Nikon has made two ~40mm lenses.
1) 45mm f2.8 GN- a funky lens from back in the day that has a sliding scale on it to help tell you what flash settings to use, based on focus.
2) 45mm f2.8 P (AIS)- really cool lens released with the FM3A in both silver and black. Expensive. Not terribly hard to find. Good performer, and good looks too.
Leica made the 40/2 Summicron-C, yes.
Minolta made the 40/2 M-Rokkor in both single and multicoated versions, and IIRC, it is the same optical formula. I prefer the look/build/design of the latest (CLE version) m-rokkor. I've had two copies, and on film, at least, it was excellent.
Gunzorro wrote:
The Canon 40/2.8 STM. What's not to like, it's cheap, sharp with good character, super-small, and has accurate AF!! How can you go wrong?
AF is how it goes wrong. i know i'm in the minority on that though.
ISO1600 wrote:
Isn't the Zuiko $400-$600?
And doesn't it only have 5 or 6 aperture bladeds?
6 aperture blades if i recall correctly, it's the rokkor MD 45mm that has 5 and yes, the olympus is a bit over priced.
the minolta MD 45mm has nice color and center sharpness, but it's pretty crappily made and its sharpness drops off quite a bit towards the edges.
ISO1600 wrote:
Leica made the 40/2 Summicron-C, yes.
Minolta made the 40/2 M-Rokkor in both single and multicoated versions, and IIRC, it is the same optical formula. I prefer the look/build/design of the latest (CLE version) m-rokkor. I've had two copies, and on film, at least, it was excellent.
the m-rokkor has the advantage of normal filter threads instead of the obnoxious series 5.5 filters and (at least i'm told) multicoating. the leica version probably has different colors than the minolta due to coatings, but minolta and leica colors were always pretty similar. the leica one comes with a little bit of a leica tax too... they usually run about $200 more than the m-rokkor. i've only shot the leica version, but it is one of my favorite lenses.
I really like the Canon 40mm STM, very sharp, nice color, buttery smooth focus ring. But be aware, while the manual focus is awesome, it is "focus by wire" meaning it requires power to focus, even in manual mode. Not a problem if using it with an EOS mount, or adaptor that can power it, BIG problem if you want to use it on a "dumb" adaptor.
Steve Spencer wrote:
Anyone have the Konica Hexanon 40 f/1.8? It looks like a nice little lens.
it's very good, a little bit bigger than the rokkor 45 and olympus OM with build quality in between the two. it does require a mount conversion and i'm pretty sure it won't clear the mirror on a FF canon camera. the lens is sharp from wide open but does have a fair bit of SA at f/1.8. from f/2.8 on it has extremely good contrast and microcontrast. bokeh is funky and it has six aperture blades.
sebboh wrote:
AF is how it goes wrong. i know i'm in the minority on that though.
6 aperture blades if i recall correctly, it's the rokkor MD 45mm that has 5 and yes, the olympus is a bit over priced.
the minolta MD 45mm has nice color and center sharpness, but it's pretty crappily made and its sharpness drops off quite a bit towards the edges.
the m-rokkor has the advantage of normal filter threads instead of the obnoxious series 5.5 filters and (at least i'm told) multicoating. the leica version probably has different colors than the minolta due to coatings, but minolta and leica colors were always pretty similar. the leica one comes with a little bit of a leica tax too... they usually run about $200 more than the m-rokkor. i've only shot the leica version, but it is one of my favorite lenses....Show more →
I myself wasn't impressed with the AF performance of the 40mm STM, I found it slow and tbh the lens:camera size ratio was a little odd to my taste.
I would rather use the 35 f2 or Sigma 50 than it.
but not alot of choices of 40mm for Canon, it's either the pancake or go Voigtlander 40mm f2 MF.
but for the price the canon pancake is worth a try.
if you go M-mount then there's the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 which is great.
or buy a Canonet QL17 film camera with its 40mm lens and f/1.7
thanks for more imput. How does the 40mm Voiglander f1.4 perform on the M9, which framelines would be best to use. Will go looking when the house sells
i know i'm in the minority on that though.