adamr1699
Established
Hi all,
I am on the search for a 25mm or wider manual slr lens. The goal is to adapt it to canon EF mount. I've looked at the nikkor 20mm 3.5 but I am having trouble finding any other information on other lenses. Any mount is fine, except FD. Does anyone have any favorites they like to use?
Thanks all,
Adam R.
I am on the search for a 25mm or wider manual slr lens. The goal is to adapt it to canon EF mount. I've looked at the nikkor 20mm 3.5 but I am having trouble finding any other information on other lenses. Any mount is fine, except FD. Does anyone have any favorites they like to use?
Thanks all,
Adam R.
gavinlg
Veteran
I'd go either of the Olympus 21mm's for best IQ, the Minolta MD 24mm f2.8 for best value, or the voigtlander 20mm f3.5 in EF mount for best overall.
x-ray
Veteran
I used to use Rollei 3003's and had a set of Zeiss lenses. I can't say how they'd do on a digital sensor but they were excellent on film.
There's a 25 f2.8 Distagon, 18 f4 Distagon and 15 Distagon. I can't remember the speed of the 15 but think it was f3.5 but could have been 2.8. I owned them for several years. The 25 was I think made in Singapore but the others were German.
I have the Nikkor 20 f3.5, the little one with 52mm filters. I use it on my DF and use it quite a bit. As 20's go from Nikon it's good. Wide open it's a little soft in the corners but really good in the center. At f8 it's really good overall. I'm very fond of it.
I owned the 20 f2.8 in the film days and it was quite good. I've also used the old 20 f3.5 that uses 72mm filters. My experience was on film and can't confirm on digital. It's just OK and nothing special. 20's haven't been Nikons strong point in those days. I don't think the 18's were either or the 15 f3.5. I had a 15 f3.5 and shot a lot of annual report and editorial work with it but had to be conciliatory all the time of flare and light sources just outside the frame. Matter of fact if any light source could hit the lens you would get big time flare. The one positive thing was it's pretty sharp, really great perspective and if you're creative could use the flare to your advantage.
I traded the 15 for the AF 14 which was a huge improvement in flare.
About 35 years ago I used Pentax MX in my work. Loved the bodies and most of the lenses with one e. Eption. The 18mm f3.5 was the worst lens I've ever owned. I had three copies and sent one back to the factory for adjustment twice. It was good in the center 1/3 and as you approached the edges it turned to smeared mush. All three lenses were the same. I don't think it was made for long.
Pentax took my 18 back and I got a sweet little 20 which was a jewel. The was in the 70's if that helps date the lens.
I understand th Zeiss 25 Flektagon is very good but never used one.
There's always the new Zeiss lenses in EOS mount. I tried a 25 f2, 35 f2 and 100 macro f2.when I bought my D800. I know people that swear by them especially the 21 but the three I had weren't anything special wide open at the outer 1/3. I felt my vintage Nikkors were as good. I wound up returning them to B&H.
There's a 25 f2.8 Distagon, 18 f4 Distagon and 15 Distagon. I can't remember the speed of the 15 but think it was f3.5 but could have been 2.8. I owned them for several years. The 25 was I think made in Singapore but the others were German.
I have the Nikkor 20 f3.5, the little one with 52mm filters. I use it on my DF and use it quite a bit. As 20's go from Nikon it's good. Wide open it's a little soft in the corners but really good in the center. At f8 it's really good overall. I'm very fond of it.
I owned the 20 f2.8 in the film days and it was quite good. I've also used the old 20 f3.5 that uses 72mm filters. My experience was on film and can't confirm on digital. It's just OK and nothing special. 20's haven't been Nikons strong point in those days. I don't think the 18's were either or the 15 f3.5. I had a 15 f3.5 and shot a lot of annual report and editorial work with it but had to be conciliatory all the time of flare and light sources just outside the frame. Matter of fact if any light source could hit the lens you would get big time flare. The one positive thing was it's pretty sharp, really great perspective and if you're creative could use the flare to your advantage.
I traded the 15 for the AF 14 which was a huge improvement in flare.
About 35 years ago I used Pentax MX in my work. Loved the bodies and most of the lenses with one e. Eption. The 18mm f3.5 was the worst lens I've ever owned. I had three copies and sent one back to the factory for adjustment twice. It was good in the center 1/3 and as you approached the edges it turned to smeared mush. All three lenses were the same. I don't think it was made for long.
Pentax took my 18 back and I got a sweet little 20 which was a jewel. The was in the 70's if that helps date the lens.
I understand th Zeiss 25 Flektagon is very good but never used one.
There's always the new Zeiss lenses in EOS mount. I tried a 25 f2, 35 f2 and 100 macro f2.when I bought my D800. I know people that swear by them especially the 21 but the three I had weren't anything special wide open at the outer 1/3. I felt my vintage Nikkors were as good. I wound up returning them to B&H.
Last edited:
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
I was just thinking about Rollei QBM lenses. 18 f4 Distagon and 16 f4 Distagon are great, especially the 18 if you don't want fish eye distortion.
This is Distagon 18:
Not the best of the photos, but only one on hand.
This is Distagon 16
Best regards.
Fraser
Well-known
Why can't it be EF mount?
I have the Nikkor 20mm f3.5 and its fine but I'd rather have the old canon EF 20-35 or even the cheaper f3.5-4.5. The old nikkor stuff is always quite pricey now especially at the wide end or the long end!
good luck.
I have the Nikkor 20mm f3.5 and its fine but I'd rather have the old canon EF 20-35 or even the cheaper f3.5-4.5. The old nikkor stuff is always quite pricey now especially at the wide end or the long end!
good luck.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Fraser
Well-known
A quick pic from my df with 20mm f3.5 (72mm).
full frame
17fbpic20mmframe by f4saregreat!, on Flickr
Centre
17fbpic20mmcentre by f4saregreat!, on Flickr
Bottom right
17fbpic20mmbottomright by f4saregreat!, on Flickr
focus was on chimney in middle.
full frame
17fbpic20mmframe by f4saregreat!, on FlickrCentre
17fbpic20mmcentre by f4saregreat!, on FlickrBottom right
17fbpic20mmbottomright by f4saregreat!, on Flickrfocus was on chimney in middle.
presspass
filmshooter
Doesn't Zeiss make manual wides in the EF mount?
mbisc
Silver Halide User
It's my understanding that the price of my beloved C/Y (Contax/Yashica) wide-angle lenses is so (insanely) high because they are so easy to use (via adapter) on Canon cameras. If so, the f4/18mm Distagon is a fabulous non-distorting wide-angle lens. The earlier AE version (Made in Germany) is likely the identical optical formula as the above mentioned QBM version for Rollei...