Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

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Archive 2006 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax,...

willym
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p.1 #1 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

As the new owner of a Kodak SLR/c, I am looking for the best, fastest prime lenses. Unfortunately, I don't have alot of money, I would need to buy 3-4 primes for less than $300. I have read lots of criticisms here and elsewhere of Canon's primes, but I know that some are good to excellent.

Any recommendations of Canon lenses that I could get for under $300 new or used, that are as good or better than the equivalent 3rd party lenses?

Thanks, Bill

Feb 21, 2006 at 07:22 PM

willym
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p.1 #2 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

I should add that I shoot primarily landscapes and urbanscapes, as well abstract compositions. Also, just to clarify, I am looking to spend $300 or so each, not $300 total for 4 lenses! I may be poor, but I'm not a complete idiot. javascript:doinsertsmilie('

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Bill

Feb 22, 2006 at 01:47 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #3 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

I don't think you can get the ""best and fastest prime lenses"" for less than $ 300.
The 50/1,8..... 50/1,4....85/1,8......100/2....135/2,8 are rather cheap and good lenses. But not the best or fastest of course. It's difficult to answer without knowing whar focal lengths you like to have.

Feb 22, 2006 at 01:56 PM

CWayne
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p.1 #4 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

It currently costs about $320 on B&H, but you can't go wrong with the 50mm f/1.4. It's not an L, but it is a remarkably sharp lens by f/1.8 and leaves you shaking your head in amazement by f/2.

Feb 22, 2006 at 02:00 PM

willym
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p.1 #5 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

Lars Johnsson wrote:
I don't think you can get the ""best and fastest prime lenses"" for less than $ 300.

Ha! No, I guess not.

So to clarify, I am looking for prime lenses for my SLR/c in the 20-24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and possibly 135 mm lengths. In each length, I am looking for the "best and fastest prime lenses" that I can get for under $400 each (I know, I increased it). I am comparring Canon primes to the equivalent 3rd party primes available through adapters.

All other things being equal, I would prefer ot course to go with the Canon lenses. I obviously can't afford the 85 L, for instance, but I can afford a used 85 1.8 USM, which I am comparing, for instance, to the Leica Elmarit R 90mm.

What I am asking for is advice on which Canon primes I should pursue, and which Canon primes I should ignore.

Hope I've made the question clearer, and not just longer.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Bill

Feb 22, 2006 at 02:24 PM

mh2000
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p.1 #6 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

The 50mm Compact-Macro gives superb imaging quality that I would put right up there with my Summicon-50 and costs less than $300. The 85/1.8 is a great lens for under $400. The 35/2 is very very sharp.

Feb 22, 2006 at 02:56 PM

amalgam
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p.1 #7 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

canon 35 f/2, 50 f/1.8, 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.8, 135 f/2.8 softfocus are all good primes. the 35, 50 f/1.8, and 135 f/2.8 don't have the silent USM motor with full time manual focus. all are quite sharp wide open and have great optical characteristics.

for the 20-24, canon has 2 lenses in your price range: the 20 f/2.8, 24 f/2.8. the 24 does not have USM. opinions on these two are not as good as the others above. some recommend the sigma 20 f/1.8.

another lens you might consider is the 28 f/2.8.

you can find some test results along with user polled responses at photozone.de

Feb 22, 2006 at 04:33 PM

d10d
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p.1 #8 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

for an awesome semi-wide on a 1.6x body... Zeiss Distagon 2.8/28... amazing piece of glass for the money... one of my favourite landscape lenses...

Feb 22, 2006 at 04:43 PM

willym
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p.1 #9 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

d10d wrote:
for an awesome semi-wide on a 1.6x body... Zeiss Distagon 2.8/28... amazing piece of glass for the money... one of my favourite landscape lenses...

Have you seen any results for this lens on a FF like the Kodak?

Bill

Feb 22, 2006 at 08:57 PM

d10d
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p.1 #10 · Canon Primes vs 3rd-party (Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, etc.)

i believe a few FM'ers here have used this lens with great success on bodies like the 1DsMk2....

Feb 23, 2006 at 12:47 AM

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