[kxr4trids]

You might keep an eye out for discounts on the samyang/rokinon 35mm 1.4
Amazon had it for $375 about a month ago
No guarantees it will come down, but if you see one in your price range, grab it. Rivals the 55 1.8 for sharpness.

[Lowell Goudge]

I'm going to stop recommending the Vivitar-Kiron 24/2. My second one has just succumbed to iris-stuck-open syndrome (ISOS). The Viv-Komine 28/2 CFWA and Viv-Kiron 28/2.5 are both good, although I've seen reports that all the wide Kirons tend towards this problem. What a pickle.

Both my 24 and 28 had sticky blades. I got them for $5 and free respectively. With a little patience it was an easy fix

[RioRico]

Both my 24 and 28 had sticky blades. I got them for $5 and free respectively. With a little patience it was an easy fix

Before losing all hope, I intend to search the forums for how-to fixes. I just have this nightmare of me removing the mount while some invisible bearing shoots off into an unknown dimension. So I just have to decide amongst options:

1) sell it at a painful loss
2) try to fix it without ruining it, or
3) pay money for a competent repair.

If I choose #2, the next quandary is:

2a) try to fix it with what I'm carrying with me, or
2b) wait till I get back home in a month or three.

If a fix only requires fine screwdrivers, tweezers, and a 2x hand-magnifier, then I might try it sometime soon. Meanwhile, I'll consider my bad-luck aura. I have had five 24s and two 25s. Of those, two each 24s (Vivitar-Kiron 24/2) and 25s (Lentar-Tokina 25/3.5) have had stuck apertures. Is it me, or are 24-25s naturally flaky, or what?