I tried 4 lenses to use with my A7R. The 28 f:3.5 seems nice enough, and I bought it, because I sorely need a WA since I am going to Iceland in 2 weeks. I tried a 200 f:5.0 (?) and it performed poorly, with more CA than sharpness. The 50 f:1.4 looked very nice indeed, and I would have bought it except that it looks quite decentered. The 50 f:3.5 also looked good, as did the 35 f:2.8 tilt-shift, but for those 2 I am angling for a better price. The shots here confirm my good opinion of the macro and fast 50. Opinions on the tilt-shift? Price?
redisburning wrote:
I just find it strange that the zuiko thread is so unpopular given that prices on these lenses has stayed high
KEH's supply is less than it was a couple months ago. Maybe it is the A7R effect? I'd love to post more, but winter in the midwestern USA has been brutal this year and has a put a crimp on my photography efforts.
philber wrote:
I tried 4 lenses to use with my A7R. The 28 f:3.5 seems nice enough, and I bought it, because I sorely need a WA since I am going to Iceland in 2 weeks. I tried a 200 f:5.0 (?) and it performed poorly, with more CA than sharpness. The 50 f:1.4 looked very nice indeed, and I would have bought it except that it looks quite decentered. The 50 f:3.5 also looked good, as did the 35 f:2.8 tilt-shift, but for those 2 I am angling for a better price. The shots here confirm my good opinion of the macro and fast 50. Opinions on the tilt-shift? Price?...Show more →
Philber,
Unless you walk into a good deal with someone who does not understand what they are selling, prices on the tilt-shift lenses are quite expensive from what I've seen, especially from retailers.
I've read a fair amount in this subject now and most people seem to agree that the value items are (likely available for $300 or less):
21 f/3.5 (price might be over my arbitrary limit)
24 f/2.8
28 f/2 or f/3.5
the 35s aren't that great
50 f/1.4, 50 f/1.8, 50 f/2 macro, 50 f/3.5 macro
100 f/2.8
135 f/2.8
200 f/4
35-70 f/3.6
Thank you all for your feed-back. Based on my modest beginnings with a 28 f:3.5, as well as your info and pics, I have come to the conclusion that Olympus and A7R are a very nice match for very little money, relatively speaking. So I ordered a 28 f:2.0 and a 50 f:1.4. 28mm is my favorite WA focal length, and I had no fast 50, having sold my Summilux and declined t obuy the 55mm FE. More soon.
Jan 31, 2014 at 03:47 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
molson wrote:
If you can find one in nice shape for that price, grab it... they are selling for a lot more than that now.
well, I bought mine from KEH for 400 last September I think.
if you are patient, you can just wait for KEH to get a lens. they tend to have the best prices on stuff that doesnt show up that often, like the 50/2 macro.
would I pay more? if I couldnt stand waiting for KEH any longer, sure. but it's like with the 50/1.2, people want 25 to 50% more than KEH and Im just not going to play that game. Ill wait, and Im almost always rewarded.
redisburning wrote:
well, I bought mine from KEH for 400 last September I think.
if you are patient, you can just wait for KEH to get a lens. they tend to have the best prices on stuff that doesnt show up that often, like the 50/2 macro.
would I pay more? if I couldnt stand waiting for KEH any longer, sure. but it's like with the 50/1.2, people want 25 to 50% more than KEH and Im just not going to play that game. Ill wait, and Im almost always rewarded.
I don't think I've ever received anything from KEH that was actually functional - despite their claims of "EX+" or "LN" condition - which could explain their low prices.
molson wrote:
I don't think I've ever received anything from KEH that was actually functional - despite their claims of "EX+" or "LN" condition - which could explain their low prices.
uh,
that may be a you problem.
all of my transactions with them have been really good. most people say the same thing. Ive bought BGN grade stuff from them that's in better shape than stuff off forums that was described as being in better shape.
Im not saying you're wrong or you haven't had those experiences, it's just that mine have been the exact opposite. Occasionally one slips through, but KEH always makes it right. It happens, theyre a large business. It's happened to me once, but when I sent it back with a proper explanation of what was going on, KEH changed the item to match my description on their site with my notes.
Steve Spencer wrote:
The lore is that the OM 50mm f/1.4s that have a serial number over a million are somewhat better. As you look for one you might consider that.
It's probably not quite as good as the Zeiss ZE Planar, but if I can get 85% of the performance lets say for 20% of the cost that's doing quite well. Plus since I primarily use EOS live view for alt lenses it is so much easier to focus stopped down rather than play the DOF button game to avoid focus shift.
jhinkey wrote:
Never had anything from KEH that wasn't better than described.
- John
And out of three separate purchases, I've never had anything from KEH that wasn't defective or badly damaged - even though they advertised the stuff as "EX+" and "LN"
