I'd like a decent-quality wide prime for mounting on a Canon crop body, for not too much money. I am not mechanically inclined, so can't be adapting anything myself. Any suggestions? This lens will live on the body.
In addition, do you think I need to account for the cost of a focus screen, or will it not be that important with a wide angle, especially stopped down? I am not normally a manual-focus user.
How wide and how fast do you want in this prime lens? There are lots of inexpensive primes depending on your wants/needs? What body are we talking about - is it even an option to swap screens on this camera body?
What about the Canon EF 35/2? Inexpensive, good quality, and AF available?
We are talking about a Caon XTi/400D. As I understand it, I can get third-party split-prism focusing screens for it (e.g. Katz Eye).
The 35 f/2 is an option I already thought of, but I wanted to consider other options because I would like something wider and hopefully even cheaper. I'm kind of leery of buying the 35 f/2 second hand, since it's already not a stellar performer and the build quality is not the best (afraid of getting someone's dud).
Anyway, seeing as how 35mm is really a normal lens on such a camera, I'd like something a good bit wider, although I don't need or want an ultrawide. I would like a good blend of optical performance, small size, and low cost.
The 35/2 may be an older design, but its light weight, cheap(new), fast, bright and takes great pictures...
But as you need to go wider how about the Canon 28/2.8? Of course there are other options like the OL series, nice and cheap, but mount adapters and metering conventions are needed...
I think there are a number of good Manual focus options you might want to consider before going with the Canon. Here are some possibilities:
24-25mm
Olympus 24mm f/2 - Is small light and has a pretty wide aperture. Test indicated a pretty good performance stopped down. The wider aperture will come in handy to make the viewfider brighter. Would probably cost in the $400 range.
Olympus 24mm f/2.8 - Is very small and light and a good performing lens especially stopped down just a stop. Much cheaper than the f/2. You can probably get one for about $150.
Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 -- a bit bigger, but a nice performing lens. The border won't be quite a strong as the center but a lens you probably wouldn't regret buying. It would cost about $350.
28mm
Olympus 28mm f/2 - Amazingly small for an f/2 lens. Tests indicate nice performance especially if stopped down just one stop. You should be able to pick one up for about $250.
Olympus 28mm f/2.8 - Very small and light and decent performance. A real steal for about $100.
Leica 28mm f/2.8 - Not as small as the Olympus lenses, but this is a fantastic performing lens. It does cost a bit more but at about $350-400 for a Leica it is relatively cheap.
Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 - Not tiny, but not too big. A very good performer as well. Most people love theirs. Again not cheap at about $350
I think you should start by considering the focal length. Then you just need to decide your priorities between size/weight, aperture, quality, and cost. If it were me, I would probably go with the Olympus 24mm f/2.8, if I wanted 24mm and the Leica 28mm f/2.8 if I wanted 28mm.
If you go with any of these manual focus options you can also think about how to improve focussing. You basically have three focussing aids. First, a focussing screen and yes Katz-eye does make pretty good ones for the XTi, but others do as well. Second, you could get a viewfinder magnifier. Some really like these others don't. Finally, when you buy an adapter you could always get an autofocus confirm adapter. I think that for a small viewfinder camera like the XTi these can be quite useful. I hope this helps.
Thanks a ton for all the options, Steve. I found many of these before, but was confused as to which ones could be adapted to my camera. The Leica does look like a great lens, but I think I'm going to go with the Olympus 24mm f/2.8. With regards to AF, I think an AF-confirm adapter may work well enough, since my main uses for this camera/lens combo will not require fast tracking.
Sounds like a decent choice. I have not tried an OL lens on my Canons. As to AF I think you will be fine. I hardly ever use Af when focusing my Canon wide angles anyway...
