Suggestions for a good value 24mm prime?

RichyX · 10-26-2011, 03:40 PM

Some interesting options there, thanks.

The sample shots from the Kiron wide open are better than expected.
How does the focus throw compare to the Sigma 24mm? That supposedly has a throw of 180 degrees. The extra stop would be nice.

My only worry about the Kiron and Vivitars is that they superficially look similar to my Cosina 50mm f/2, which is a piece of junk in every sense of the word, especially build quality.
The ebay prices for the Kirons are also a little silly. A lot of BIN at 200-300$.

I noticed Samyang are releasing a 24mm f/1.4 soon. I'm wild about their 85mm, so if the 24mm comes in at the same price I might be willing to shell out for the extra stop and the great quality.

pinholecam · 10-26-2011, 11:25 PM

+1 to the SMC K 24/2.8

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-27-2011, 04:10 AM

The only worry I would have about the Kiron/Vivitar 24/2 is the aperture blades sticking. I have both the 24 and 28 Kiron F2 lenses and both had stuck blades. Of course that's why I got the pair for $10

L33tGreg · 10-27-2011, 07:33 AM

I'm about to place a Tamron Adaptall 2 24mm/2.5 for sale with PK/A adapter...... if you are interested, send me a PM.

sorted78 · 10-27-2011, 09:08 AM - **1 Like**

I'd add a vote for the Kiron 24/2. I recently did a comparison of my 24mm primes here: 24mm prime comparison and it came out surprisingly well, beating everything except the FA*24/2.

regor · 10-27-2011, 11:31 AM

K28/2.8 it very nice I think.

Some test images in my gallery: K24/2.8 Photo Gallery by regor at pbase.com

**Just1MoreDave** · 10-27-2011, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by sorted78

I'd add a vote for the Kiron 24/2. I recently did a comparison of my 24mm primes here: 24mm prime comparison and it came out surprisingly well, beating everything except the FA*24/2.

Thanks for that comparison, because I have a Vivitar/Komine 24/2 that behaves a lot like yours. The Kiron definitely is the one to get for sharpness.

For RichyX, the Sigma SuperWide II 24/2.8 MF focus ring does have a 180 degree sweep.

FotoPete · 10-27-2011, 11:43 PM

have you tried the Pentax 25mm f1.4 C-Mount for 1-inch sensors? Its like 89.99 at BH but right now they are out of stock. It gets alot of rave reviews from m4/3rds from pana/oly alike.

As of other 24s, I have experience with Vivitar/kiron 24/2 and the tammy 24/2.5. Both are really good. The tammy is a little slower but can focus to like 24cm or something like that which can give you a little more oomph in your perspectives if going for a close up.

(oh wait you are on 2x crop haha...in that case yea the kiron stops at 0.3cm and the tammy goes down to like 24cm. something to think about.)

RichyX · 10-28-2011, 12:11 PM

Originally posted by FotoPete

have you tried the Pentax 25mm f1.4 C-Mount for 1-inch sensors? Its like 89.99 at BH but right now they are out of stock. It gets alot of rave reviews from m4/3rds from pana/oly alike.

That's an interesting little lens. I'll definitely be checking it out on the m4/3 forums.
Only problems I forsee are having to stack a few filter rings on it to get my 72mm filters on there and the size of the thing making it awkward to focus pull.

civiletti · 10-28-2011, 12:28 PM

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, the sigma 24/2.8 is the way to go.

RioRico · 10-28-2011, 12:59 PM

A Vivitar 24/2.8 just sold for US$12.50 this morning. In Nikon mount, very simple to chop to fit Pentax. A bit longer and faster, a Vivitar 135/2.5 just sold for US$16.50. No, I didn't get either, didn't really try. But bargains still abound.

kenafein · 10-28-2011, 01:58 PM

If this is for your gh1 then you could buy a lens for any mount. Sounds like you can get better deals that way.

civiletti · 10-28-2011, 03:01 PM

Photodo MTF scores:

FA24/2-------------------------------------------------------3.7
Sigma 24/2.8 [both manual and autofocus]--------4
Tamron 24/2.5---------------------------------------------3

I believe the Tamron 17-50/2.8 at 24mm betters all of these.

Sigma 24mm/2.8 at f8, Opal Creek, OR

civiletti · 10-28-2011, 03:15 PM

Tamron 17-50/2.8 at 22mm/f11

RichyX · 10-28-2011, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by civiletti

I believe the Tamron 17-50/2.8 at 24mm betters all of these.

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.
For me the general the look the old manual lenses provide is often more suitable for film making that the modern digital lenses.

I have looked at lenses in other mounts, but I already have 2 k-mount adapters and it would be nice to have the option to use any lens on my K20D.

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10-26-2011, 03:40 PM	#16
RichyX Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 84 Original Poster	Some interesting options there, thanks. The sample shots from the Kiron wide open are better than expected. How does the focus throw compare to the Sigma 24mm? That supposedly has a throw of 180 degrees. The extra stop would be nice. My only worry about the Kiron and Vivitars is that they superficially look similar to my Cosina 50mm f/2, which is a piece of junk in every sense of the word, especially build quality. The ebay prices for the Kirons are also a little silly. A lot of BIN at 200-300$. I noticed Samyang are releasing a 24mm f/1.4 soon. I'm wild about their 85mm, so if the 24mm comes in at the same price I might be willing to shell out for the extra stop and the great quality.

10-26-2011, 11:25 PM	#17
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	+1 to the SMC K 24/2.8

10-27-2011, 04:10 AM	#18
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,887	The only worry I would have about the Kiron/Vivitar 24/2 is the aperture blades sticking. I have both the 24 and 28 Kiron F2 lenses and both had stuck blades. Of course that's why I got the pair for $10

10-27-2011, 07:33 AM	#19
L33tGreg Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 369	I'm about to place a Tamron Adaptall 2 24mm/2.5 for sale with PK/A adapter...... if you are interested, send me a PM.

10-27-2011, 09:08 AM - 1 Like	#20
sorted78 New Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 22	I'd add a vote for the Kiron 24/2. I recently did a comparison of my 24mm primes here: 24mm prime comparison and it came out surprisingly well, beating everything except the FA*24/2.

10-27-2011, 11:31 AM	#21
regor Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 356	K28/2.8 it very nice I think. Some test images in my gallery: K24/2.8 Photo Gallery by regor at pbase.com

10-27-2011, 09:44 PM	#22
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by sorted78 I'd add a vote for the Kiron 24/2. I recently did a comparison of my 24mm primes here: 24mm prime comparison and it came out surprisingly well, beating everything except the FA*24/2. Thanks for that comparison, because I have a Vivitar/Komine 24/2 that behaves a lot like yours. The Kiron definitely is the one to get for sharpness. For RichyX, the Sigma SuperWide II 24/2.8 MF focus ring does have a 180 degree sweep.

10-27-2011, 11:43 PM	#23
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	have you tried the Pentax 25mm f1.4 C-Mount for 1-inch sensors? Its like 89.99 at BH but right now they are out of stock. It gets alot of rave reviews from m4/3rds from pana/oly alike. As of other 24s, I have experience with Vivitar/kiron 24/2 and the tammy 24/2.5. Both are really good. The tammy is a little slower but can focus to like 24cm or something like that which can give you a little more oomph in your perspectives if going for a close up. (oh wait you are on 2x crop haha...in that case yea the kiron stops at 0.3cm and the tammy goes down to like 24cm. something to think about.)

10-28-2011, 12:11 PM	#24
RichyX Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 84 Original Poster	Originally posted by FotoPete have you tried the Pentax 25mm f1.4 C-Mount for 1-inch sensors? Its like 89.99 at BH but right now they are out of stock. It gets alot of rave reviews from m4/3rds from pana/oly alike. That's an interesting little lens. I'll definitely be checking it out on the m4/3 forums. Only problems I forsee are having to stack a few filter rings on it to get my 72mm filters on there and the size of the thing making it awkward to focus pull.

10-28-2011, 12:28 PM	#25
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	If you don't want to spend a lot of money, the sigma 24/2.8 is the way to go.

10-28-2011, 12:59 PM	#26
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	A Vivitar 24/2.8 just sold for US$12.50 this morning. In Nikon mount, very simple to chop to fit Pentax. A bit longer and faster, a Vivitar 135/2.5 just sold for US$16.50. No, I didn't get either, didn't really try. But bargains still abound.

10-28-2011, 01:58 PM	#27
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	If this is for your gh1 then you could buy a lens for any mount. Sounds like you can get better deals that way.

10-28-2011, 03:01 PM	#28
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Photodo MTF scores: FA24/2-------------------------------------------------------3.7 Sigma 24/2.8 [both manual and autofocus]--------4 Tamron 24/2.5---------------------------------------------3 I believe the Tamron 17-50/2.8 at 24mm betters all of these. Sigma 24mm/2.8 at f8, Opal Creek, OR

10-28-2011, 03:15 PM	#29
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Tamron 17-50/2.8 at 22mm/f11

10-28-2011, 03:53 PM	#30
RichyX Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 84 Original Poster	Originally posted by civiletti I believe the Tamron 17-50/2.8 at 24mm betters all of these. 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. For me the general the look the old manual lenses provide is often more suitable for film making that the modern digital lenses. I have looked at lenses in other mounts, but I already have 2 k-mount adapters and it would be nice to have the option to use any lens on my K20D.