24mm options

[Zou]

I'm pondering about wide lenses at the moment. If I want 24mm (real 24mm), what are the options? The SMC-A 24mm f2.8 seems to be the obvious candidate, but is it worth the money over a non-brand, say a Cosina 19-35 zoom? SRS have a Vivitar 24mm for under £40, which seems too good to be true, so probably is. Or is there something else out there worth looking for?

Any advice - take a cheap chance or go for the A 24?

[Wheelu]

Me too!

I bought a Tamron 24mm f2.5 Adaptall 2 type 01B after reading some rave reviews, but was not impressed. It is super sharp centre frame but truly diabolical moving towards the edges - and it lacks contrast. Maybe I got a duffer, but that's my two penneth.

[El_Sid]

New or used?

Personally I'd be inclined to buy a used 24mm prime over the Cosina every time if budget is an issue. You really don't get owt for nowt with optics - I have a manual 19mm Vivitar prime in Nikon Ai which was less than £40 new and by and large it's easy to see why. On an APS-C format camera and well stopped down it's tolerable at the centre but the edges and, especially, corners are a bit dodgy - on a 35mm format I suspect it could well approach awful...

[Zou]

Used would be most viable. It'd be for use on film primarily, although I'd likely get good use out of it on digital too.

[nspur]

Any advice - take a cheap chance or go for the A 24?

The Cosina 19-35 is actually quite a good lens. Centre sharpness is good and it would do OK on an APS-C sensor particularly when stopped down to, say, f5.6 or smaller. My version is Canon fit.

I don't do a lot of wide-angle on my GX10 and apart from the adequate but unexciting kit lens I have a Sigma 24-135 f2.8-4.5 which I bought from SRS for £70 which is a very nice lens and 24mm is eminently usable with only slight barreling.

[ojb28]

You might be interested in my comments on the Tokina 19-35mm in this thread

I think it's a very decent lens on both my K10D and MZ-5n

[MatchNeedle]

There's the old Sigma Super Wide in manual and auto focus variants, which had a good reputation, though is rather cheaply built (the markings wear off). It should come with the "Perfect Hood", a clip-on petal style which needs aligning, doesn't clip on in the reversed position, and doesn't allow the lens cap to be used at the same time -- so is rather less than "perfect".

[Manofolympus]

I've got the Sigma 24mm In OM mount (cant afford the olympus one yet ) and have been more than happy with it optically-though the standard of construction is noticeably less than the Oly ones.

[El_Sid]

There's the old Sigma Super Wide in manual and auto focus variants, which had a good reputation, though is rather cheaply built (the markings wear off).

I'd have to agree with that. I had two 24mm Super-Wide II's (in Nikon Ai and Canon EF) fits - both of which performed very well. I still have the Canon version although I did trade-in the Nikon fit against a proper 24mm Nikkor which was on offer at a very good price...

It should come with the "Perfect Hood", a clip-on petal style which needs aligning, doesn't clip on in the reversed position, and doesn't allow the lens cap to be used at the same time -- so is rather less than "perfect".

Probably explains why neither of my copies came with one........

[Done_rundleCams]

I'm pondering about wide lenses at the moment. If I want 24mm (real 24mm), what are the options? The SMC-A 24mm f2.8 seems to be the obvious candidate, but is it worth the money over a non-brand, say a Cosina 19-35 zoom? SRS have a Vivitar 24mm for under £40, which seems too good to be true, so probably is. Or is there something else out there worth looking for?

Any advice - take a cheap chance or go for the A 24?

Hi Zou,

Are you looking to get the equivalent of 24mm w/ your digital or do you want to
mount a 24mm and get the equivalent of 36mm on your digital?

If it's the latter (which I am kinda guessing it is); I have had the SMC 24/2.8 (excellent), Tamron
Adaptall 24/2.5 (excellent) and (almost) had the FA 24/2 (excellent from what I have heard and
seen) and nearly purchased a Kiron 24/2 (have yet to hear anything negative).

If you are looking for the former, I have had the Tamron Adaptall 17/3.5 which was a cracking lens
but w/ hood and filter turns this (relatively) small lens into a hulking lens

Hope this helps............ somewhat

Cheers,

Jack

[Monobod]

Surely, you could look at the Sigma 10-20, wich is an EX lens. It will give you 15-30 equivalent. I have not had any issues with the quality of mine so far. Agreed it is F/4 to 5.6, so not as fas as some.

[Zou]

Thanks guys. Whilst the 10-20 and the Pentax 12-24 are great options, I really would prefer something I can use on film. If I got the 12-24 I'd really start wanting a K-7 to attach it to... No such worries with the old A-series lens, and it'd be cheaper to get an LX than a K-7.

[spinno]

I've got a Sigma 12-24 which works on both film and digital....very nice to use

[Zou]

Is that the one which doesn't get on with filters? If so, a bit of a no-no for me. Thanks for reminding me about it though.