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Wide angle Lens


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Hello everyone,

 

I am currently in search of a wide angle lens that I can adapt onto my a7r without emptying my wallet. Preferably, I would like a 35mm but am willing to consider anything from 20mm-35mm. Also, the lens MUST be a quick low light performer, as I mostly do concert photography.

 

If anyone knows of a lens or two that would suit my needs I would greatly appreciate any advice! Thank you!

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Hello and welcome!

 

Now, about your question.

 

There is an old Nikon lens (same optical scheme as the "current" Ai version, just possibly older coating) Nikkor-O 35mm f/2 that could suit your purpose. You can find one for 60€ and it is quite a nice performer.

 

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Nikkor-O 35/2

 

If you're willing to spend a bit more the Minolta MC 35mm f/1.8 (around 150€) is hands down one of the best classic (i.e. not aspherical) 35mm lenses I ever used. It soundly beat the Nikon 35/1.8 AF G that I had at the same time (this trying both on the same full format camera, an A7r), even fully open in the center.

 

Minolta MC 35/1.8

 

Spend even more (price fluctuates a lot, I've seen it from 200€ to 500€) and you can get a Minolta M-Rokkor (Leica M mount) 40mm f/2. It is a touch worse than the Minolta MC 35/1.8, but it is also wildly smaller.

 

Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2

 

If you need AF, considering third party adapted lenses on the A7r have poor focusing, then your only option (luckily a great one optically) would be an LA-EA4 adapter + the Minolta AF 35mm f/2. The adapter runs around 200€ (new, Amazon) while the lens can be had for 200/250€.

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In addition to addicted2light's excellent suggestions I'll add that based on the rave reviews I keep seeing, if you can stretch to a $448 US range, you may want to consider the native FE 28 f/2. Auto and manual focus without the need for adapters.

 

Just a thought.

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Hello and welcome!

 

Now, about your question.

 

There is an old Nikon lens (same optical scheme as the "current" Ai version, just possibly older coating) Nikkor-O 35mm f/2 that could suit your purpose. You can find one for 60€ and it is quite a nice performer.

 

attachicon.gif_MG_2145.jpg

Nikkor-O 35/2

 

If you're willing to spend a bit more the Minolta MC 35mm f/1.8 (around 150€) is hands down one of the best classic (i.e. not aspherical) 35mm lenses I ever used. It soundly beat the Nikon 35/1.8 AF G that I had at the same time (this trying both on the same full format camera, an A7r), even fully open in the center.

 

attachicon.gif_DSC0831.jpg

Minolta MC 35/1.8

 

Spend even more (price fluctuates a lot, I've seen it from 200€ to 500€) and you can get a Minolta M-Rokkor (Leica M mount) 40mm f/2. It is a touch worse than the Minolta MC 35/1.8, but it is also wildly smaller.

 

attachicon.gif_DSC1641-42_pano.jpg

Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2

 

If you need AF, considering third party adapted lenses on the A7r have poor focusing, then your only option (luckily a great one optically) would be an LA-EA4 adapter + the Minolta AF 35mm f/2. The adapter runs around 200€ (new, Amazon) while the lens can be had for 200/250€.

Ah of course the Minolta lenses come to mind! Those are some of my all time favorites. One of my 'work-horse' lenses is actually a minolta Rokkor-x 135mm f/2.8. I would love to get the 35mm MC, but I can never find any locally and tend to be weary of purchasing used glass online. Do you know of any trusty sellers? Thank you for the suggestions!

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Ah of course the Minolta lenses come to mind! Those are some of my all time favorites. One of my 'work-horse' lenses is actually a minolta Rokkor-x 135mm f/2.8. I would love to get the 35mm MC, but I can never find any locally and tend to be weary of purchasing used glass online. Do you know of any trusty sellers? Thank you for the suggestions!

 

 

Well, since I moved back home (were the nearest photographic shop, digital stuff aside, to be found is at 100Km...) I've bought 99% of my cameras and lenses online.

 

Yet, during the years, I've had just 2 bad experiences. In one case it was the postal service fault: a Nikon Coolscan 8000 arrived, literally, bent in two (incredibly, even though the seller refused to pay for the damage, I sold it as parts, and I was still able to recover all the money...)! Another time a lens had bad fungus, but in this case I just sent it back to the seller.

 

My main source is ebay: as long as you read attentively the feedbacks you're not going to have bad experiences, at least not of the kind that cannot be solved by a mail to the seller.

 

Shops tend to be quite a bit more expensive than a private seller on ebay (or on catawiki, another auction site), but obviously being a shop they have more expenses to front as well.

 

And it is not always the case: when something becomes "fashionable" you will often be able to buy it way cheaper from a shop. To give you an example, years ago I was able to buy a Contax G 45/2, new old stock, for 200€ while on ebay etc., used, they tended to go for double that amount...same thing happened with my Contax 100-300 and with several other lenses. So don't discount a shop just right away, confront the prices first.

 

Beside the auction sites another great shop is http://www.secondhandcamera.nl/?page_id=595 (and they have a Minolta 35/1.8 at this page; it is wildly expensive, but it has been on their site for ages, so you could try contacting them and making an offer).

 

And if you're handy with Italian (or with Google Translate!) you could check as well:

 

www.newoldcamera.com 

 

www.fotootticacavour.com

 

www.ilcontattostore.com

 

I bought at one time or another from each one of them and they are all good sellers. The only gripe is that, if you ask to pay by credit card, quite often you will be required to pay the commissions (usually around a few % of the sum, if I'm not mistaken around 4%). This doesn't apply to a bank transfer, though.

 

Happy hunting!

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  • 5 months later...

Well, since I moved back home (were the nearest photographic shop, digital stuff aside, to be found is at 100Km...) I've bought 99% of my cameras and lenses online.

 

Yet, during the years, I've had just 2 bad experiences. In one case it was the postal service fault: a Nikon Coolscan 8000 arrived, literally, bent in two (incredibly, even though the seller refused to pay for the damage, I sold it as parts, and I was still able to recover all the money...)! Another time a lens had bad fungus, but in this case I just sent it back to the seller.

 

My main source is ebay: as long as you read attentively the feedbacks you're not going to have bad experiences, at least not of the kind that cannot be solved by a mail to the seller.

 

Shops tend to be quite a bit more expensive than a private seller on ebay (or on catawiki, another auction site), but obviously being a shop they have more expenses to front as well.

 

And it is not always the case: when something becomes "fashionable" you will often be able to buy it way cheaper from a shop. To give you an example, years ago I was able to buy a Contax G 45/2, new old stock, for 200€ while on ebay etc., used, they tended to go for double that amount...same thing happened with my Contax 100-300 and with several other lenses. So don't discount a shop just right away, confront the prices first.

 

Beside the auction sites another great shop is http://www.secondhandcamera.nl/?page_id=595 (and they have a Minolta 35/1.8 at this page; it is wildly expensive, but it has been on their site for ages, so you could try contacting them and making an offer).

 

And if you're handy with Italian (or with Google Translate!) you could check as well:

 

www.newoldcamera.com 

 

www.fotootticacavour.com

 

www.ilcontattostore.com

 

I bought at one time or another from each one of them and they are all good sellers. The only gripe is that, if you ask to pay by credit card, quite often you will be required to pay the commissions (usually around a few % of the sum, if I'm not mistaken around 4%). This doesn't apply to a bank transfer, though.

 

Happy hunting!

 

I built a kit with Contax/Zeiss primes, E. German Jena Zeiss primes and a smattering of cheaper "arty" lenses (such as the Helios). Almost all were acquired by eBay, and experiences have been virtually all positive. By checking feedback and with the PayPal buyer protection, I've felt very confident, even with virtually all of these lenses coming from overseas (Japan, mainly)

 

For budget options, I'd second the Minolta, and add Canon FD, Yashica, Takumar (Pentax) and even Konica. For something slightly better, the Jenas can be had very inexpensively (for what you get). I have both a 20mm and 35mm Jena wide-angle and they are quite excellent, focusing very close and have beautiful rendition. For a bit more, the Contax/Zeiss are quite exceptional. The 28mm/2.8 is particularly excellent, but I'd stay away from the 18mm/4 as it flares wildly. I'm returning that one. The seller was happy to accommodate this.

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

David 

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