So my questions are quite simple. Is Nikon 50mm f1.8 series e a full-frame legacy lens that can be adapted on an A7? If not, any recommendations for a cheap legacy lens? I considered Canon nFD 50 f1.4, but on ebay they are around100 pounds, not an ideal first try of legacy lens.
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Rol Lei Nut
Veteran Member
You can get a cheaper Helios 44 lens variety almost anywhere. They tend to be good enough for usage and good copies are... well, really good. M42 lenses are a good place to start with legacy - they are many and cheap, the only caveat being that you can also get total duds if you buy at random.
It works nicely with my A7II. It's cheap (mine was 10€ from a professional dealer at a photographica fair) and small, only the Nikon F adapter is a bit larger than one for Canon FD. It's even quite sharp with only little CA wide open with the 20MP 1" NX Mini. The focus ring is a little bit too narrow to be really comfortable, but it's the smallest 50mm I own, so there isn't much space for it.
Are they really that much in the UK? Four weeks ago I saw them even as cheap as 40€ at a local fair I visited. Can't say anything further about them, I have already enough 50mm lenses.
Please be aware, that even in 50mm there is a lot of junk in the market. My two Yashicas 1.7/50s (M42 and C/Y) for instance, don't get a recommendation from me. The M42 has earned the title of the worst 50 I own by far, but it belongs to my Yashica TL Electro, so I keep it. And the C/Y (it belongs to my Yashica FR) is overhyped and actually inferior to the Nikon Series E for less money.
Lightshow
Veteran Member
For a first manual lens, I'd get a 44-2, I'm a big fan of preset lenses, I prefer KMZ versions, I've had better luck with them, the 44-2 is built like a tank but relatively easy to service, the hardest part is finding a nice clean copy.
This one looks ok https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1974-KMZ...ns-M42-screw-mount-Bokeh-special/202252184961 missing caps.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Helios-4...biotar-Canon-6D-70D-7D-5D-60D-1D/222682006989
Another option is : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Excellent-Minolta-MC-Rokkor-PG-50mm-f-1-4-Manual-Focus-Lens-Japan-U666/152941019219
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A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/
####Where's my FF NEX-7 ?????
Firmware request:
-A button map for toggling the EVF & LCD
-Still waiting for the minimum shutter speed with auto ISO for my NEX-7 and A7r. I know it will never happen.
-Customize the display screen layout, I'd love to have both Histogram and level at the same time.
-More peaking options.
-An RGB overlay on the histogram -An option to return the focus assist zoom to one button press
-An option to return to how the NEX-7 handled playback, ie. center button to zoom, then you could use the control dial to zoom in and out, then center button to exit the zoom mode.
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that canon lens is a bit pricey because it's one of the best overall legacy 50/1.4 lenses that you can get.
the nikon 50/1.8e lens is weak until about f/5.6, i'd look for something else.
B
BBQue
Guest
Adapting legacy lenses is fun and I have done that for many years. Especially like C/Y Zeiss Contax, Olympus and some of the Takumar lenses.
However, while certainly charming, none of these reach the image quality of modern designs. You lose sharpness (especially the corners), you lose AF and you lose EXIF data (which is important for IBIS to work, although you can manually dial it in somewhere in the camera menu of the A7ii etc) and also for automatic lens correction.
Eventually you will end up with native glass.
Why not take a short-cut and start with the FE55/1.8 ?!
However, while certainly charming, none of these reach the image quality of modern designs. You lose sharpness (especially the corners), you lose AF and you lose EXIF data (which is important for IBIS to work, although you can manually dial it in somewhere in the camera menu of the A7ii etc) and also for automatic lens correction.
Eventually you will end up with native glass.
Why not take a short-cut and start with the FE55/1.8 ?!
lxymichael
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+1 on this - perhaps the FE50/1.8 if you're on a budget.
IME legacy lenses can become a distraction if you get too sucked in and start spending too much time comparing old 50mm's to see which one is a tiny bit better or a tiny bit worse with specific settings and applications.
If you want to get by on a shoestring and have fun with some old 50mm, exploring its capabilities (many of which exceed what smaller formats are capable of) that's great. I would advise to stick with just that one and not worry whether or not you have the best possible legacy lens out there - just save up your $$$ and wait for a good deal on a newer dedicated lens.
... or if you want to spend countless hours, micro-comparing dozens of different old 50mm lenses, that's cool, too. (There are worse pastimes...)
B
BBQue
Guest
35mm is the one focal length, where Sony unfortunately does not have a "perfect" solution.
FE35/2.8 tiny, sharp, - but only f2.8
Sony Zeiss 35/1.4 perfect bokeh, - but big, expensive and variable quality control
Sigma ART 35/1.4 (this is the one I have) super sharp wide open, - requires MC11 adapter (unless you buy the new version that's about to be released), but can have nervous bokeh sometimes
Loxia 35/2 very nice if you prefer manual focus, - but "old school" lens design
**** For two lens prime combo I usually carry FE28/2 plus FE55/1.8. Hard to beat!
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