Looking for great lens in 20 or 21mm.

[leica M2 fan]

Have Nikon F100 and OM 4 so could use info on Nikon optics or the Zuiko products. Any one have any info to share? Any thoughts? TIA.

 

[awilder]

I'd suggest Michael Liu's Nikon site. Lot's of great info on all MF Nikkors. Botton line: optically, there isn't a bad 20 mm Nikkor (unlike some other Nikkors), just different sizes and speeds. Two favorites among Nikon users is the 20/3.5 AIS or 20/2.8 AIS (optically identical as the 20/2.8 AFD). I have no doubt the Olympus Zuiko 20/3.5 or 20/2 are equally as good as I've read very nice things about them as well.

 

[ferider]

My dream lens has always been the Zuiko 21/2, Tony. Just imagine what f2 means at that angle. It's unique. One day ...

 

[Livesteamer]

I recently got an old Vivitar 21mm f3.8 in T4 mount off e bay for $35. Not a great lens but a great price and makes me want a CV 21 for my M's. It could also adapt between your two systems. Good Luck, Joe.

 

[Chris101]

21mm f/2 Zuiko:

Ok it's my bar & babes lens! 😉

 

[al1966]

I have a Sigma 20mm 1.8 it seems a quite good lens, but I have not used it enough to give a full analysis its massive though (82mm filter), just throwing it in as a possible, I think it is the fastest 20mm available.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Chris, i'm jealous. I wish I could afford one of those for my OM-4T. Awilder, Oly never made a 20mm lens. They made 18mm and 21mm lenses.

 

[awilder]

I stand corrected.

 

[mfogiel]

The best 21mm lens for an SLR tested so far is the Conta/Yashica Zeiss 21/2.8, however if you want to see the comparison of Olympus lenses to some others, take a look at this site:
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/, this is probably the most interesting lens testing site for the SLR users.

 

[Chris101]

Chris, i'm jealous. I wish I could afford one of those for my OM-4T. ...

I stumbled upon it used for a reasonable price back in the 80's. I was shocked to see what it sells for now. I've also got a Mamiya 24mm that seems to have hit the heights price-wise as well. I do not understand that as it is a very specialized lens!

None-the-less, the Zuiko 21 is a beautiful lens, scarcely larger than the 50mm. And oh, so bright!

 

[joachim]

Why SLR?

Why SLR?

Have Nikon F100 and OM 4 so could use info on Nikon optics or the Zuiko products. Any one have any info to share? Any thoughts? TIA.

Hi,

If you have an M2, what makes you want an 21mm for an SLR? These are bread-and-butter lenses for a rangefinder camera. Typically the 21mm lenses for RF cameras are just so much better, with respect to

• Corner resolution
• Distortion
• Contrast
• Size
• Simplicity of construction

Ok, they also have their disadvantages

• close focus
• external viewfinder can be a bit clumsy, incl. Parallax
• vignetting is usually worse than on retrofocus designs for SLR

So unless any of the latter apply, why no Biogon, Super Angulon, Elmarit M or Skopar? At the present time, there are a number of options (new and used), we never had it so good here.

 

[Leighgion]

I've got a Nikon 20mm f3.5 AIS. Ended up going for this model rather than the f2.8 as it's smaller and lighter. No complaints. Shot the following with my FE2 on Tri-X souped in D-76.

 

[shadowfox]

The Nikon 20/3.5 that I have is a fun lens, some samples:

... and I'm waiting for shipment of a Zuiko that I thought I'd never have 😉