GH2 What's a killer prime lens in the 20mm to 50mm range for under $500?

DPStewart

DPStewart

Veteran
Howdy Sportsfans,

I have a Nikon Full Frame 50mm f/1.4 D that is just fantastic - it's SHARP and saturated and has very little distortion. It has turned my GH2 into almost a new camera it's so good. [ I already have the Panny 14-140mm and the 20mm pancake - close but no cigar ] I have a speed booster so this FF Nikon 50mm can act roughly as a ~100mm (without) or roughly ~71mm (with).

I need something this good that will put me in the 20mm to 50mm range. Speed booster on or off - makes no difference to me.
I have a vintage Tokina 28mm f/2.8 and it's good.... but not THAT good. I need something as great as that Nikon 50mm.

Now the hard part - it's really gotta be less than $500 or I just can't make it happen without too long of a wait for funds.

I'm open to anything - New, used, fully manual. Heck, I actually quite like fully manual lenses. I'm also open to Canon lenses - I do have an FD to M4/3 adapter and for a great lens I would also consider getting a second Lens Turbo II just for it if that's gonna hit the sweet spot.

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate the massive amount of experience everyone here brings!
 
stefanhuberfilms said:
Samyang 35mm Nikon mount? 430 bucks. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/884101-REG/Rokinon_cv35_n_35mm_T1_5_Cine_Lens.html

how do you go with the different focusing directions of your lenses? i find it annoying at times, but still workable.
Click to expand...

T1.5 - very nice. Now at 35mm that's only going to fit my focal range with the speedbooster on. But looks like a great lens.

As for focus ring direction? I'm already as loopy as a cat in a hot-tub store.... so i'm accustomed to near constant disorientation already!
 
At 35mm, the Nikon 1.8 is thought highly of (never used it personally).

Wider than about 35mm you're probably better off going with native m43 glass, and you have a lot of options:
- Pana-Leica 25
- Oly 25
- Oly 17 (not the 2.8 pancake--that's soft)
- Voightlander
- SLR Magic

Those are probably the sharpest. Tons of personal opinions and comparisons on mu-43.com. Have read many of them, and come to the conclusion that they're all quite good but might have slightly different niches.
 
I would recommend Leica R 50mm F2 Summicron.
The best 50 I have used. It is as if it was made for cinema shooting in mind.
Focus throw at 280 degress I think.
Very usable at F2. Gets stupid nice from 2.8 and on.

Here is screen grab from a shoot last week with the Leica and BMCC cam.

nike.jpg
 
With $500 as your budget, you have your choice of Nikkors that would match/compliment the 50mm 1.4 perfectly.

You truly have a lot of options.

The Nikkor 28mm 2.8 AIS is really, really good.

I'd start there

You also have the 24mm 2.8 or f/2

20mm 2.8

35mm f/1.4, 1.8, 2, 2.8

Tons of great great options in the Nikkor line

And most should match the color and feel of the 50mm very well
 
nikon ais lens fit the budget and has excellent optic. Check out ebay for those lenses.
 
Joe Marine, at No Film School, says that manual-focus Nikon primes "are some of the sharpest, fastest, most durable, and most compatible lenses you can buy for the money." (Manual Focus Nikon Primes: The Swiss Army Knife of Lenses) I see them for $200 to $300 used, on eBay, B&H, etc. If you buy another Nikon, then you can re-use filters.

The Nikon 35mm f/2.8 AI on your Speedbooster would be like a 25mm, the normal focal length. Ken Rockwell says it's "probably the least expensive lens in Nikon's line." But he says, "Performance is great. It has much lower distortion than a zoom, it's bright and easy to focus, and super sharp." (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-28-ai.htm)

nikon_35_28_ai.jpg​


That being said, there are also several great reviews of the Minolta 24mm.

minolta_24mm.jpg​


- "This is an excellent lens blessed with much lower distortion than other brands." - http://www.kenrockwell.com/minolta/24.htm
- "this is probably my most used lens . . . . negligible distortion and such amazing resolution" - http://www.rokkorfiles.com/24mm.html
- "Can a lens be any better than this?" - http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/24mm-md-can-a-lens-be-any-better-than-this_topic52898.html

But the filter diameter is different: 49mm or 55mm, depending on which you get. I don't know how much of a filter guy you are. Also, you may wish to read up on it some more. Some people are saying that one version is better, although it's not clear to me which. I was just searching the Web.
 
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Vinyl Stax said:
I would recommend Leica R 50mm F2 Summicron.
The best 50 I have used. It is as if it was made for cinema shooting in mind.
Focus throw at 280 degress I think.
Very usable at F2. Gets stupid nice from 2.8 and on.

Here is screen grab from a shoot last week with the Leica and BMCC cam.

View attachment 97773
Click to expand...

That is just frikkin' gorgeous.
That's also exactly why I'm looking for an inexpensive lens - saving up for that Blackmagic sweetness.
 
homestar_kevin said:
With $500 as your budget, you have your choice of Nikkors that would match/compliment the 50mm 1.4 perfectly.

You truly have a lot of options.

The Nikkor 28mm 2.8 AIS is really, really good.

I'd start there
Click to expand...

You're not kidding!
8 elements. And a Ken Rockwell review second to none in that price class.
I'm sold!
Just ordered a "near mint" copy from eBay Japan for $200.

I think this looks like my winner. THANKS homestar_kevin!
 
c3hammer said:
Just get a used 25mm f/1.4 A truly great lens.

Here's one on Fred Miranda for $400
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1348740/0?keyword=panasonic,25mm#12868242

I've attached a pic of my grand daughter I took with it last week. An amazing lens if you ask me.
Click to expand...

You know - I regret not spending the extra for this lens when I got the 20mm pancake. I think I missed out.

I'm going to try to rent/borrow one of these and compare it to the NIKKOR 28mm f2.8 Ais I just grabbed off eBay.

Thanks hammer!
 
I can vouch for the Minolta 28mm f2 and 24mm f2.8, both are great for an all-manual lens. The 25mm f1.4 is great too, but the fly-by-wire focusing is a pain for video.
 
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combatentropy said:
Joe Marine, at No Film School, says that manual-focus Nikon primes "are some of the sharpest, fastest, most durable, and most compatible lenses you can buy for the money." (Manual Focus Nikon Primes: The Swiss Army Knife of Lenses) I see them for $200 to $300 used, on eBay, B&H, etc. If you buy another Nikon, then you can re-use filters.

That being said, there are also several great reviews of the Minolta 24mm.


- "This is an excellent lens blessed with much lower distortion than other brands." - http://www.kenrockwell.com/minolta/24.htm
- "this is probably my most used lens . . . . negligible distortion and such amazing resolution" - http://www.rokkorfiles.com/24mm.html
- "Can a lens be any better than this?" - http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/24mm-md-can-a-lens-be-any-better-than-this_topic52898.html
Click to expand...

Yeah, great reviews.
I'm going to try to find one of these to compare to the Nikkor 28mm I just grabbed. I'd bet the Minolta has a different look - which is good.
Thanks!
 
DPStewart said:
You're not kidding!
8 elements. And a Ken Rockwell review second to none in that price class.
I'm sold!
Just ordered a "near mint" copy from eBay Japan for $200.

I think this looks like my winner. THANKS homestar_kevin!
Click to expand...

I love mine! I'm sure you'll be happy with yours, and again, it should be a dead match for your 50.
 
Here is another vote for the Pana/Leica 25mm f1.4. Stellar lens with full auto mode for shooting stills. Hands down my favorite lens to shoot with until space gets tight. At that point I switch to my Rokinon 12mm t2.2. I used to own the 20mm f1.7 as well and it was a great lens but the 25mm f1.4 is in a whole new league in my opinion. Not only is it physically larger and easier to get my hand around to focus with but it just seems more natural looking to me. Eventually I may switch to a full set of Rokinon cine lenses but it is hard to give up my Leica which looks amazing even at f1.4.

Only thing I did like better about the 20mm , which I sold to get the 25mm, is that it was a bit easier to shoot with in cramped spaces. 25mm can get a bit difficult to focus with in large crowds of people tightly packed together. This is why I bought a 12mm lens. At some point I would like to get a good in between lens like the Pana/Leica 15mm f1.7 or a 17.5mm lens. I have a dream of getting the 15mm and the 42.5mm however to have the full set of Leica native lenses. My wife does not share this same dream however...
 
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