Suggestions for a good value 24mm prime?

Nick Siebers · 10-28-2011, 06:46 PM

There is a Cosine made Vivitar 24mm.2,8 that I used to have that is quite nice for the cost. I gave it up for a Vivitar 24/2 (Komine, I think, could have been Kiron), which was so dreamy wide open it seemed almost a specialty lens. Really sharp stopped down, though. And then I gave that up for an AF Sigma Super Wide, which has been just fine.

civiletti · 10-28-2011, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by RichyX

I find my 17-50mm to be hopeless for video. It's incredibly hard to accurately focus pull with it. Old manual lenses have much more focus travel and often a nicer dampened feel to the focus ring.

Agreed. Tamron 17-50/2.8's manual focus is not suitable for hot zooms. It's fine for still images, though no joy like a Pentax k lens or DA limited.

civiletti · 10-28-2011, 09:41 PM

There's a Sigma 24/2.8 in the marketplace for $115.

RichyX · 12-23-2011, 06:44 AM

I eventually bought the Pentax 25/1.4 cctv lens.
It's an interesting lens but technically pretty poor. The build quality is lovely, centre is sharp wide open and stepless aperture is a pleasure I haven't had since filming with Zeiss primes in college.
On the other hand the bokeh is horrendously ugly and the edges of frame are remarkably soft.
I'll keep it for novelty purposes but it borders on useless for typical narrative film.

So I'm back looking for another 24mm

Last edited by RichyX; 01-10-2012 at 08:33 AM.

**dadipentak** · 12-23-2011, 09:00 AM

Stop messing around and grab a Sigma 24/2.8 Super-Wide as soon as you can.

kenafein · 12-23-2011, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by dadipentak

Stop messing around and grab a Sigma 24/2.8 Super-Wide as soon as you can.

Yeah, I agree, buy the Sigma. I really miss mine, but I sold it to buy a DA21, which I also love. I wish I could have kept both.

RichyX · 12-23-2011, 10:44 AM

Originally posted by dadipentak

Stop messing around and grab a Sigma 24/2.8 Super-Wide as soon as you can.

I'm currently waiting to hear back from someone near me who's selling one.

civiletti · 12-23-2011, 02:13 PM

here you go:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-equipment-sale/167431-sale-w...-19-3-8-a.html

RioRico · 12-23-2011, 07:50 PM

Is 24mm really sufficient? You might find more possibilities around 20-21mm.

RichyX · 12-25-2011, 05:23 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

Is 24mm really sufficient? You might find more possibilities around 20-21mm.

This won't be my widest lens. My 17-50 Tamron currently fills that role.
I need something with a decent focus throw to bridge the gap to my FA35 f/2.

civiletti · 12-26-2011, 12:34 AM

The tamron 17-50 has excellent IQ. I have been using it instead of my sigma 24/2.8, k28/3.5 and k35/3.5. I think you would need to go to zeiss ZKs to do better.

lytrytyr · 12-26-2011, 02:42 AM

Originally posted by civiletti

The tamron 17-50 has excellent IQ. I have been using it instead of my sigma 24/2.8, k28/3.5 and k35/3.5. I think you would need to go to zeiss ZKs to do better.

At 24mm/1in, I use the K24/2.8, Tamron 17-50/2.8 A16P, and ZK25/2.8.
Each has its strong points (in my experience of still photography on APS-C).
Unfortunately, unless you have a lucky find with the K24/2.8,
they'll set you back 2 - 10 times RichyX's budget of 100 Euros.

The Tamron has the best resolution, and no distortion (at 24mm).
But like many modern lenses, its images seem a bit soulless.

The K24/2.8 is the most compact, making it an excellent street lens.

The ZK25 is small for a ZK, intermediate in size
between the K24/2.8 and the Tamron A16P.
It's tricky to use, but the rendering is magic,
and it resists flare very well.
The GH1 would be using the lens's central sweet spot.

Lloydy · 12-26-2011, 09:34 AM

The Ensinor ( also sold under Clubman ) is stunning. It's one of the best kept secrets.

RichyX · 06-23-2012, 08:00 AM

After months of (again) looking for the right lens I purchased a Kiron 24/2.
It's a little softer wide open than expected and I hoped there'd be a longer focus throw, but overall it's a nice lens.

lytrytyr · 06-23-2012, 08:05 AM

Thanks for the update.

Let us know how you fare
(maybe on Camera Enthusiast for the GH1,
as it would be a non-Pentax lens on a non-Pentax body).

Was the Kiron expensive?

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10-28-2011, 06:46 PM	#31
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	There is a Cosine made Vivitar 24mm.2,8 that I used to have that is quite nice for the cost. I gave it up for a Vivitar 24/2 (Komine, I think, could have been Kiron), which was so dreamy wide open it seemed almost a specialty lens. Really sharp stopped down, though. And then I gave that up for an AF Sigma Super Wide, which has been just fine.

10-28-2011, 08:29 PM	#32
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Originally posted by RichyX I find my 17-50mm to be hopeless for video. It's incredibly hard to accurately focus pull with it. Old manual lenses have much more focus travel and often a nicer dampened feel to the focus ring. Agreed. Tamron 17-50/2.8's manual focus is not suitable for hot zooms. It's fine for still images, though no joy like a Pentax k lens or DA limited.

10-28-2011, 09:41 PM	#33
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	There's a Sigma 24/2.8 in the marketplace for $115.

12-23-2011, 06:44 AM	#34
RichyX Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 84 Original Poster	I eventually bought the Pentax 25/1.4 cctv lens. It's an interesting lens but technically pretty poor. The build quality is lovely, centre is sharp wide open and stepless aperture is a pleasure I haven't had since filming with Zeiss primes in college. On the other hand the bokeh is horrendously ugly and the edges of frame are remarkably soft. I'll keep it for novelty purposes but it borders on useless for typical narrative film. So I'm back looking for another 24mm Last edited by RichyX; 01-10-2012 at 08:33 AM.

12-23-2011, 09:00 AM	#35
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Stop messing around and grab a Sigma 24/2.8 Super-Wide as soon as you can.

12-23-2011, 10:32 AM	#36
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Originally posted by dadipentak Stop messing around and grab a Sigma 24/2.8 Super-Wide as soon as you can. Yeah, I agree, buy the Sigma. I really miss mine, but I sold it to buy a DA21, which I also love. I wish I could have kept both.

12-23-2011, 10:44 AM	#37
RichyX Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 84 Original Poster	Originally posted by dadipentak Stop messing around and grab a Sigma 24/2.8 Super-Wide as soon as you can. I'm currently waiting to hear back from someone near me who's selling one.

12-23-2011, 02:13 PM	#38
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	here you go: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-equipment-sale/167431-sale-w...-19-3-8-a.html

12-23-2011, 07:50 PM	#39
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Is 24mm really sufficient? You might find more possibilities around 20-21mm.

12-25-2011, 05:23 AM	#40
RichyX Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 84 Original Poster	Originally posted by RioRico Is 24mm really sufficient? You might find more possibilities around 20-21mm. This won't be my widest lens. My 17-50 Tamron currently fills that role. I need something with a decent focus throw to bridge the gap to my FA35 f/2.

12-26-2011, 12:34 AM	#41
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	The tamron 17-50 has excellent IQ. I have been using it instead of my sigma 24/2.8, k28/3.5 and k35/3.5. I think you would need to go to zeiss ZKs to do better.

12-26-2011, 02:42 AM	#42
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by civiletti The tamron 17-50 has excellent IQ. I have been using it instead of my sigma 24/2.8, k28/3.5 and k35/3.5. I think you would need to go to zeiss ZKs to do better. At 24mm/1in, I use the K24/2.8, Tamron 17-50/2.8 A16P, and ZK25/2.8. Each has its strong points (in my experience of still photography on APS-C). Unfortunately, unless you have a lucky find with the K24/2.8, they'll set you back 2 - 10 times RichyX's budget of 100 Euros. The Tamron has the best resolution, and no distortion (at 24mm). But like many modern lenses, its images seem a bit soulless. The K24/2.8 is the most compact, making it an excellent street lens. The ZK25 is small for a ZK, intermediate in size between the K24/2.8 and the Tamron A16P. It's tricky to use, but the rendering is magic, and it resists flare very well. The GH1 would be using the lens's central sweet spot.

12-26-2011, 09:34 AM	#43
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	The Ensinor ( also sold under Clubman ) is stunning. It's one of the best kept secrets.

06-23-2012, 08:00 AM	#44
RichyX Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 84 Original Poster	After months of (again) looking for the right lens I purchased a Kiron 24/2. It's a little softer wide open than expected and I hoped there'd be a longer focus throw, but overall it's a nice lens.

06-23-2012, 08:05 AM	#45
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Thanks for the update. Let us know how you fare (maybe on Camera Enthusiast for the GH1, as it would be a non-Pentax lens on a non-Pentax body). Was the Kiron expensive?