zuiko 35mm 2.8 , flek 35 2.8 zebra or MIR 1b ?

yinyangbt · Expire: 2012-12-27

Hello !
I need a "normal" prime for my EOS XTi.
I can buy these lenses . What's your opinion ?
I could not find much about the zuiko .

karabud · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 843 Location: Lodz

find yashica ml 35/2.8 - cheap and best 35/2.8 in my eyes

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Zuiko or Flek or what Karabud did suggest.

yinyangbt · Expire: 2012-12-27

karabud , do you mean the Yashinon 35mm 2.8 or the CZ distagon 35mm 2,8 Yashica -Contax , or the Yashikor 35mm 2.8?

karabud · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 843 Location: Lodz

aoleg · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 1389 Location: Berlin, DE

Yashica ML 35/2.8 is the best budget 35mm I tried, and I tried many. It *is* a great lens.

The original three lenses are quite average (Zuiko) or outright bad (Mir-1). MC Mir-24 (M or H) would be a much better option than Mir-1.

If you're set about the Zuiko, make sure you get the latest version (labeled "MC Zuiko" or, better yet, just "Zuiko" and not "H.Zuiko" or something). However, I have that lens, and it's decent but surprisingly not great. (Surprisingly, because I liked 28/2.8 and 24/2.8 Zuikos a lot). Still it's the best of the three lenses you're considering.

The "zebra" version of the Flektogon is single-coated. I know many people will recommend this lens, but my advice is: stay away. Low contrast, not very sharp at the distance. Good bokeh and close-up performance though, if you're into that, but not quite acceptable as a walkabout "standard" lens if you ask me.

Finally, I don't have good words about Mir-1. Some find it acceptable, but did they ever try Yashica ML 35/2.8 or Contax Distagon 35/2.8? Smile

William · Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 489 Location: London

I would not recommend the Mir 1-B for this purpose as it is very hard to focus properly and accurately control DOF with on an APS-C camera. It's probably a lot easier if you have a more accurate focusing screen or use liveview but I haven't tried.

macsterdam · Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 4

Have you considered the Mir24 35mm f/2.0?

yinyangbt · Expire: 2012-12-27

aoleg,I am not especially set about Zuiko , the price is 83 E "sharp" Laughing

.It is very small ,unobtrusive and light , and that's what I say are good points ( but not before the optical quality - I already own a Sigma 30 mm 1.4 as a "normal" prime)- maybe the 28 Zuiko would be a better idea?
Not very fond about the Flek either - I have a 20mm 2.8 and it's unusable at 2.8 , probably a bad copy , and I suspect there are more of these.
orangehexagon ,thanks for the information , I am looking for a good lens.
macsterdam
The Mir 24 goes over 100 E , I dont know if it's not hyped and the bad copies could be there also ,so I'd prefere something with better Quality control as I am buiyng online .

aoleg · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 1389 Location: Berlin, DE

A 28/2.8 Zuiko (latest version) is a nice lens indeed. Interestingly, it is sharper *and* cheaper than the 35mm. Still works as a normal lens on crop bodies.

yinyangbt · Expire: 2012-12-27

how do you find 95 E (70 + 25 transport )for a yashica 35mm 2.8 ?