Budget Manual M43 25mm F1.8: Generic Discover HD MC, 7Artisans, or Greenband CCTV-APSC?

Greetings from the Philippines! I am a casual/learning photographer who has been shooting with manual focus since i started (Early march this year) and have loved adapted old lenses to my m43 system. My only issue so far has been that adapting a 50mm to get a 100mm equivalent on my EP-5 can be very limiting especially in more intimate events. I've wanted to get a 25mm for the longest time (keeping my eye out for the amazon Christmas sale but I'm not sure if I can get my relatives to get the lens for me).

Meanwhile, I've been given an 85$ (birthday gift) budget to buy a lens (which I may or may not keep, depending on whether I get to buy my panasonic 25mm later this year)

My research has led me here so far (click photo for the link.. in case anyone else is curious to try them:

Generic/Zonlai (copy?) Discover HD MC 25mm F1.8 = 70$ to get it shipped to the Philippines (click photo for the link)

the new 7Artisans 25mm F1.8 = 84$ to get shipped

APSC-CCTV 25mm F1.8 = local Seller, 75$ to get shipped to my address

Pros and cons:

Generic DIscover HD MC =

Pro: I'm guessing/hoping it's the same as Zonlai, and maybe even the same as 7artisans (the latter are just branded versions, this seems to be a common practice). I'm quite hopeful for the quality given the reviews and samples i've seen. I would only prefer this only the APSC CCTV because I haven't seen enough reviews for that one, I don't know about coatings, and I have no idea if it focuses to infinity (common problem with the cheaper cctv lenses)

- cheapest

Cons: No idea/assurance of the quality since the brand/distributor looks generic.

7Artisans

Pro: more-known brand in this set of lenses (published on peta-pixel recently). Same general comments as generic. More assurance for quality because of branding.

Cons: most expensive of the lot. It could just be a rebrand of the generic version.

CCTV APSC

Pro: Local seller, I can have it replaced if there are any problems. I can also get it the day after. Price is in the middle (75$). I'm also leaning toward getting a Sony (probably a6000) or a fuji sometime next year. the CCTVs are adapted lenses, so I can switch them around. If not, I can also opt to sell the lens- easier, again, because it can be adapted to most APSC mirrorless cameras here.

Con: I have no idea about the coatings (how it reacts to light/flaring/ghosting), no idea how good the focusing is/if it has any issues most of the cheaper cctv versions have like constantly soft on the sides despite sharp center, doesn't focus to infinity, issues focusing etc.

[The big question:]

Any experience/samples with any of these lenses? I see a lot of reviews for sony and fuji for some. Not so much for m43. before you mention native 25mms, I'll go ahead and let you know that they're all overpriced here. Cheapest you can find for any Oly or Panny 25mm is 178$ USED. Brand new is almost 220$ easy.
I already have a 14mm F2.5, but It's a little too wide to for my liking and I also love Bokeh (but I acknowledge that bokeh isn't always nice, having less of it forces me to frame my shots better etc. but for now I like and want bokeh. haha thanks)

What kind of photography will i use it for? I like taking portraits and general candid moments with friends (yes I know it is difficult to do this with MF but I'm used to it and I enjoy it) most of them are in-door or low-light because I have a day job and traffic here is horrendous so late-day meetings are the norm. It's also really warm most of the time.)

And maybe food photography because my mom teaches culinary and has wanted me to take photos for a while. I will likely use both my borrowed (loved) GF2 and my EP5 so i have one with AF and one on a prime.

Samples of what i have so far on my flickr page: (outdated though these were taken with my GF2) https://www.flickr.com/photos/154532265@N07/ .

Mike Loanzon wrote:

before you mention native 25mms, I'll go ahead and let you know that they're all overpriced here. Cheapest you can find for any Oly or Panny 25mm is 178$ USED. Brand new is almost 220$ easy.

Note the 25mm is on sale in the USA for $150 right now if you were planning to get one anyways. B&H does ship to Philippines from what I can find. You can get a quote from them if you are interested.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1182677-REG/panasonic_h_h025k_25mm_f_1_7_lens_for.html

I posted a little bit about this lens and will post more about the lens in the 3rd party lens forum .

Tim Reidy Productions wrote:

I posted a little bit about this lens and will post more about the lens in the 3rd party

lens forum .

Is this your post

Let me know when your review is up!

There's a generic 24mm 'Wesley' lens available on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Wesley-24mm-F1-8-Macro-MC-Lens-for-Micro-Four-Thirds-MFT-M4-3-Camera-OMD-EP-/372032146251

While I haven't used this one, I do have a corresponding 'Wesley' 34mm lens that turned out to be pretty good:

What little I've been able to find out in web searches suggests they might be repackages of the optics from inexpensive CCTV lenses like the Fujian 35/1.7:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fujian-35mm-f1-7-C-Mount-CCTV-Len-for-GH1-GF1-NEX-3-5-E-mount-black-in-box-/151418863310

I've tried the Fujian a few years ago, and wasn't that impressed; but it's apparently a common CCTV lens churned out in cheap masses, with the variable quality control that implies. If the 'Wesley' lens (or the apparently similar Kaxinda lenses) is a repackage, presumably the company doing it will pay more attention to selecting good elements; I can also say that the metal lens body was more solid and looked like it would be more durable than the Fujian.

Travis Butler wrote:

There's a generic 24mm 'Wesley' lens available on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Wesley-24mm-F1-8-Macro-MC-Lens-for-Micro-Four-Thirds-MFT-M4-3-Camera-OMD-EP-/372032146251

While I haven't used this one, I do have a corresponding 'Wesley' 34mm lens that turned out to be pretty good:

What little I've been able to find out in web searches suggests they might be repackages of the optics from inexpensive CCTV lenses like the Fujian 35/1.7:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fujian-35mm-f1-7-C-Mount-CCTV-Len-for-GH1-GF1-NEX-3-5-E-mount-black-in-box-/151418863310

I've tried the Fujian a few years ago, and wasn't that impressed; but it's apparently a common CCTV lens churned out in cheap masses, with the variable quality control that implies. If the 'Wesley' lens (or the apparently similar Kaxinda lenses) is a repackage, presumably the company doing it will pay more attention to selecting good elements; I can also say that the metal lens body was more solid and looked like it would be more durable than the Fujian.

Thanks for these! I've actually looked into the wesley ones before but I heard they were discontinued? so they're either hard to find now or much more expensive. I'll keep an eye out though!

mentos77 wrote:

I tried the Discover 25mm 1.8 recently and it was pointless next to my P25 1.7. I dont know if was a bad copy but it was just all wrong. Not sharp in the center and very noticeably poor edges, which didn't seem even. Then you have to manually focus.

Just get the tiny 25mm f1.4 for about 900 PHP for now and save up for the P25. The 1.4 is fun and bokehlicious. Terrible edges and big aperture makes for very stylish photos. I have the Pentax Cosmicar one and it is pretty sharp and contrasty in the center, I think the Fujian 35 was similar, so the 25 is probably too.

Or sell your 14 and put that with the other money for the P25. The 14 sells for 5-6k PHP, plus $85= approx. 10k. That should be enough as I have seen the more expensive 20mm for 10k on Mirrorless Trading Philippines.

Thanks for this, I saw a few posts actually complaining about that issue with the discover lens. That is unfortunate. I had high hopes after seeing Zonlai samples on Manila Vintage Primes (click to see samples) who sells it for almost 200$. But I did see a few comments on the focusing issue. I guess, should I decide to go with that lens I should probably avoid buying it from aliexpress so there some form of warranty/return/testing.

The P25 1.7, I'm hoping to get on sale since it drops to 100$ during Christmas (+ tax I think). I have relatives abroad, so I'm hoping I can get it then. Meanwhile I am leaning toward getting a cheap 25 because I feel like there will be some travel situations where I would be wary bringing around an expensive lens (beach and the like) and would prefer a cheap one (I'm considering the cheap Fujian 1.4 in that regard!)

As for the 14mm, I'd like to keep it since it seems to be a favorite I have yet to master-

and it belongs to my girlfriend so I don't think I should sell it. haha (they lent me a GF2 that no one has used in years).

I'm glad to hear that the P25 sounds worth it though! I will look forward to it for sure.

For those following this post and are interested, I found a couple of lens-chart-tests for the Generic Discover HD MC (click HERE for that )

and for the

25mm green band compared to E 16-50mm PZ, Green ring 25mm F1.8, Discover 25mm F1.8, C-mount 25mm "F1.8", Neewer 28mm F2.8 (Click link)

These were likely shot on a Sony though (thus my reason for bringing up this thread! There are bound to be differences especially in vignetting when applying these lenses to APSC and M4/3 systems, since discover, 7artisans, and the CCTV all have APSC counterparts/adaptable systems.)

Hoping someone can shed some light on it (see what i did there. I'm still a kid I hope bad humor is fine in this forum).

i added more samples to that feed now.

my review is that it works well in good light and worth a buy especially at the price

you will lose keepers with the MF and may also with the aperture not clicking.

hindesite wrote:

and he likes it.

https://visualsciencelab.blogspot.co.nz/2017/08/can-70-lens-brand-new-deliver-decent.html

Thanks for this!

A few months ago I considered swapping my old Canon New FD 28/2.8 for a modern lens similar to the ones you're considering.

The prices are often quite similar. The modern lenses have the advantage of being smaller and lighter, but I think old lenses tend to have better build quality and ergonomics: larger and more comfortable focus rings, clicks on the aperture rings, and focus distance scales that are more or less correct.

In the end, for a manual lens, I decided that build quality and ergonomics were more important, and stuck with my old lenses. Others may differ, of course.

Regards,

Alan

Alan WF wrote:

A few months ago I considered swapping my old Canon New FD 28/2.8 for a modern lens similar to the ones you're considering.

The prices are often quite similar. The modern lenses have the advantage of being smaller and lighter, but I think old lenses tend to have better build quality and ergonomics: larger and more comfortable focus rings, clicks on the aperture rings, and focus distance scales that are more or less correct.

In the end, for a manual lens, I decided that build quality and ergonomics were more important, and stuck with my old lenses. Others may differ, of course.

Regards,

Alan

Thanks for this! great point. It was actually my first consideration, but found that 28mm's here in the Philippines are quite rare and overpriced (around 70$ without the adapter which will cost an extra 10). Given that most of my shots are bound to be taken in low light (day job) and the price difference, I thought I could take my chances on getting a 25mm with a larger aperture. Of course, I'm still quite open to the vintage lenses if any of them pop up within my price range. that one in particular (FD 28 F2.8) just popped up in one of the local camera selling groups for 80$. I'm considering it.

By any chance would you happen to have samples for that lens on a mirrorless camera? Would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time!

Mike Loanzon wrote:

Of course, I'm still quite open to the vintage lenses if any of them pop up within my price range. that one in particular (FD 28 F2.8) just popped up in one of the local camera selling groups for 80$. I'm considering it.

By any chance would you happen to have samples for that lens on a mirrorless camera? Would be greatly appreciated.

Sure. Here are some examples with a New FD 28/2.8 on a GM5:

• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59593849
• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59491135
• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59471266

These are all at f/4 to f/8 because of the subjects, but I have no hesitation using it wide open.

Regards,

Alan