Additional lens recommendation for nex 6 w/ 16-50 ?

[MarkW]

I am a long-time lurker, first-time poster who has often enjoyed studying the photos and reading the (usually) informative posts at this site.

My new Nex arrived a few weeks ago. I am in the process of trying various lenses--I have a number left over from film days. I realize this is a perennial and somewhat ridiculous question, given that answers are inevitably subjective and dependent to large degree on personal preference, but I find myself over-saturated from too much testing, thinking, and researching, so will ask it anyway, and welcome any comments and advice from experienced Nex users:

Subject to the caveats and conditions below, is there a piece of glass (or two) you would really not be without if you were traveling with this camera and the 16-50 kit lens?

Caveats and Conditions, in no particular order: No heavy glass (Have some, it stays home). Most pics outdoors, often of people doing things, possibly with interesting background/landscapes but occasionally close and in need of isolation. I am not a sharpness fiend, except on the occasional landscape--but expect reasonable quality, and would like to be able to print the occasional outstanding capture at 13x19. Character welcome--and yes, Russian glass is a possibility. Cheap--as in inexpensive--is fine, but I would drop a few hundred $ if I thought it was worth it. Good handling important. Might want to do some B & W conversion on occasional shots. One candidate I have tried, and so far like, is the Hexanon 57/1.4.

Ideas, comments, candidates? Thanks, no promises, but will read with GREAT interest, and the hope that you may save me from prolonged agonies of trial, error, and indecision! Thanks:)

[kuuan]

Hi Mark and welcome to the forum

if you talk only one, small, for outdoor people doing things, occasionally close and need for isolation..my recommendation is a Pen-F Zuiko f1.4/40mm. Alternatively Voigtlaender Nocton 1.4/40 or Ultron 1.7/35 which have better coating but don't focus as close, 0.7m as compared to 0.35m of the Zuiko, and they will cost more.

Yes, I think wider than a 50 or 57mm will be more useful, actually I find a 24mm particular useful for 'street' and occasional landscape, but that might well be covered with the Sony kit zoom. If manual, as a second lens besides the 40mm, Voigtlander Snapshot Skopar f4/25mm is very small and affordable', other M39/Leica M are rather expensive, Olympus OM f2.4/24mm, for a SLR lens, is very small and a very good performer, just make sure that it is a late MC version

[MarkW]

Never thought of Pen-F. Excellent ideas to investigate! Thank you.

Anyone with other suggestions re a lens (or two) you would not want to be without?

[56 DIN]

Voigtlaender 28mm 1.9 is one of the lenses that fit extremly well to a Nex, but it is not a small lens
As a small one, i like: Leica 40mm 2.0, with the disadvantage compard to Andreas´s proposal, that you cannot go really near
something longer: the Voigtlaender 75mm 2.5

[MarkW]

My horizons are expanding--excellent and intriguing suggestions. And more homework to do! I hope more users weigh in as time goes by. Lots of views, few posts, but there must be more opinions out there. I would like to know what nexers actually think. It is a real question. . . and one that is not going away soon.

[fuzzywuzzy]

I think everyone interested in MF lenses should pick up a Helios 44, they're so cheap and have a special rendering wide open.

http://forum.mflenses.com/helios-44-xx-pics-add-yours-t29321.html
http://www.flickr.com/groups/helios44/

At f/8 they're good performers, so it's not a gimmick lens.

[ForenSeil]

Lenses I had a lot fun with on NEX:
Summicron-C 40/2
Elmar-C 90/4
Helios 44-2 58/2
Minolta MD 50/1.4, 50/2 and 24/2.8
Tokina 17mm F3.5
Samyang 8mm (both F2.8 and F3.5 but F3.5 is less compact)
Cyclop 85/1.5
Contax G Sonnar 90/2.8 T*
Contax G Planar 35/2 T*
Contax G Biogon 28/2.8 T*
Rodenstock Rodagon 105mm F5.6 + bellows
Zenitar M2s 50/2
Steinheil München Culminar 135/4.5
Fujian 35/1.7 (a toy lens only)

All of them (except maybe the Cyclop and the bellows) are easy to carry around imho.
Should I post some samples?

[MarkW]

Thanks for your interest, quite an inventory. I have been wondering particularly about the 17 and the 40-- do you have samples of those?

[MarkW]

So--trying to encourage more opinions and keep this topic alive-- Is there a piece of glass (or two) you would really not be without if you were traveling with this camera and the 16-50 kit lens? Anyone?

[Rick1779]

I dont' have the kit lens but when travelling with my Nex I usually carry 2 or 3 lenses
1. Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 15mm/4.5
2. Pentax A 24mm/2.8

(3. Pentax M 20mm/4)

Well and of course the Sigma 30mm/2.8 AF

[bernhardas]

edited