21mm focal length Leica/Zeiss/Nikon?

A

AlexMacP

Active member
I want to get a 21mm lens for my T2i for video work. I also do stills and want a sharp lens.

These are the ones I am considering:

Leica 21mm F4.0 Super-Angulon-R :- approx $600, good color renditon

Zeiss 21mm Distagon ZE: $1700 approx, sharp, fits camera without adapter

Nikon 20mm AI-S P: approx $450... was told it was good.

I have seen a friend's work shot on Leica R glass with a 5D and was blown away by the way the lens renders.

I have a Zeiss ZE 85mm and love love it.

I have no experience with Nikon but my mentor recommended the lens.

Which one would you want to use for cinema/stills? And why?
 
Anyone would be good.
I persoanlly can't get $1,700 value out of the Zeiss lens.
They look great f8 and higher, but where I want to use them (f4-f5.6), I like other lenses better, for less money, more functionality.

I am thinking of getting some Nikon Primes,(they are cheap) any zoom, would likely be Canon "L"
for quality, price and functionality
 
AlexMacP said:
Anyone? ...Bueller?
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Class... Class... Anyone?

Comes down to money. I have been following the Nikon 20mm and 18mm primes sold on Ebay and i think you can beat $450 by a wide margin. I don't know if the Zeiss and Leica will by you a whole lot more with this camera, but are worth having if it's in your budget. The extra money could go for other gear that would make a bigger difference.
 
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No one's mentioned the Sigma 20mm 1.8. I think this is a great lens especially for a cropped sensor. At 1.8 it's sharp enough for video! Done deal IMO
 
dvollrath said:
No one's mentioned the Sigma 20mm 1.8. I think this is a great lens especially for a cropped sensor. At 1.8 it's sharp enough for video! Done deal IMO
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Probably a good lens but it's $519 new. That price opens up a lot of options, like 2 used Nikon manual lenses.
For some shooters, auto focus, auto exposure and IS will always be turned off anyway.
 
I've got the 21 f/4 super-Angulon on my 5D. Razor sharp, contrasty and has ruler-straight drawing. Perhaps not so important on a small sensor camera.
Oh yes and the focusing runs 330 degrees and is, as you'd expect butter-smooth.
Dave
 
ROCKMORE said:
Why is that on the AIS 24mm/2 ?

Any other Nikon lenses to avoid, or must have?

Any experience with the Nikon 18mm/2.8?

thanks
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I've never shot with the 18/2.8.

I bought a 24/2 ran tests and hated it. Bad ghosts. Then I saw reviews online the uniformly agreed it is a bad nikon lens. I was lucky and had an option to return it.

Currently my fave AIS wide is 24/2.8
 
J Davis said:
I've never shot with the 18/2.8.

I bought a 24/2 ran tests and hated it. Bad ghosts. Then I saw reviews online the uniformly agreed it is a bad nikon lens. I was lucky and had an option to return it.

Currently my fave AIS wide is 24/2.8
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Seems to be a similar issue between the 17-40 f4 and the 16-35 f2.8. The 16-35 is faster and seems to have more ghosts.
The Nikon 18mm sounds like a good lens to test out if it's around $300
 
daveswan said:
I've got the 21 f/4 super-Angulon on my 5D. Razor sharp, contrasty and has ruler-straight drawing. Perhaps not so important on a small sensor camera.
Oh yes and the focusing runs 330 degrees and is, as you'd expect butter-smooth.
Dave
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Nice lens, but how much did that puppy set you back?
What adapter do you use?
 
It cost me just under £400 from Ffordes in Inverness.
Given the current exchange rate that works out at $600.
What I will say is the aperture is not the best, as it is only 4 blades and is a very odd shape.
There is a 19mm f/2.8 of later design but the price of that will seriously make your eyes water!
I use a bog-standard adapter that I got from SRB-Griturn, cost about £25 probably sourced from China like most of the rest, I couldn't streach to the Novoflex which was about £125
Dave
 
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