20-21mm options?

GarageBoy · Feb 19, 2017

Trying to pick up a nice 20-21mm that performs well wide open, if needed

I'm thinking of a g1 (green sticker) and a 21 2.8 biogon

Any other ideas?

bdial · Feb 19, 2017

I am partial to the Nikkor 20mm

Sirius Glass · Feb 19, 2017

Which lens mount? RF or SLR?

jspillane · Feb 19, 2017

Contax Zeiss 21 2.8 and the Zeiss ZE/ZF 21mm 2.8 are both spectacular (I am not certain if they are the same lens design, but it is possible). Much better than the others I have used, but also quite large and very expensive.

Nikkor 20mm 2.8's are universally quite nice and can be found fairly cheap (in both MF and AF flavors).

I haven't used it personally, but I've heard generally good things about the (very small, modern) Voigtlander 20mm 3.5, which comes in Canon EF and Nikon F mount flavors.

I can't speak to RF options...

flavio81 · Feb 19, 2017

GarageBoy said:
Trying to pick up a nice 20-21mm that performs well wide open, if needed

I'm thinking of a g1 (green sticker) and a 21 2.8 biogon

Any other ideas?

Which mount?

I have a Canon FL 19/3.5R that is an optical masterpiece. Sharp at all apertures, at all the image, and no distortion. It is amazing that this is a 1965 lens!

The FD 20mm lenses have good reputations. Also the 17mm. There are tests over the net on these.

I have a Nikkor AI 20/4.0 that is unbelievably compact, sharp in the center wide open. But corners only get sharp when f11. This is supposedly better than the previous and bigger Nikkor-UD 20mm.

Jim Jones · Feb 19, 2017

I like my Nikkor AI 20/4. The Nikkor-UD 20mm bought new long ago was very sharp in the center of the field, and very unsharp at the edges.

GarageBoy · Feb 19, 2017

Any mount except Leica m- I have a bunch of various bodies, and bodies for almost any mount can be had for sub $100, except Leica m

RalphLambrecht · Feb 20, 2017

bdial said:
I am partial to the Nikkor 20mm

me too;performs well at f/2.8

etn · Feb 20, 2017

bdial said:
I am partial to the Nikkor 20mm

The 20mm AF-D? a friend of mine keeps telling me how bad it is and that I should replace it with something else, such as the new 20 1.8 G or a 24. Never could understand his dislike. Glad to see other persons like it!

etn · Feb 20, 2017

Never used one, but isn't the Zeiss ZM 21 4.5 a scaled down version of the 38mm Biogon made famous by the Hasselblad SWC?

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Feb 20, 2017

I read latest zeiss biogon which used on moon have 700 lpmm , leica have 550 lpmm but I prefer leica in any lens selection

etn · Feb 20, 2017

Mustafa Umut Sarac said:
I read latest zeiss biogon which used on moon have 700 lpmm

This was a medium format 60mm lens. The commercial (i.e. not the "moon") version of it is called MK 70 (for "MessKamera") and can use 2 lenses, a 60mm and a 100mm.
From time to time some pop up on the used market. The 60mm lens extends into the body, which makes it incompatible with a mirror. That's why the MK70 has an external viewfinder. A version was made with the 38mm Biogon too, called MKWE.

The MK 70 and MKWE are among the most optically perfect cameras ever designed.

jimjm · Feb 20, 2017

For Leica LTM or M mount, the VC Color-Skopar 21/4 is a great lens. Sharp results and a very tiny lens.

For Nikon, I've been using the 20/2.8 AIS for years. Have been very happy with it, like others here.

bdial · Feb 20, 2017

RalphLambrecht said:
me too;performs well at f/2.8

etn said:
The 20mm AF-D? a friend of mine keeps telling me how bad it is and that I should replace it with something else, such as the new 20 1.8 G or a 24. Never could understand his dislike. Glad to see other persons like it!

Mine is a 3.5 AI manual focus
I don't think it would do well at 2.8

Nevertheless, I am happy with it, and I've done well by it.

chip j · Feb 20, 2017

Ken Rockwell says the G 21mm 2.8 was the best and unique at delineating the point of sharp focus. 0 distortion unlike Leica 21s, even their ASPH. I have A G and love the daylights out of it!! My 20mm 3.5 Nikkor (52mm filter) SUCKS--not sharp at a distance.

20-21mm options?

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