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MF 35MM for a7R?
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:31 pm    Post subject: MF 35MM for a7R? Reply with quote

Looking for suggestions for a MF 35mm for my a7R. I have the Zeiss 55mm FE and love it but want to start trying some legacy MF lenses.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1° Jupiter-12 "the light"
2° Minolta HH 35/1.8 "the heavy"


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you want a lens that is cheap but tack sharp, get the Minolta MD 35/2.8 (last version).

http://artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/objektiv-vergleiche/340-sony-a7-and-zm-2-8-35mm-mc-1-8-35mm-md-2-8-35mm-md-3-5-35-70mm

The Canon FDn 35/2.8 and 35/2 are also well regarded. There is also a version with a concave front element which is sought after.

http://erphotoreview.com/wordpress/?p=4114

http://erphotoreview.com/wordpress/?p=4320

I like the Canon 35/2 LTM for its super compact size and character but being a rangefinder, it does smear the corners a bit (otherwise very sharp for its age).


And these are just a few options...


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I only have the A7II and have great results with the Voigtlander Color-Skopar 2.5/35. I recently also bought a Jupiter 12 and am really happy with the old school rendering of that lens.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

newst wrote:
I only have the A7II and have great results with the Voigtlander Color-Skopar 2.5/35. I recently also bought a Jupiter 12 and am really happy with the old school rendering of that lens.


My CV 35/2.5 is terrible outside of the center on my A7.
Here at f8 ! Imagine at f5.6 or f4.





PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:28 pm    Post subject: Color Skopar Reply with quote

I had the same problem with the A7. I was actually planning to sell it on Ebay, even bought a Canon 1.8/35 Rangefinder lens that I am waiting on. But when I received my A7II last week I gave it a try on the new camera and it works fine. Apparently Sony tweaked the sensor on the A7II.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Color Skopar Reply with quote

newst wrote:
I had the same problem with the A7. I was actually planning to sell it on Ebay, even bought a Canon 1.8/35 Rangefinder lens that I am waiting on. But when I received my A7II last week I gave it a try on the new camera and it works fine. Apparently Sony tweaked the sensor on the A7II.


This is a very very very good information. Do you still have the A7 and would make a comparison ? Don't be upset , I trust you but before buying a second body I prefer to be sure .


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry no, I have already sold it. Besides, before I went to that kind of expense I would want to do my own comparison.

The tests II made were indoor shots, directed towards the vignetting that I experienced with the A7. The edges of the frame weren't in the plane of focus, so the fact that they weren't as sharp as the center didn't indicate a problem. I haven't taken it outdoors to perform the test you did. Until the ice and snow clears I doubt that I will.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A shot focused on infinity is important . The rear element is at the nearest point from the sensor ( sorry for my english !)


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are right (and your English is fine). That is why I came back to describe the limitations of the little testing I did. I wouldn't want you spending money thinking I had done major testing of the Skopar.

You might check this post. The author comments on how a number of legacy lenses, including some 35mm, work on the A7R.

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/the-a7r-super-legacy-lens-test-a-must-see/


PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From his list I have the Canon FD 20mm which works fine on my A7 when it is stopped down . But this lens has not a very flat field .


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 4:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My favorite 35 is the FD 35/2.8 Tilt/Shift
Contax 35/2.8 C/Y
Flek 35/2.4
Minolts MC HG 35/2.8
FL 35/2.5


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't forget the Mir 24N 35/2. It ca be found pretty cheap and is awesome.
Personally the best 35mm I ever used was the PC-Distagon 35/2.8 for Contax. It comes with a price, but oh my, what a lens.


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Zeiss Flektogon 35/2.8 (M42 with preset aperture) is not bad either. Sharpness is definitely adequate, the bokeh could perhaps be a little smoother. A few examples (shot with an A7R):


Died on the operating table... by scepticswe, on Flickr


Well founded by scepticswe, on Flickr


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like the mir 24 too, it's cheap and fast, and extremely good for its price.
I think that also the RE Auto topcor 2.8/35 needs to be mentioned here.


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some bargains firstly. Edge to edge sharpness: Tokina RMC, shooting table-top: healthy Enna MACRO Ennalyt 2.8/35mm possibly PK variant. Spending more money? Edge to edge: Yashica ML, tabletop: both Flektogons surely.


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I recently bought a Nikkor-O 35mm F2. It's very usable wide open but gets really good around f4-f5.6.

Nikkor-O @ f4 I think
Fungus – Scarlet Elf Cup by Ed Herridge, on Flickr

Olympus Pen F 38mm f1.8 is another of my favourites. It's very small and is also usable wide open but is lovely at f4.

Olympus Pen F 38mm wide open
Purple Crocus by Ed Herridge, on Flickr

Both of these lenses also have a usefully short minimum focus distance.


Last edited by EdH on Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:41 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The A7R is a Full Format camera, so that won't help.... Wink


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, actually the Pen F 38mm will vignette on an FF sensor. Works very well on M4/3.


PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kds315* wrote:
The A7R is a Full Format camera, so that won't help.... Wink


Are all previous feed back with a FF camera ?


PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 3:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

not quite 35mm, but what about the Voigtlander 40/1.4 (M-mount)? I love it on my A7R, small size and makes for perfect walkaround lens. Joy to use with nice character. or the Voigtlander 35/1.4 is pretty small as well.


PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 5:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Canon Serenar 35mm f/2.8 and Nikkor 35mm f/2.5, both compact LTM lenses Wink


PostPosted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

At the A7 / A7R i certainly would consider the MD-III version of the Minolta MD 2.8/35mm:

http://artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/objektiv-vergleiche/340-sony-a7-and-zm-2-8-35mm-mc-1-8-35mm-md-2-8-35mm-md-3-5-35-70mm

It is dirt cheap and (on the A7 / A7R, but NOT on film or at the Leica M240!!) much better than the ZM 2.8/35mm or even the Summicron 2/35mm ASPH.

Stephan


PostPosted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

EdH wrote:
Yes, actually the Pen F 38mm will vignette on an FF sensor. Works very well on M4/3.


Pen F 38mm @ A7R



PostPosted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick1779 wrote:
2° Minolta HH 35/1.8 "the heavy"

3° Minolta MD W.Rokkor 35/1.8 "the light" (235g vs th 420g of the Rokkor-HH)

Get the MD85/2 and you've got a nice three lens kit. The "MD II" version are usually the lightest among Minoltas lenses (see Dennis Lohmanns list), I think they're a better fit for the A7 than the heavy "MC-X" lenses.

I've got an MD35/1.8 on the way (selling my Rokkor-HH...) and I'm planning to get an A7.


Last edited by Boris_Akunin on Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:50 am; edited 2 times in total