Best/Cheapest fast primes for GH1

Oetam

Oetam

Active member
I recently got my GH1 and after using the kit lens for a few days I really think I should get some faster primes.
I was thinking about FD-mount lenses.... say a 24mm/2.8 and a 50mm/1.4.

The only thing is that I'm worried about the crop factor and 50mm being way too long for practical handheld work. I looked at an FD 24mm/1.4 and that would run me $1500.

My question is:
What would be the best mount for cheap and fast (wide angle) lenses?
I'd like to keep it as simple as possible without extenders and DIY etc.
 
Oetam said:
I recently got my GH1 and after using the kit lens for a few days I really think I should get some faster primes.
I was thinking about FD-mount lenses.... say a 24mm/2.8 and a 50mm/1.4.

The only thing is that I'm worried about the crop factor and 50mm being way too long for practical handheld work. I looked at an FD 24mm/1.4 and that would run me $1500.

My question is:
What would be the best mount for cheap and fast (wide angle) lenses?
I'd like to keep it as simple as possible without extenders and DIY etc.
Click to expand...

I'd go Canon FD, I think all in all for it's price/quality ratio, it can't be beat.

There are a number of very good, cheap Canon FDs, and we can define "cheap" as available within the $25-100 range/each.

28mm f2.8
35mm f2.0
50mm f1.4
85mm f1.8 (can *sometimes* be found this cheap on the bay)
135mm f2.8

These are all relatively fast, good lenses. From reading around, it seems like a lot of folks like shooting with 35mm focal length lenses on the GH1, as sort of a tele-normal lens, so that might be worth looking into.

The next range of very good, more expensive Canon FD lenses (let's say $100-300 in terms of used prices on eBay) would be:

20mm f2.8
24mm f2.0 (optically better than the 24mm f1.4 L, but not as fast)
28mm f2.0
50mm/55mm/58mm f1.2 in (FL MOUNT, but these work on FD adapters)
85mm f1.8 (more typical to find this lens in this price range)
100mm f2
135mm f2
200mm f2.8

Next round up, the most expensive ($300+++)

14mm f2.8 L
17mm f4
24mm f1.4 L
50mm f1.2 L / Aspherical (one or the other)
85mm f1.2 L
300mm f2.8 L / Non L
 
If you get adapter to standard four thirds you can mount great Konica AR mount Hexanon lenses with very small DIY mod. Hexanon 50mm f1.7 or 1.4 are known as ones of the best lenses ever made. There are also nice 28mm Vivitars with Konica AR mount which will work with the same DIY trick.
 
Oetam said:
I recently got my GH1 and after using the kit lens for a few days I really think I should get some faster primes.
I was thinking about FD-mount lenses.... say a 24mm/2.8 and a 50mm/1.4.

The only thing is that I'm worried about the crop factor and 50mm being way too long for practical handheld work. I looked at an FD 24mm/1.4 and that would run me $1500.

My question is:
What would be the best mount for cheap and fast (wide angle) lenses?
I'd like to keep it as simple as possible without extenders and DIY etc.
Click to expand...

I should also note, that you can often times find people selling their entire old Canon FD outfits (bodies with lenses, flashes, etc.) on eBay, and these lots often go for much less than what the individual lenses would go for if being sold separately, it takes some work, but you might find a few lots on eBay that have several of the lenses you want all in one place, and be able to get a great deal (and probably end up with a nice old 35mm film body to boot!)
 
I like Nikons just because you don't have to fiddle with the aperture release each time.

I tend to think for new glass the canons are the best but for older glass the nikons are better.
 
I guess I'll go for FD then.

Do you think a New FD 50mm 1.4 + shipping to the netherlands is a good buy for 58 euros?

I'd rather go for new FD for the decreased weight and the easier mounting
 
Hi,

I opted for Minolta glass, as it is even cheaper than the others and I read somewhere that old Minoltas -especially the 50mm- were almost the best at the time when they were produced. But I´m in no way experienced or professional to vouch for that myself. But: Right now I have a 50mm 1,4 which is laser sharp at F2,0 and I couldn´t be happier.

downside would be, that there are not so many different focal lenghts available as there are with canon or nikon.
 
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