Originally posted by aleonx3 I have 48...
My most favorite ones are the Tomioka design Chinon 55 1.4 (one with older type of focus ring, like leather, one with blue-gold letters, and the other one made for GAF film camera).
Hmm, maybe my Argus-Chinon 55/1.7 is Tomioka also. It was on a Chinon-made M42 SLR that was badged Argus but also appears as Agfa and others.
Quote: Wow you got a gem for the Sears-Tomioka 55 1.4 for $25, that's a steal.
That was the first one. The second one was US$2.25 shipped. THAT was a steal!
Originally posted by guppy350 Ummmmm AF isn't really a must but helpful at times..... and weather sealing was a must, but now i've seen the price of the DA*55 i'm rethinking needing weather-sealing and looking at a lens with good image quality but not too expensive. I'd rather not go macro as if I'm going to get any macro it'll probably be the 100mm wr. My uses would mainly be carrying around doing general photography, still life, landscape, animals. what i'm willing to pay: under £500($800)
Well, for a new AF 50/1.4, that leaves the Sigma or the FA. I do not know how 'sealed' the Sigma is. I have shot in moderate rain with the FA on my K20D with no ill effects. But I also wore a wide-brim hat to divert water.
No, the FA isn't WR, but it's a pretty tight fit.
If "
AF isn't really a must but helpful at times" then focus throw may be a consideration. I don't know how it goes on the Sigma. But one reason to avoid short macro lenses for general work is that the throw from 1m to infinity can be VERY short, only a few degrees. Careful manual focusing at distance with, say, my MacroTak 50/4 is VERY difficult. (Yes, I know a 50 macro isn't on your list; I just posed that as an example.) That throw on my FA50/1.4 is much better, maybe 1/8 turn; on my SuperTak 50/1.4 it's nearly 1/4 turn, very easy for precise focusing.
AF lenses are designed with shorter focus throws so they will AF faster. MF lenses are designed for hands-on focusing. So you may want to think about two lenses: an FA50/1.4 for low-light and fast-action work, and maybe an M or A50/1.7 or a cheap SuperTak 55/1.8 for precise manual work. Just something to explode your head, eh?