abadger wrote:
Sounds like I’d have to do some research on this. The OM lens though turns out to be 100mm equivalent on full frame, doesn’t it? Or am I reading that wrong? These seem like good budget options though. I’d definitely not want to worry about the radioactivity issue.
None of these have exif, I assume?
It sounds like you are looking at the 4/3 or m4/3, I'm referring to the OM/Zuiko lenses from film cameras like the OM-1 OM-2 etc. I suspect the 50/3.5 doesn't have radioactivity issues although I'm not 100% on that. Canon FD and pentax, especially m42, had the reputation for that. ALthough a lot of different manufacturers had radioactive lenses.
You could look at the date code on later Olympus, or the nikkor serial number page and try to get something maybe 90's or later? Might get you out of the issue. Paid $60 shipped for a Geiger counter gone up more recently though.
AmbientMike wrote:
It sounds like you are looking at the 4/3 or m4/3, I'm referring to the OM/Zuiko lenses from film cameras like the OM-1 OM-2 etc. I suspect the 50/3.5 doesn't have radioactivity issues although I'm not 100% on that. Canon FD and pentax, especially m42, had the reputation for that. ALthough a lot of different manufacturers had radioactive lenses.
You could look at the date code on later Olympus, or the nikkor serial number page and try to get something maybe 90's or later? Might get you out of the issue. Paid $60 shipped for a Geiger counter gone up more recently though.
Just a note on the legacy lenses, (not sure if you have had any)
This is why I won’t use them, many people love them and I am not saying you shouldn’t get them, just giving you my take on them, I think you have to have the right mindset for them, but for me we now have a great choice of native lenses so there is no point in legacy lenses,
1, not seeing the aperture in the evf or rear screen was a big deal for me, I shoot in manual mode with auto iso and am constantly changing ss and aperture to suit the shot and controle iso, and until I used them I didn’t realize how much it bugged me not having this ability,
2, I don’t get manual focas assist, don’t. Use it much but it’s a nice to have,
3, IBIS, with voitglander you get full ibis, if you go into the menu you can change the focal length for the legacy lenses, but you don’t get full ibis, and you have to do this every time you change lenses something I couldn’t be bothered to do,
4, size, the lenses I got (mainly CZiess) with adapters where bigger than their voigtlander counterparts (thinking of incognito street photography)
5, no exif data, not a biggi for me but still annoying,
Uncle Chip wrote:
Just a note on the legacy lenses, (not sure if you have had any)
This is why I won’t use them, many people love them and I am not saying you shouldn’t get them, just giving you my take on them, I think you have to have the right mindset for them, but for me we now have a great choice of native lenses so there is no point in legacy lenses,
1, not seeing the aperture in the evf or rear screen was a big deal for me, I shoot in manual mode with auto iso and am constantly changing ss and aperture to suit the shot and controle iso, and until I used them I didn’t realize how much it bugged me not having this ability,
2, I don’t get manual focas assist, don’t. Use it much but it’s a nice to have,
3, IBIS, with voitglander you get full ibis, if you go into the menu you can change the focal length for the legacy lenses, but you don’t get full ibis, and you have to do this every time you change lenses something I couldn’t be bothered to do,
4, size, the lenses I got (mainly CZiess) with adapters where bigger than their voigtlander counterparts (thinking of incognito street photography)
5, no exif data, not a biggi for me but still annoying,...Show more →
Ah I forgot about the IBIS issue! Yes that would be a big deal for me as I already have to dial up shutter speed a little higher than recommended to combat shaky hands. But, as a budget option, or just to get a different look, it is still an interesting project that I might look into. That being said, I’d probably double up with a lens native to the system too for all of the benefits enumerated above.
Adam, did you end up getting something? I’ve been going through a similar thought process, but not necessarily for street photography, just everyday carry, as I’m finding myself a little disconnected with my Sony gear lately. Despite me recommending the 65i to you earlier, I decided to order the Fuji X100V after selling a few items. Nothing like new gear to inspire and motivate me 😅.
I haven't tried mine for (much) street photography, but AF is reasonably fast on the A9 and the rendering is more than passable for the $170 I spent to buy a copy here on FM.
formula4speed wrote:
The Samyang/Rokinon 45mm f/1.8 definitely has a fan base, which would be small, light and cheap(ish). Haven't used one myself, so I'm not sure how fast the AF is if that is a concern for you.
Minatureman13 wrote:
Just throwing this in as an alternative... You could get a Fuji X70/100 for the same price as some of the lenses mentioned in this thread.
People think you're some hipster shooting film. They are incredibly unthreatening. But that camera is a wolf in a sheep's clothing.
I’ve photographed street all over the world and like I mentioned previously, it’s not the camera that is the problem, it’s how one interacts with the street. If you are sneaky and lurking around no matter what camera you have, you’ll trigger concerns with the people. This is true if you are using your phone or a Fuji GFX system.
Hodie wrote:
Adam, did you end up getting something? I’ve been going through a similar thought process, but not necessarily for street photography, just everyday carry, as I’m finding myself a little disconnected with my Sony gear lately. Despite me recommending the 65i to you earlier, I decided to order the Fuji X100V after selling a few items. Nothing like new gear to inspire and motivate me 😅.
I ended up buying a used CV 50 Nokton f/1.2 for e-mount. Part of me just wanted the MF experience and to slow down a bit when shooting street. Also, I had been following threads on the 40 and 50 so long, that if I was going to get a new lens, I wanted something special with regard to character. I would not have been satisfied with a slower lens despite a lot the lenses recommended here being likely great candidates. The 50 apo was tempting but in the end, I wanted something with the capability of obliterating the background if needed and for use at night. Something that could create character portraits if needed, but also was great stopped down for zone focusing and relatively compact. A lot of lenses could do some of these things but not all of them. I feel that the only thing this lens can’t do is AF, which is sort of the experience I wanted anyway to complement my wide angle (CV 21 f/3.5).
Let me tell you. It has been a joy so far. But - having come before from the 55ZA as a ‘compact 50’ I have to say there is CA everywhere wide open with this lens (not as much with equivalent f/1.8 for comparison). I knew it was going to be there but this one has a lot. Fortunately I seem to be able to correct it in post.
Also - the MF experience with moving targets is a whole different ballgame with this focal length vs a wide angle. So many misses. Yeah, I am trying to shoot with a very thin depth of field too, so that adds to the challenge. Especially with kids. But! I am improving already, and when it hits, it is magical. I haven’t really don’t any solid street shooting with it yet, so will report back on that experience. I’ll probably also be more successful there due to stopping down.
I know you already had and then sold I think the APO? I don’t remember why exactly. But in terms of inspiration, for me, here it comes from taking a new, slower approach with the possibility of amazing results. All in a small package.
There are so many ways to go. I was very close to picking up the sigma 45 as well. But ultimately didn’t want to be limited by f/2.8 in lower light situations. Film would be great, but it’s not the path I chose this time. I know people that drain their bank accounts regularly going through rolls! I will live vicariously through them for now.
So glad to hear, Adam. Sounds like fun. Happy shooting!
abadger wrote:
I ended up buying a used CV 50 Nokton f/1.2 for e-mount. Part of me just wanted the MF experience and to slow down a bit when shooting street. Also, I had been following threads on the 40 and 50 so long, that if I was going to get a new lens, I wanted something special with regard to character. I would not have been satisfied with a slower lens despite a lot the lenses recommended here being likely great candidates. The 50 apo was tempting but in the end, I wanted something with the capability of obliterating the background if needed and for use at night. Something that could create character portraits if needed, but also was great stopped down for zone focusing and relatively compact. A lot of lenses could do some of these things but not all of them. I feel that the only thing this lens can’t do is AF, which is sort of the experience I wanted anyway to complement my wide angle (CV 21 f/3.5).
Let me tell you. It has been a joy so far. But - having come before from the 55ZA as a ‘compact 50’ I have to say there is CA everywhere wide open with this lens (not as much with equivalent f/1.8 for comparison). I knew it was going to be there but this one has a lot. Fortunately I seem to be able to correct it in post.
Also - the MF experience with moving targets is a whole different ballgame with this focal length vs a wide angle. So many misses. Yeah, I am trying to shoot with a very thin depth of field too, so that adds to the challenge. Especially with kids. But! I am improving already, and when it hits, it is magical. I haven’t really don’t any solid street shooting with it yet, so will report back on that experience. I’ll probably also be more successful there due to stopping down.
I know you already had and then sold I think the APO? I don’t remember why exactly. But in terms of inspiration, for me, here it comes from taking a new, slower approach with the possibility of amazing results. All in a small package.
There are so many ways to go. I was very close to picking up the sigma 45 as well. But ultimately didn’t want to be limited by f/2.8 in lower light situations. Film would be great, but it’s not the path I chose this time. I know people that drain their bank accounts regularly going through rolls! I will live vicariously through them for now.
