2