Fast manual focus prime "normal" on APS-C ?

[yinyangbt]

Well, I know, I already have a Sigma 30mm 1.4 ,but I've got the virus ! It sould work on a Rebel XTi for handheld low light photos.
so, I need under 2.8 , but at least equal quality with the autofocus Sigma 30mm 1.4.
I found a Vivitar 28 1.9 .How does it works , especially
wide open ? the contenders could be
Kiron 28mm f2 ,
Nikon 28mm f2
Zuiko 28mm f2
Hexanon 28mm 1.8

Rokkor 35mm 1.8
Takumar 35mm 2
Vivitar 35 /1.9
MIR 35mm 2

or other ideas ?
and , after all money counts

[Anu]

Carl Zeiss Jena 35/2.4 Flektogon. Beats the Sigma in image quality, and yes, I did own a great copy of the Sigma in my previous life

[ManualFocus-G]

[no-X]

Only 1 of 12 Flektogons 35/2.4 I had was bad out of the factory. I think that's nothing horrible.

Problems may be related to:

1. bad home servicing by mean users
2. specific construction

As for the construction, some lens elements of flektogon 35/2.4 are quite thin and fragile. Because of that, it was fixed by a special sleeve, which should be tightened very gently (CZJ recommendation). After decades of changing temperature, these sleeves are often loose. But it isn't difficult to tighten it.

My repairman told me, that when he fixed first Flek 35/2.4 in his life, he didn't care the CZJ recommendation and tightened it fully, just like other lenses. When the customer took the lens outside and tested it under hot summer sun for a few minutes, the lens made "DING!" and the inner optical element was in parts...

[yinyangbt]

2.5 is not fast enough .
I said : I need UNDER 2.8 ! that means : 1.4-2 (need it for night cityscapes handheld and indoor cathedrals ,churches , etc. where tripod is not allowed)

[ludoo]

2.4 *is* under 2.8. Anyway, from 2.0 to 2.4 there's only half a stop of difference. Get a body with good high iso performance and anti shake, and it won't matter at all.

[Attila]

[spleenone]

Then try Nikkor 28/2 but you can't get it very cheap. It's decently sharp wide open. Only issue could be some CA or that price. And its better than Kiron like I heard.

[aoleg]

Nikkor and Olympus Zuiko 28/2 are both great lenses, perfectly sharp wide open and highly regarded. They are not very cheap though.

[cheekygeek]

I think you would be very pleased with the Takumar 35mm f2.0 but it is not what I would call inexpensive.

[ovim]

Vivitar Close Focus 2/28mm. Not excellent wide open, but usable IMO.

[Anu]

[Anu]

[yinyangbt]

Attila thank you for the feed-back .The ideal body would be a FF with D700 High ISO performance , a mount with 40mm register,in-body stabilisation,FF viewfinder...
Anu , thanks for your opinion and help, I vas not complaining , only that I was more leaning towards a 1.8-2 .Of course , 2.4 is under 2.8 , but I was referring at the fact that I just want something faster . There are moments when that is important.
Of course , 1.4 would be better but at a price that I can't afford and justify , I am not a pro.
ovim,thanks for the tip ,on the other hand for the specific task that I need such a lens IT HAS to be good or very good wide open , as aoleg said in his post.
cheekygeek, how does perform the Takumar 35/2 wide open ?
aoleg, yes they are not cheap...but this information is very important , thank you.

[LucisPictor]

Leica Summicron 2/35
Nikkor 2/35
MIR-24 2/35
Vivitar 1.9/35
Vivitar 2/28

in this order. But none of them is a bad lens. I loved the Viv 2/28!

I had all of those. Now, I only own the Viv 1.9/35 and the MIR.

[cheekygeek]

[ZoneV]

I own these lenses:
Kiron 28mm f2
Minolta Rokkor 35 mm f1.8 (converted to EF mount)
Nikon 35 mm f2
SMC Pentax M 35 f2 (I think it is this version)

The Pentax I have never used up to now.
The Nikon only a few times for some tests - I think the corners on 24x36 disappointet me. But for a crop camera that is no problem.
My Kiron is wide open very soft. I do not like it that much.
At the moment I like the Minolta Rokkor most - I use it on my EOS 5D sometimes.

On my German quick and dirty mount conversion site are some high res test images made with that lens @ 1.8 and a crop EOS 350D:
http://www.4photos.de/camera-diy/Minolta35mm-SR-EOS-Umbau.html

[kuuan]

[yinyangbt]

Interesting images .
The problem we all have I suppose , is that on APS-C sensors there is nothing under 1.8 , most "fast" lenses are f2 .we can't avoyd that , so , we have to rely on a better High ISO performance and (for static subjects) in-body stabilisation .

[William]

I would third the Nikkor 2/35mm. It can be had cheaply if willing to compromise on cosmetics and there will be less perspective distortion than with a 28mm which I would consider too wide as a normal replacement. A 43mm like the Pentax would also be worth considering as it'd give you a little more room to play with than a 50mm and be technically more normal than a 50.

[soikka]

I have the Sigma 30/1.4 and Pentax M35/2.

Pentax is quite dreamy wide open, but after that the lenses are pretty even on my K20d. Sigma sharper in the center and Pentax in corners.

[egidio]

MIR 35mm 2 is awesome walkaround lens on crop

[aoleg]