In the prime category, I currently own the 20mm f1.7 Panny lens, and a 50mm Minolta Rokkor f1.4. I'm very happy with both of them but I find myself often wanting something in between. Often times I find the 20 too wide and the 50 too long. Also, I'm just itching to get a new lens to play with I've been scouring ebay, but it's so hard to know what's good and what's not so I thought I'd throw it out to the forum for recommendations. I'm not super picky, I'd just like something that is decent. Criteria is that it has to be a prime somewhere in the 28-40mm range, ideally 35mm, right in between my other lenses, F2.8 or faster, preferably inexpensive / easily acquired. I'd love to get something in the $50 ebay range. I'm not interested in spending more than $100 on this need right now though. Any format is fine, I don't like swapping adapters so I'm happy to pick up a new adapter. Bonus points if you have one that meets these requirements to sell me! Thanks! Zach
Have I got the lens for you! I'm selling an f2.8 35mm lens with a nice bonus feature: two aperture rings that let you switch rapidly between wide open and a preset aperture. It's a T-mount lens with an Exakta adapter included. It ends tomorrow in the early afternoon.
It might be difficult to snag a 35/2 for around $50, but you'll easily get a 35/2.8 for that price in most of the major SLR brands.
I'd say the Olympus 28/2.8 can easily be found under $100 and I have seen them around $60 at times. A Vivitar 28/2.8 close focus could be fun (pick your mount). I have seen Konica 24/2.8 at right around $100 and the Canon FD 28/2.8 should easily come in under $50. Any of those would fit the bill.
Currently waiting on an OM Zuiko 35/2.8 to arrive. I may yet be disappointed but being a Zuiko of that era I doubt it.
The Konica Hexanon 35mm 2.8 can be had for under $50 and like all Konica lenses is very good. www.buhla.de - Konishiroku / Konica Hexanon / Hexanon AR 35 mm / F2.8
I'd say go for Minolta Rokkor-HH 35/1.8 but it's almost impossible to get it for $100 let alone $50. I can also recommend Vivitar Series 1 28/1.9 - it can be had quite cheaply in Minolta MD or Canon FD mounts.
BBAR 28 2.5 Tamron adaptall great lens hated it on aps-c now i fell in love with it on a G1 sharp , nice bokeh. The most important it is cheap.
A few lenses and how much I paid 28mm F2 Vivitar FD - not bad at f2, good at f2.8, great at f4 - I like it. $60 35mm F1.7 Fujian Cmount - hate it. it's not very sharp and put together by monkeys. The aperture blades aren't aligned properly so it's rectangular when stopping down and goes from circle->hexagon->rectangle->slit->nada. 35mm F1.9 Vivitar series 1 Konica - dislike it. Built well, but soft. $50 38mm F1.8 PEN - <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 ! $67, keep checking ebay and keh for deals 40mm F1.8 Konica Hexanon - sharp, but bad flare. Needs a hood - or i use a step-down to 37mm AND a 37mm rubber hood. - $30 for lens and ~$10 in adapters and hood. (probably your best choice). It's not easy to always find lenses when you want them. I'd suggest you make a list and scour ebay/keh or other stores you know where you can buy old lenses. Old PEN lenses do show up and I love the sharpness and detail build and size of my 38mm.
