Fun lenses on the 5DII?

[Spanik]

I tought long and hard about the SD1m but in the end the iso performance turned me off. I went to a second hand 5DII. Put a 24-105/3.5-5.6 on it and it is a great combo. Only thing is this is "not much fun". I wouldn't take it out if I'm not sure I'd need that lens.

What are some options to turn this into a "fun" camera? First I tought of putting a 35/2 on it. But then it ends up being some kind of oversized p&s. Maybe some manual lens? Something extra wide?

Any ideas? I'd prefer it to be something rather easy to find and not too expensive. Perhaps weird but not so exotic you'd hardly use it.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

For extra wide check Samyang lenses.

 

[Ranchu]

You're going to want some kind of 85mm f2? Pentax M42 35mm f3.5 is also excellent.

 

[f16sunshine]

Oh man you are in luck 😀

The 5Dii will mount and easily focus most any "Legacy" Reflex lens.

Before you get to that get yourself a new EF 50mm f1.8 STM. $125 new at B+H
It keeps the original formula and adds a nicer Focus motor.

The original 50 plastic fantastic (non stm but same optics).
Eron by Adnan, on Flickr

Zeiss Jenna m42 lenses are great on the 5D.

Jenna 35mm f2.4
Paco at alki with friend by Adnan, on Flickr

Pancolar 80mm f1.8
IMG_8328 by Adnan, on FlickrIMG_8245 by Adnan, on Flickr

All the Zuiko wides are awesome on the 5Dii

Zuiko f2/28mm
<untitled> 2 by Adnan, on Flickr

<untitled> 20 by Adnan, on Flickr


Tons more... just start hunting. Get some good quality AF chipped adapters and go for it 🙂

Cheers!

 

[Range-rover]

I have the original EF 50mmF1.8 with the metal rear mount if you could
find one of those your set. It's build better than the new version.

Range

 

[Spanik]

Some nice suggestions. Going to look a bit at those Samyangs.

The 50 isn't for me, never liked that focal length. Probably because for too long I didn't had anything else.

I went through my boxes and found some possible candidates. Some M42 like a Takumar 50/1.4, a Flektogon 35/2.8. There is some MF as well but those become tele's and are too heavy to take a long for fun.

@Andy: what would you recommend as adaptors? I had some chipped ones for my older EOS but they were even more random than the lottery. I tried with the takumar on an older unchipped adaptor but even at 1/320 I couldn't get a steady shot!

 

[judsonzhao]

Samyang are not only fun, they are top notch lenses.
Also try C/Y lenses, some of them are not cheap though.
The others come on top of my head are minolta lenses, vivita 90 macro the "bokelicous", olympus zuiko 21, 100 macro, they are superb. Especially the 21, poor guy's Zeiss 21
Also old Helios for fun swirl bokeh

 

[Michael Markey]

Just picked up one myself after previously using a 40D with Takumar , K lenses and Zeiss Contax/Yashica lenses.
I`ve sold the Pentax lens and currently use a Zeiss 85/1.4 ,Zeiss 50/1.4 and Yashica 28/2.8 on the 5D 2.

This with the Zeiss 85/1.4. Out of camera jpegs.

This with the Zeiss 50/1.4.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

First I tought of putting a 35/2 on it. But then it ends up being some kind of oversized p&s. Maybe some manual lens? Something extra wide?

Any ideas? I'd prefer it to be something rather easy to find and not too expensive. Perhaps weird but not so exotic you'd hardly use it.

• "oversized p&s" – you can use a 5D like a completely manual camera if you want to. Focusing included. That said, it's kind of a waste, and manual focusing on a dSLR is not as nice as it is in a body meant for manual focusing. I had the 5DII and tried the focusing screen meant for manual focus, but i kinda feel like it was all a waste of time. I ended up not using the adapted lenses after all. It just wasn't the same as when using a body designed for them. And, it's even worse the wider you go. With a 50, it's doable. I didn't like a 35 on it. Unless you want to scale focus for "fun."
• "extra wide" sorta seems like an 'exotic,' no?
• The 50/1.4 Takumar — i've seen some nice stuff from that when paired with a Canon digital.
• I would look very closely at the bokeh from the new Canon 50/1.8 STM. Not good, from what i've seen. Just get a 50/1.4 EF — but samples may vary, so try until you get a good one. Mine is nice, and was the reason i didn't keep my R50 Summicron.

What else would make it 'fun?' I dunno. I don't think there's anything in the digital world that is as exciting for me as a metal film camera..... You should probably get Alien Skin Exposure....

 

[Michael Markey]

• I had the 5DII and tried the focusing screen meant for manual focus, but i kinda feel like it was all a waste of time.

Yes I put the super matt screen in a 40d but it was too dark to focus once you stopped down to about 5.6.

I focus the 5D2 with the standard screen but I really need to get some native lenses for it .

 

[f16sunshine]

I've purchased most my adapters from ebayer "HappyPageHK" . It's been a while since I've bought any new ones.
With The Zuikos and Leica R One adapter goes in and quite literally changes the mount to that particular make.
If you get one with the latest chip you can actually make micro adustments to the focus confirm blip.
For 35mm and wider I tend to just focus on the screen. For wider manual focus lenses I find the focus confirmation really handy.
The high contrast screen is an easy under $40 upgrade for the 5Dii. Get the authentic Canon model.

If you like wides I would jump for Zuikos. The f3.5/21MM is a super bargain for performance. If you want faster the f2/21 is fantastic.
The 2/28mm is as good as any f2/28mm for reflex cameras. It compares very nicely to the Zeiss Hollywood f2/28mm
I prefer it to the Zeiss Contax Distagon f2.8/21 for it's small size and DOF at f2.
I have the distagon as well. It has all that Zeiss micro-Contrast and 3D. I would not call it fun though. It's just a great workhorse.

Other nice wides are the Yashica ML 28 and 24. Very nice.

 

[f16sunshine]

I have the original EF 50mmF1.8 with the metal rear mount if you could
find one of those your set. It's build better than the new version.

Range

That's the one I have as well.
Appearantly the newest version goes back to the metal mount and also adds a silent "Stepper Motor" af system.
The af is overridden any time by the focus ring. No need to turn af off in order to manually focus as there is with previous versions of the lens.

It's available now... Is anyone using it.... Anything to report ?

Cheers!

 

[Range-rover]

They have a new one I didn't know that, well going to check out their
website.

Thanks
Range

 

[mfunnell]

That's the one I have as well.
Appearantly the newest version goes back to the metal mount and also adds a silent "Stepper Motor" af system.
The af is overridden any time by the focus ring. No need to turn af off in order to manually focus as there is with previous versions of the lens.

It's available now... Is anyone using it.... Anything to report ?

Cheers!

I have one. Compared with the older plastic mount version the new STM lens feels better built, focuses more smoothly (and a lot less noisily) though not noticibly more accurately or even swiftly (at least in my limited use so far). OOF areas seem somewhat less 'crunchy', especially highlight areas. Manual focus seems better (though the lens has to be powered up) and the hood arrangement is much better. Overall, it seems a useful minor update to the 'plastic fantastic' 50 but don't expect miracles.

...Mike