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Archive 2015 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

EDIT- I bought one, was $125 shipped from HK.
The ergos are terrible. No clicks on aperture, and it's difficult to focus without grabbing some other part of the lens.
I'll probably rig up some kind of focus lever, that should pretty much fix it.

OTOH- I like how it shoots.
And it is small.

Zonlai 25mm f1.8 e-mount by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

Zonlai 25mm f1.8 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

Zonlai 25mm f1.8 Sony A6000 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr
(missed the focus on him, but it's a fun picture)

Zonlai 25mm f1.8 Sony A6000 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

Zonlai 25mm f1.8 Sony A6000 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

This sucker looks pretty cool. There are a million listings on ebay from HK/China/Taiwan, from $129 to $150. Most free ship, some really fast. SMALL native mount lens, just over 35mm equivalent. This is what I've been waiting for.
I'll prob be picking one up very soon for my recently purchased A6000.

Edited on Feb 03, 2016 at 07:26 PM · View previous versions

Dec 12, 2015 at 12:08 PM

trogdon
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

Looks like an interesting lens, and certainly more affordable and compact than the SLR Magic 23mm f1.7. If I still shot APS-C I'd get one without a doubt. Also it seems they have a 35mm f1.8 lens that looks very similar to this.

Look forward to some users getting their hands on this lens and posting more samples!

Dec 12, 2015 at 06:26 PM

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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

Looks like it's going for <$80 domestically in china.
when i buy one, i'll be using "best offer" on ebay, or going through alibaba or something.

Dec 13, 2015 at 01:01 AM

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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

I've got one on the way. $125 best offer on ebay, free shipping from HK.
Found out after the fact that the "cine" in the name is most likely from the clickless aperture. Not excited about that for shooting stills, which will make up a large chunk of my use with this lens.

Jan 20, 2016 at 11:24 AM

banpreso
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

below is a link to the image thread for the Zonlai 25mm. they also make a 35mm f1.8

http://forum.xitek.com/forum-viewthread-tid-1502403-ordertype-2-highlight-%D6%D0%E1%E2-page-1.html

they are not that well known in china i think. i was only able to find one thread on the topic in the chinese forum

Jan 20, 2016 at 10:00 PM

arduluth
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

Wow, that 25/1.8 is crazy small! Makes me want to bring the NEX 5R out of retirement, at least as a back up camera, maybe even a replacement for my RX100! :-D

Jan 20, 2016 at 11:43 PM

phuang3
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

Quite impressive CA performance at wide open! Image curvature is strong. Mild coma at the edge. Not bad for its value.

Jan 20, 2016 at 11:49 PM

arduluth
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

For the price and size, it seems excellent.

Jan 20, 2016 at 11:59 PM

SoulNibbler
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

Can someone show a full frame shot?

Jan 21, 2016 at 06:55 AM

banpreso
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

this is a crop only lens

SoulNibbler wrote:
Can someone show a full frame shot?

Jan 21, 2016 at 07:32 AM

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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

banpresso, thanks for the xitek link!
I've been looking for Chinese forum postings, but forgot about xitek. These look great. I'm even more excited about the lens now. Looks like this and the Rokinon 12 are exactly what I've been wanting for the A6000.

Jan 21, 2016 at 08:31 AM

arduluth
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

banpreso wrote:
this is a crop only lens

So?

It's not a crop-only lens, just a lens with an image circle designed for APS-C.

It'd mount on the A7 just fine. Methinks SoulNibbler is wondering how much of the frame is covered on FF. Plenty of APS-C lenses can do 1x1, 4x5, and 3x4 on FF. Might have to remove a back baffle or stop down, or it might not cover enough of it to make using it on FF worthwhile.

Jan 21, 2016 at 12:25 PM

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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

I'll probably be renting an A7S in March, i can try then. Honestly, for those suspicious, buying this lens is probably cheaper than what i'll spend to rent an A7S haha.

Jan 21, 2016 at 08:29 PM

arduluth
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

Heh. I'd be curious to find out. From what I've seen on Flickr, the center is quite good wide open. Looks like a neat lens.

Jan 22, 2016 at 03:23 PM

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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

https://2.taobao.com/item.htm?id=526456608904&toSite=main

haha i want this.

Jan 22, 2016 at 08:25 PM

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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

now with pics

Feb 03, 2016 at 07:31 PM

Joshua025
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

I ordered this earlier in the week for my Xe-1. How do you find the corners and vignetting?

Feb 04, 2016 at 10:30 PM

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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

Zonlai 25mm f1.8 Sony A6000 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

DSC02049 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

DSC02045 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

DSC02041 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

DSC02028 by Chris Lynch, on Flickr

I'll be honest-
I did not buy this lens for anything other than wide open or close to it. I'd expect the corners to perform similarly to a kit lens at equivalent apertures. Wide open the corners are pretty much mush.
The vignetting is surprisingly minimal.
There is noticeable distortion that you can see in these pictures.
I've quite happy with the bokeh and center frame sharpness. Really it's better than I thought it would be in those regards.
HOWEVER- I can't say enough how badly this lens needs a focusing tab or something. The handling alone is making me reconsider a cheap speedbooster + 35/2 (FD or F).

Feb 06, 2016 at 11:09 AM

Joshua025
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

I've been shooting with my nikon 35 f2 and a cheap nikon adapter. It works fine and the optics are great, but the adapter makes the whole package a little bit too long. I got a thumb rest coming in to see if it can help with balancing the camera out.

Feb 06, 2016 at 09:36 PM

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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Zonlai 25mm f1.8 (now with pictures)

yeah a big part of why i got this is i hate how long SLR lens + thick adapter is on bodies like the A6000.
In the end, those oversized setups usually handle better than this tiny lens though!

Feb 08, 2016 at 12:54 AM

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