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Archive 2011 · very best wides for nex 5n......

  
 
uhoh7
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · very best wides for nex 5n......


I am getting ready to do a major glass reset---sell a bunch and buy a few

Perhaps we can get one thread where the best wides are nailed down for the 5n?

I'm most interested in wider than 35, but others might have use for what we now know with the 35s.

The ZM18 looks incredible from philbers examples and that's on my list.

At 21 there is the ZM 21/2.8----how is that lens performing? What do we think are now the very best options at 20-21? I'd love to get the summilux, but I can't go there--however would be great to know how it shoots.

At 24-5 we have the sony and the ZM 25/2.8. Is the zeiss 25 now really resolving to it's potential--and what others should be considered.

28 is where I am ready to spend some real money if I need to. Basically it seems down to ZC 28/2.8 vs ZM 28/2.8 vs Leica 28/2 summicron. Last is the 28 elmarit. I'm leaning to the summicron even though its 3k, simply because it seems best of all worlds. Please any and all chime in with 28 thoughts.

I have so much glass lying around I started adding it all up and think I could pair down to just a few pricey but great lenses.

What's your dream list for the 12-35 range? and why?



Nov 26, 2011 at 02:10 PM
inglis
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · very best wides for nex 5n......


Uhoh,
You do need to list at some point what you are selling and if possible why, since you have explained so many new lenses with such care, or at least your final thoughts on the more interesting lenses if you have too many upon which to comment.



Nov 26, 2011 at 02:24 PM
uhoh7
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · very best wides for nex 5n......


you are kind to refer to my lens spamming in that way Maybe I'll do that in here as they go.

Here are two 35s I may keep
the skopar at 2.5
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6406808749_abc80921b5_b.jpg
and my beauty--the lens I love most right now for social stuff.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6406685707_118403728c_b.jpg
for a house party its so nice--set it at 1.2 and forget it. You can hand hold easy at 1/40---somebody good could go much lower, and it manages the highlights pretty remarkably
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6403678637_90f5cf1835_b.jpg
the OOF is to die for---I think it's only rival in the low light niche is the leica 35/1.4
oh--you should recognise it of course the CV 35/1.2.

The new shutter on the 5n makes a HUGE difference in these sort of shots. With the 5, they very often looked up as I fired, now they rarely do

In the end I may need a technical 35, maybe a biogon, for which I'd let go my skopar and the nokton 35/1.4. The 1.2 I won't sell unless I'm begging on the street.



Nov 26, 2011 at 02:51 PM
mcbroomf
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · very best wides for nex 5n......


Hmmm.... no SLR lenses? Of course I do realise the size advantage of rangefinders but there are some excellent SLR choices... and zooms!

I'm currently using a C/Y to fill the 18mm slot although a friend has promised I can borrow the 18mm ZM. I know he doesn't like it so if it's a good copy I hope to get a good deal if it really tops the c/y . The 18mm C/Y corner issues are gone, I'm using it with the hood though, so it is a little large...

For wider I use the 12 and 15mm CV. The 12 is fine but the 15 seems to have some corner colour issues. It's a really sharp lens though and as I don't want to even LOOK at the 15mm ZM or the WATE I'll be checking out Cornerfix very soon. Used it with a Hawks and it rocks....

Longer than 18mm my current goto lens is the 21-35 R Leica. It has some shortcomings on FF but on the 5N is really excellent. It's a little chubby, but for the FL range I think it's an excellent compromise. I just wish it would focus a little closer though, so I have an R to M adapter on it's way and can then use the Hawks to see what it looks like closer than a couple of feet. I'm pretty sure it's IF though, so the Hawks may not work well.

I'm trying out a faster 28mm lens as well; Rokkor F2, c/y F2 and CV 1.9. Aside from a slight colour difference that doesn't bother me the Rokkor and C/Y are AMAZINGLY similar (and very good, again, corner performance issues are gone). I've only just received the 28/1.9 CV and need to spend more time with it. I would prefer it as it's smaller and with the Hawks can focus REALLY close.

I thought about getting the 35/1.2 CV, but I rarely use fast normal glass and the low end of my "walk around" zoom is the 35-70 VS c/y and we all know how it performs. I suppose I need to put it up against the Leica some time to see which lens should on on my camera when shooting 35mm.

BTW I use an SP Adaptall2 35-80 for a while and it is also an excellent compact lens for MUCH less.
Even tho' this is about WA, for longer duty I'm using the 90/2.5 SP Adaptall 2 and a 135/3.5 Canon LTM.

One caveate about the 18mm length. IMO this is a good FL to use tilt and/or shift (if you have an interest) and rangefinder lenses don't allow for that opportunity. There's a Kipon shift adapter (for Nikon SLR only) so the 18mm ZF is a suitable candidate. There's also a tilt (only) adapter for EF to E, but I bought a copy and had to return it as it wouldn't hold in the locked position. I was hoping to use the 18mm C/Y. With any luck there will be more offered in the future as the cameras proliferate and demand goes up.

Regards

Mike



Nov 26, 2011 at 05:41 PM
Sosua
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · very best wides for nex 5n......


For my wide i'm using the CV 15mm (M mount) and i've been really impressed, its my favorite UWA thus far and i've owned a lot (about 15 SLR crop and FF zooms and primes), although nothing as fancy as the ZE 21 or EF 24 TSE II.

Its very sharp and I love the way it seems to draw in flat lighting - provides an awesome base for processing RAW files with oodles of natural, subtle detail ready to be developed how you wish.

One thing I like is its consistency across the frame and a strange ability to get everything in sharp enough focus (more so than i've experienced with other UWAs). Corner color shifting is only a factor rarely for me and easily fixed.

I've tried the 35mm Skopar and 28mm Ultron as well, but was not so impressed - the Skopar showed major smearing on the edges (left and right - it was fine on the bottom and top edges) until F5.6 - 8. It was very sharp centrally however from wide open. I assumed this was a sensor issue and returned it, although others here seem to be really liking it so perhaps i'll try a different one sometime - size was awesome and very fast to focus with the short throw tab.

The Ultron didn't really impress me - it was soft at F2, much more so at the edges and really didn't come right across the frame until F8. The centre was very sharp at about F4. It was also a little large and heavy (at 250grams, haha, how my perceptions of large and heavy have changed!)

Looking for a great approximately 35mm still to fill my 'normal' gap... Might look at a 40mm Summicron (although slightly long) or perhaps I should just man up and get a 35mm Biogon!




Nov 26, 2011 at 07:09 PM
Tri Tran
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · very best wides for nex 5n......


I really dig the Contax Biogon 28mm G

Squirrel with the Biogon 28mm f2.8 by Anh Tri, on Flickr



Nov 26, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Jacob D
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · very best wides for nex 5n......


I am going down this road myself.

I have a self imposed size limitation too, and I don't consider Leica glass a necessity so I am not considering those.

I'm have the following now and preparing to do an extensive "test" between these lenses, of which I'm going to pick a couple to keep.

- CV 21/4 Color Skopar (Charles, you pointed me to this lens)
- CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar
- Oly OM 24/2.8
- Contax G 28/2.8 Biogon

I haven't been organized enough to really pick any of them apart yet, but a couple of quick observations...

The CV lenses seem close to the Biogon, but don't quite match up edge to edge for sharpness. It also appears that the Biogon is better corrected and handles CA's very nicely.

The CV lenses are a little more compact and lighter than the Contax G counterparts, adapters for each are about the same weight and size. The focusing on the CV's is much better than the adapter focusing with the G lenses.

The Oly lenses offer a ton of bang for the buck, and although the 24/2.8 is pretty good edge to edge, the CV's and G outshine it noticeably here (I need to do a better controlled test to confirm). Color and punch from the Oly can be on par with the others for the most part, after processing. The Oly and the G can close focus, the CV's cannot.


For me, I think it's going to come down to CV vs. Contax G. Hard decision. If I don't get used to the adapter focusing it will probably be the CV's, which do need a little color correction, but at the end of the day I would rather live with that than lenses that don't fit my mechanics.


The ZM C-Biogons would be my choice if budget was not an issue. I don't know if we have seen how these handle on the 5N yet though (have we?)



Nov 26, 2011 at 08:53 PM
JimBuchanan
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · very best wides for nex 5n......


Tri Tran wrote:
I really dig the Contax Biogon 28mm G


How does it do in the corners of the NEX?



Nov 26, 2011 at 09:04 PM
uhoh7
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · very best wides for nex 5n......


mcbroomf wrote:
Hmmm.... no SLR lenses?


I have some very good SLR lenses, but they simply cannot match the zeiss and leica RF glass---to my considerable surprise. Even the skopars run circles around my SLR stuff in the centers at long range.

The set I'm considering now is:

ZM 18
ZM 21/2.8
28/2 summicron

Those are the critical ones for me. The summicron is obviously the huge hit---and a bit crazy when you look at the fantastic contax G 2.8 above, which is dirt cheap in comparision.

But the difference bewteen f/2 and f/2.8 is huge for low light, and 28 I feel is the best size to have on the camera most of the time.

The 21/2.8 is another nod to low light---and it seems the G biogon is not at the same level on the n5 as the ZM---but I may be wrong about that.

I added everything up tonite and I have about 8k in glass which I could spare. I think the market in spring/summer after the n7 is out should be good enough for liquidation. That leaves me 3k for something else--n7 body; part of zm 15/2.8, or all of a 135 telyt (another crazy choice but I lust after a crazy sharp 135)



Nov 26, 2011 at 09:40 PM
Jeff Kott
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · very best wides for nex 5n......


Uhoh,

Have you considered skipping the 28 and having ZM 18, 25/2.8 and 35/2.8 and just hanging onto your CV 35/1.2 for low light?

I think the 25/2.8 is a stronger performer than the 21.



Nov 26, 2011 at 10:31 PM
Smiert Spionam
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · very best wides for nex 5n......


I don't have uhoh7's supply of readily liquid glass, but I'm a fellow traveler on this quest. I'd love to find a 24-28mm lens that could be my perfect all-around lens for the NEX. 24mm is really where I want to be -- 35mm on full frame is one of my favorite focal lengths, and it mates well on an NEX with the short fast tele offered by a 50mm prime.

For me, 28mm is good, and 24mm is better, and something f/2 or faster is important. For stopped down performance, the kit lens is pretty decent, and I'd like a fast companion to the 50mm/85mm combo I carry for low light stuff. The Voigtlander 28/1.9 or 28/2 seem to be the most likely candidates, since the only 24/2 options are bulky SLR lenses (the not-so-great 24/2 Nikkor, or the new ZF 25/2, which is heavy and pricey but probably pretty great).

At the end of the day, the Zeiss 24/1.8 e-mount is probably going to start looking awfully good. I shot with one briefly, and was impressed.



Nov 26, 2011 at 10:31 PM
h00ligan
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · very best wides for nex 5n......


Given that we are using the sweet part of the lens..is the cv 35 1.2 really worth it over the 1.4, which is smaller and half the price?

The contax g 28, it's sharp..if it was f2 I'd be done for now..

Cv 15 looks really interesting, but if you are getting a nex7, wouldn't I pay to wait, since it seems the uw have issues on that body?

Contax g lenses..my 28 moves a lot more easily than the 45, the 45 is a better lens for me. Doing things over, I'd spend more and not use contax g lenses due to how slow focusing is with the adaptor, I'd just buy some m zeiss or cv's or something.

Edited on Nov 27, 2011 at 12:29 AM · View previous versions



Nov 27, 2011 at 12:27 AM
loosh
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · very best wides for nex 5n......


I can't imagine owning the number of lenses some of you guys own, but I'd start at 50mm and work backwards. 50mm, 28mm, and a super wide (15?). One tele prime to finish the set. If I'm buying a bigger SLR lens, it would be a zoom - might as well capitalize on the extra space.

So if I need to pick a 28mm, it would be Zeiss - Leica is too spendy at that focal length, and since it's my most important focal length, I want as few compromises as possible (Sorry Voigtlander). Picking a Contax G over a ZM pays for at least one other lens, but I wouldn't mind the feel of the ZM. Tough choice.



Nov 27, 2011 at 12:29 AM
Sosua
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · very best wides for nex 5n......


Loosh - it depends on the Voigtlander - a bunch of them are excellent lenses in their own right, as Sean Reid says, perhaps they would be taken more seriously if they were priced higher.

As to number of lenses, I think 3 covers me nicely, perhaps a 4th as a low light or bokeh specialist which would stay home most of the time.

15 / 35 / 90 and perhaps a fast 50 would see me through pretty much anything!



Nov 27, 2011 at 01:03 AM
frezeiss
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · very best wides for nex 5n......


loosh wrote:
I can't imagine owning the number of lenses some of you guys own, but I'd start at 50mm and work backwards. 50mm, 28mm, and a super wide (15?). One tele prime to finish the set. If I'm buying a bigger SLR lens, it would be a zoom - might as well capitalize on the extra space.

So if I need to pick a 28mm, it would be Zeiss - Leica is too spendy at that focal length, and since it's my most important focal length, I want as few compromises as possible (Sorry Voigtlander). Picking a Contax G over a
...Show more

+1

Bought the contax 90 a while ago and it was a good lens but focusing with the adapter is a pain. If money isn't a factor, I prefer Zeiss ZM lenses over Zeiss G lenses. In the case of the ZM 28, the results on photozone was excellent on the center while not so good in the corners (NEX 5). I'd thought the 5N could solve that issue already?

Uhoh, my trio of lenses for the 5N includes ZM 35C, ZM 50 and still to be decided ZM 21 / ZM 25. I want ZM 21 as its more further away from my 35 but it looks like the 25 that is more highly regarded. I remember a while ago, Denoir post comparisons between it and 28 cron in the Leica M thread. The result was the Zeiss is the sharper lens.




Nov 27, 2011 at 01:22 AM
uhoh7
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · very best wides for nex 5n......


TY everyone for input--plz keep it coming. Put in an offer on a 28/2 tonite. GUlp.

@ jeff & frezeiss

I may be wrong---plz don't anyone hestitate to tell me I'm crazy with any of my conclusions.

What I'm getting: the 28/2 is superb on multiple levels. Sharp--a given. Yes the zeiss 25 might/is sharper (though I'm not sure if that's so on the nex), but the lecia is so much faster and has more natural rendering OOF.

Why the zm21 instead of the 25? A 2.8 21 is pretty dangerous-- I love the EFL---it's close to the 18---but again it can go indoors. Any links to denoir and others findings greatly apreciated. I may just be projecting greatness onto the 21--Rock Huffwell loves it--oh no!

And I am leaving space for the sony 24 if needed--though the increments are getting pretty tiny.

@hooligan I've been a great defender of the cv 35/1.4 MC My copy is quite good--but it will go on the block for sure. It's well worth the money. It has the tiny footprint going for it too. But it draws too modern for my taste and is not quite there technically in the deep corners. OOF is "OK". You pay another 350USD and you have something totally different. Now others may not care for the way the 35/1.2 paints--but as you all know by now, I am just crazy about it in low light.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6403684079_551678b04c_b.jpg
Like the Canon LTM 50/1.2 or the Nikkor 5cm/1.4 it is an utterly unique lens--and better yet its easy to use

by comparison here is the 35/1.4
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6050/6287973054_c3a51d3e16_b.jpg
not a perfect shot of course, but you just would never mistake it for the 1.2
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6403691631_4dff41c216_b.jpg
it's heavy, but that's not such a huge issue indoors---my prefered indoor 85 is 700 grams!
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6406735897_1e01f0c9fa_b.jpg
Canon LTM 85/1.5

and I'll also sell my 50/1.1 in favor of the old canon 50/1.2:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6095/6406730773_e61aeabfe4_b.jpg

I will also put my n7 order on hold untill I see what it does with the new set--and wait till 2nd gen if I need too.

My 50/2 summicorn will go, and I'll use either a contax 45 or a lecia 40 to replace it. So far my tele-elmarit is on the keep list---the contax 90 really should potenially replace it for less, but so far I am not seeing quite the same sharpness on the nex from that one----would love to be wrong on that

Edited on Nov 27, 2011 at 02:55 AM · View previous versions



Nov 27, 2011 at 02:29 AM
bigkidneys
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · very best wides for nex 5n......


I should have my newly acquired Pentax 15ltd F/4 early this week and will post samples on the 5N. The shots I have seen with the K5 have been nothing short of outstanding but then again, it could have been the operator...


Nov 27, 2011 at 02:37 AM
Jacob D
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · very best wides for nex 5n......


frezeiss wrote:
Uhoh, my trio of lenses for the 5N includes ZM 35C, ZM 50 and still to be decided ZM 21 / ZM 25. I want ZM 21 as its more further away from my 35 but it looks like the 25 that is more highly regarded. I remember a while ago, Denoir post comparisons between it and 28 cron in the Leica M thread. The result was the Zeiss is the sharper lens.



Does ZM 35C = C-Biogon? How does this do on the NEX 5 and/or 5N? Have you posted any photos taken with that lens? Sorry for the thread hi-jack, but I think it's sorta relevant to the conversation anyway.

I am thinking that 21 and 35 C-Biogons would be my ideal kit for small, light, superb.



Uhoh, your new lineup sounds good. I think it's hard to go wrong in the land of expensive alt lenses.

I would think that you'd hold onto the 35/1.2 for indoor use, right? I tend to separate low-light lenses from general use lenses, as I think many "low light" lenses do better in those sorts of environs, i.e. indoors photographing people. When the lens has some character in those situations it adds to the appeal of the photos (CV 35/1.2 for example). In a technical shot the character might step in uninvited. Just my opinion.



Nov 27, 2011 at 01:03 PM
uhoh7
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · very best wides for nex 5n......


Jacob D wrote:
I would think that you'd hold onto the 35/1.2 for indoor use, right? I tend to separate low-light lenses from general use lenses, as I think many "low light" lenses do better in those sorts of environs, i.e. indoors photographing people. When the lens has some character in those situations it adds to the appeal of the photos (CV 35/1.2 for example). In a technical shot the character might step in uninvited. Just my opinion.


Hi Jacob

For sure I will need some sort of technical 35--now I have the skopar, maybe I will change to biogon or something, but the skopar is good enough for now.

However the summicron 28/2 would be jack of all trades--just fast enough for low light and sharp enough for technical work as well. I will sell the 4 28s I now have---which are worth about 2k all together or more. (they are: cv 28/3.5, elmarit 28 (80s), nikon 28/2 and a nikkor PC 28)

And the ZM 21 should also be able to do everything. But to travel light I can take the ZM18 and the 28 and be pretty much covered till 45 or 50.



Nov 27, 2011 at 02:33 PM
Edgars Kalnins
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · very best wides for nex 5n......


I have heard that conurus is working on an AF adapter for contax G for use on NEX. If it is reliable it might tip the balance towards G. An interesting option for me seems the old Contarex 21mm f4.5. To my surprise I discovered that it is a biogon and, I presume, goes deep inside the lens body. That would explain the special viewfinder. Please, correct me if I am wrong here.
Could make a well made and compact 21mm!



Nov 27, 2011 at 04:09 PM
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