28/24 for A7ii

[klebs]

Hi guys
I need your help plaese. First post, registered today, so no pictures. I have been reading this forum for a few weeks, but I'm still undecided what lenses to buy. I've had a complete kit in M42, back in film days, 20-200mm. But on crop DSLR it did not work, so most are gone. CZJ 20/2.8, Vivitar 135/2.8 close focus, a few 135, 35, 28 all gone. I only kept most of my trusty S-M-C Takumars, still own 55/1.8 and 85/1.8. My 35/2 suffered from yelloing and coating coming loose, gave it to my niece with the ES, she collects old cameras.

A few weeks ago I got a really good deal on an new A7ii, not even 1000€, so I upgraded from a Nex6. Thank god, I'm back to workable MF, I hate AF! FF is nice, but all my wideangle lenses are crop only. I need to get at least one really good wideangle lens. I've got some good deals on ebay this week, a usable lightweight telezoom (but corners need f16), and two great 50s. Both are branded Revuenon, 55/1.4 in M42 and a 50/1.4 in PK mount. That M42 lens is even better than my Tak 55. By the way, 35€ for the 50, the 55 came with a box of mixed gear for 30€.

Not looking to spend more money than needed on a single lens, but I might if it is a really great one. I am building a kit for air travelling first, so size and weight are important. So far I have adaptors for M42, MD and PK, so these mounts are prefered. I also have a LA-EA3 for my 180 Macro, but it's macro only and Minolta AF is infereor to real MF lenses.

I'm looking for something lightweight and sharp up to the corners at reasonable f-stops and with almost no CA. M42, MD and PK mounts prefered, adaptors add weight and I already have to carry two, because my zoom is MD and my 50s are M42 and PK.

[tb_a]

Welcome to the forum.

As you already have a MD to E-mount adapter I would recommend the Minolta 24mm/F2.8 lens, particularly the last MD III version. IMHO one of the best 24mm MF lenses.
The best budget lens would be the Tokina RMC 24mm/F2.8, available in different mounts for little money.

The Minolta MD 28mm/F2.8 would also be a very good choice. Fully usable already wide open even on FF like your A7 II.

[alex ph]

Welcome to the forum, klebs!

Similar questions were regularly popping up in this forum. Here is a selection of discussions where you may find first answers and some samples.

Recent FF era discussions

http://forum.mflenses.com/best-vintage-24mm-and-20mm-prime-lens-t79468.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/28mm-for-a7-t73652.html

Older crop era ones

http://forum.mflenses.com/best-24mm-t58837.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/favorite-wide-angle-lens-and-why-a-sample-t61508.html

Transhistoric discussion (from crop era to FF era)

http://forum.mflenses.com/your-best-28-and-how-you-got-there-t45236.html


For ultrawide

http://forum.mflenses.com/rectilinear-ultra-wide-angle-lens-for-ff-t79078.html

[Lightshow]

One of the best 28's is the SMC Pentax K 28/3.5 https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-pentax-k-smc-28mm-13-5/

[kypfer]

My favourite wide zoom from my film days is my Sigma 21-35mm f/3.5-4. Mine's in M42, one of the early ones with the built-in "petal" lens hood, so it needs to be used on a good-quality (or adjustable) adaptor to ensure the hood lines up when mounted.

My favourite "all-purpose" lens was the Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 #171 (not so much the earlier #71). Made mostly from polycarbonate it's relatively light, at just over 500gm with PKA adaptor fitted.

Good luck

[klebs]

[sergun]

First of all, you need to look at the manufacturers of the first tier.
1.Canon nfd 24/2.8 , 28/2.8
2 Minolta md-III 24/2.8 , 28/3.5
3 Pentax 28/3.5 - priority
4 CZ T* 28/2.8
5 Can be still that the from Nikkor (In 3-4 generations)

[Excalibur]

H'mm is the 24mm ensinor worth mentioning?

[Antoine]

Since you are a Pentax guy, this may be your preference. I had the Canon 24 2.8 nFD, which is mechanically and plastically inferior and gave it away, the MD III 24 mm 2.8 (8 lens) which is great and a MDII/III 24 mm 2.8 compact one which is also very good but maybe not as good as the MDIII 8 in the corners.
MD III 28mm f 2.0 also excellent and compact.

[DigiChromeEd]

[Big R]

Manual WA on A7 on the cheap seems to be a bit of a problem. I looked, too for those and had these:

Minolta MD 28 f2.8 (7 elements): small, lightweight, very good IQ, excellent value for the money, although they seem to be a bit more expensive nowadays. The 24 is a lot more expensive unfortunately.
Exakta (Cosina) 24 f2.8 Makro: IQ is OKish, Build not as good as the Minolta, was'nt entirely satisfied
Tokina RMC 24 f2.8: Good IQ already wide-open, good build, small, but the corners stay a bit mushy
Minolta MD 24-35: Should've kept that, excellent for a zoom!

Just got me a Soligor(Cosina) 19-35 for Canon EF and a Canon EF 24-85 and did a few quick and dirty comparisons with my Tokina. Centre sharpness is good with all of them, they all exibit purple fringing and a good deal of CAs (although a lot more modern, the zooms more so than the prime).
Bottom Left:
Can_Sol_Tok_F11_unten_links by CommanderBrot, auf Flickr
Centre:
Can_Sol_Tok_F11_zentrum by CommanderBrot, auf Flickr
Top right (but focus was on the centre, so this is out of focus!)
Can_Sol_Tok_F11_oben_rechts by CommanderBrot, auf Flickr

The Canon EF and Soligor 19-35 set to 24 both seem to be a good deal wider than the Tokina. Perhaps it's not a true 24 after all? The Tokina has good resolution but poor contrast compared to the zooms. But that cleans up nicely with a little post-processing.

Ordered me a Kiron 28 f2 and I think I'm gonna sell the Tokina. If I want to go small and fast, the Kiron will do, if I want wide 24 may not be enough.

My advice: Get a 24 from a third-party only if it's cheap. 28 seem to be a lot more easy to build.

[Alun Thomas]

I just received a Nikon AIs 28 in the last week. It definitely is as good as people say, they are slightly pricy in comparison though.

[sergun]

[klebs]

[alex ph]

Klebs, glad it was useful. Albinar is a rather non-orthodox choice, I am very curious to see your pictures!

As for the 24mm, look in the direction of Hexanon 2.8/24. It's a very good lens available at 120-150 euros, if you don't mind the price range. You should study how it renders in the corners, but the whole image feeling rendered by it is extremely pleasing.

[tb_a]

[caspert79]

SMC Pentax 28mm f/3.5, the 8-elements version so not the 'Pentax-M'.

Stunning lens if you find f/3.5 reasonable.

[e6filmuser]

These are from Kiron 28mm f2 on my A7R (first outing!):






The aperture was not noted but medium (f11?) for the first one.

[Lloydy]

[MMouse]

The Minolta 24mm f/2,8 MDIII works better than the Olympus OM 24mm f/2,8 I had before.
Overall a bit sharper and more reliable.
The Tamron 24mm f/2,5 is nice for the money. Fun bubble bokeh on crop sensor and good sharpness.

[pepperberry farm]

Tamron Adaptall 24mm f2.5 - either the 01B or the 01BB

the second version's optics are better than the first, but Tamron changed the focus ring to a smaller, less useful design....

[klebs]

[sergun]

I lost my minolta md-III 28/3.5. Need to landscape. Choice: There is a very cheap mc w.rokkor 28/3.5 checked / centered or look at the nFD 28/2.8 or others ? The main thing is the angles and glare (Minolta coverage is worse Canon)

[vivaldibow]

[quote="klebs"

Got one in PK mount on ebay last week, branded 'Exacta', 32€ incl. shipping. It must have suffered a massive hit on the front, didn't see it in the auction. Can't mount filters but I will keep it anyway, I am quite pleased with it optically. I am still waiting for better weather, lots of rain in the last days. Today the air is very clean, but stormy. All pictures jpegs strait out of the camera, no postprocessing.

[/quote]

This lens is carried in many brands, cpc, sears, etc. I also heard it is pretty good.

[lumens pixel]

Keep an eye on sigma superwide 24mm 2,8.

Better than MDIII and nFD. Had them all.

You need a good copy though and I had to buy two to have a good one.