[UncleVanya]

If older SLR lenses are the desired type then look for 28mm f2 or f2.8 lenses. Vivitar sold a bunch in various mounts that seem to go cheap. The m28 f2.8 Pentax is good as well but I’ve never used it on m43.

---------- Post added 12-29-21 at 09:36 AM ----------

But my impression is that older SLR lenses don’t fare well on m43 compared to the modern lenses designed for it. The tiny pixels demand a lot from lenses - depending on the image you want to make. Certainly SLR lenses adapted to m43 can make pleasing images, but depending on the image the modern m43 designs may outperform it handily.

[macman24054]

25/1.7 would not be that expensive

I second this. I have this lens for my GH3 and it is by far my most used lens.

[mir]

If you do not mind MF lenses I have just bought this for $35 in excellent condition: Ricoh 28mm F2.8 Rikenon XR Lens Reviews - Ricoh Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
In my z-p1 focus confirmation works so if Lumix has something similar you are can easily get correct focus.

[Fogel70]

I do consider the 7artisans 25mm f/1.8, but I've never used any of their lenses. How are they sharpness wise?

From what I have seen it is very sharp in the center wide open, but also very soft in the corners wide open. And it has to be stopped down quite a bit to be sharp in the corners.
So it kind of have modern lens performance in the center and vintage lens performance in the corners.

[ChristianRock]

I don't know why anyone would pick a slower, heavier, older (less sharp, less corrected), much larger (with adapter) 28mm f/2.8 design when you can have the Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 which here in the US sells for less than 100 dollars used (mpb.com has one for 94 dollars shipped). In Europe it should cost around 100 euros and for a vintage lens that is anywhere close to it in speed like a Vivitar/Kiron 28mm f/2 you would likely pay much more than 100 euros. Sane thing with 35mm lenses, anything faster than f/2.8 will cost you and even some f/2.8 lenses (like the Pentax models) will likely be more than 100 euros.

[jumbleview]

Pentax K 28 3.5 mm should satisfy you. And there is Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 28mm f3.5 which is 42 mm screw mount so it is easy to adapt. But I that probably not easy to find in good shape. Both seems to me affordable.

[ChristianRock]

Pentax K 28 3.5 mm should satisfy you.

I don't think these have been affordable in a long time... otherwise I would have one by now.

[jslifoaw]

Hi and happy holidays!

I am using a Lumix G7 and it's great, however, I'd love to have a wider lens that will act as a 50mm with this crop factor.
Are there any modern or vintage lenses than can be had for a reasonable amount? Between 20mm and 38mm should be fine for my usage.

Thank you in advance!

Edit for more details:

My most used lens for daily stuff is the Helios 44m-4, even though I have a Canon FD 50mm f1.8, I find myself using the Helios a lot.

Have you considered one of the kit zooms from Olympus or Panasonic (14-42/45)? Many appear to be available for under $100. The one that came with my E-PL1 was perfectly good.

For m43 and APS-C format cameras, the kit zooms are the most economical way to get wide angle with decent image quality.

For 50mm equivalent or wider, you'll need to look at 24mm or wider legacy lenses. Many won't be fast, many will be expensive, and all will require manual focus and exposure. And many won't perform better than a native lens.

You didn't specify any other parameters but a native lens will likely be better suited to your objective unless there's something other than cost involved. Others also mentioned the 20mm f1.7. There's also a Panasonic 14mm f2.5, and Olympus has relatively affordable 17mm and 25mm m43 lenses.

[Gene D]

Pentax K 28 3.5 mm should satisfy you. And there is Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 28mm f3.5 which is 42 mm screw mount so it is easy to adapt. But I that probably not easy to find in good shape. Both seems to me affordable.

Thumbs up on the SMC Pentax K 28mm f3.5 ...its an amazing lens, well worth $100-130 USD (check on eBay, you may have to look a bit)

+Great build quality--feels solid but easy to work with. It does have some weight but it feels just right, not large at all (on my KP its an amazing fit)
+Aperture and focus ring--smooth, well dampened
+Long focus throw, so easy to focus
+Shoots great at f3.5 (not as fast as the f2.0 "Hollywood" would be, but you would have to pay about 5-6x for that lens!) and seems sharpest around f5.6-8, and thats corner-to-corner
+Great value at $100 or to $130. The colors, richness and contrast alone are worth it!

SMC Pentax 28mm F3.5 Reviews - K Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[officiousbystander]

I don't know why anyone would pick a slower, heavier, older (less sharp, less corrected), much larger (with adapter) 28mm f/2.8 design when you can have the Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 which here in the US sells for less than 100 dollars used (mpb.com has one for 94 dollars shipped).

I was going to type much the same thing but you beat me to it. I also run M43 cameras and if the point of them is the small size you don't want to mount a larger lens. I love my Lumix 20mm 1.7 which also has the benefit of being a pancake design. It's so common it's easy to pick up a bargain second hand.

[Jonathan Mac]

A few come to mind:

Sigma Super-Wide 24/2.8 is nice and sharp even wide open. Look for the manual focus version, it handles much better.
Vivitar 28mm f/2 (either version) - not the sharpest wide open but by f/2.8 they're nice and sharp and they focus close.

For much more money (also harder to find) try one of the Pentax 28/2s - the K or M variants. Optically different, the M is smaller, lighter and I hear not as sharp but still excellent. The K is much harder to find, more expensive and a big, heavy lens, but lovely to use and with very good image quality.

[UncleVanya]

I am using a Lumix G7 and it's great, however, I'd love to have a wider lens that will act as a 50mm with this crop factor.
Are there any modern or vintage lenses than can be had for a reasonable amount? Between 20mm and 38mm should be fine for my usage.

Looking at this again - the range you specified is between 40mm and 76mm equivalent. Certainly a bit more telephoto than wide with the average being 58mm perspective which is to say about 29mm. 28mm and 30mm legacy lenses seem close to a perfect fit - and 20 and even 25mm m43 lenses will also fit your range. Given that you wanted a 50mm perspective the 25mm m43 seems to closest but if 58mm perspective is more what you want then the 28mm legacy lenses may be the best fit.

Personally I really enjoyed the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 (which I recently sold due to divesting from m43) as a nice compact fast prime. However the 20mm is going to give a wider field of view on m43 than a 50mm on full frame would and that may not be desired. The 17mm I used before getting the 20mm was wider which I liked but that may not be your cup of tea and it doesn't fall into your requested ranges.

[Paragon]

Thank you all for your replies and insight!
I am searching for a few of the mentioned lenses, and will post an update once I find a suitable candidate. The local market is weird, even the lenses that are supposed to be cheap are close to 100 EUR.