Looking for a cheap-ish wide angle

C

cameron.knight

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May 31, 2008
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I have two Zorki cameras, a 1 and 4K. I'm looking to purchase a wide angle lens. I'm not too picky about the focal length, I'd just prefer it be wider than a 35mm. The Jupiter 12 seems commonly available and of good quality, but it's just not wide enough for me. I've been shooting film and full frame digital SLRs for many years, and I have a 24mm lens for almost every SLR I own.

I just purchased a Jupiter 69, and due to some knowledgable RFF member, I learned it was built for half-frame cameras, which makes me an idiot for buying one.

Is there any other wide angle lens (28mm, 25mm, etc...) that won't cost me an arm and a leg? A good Jupiter 12 from a good dealer is going for $75-100 on Ebay right now. That's the price I'm hoping to spend. I could probably go up to $150 if I absolutely had to.

I've only been on this forum a few days, and have learned a lot. Looking forward to hear suggestions.
 
I wouldn't have known if not for this forum, and the website I pointed you to (zorkikat is a member here, as well).

There really aren't any others, I'm afraid. There's the 28mm Orion you already heard about in the other thread ($300), and the 20mm Russar ($625). These prices are from fedka.com. Ebay from Russia/Ukraine should be less, but then the risk is on you, and you have to wait for the mail.
 
The Orion looks like it's more in my price range, but the f/6 is a huge turn off. Even the Russar is f/5.6.

I think I might just have to bite the bullet, spend more and get the Voigtlander 25mm Snapshot Skopar for about $300. It's an f/4 and I can get in from seller in the U.S.

I think my only other option is re-evaluating my relationship with a 35mm. lol

Thanks again for all your help.
 
Unless you are an fsu purist, I'd go with the Voigtlander 25mm or 21mm. Very nice lenses - very nice for the price.

I snagged a 21mm locally and have been very happy with the lens and finder. Something of an impulse purchase as I hadn't has much luck with a Nikon 24mm; in hindsight I was trying to use it like a 35mm which didn't work well. Going all the way to 21mm... I compose differently with it.
 
Keep in mind the 25mm has no rangefinder helicoid -- you focus using the distance measure, an act for which there's a simple common expression that my senile mind has dropped from sight at the moment. The 21 -- a lens I love on LTM -- has a rangefinder. Scale focus? Jeez Louise. My brain. Anyway, also keep an eye out for the old Nikon 28mm and the Voigtlander 28mm both very good. You will have to wait and watch carefully to get one at your price. Don't forget to check KEH once in a while.
 
In any case -- if you're patient -- you can expect to pay $300 or a bit more. Ocassionally an auction will see one go for a smidgen less.
 
I-69

I-69

I picked one of these for around $40. It actually comes off a Chaika half frame camera. The results are perfectly ok of you are not too picky with resolution. Mine came with an extension tube (?) but I don't need it. I tried it with a piece of ground glass on my Canon VT and the image looks fine. f2.8, clear lens, why pay big $$ for an Orion which I pretty disappointing when you can get an Industar 69? Or buy the Chaika - they're cheap as well!
 
Prices etc

Prices etc

Prices are not carved in stone; I'm often appalled by the ones quote on RFF from time to time. They vary from day to day and dealer to dealer. I'm sure i'm not the only one who has bought something and then spotted a better one at half the price (or unsold on ebay for 99p).

As for the Orion or any other old lens, few people buy them new and they should be treated like anything else second or third hand: meaning, get them checked and adjusted etc by a technician. A lot of lenses, even Leitz can change, as if by magic, once they've been sorted out and it won't cost the earth.

Regards, David
 
john341 said:
well, mine was. Had to stop right down to get an acceptable image.I get as good results from the I-69..have a look
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Industar-69...78942759?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item2569361827
IMPO the Orion is rubbish, but other users may have had better luck with a different product. I like my I-69
Click to expand...

I find that hard to believe. The I-69 will not cover 24x36, was never meant to. Got any photos to share, rather than another misleading ebay listing?

Here's the link I already posted in the other thread. RFF member zorkikat published his test results over two years ago already: http://www.zorkikat.com/industar-69-28mm/265/
 
That M42 idea isn't bad. I already have a 24mm M42 lens for my Pentax Spotmatic kit. The focusing would be a slight issue, but 24mm lens have a pretty deep DOF anyway. The only other problem is that my 24mm (a cool Sigma Filtermatic with 3 or 4 built-in colored filters accessed and changed via a ring on the lens) is GIANT. Well, it sounds like I have some options. The 28mm I-69 is already on it's way. I ordered it before I even started posting about all of this. Batterytype filled me in on the half frame issue. I played around with a 35mm lens last night, and it's wider than I thought it was, and J-12s are pretty cheap. I have plenty of cameras and things to play with, so I'm not super desperate to get this kit up and running. It's just something I've been working on.
 
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