Fast 20-25mm Lens for Ricoh GXR M

[BCMielke]

I have been searching for some faster than 2.8 glass for my new GXR M. Other than Leica I can't seem to find anything faster than 2.8. I would like something in this focal length since after doing quite a bit of looking through my image files 35mm is where I tend to photograph for many of my image files. I have even looked at adding an adapter and shooting M42 or even my Nikon's. Nikon makes a 24 f/1.4, but that is a G lens. They also have a 28 f/1.4, but that would end up being a tad long. Sigma has a 20,24 and 28 all at f/1.8. What I don't know is how good the Nikon to M adapter works.

Is this all there is other than the Leica?

 

[BCMielke]

I found an answer to my own question while doing some searching today. Olympus makes a 21 f/2 and a 24 f/2. After getting a adapter from jinfinance. All I will need to do is locate a lens.

 

[odklizec]

Don't forget that these focal lengths must be multiplied by the factor 1.5! So the 21mm lens becomes 31.5mm and 24mm lens becomes 36mm. I'm afraid, you will have a hard time to find something wide and fast. Wide lenses are only rarely fast, because they would be either huge, expensive or mediocre quality

Check for example this Zenitar 16/2.8:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/zenit/zenitar-16mm.htm

Or this Samyang 14mm/2.8:
http://www.samyang.pl/product,76,catego ... aspherical

Another (not so wide but fast) option from Samyang would be 24/1.4
http://www.samyang.pl/product,178,categ ... lable_soon

 

[Tri-X]

The lack fast wides for crop sensors is really annoying

The 21mm Leica Summilux works well on the GXR but it is very large and disconcertingly expensive - not something to be used casually.

Each day I hope that the void will be filled by Voigtländer ( or even Ricoh )
Reduced image circle 14mm and 18mm f/2 M mount lenses (21mm and 27mm efov. ) would sell rather well.
Olympus thought so - their 12mm f/2 ( 24mm efov ) MF scaled lens is the main reason I don't sell my E-P1.

BTW. Those olympus OM 21mm and 24mm f/2 lenses seem to sell for $700-$1200 at KEH when they get them.

 

[BCMielke]

I have found that wide fast glass is for certain a gap. I hadn't found the Samyang so thanks for the link to that. Especially as you pointed out @odklizec the 1.5 factor.

At least there are some choices.

 

[braeside]

With the high ISO capability of the modern digital cameras, you can get away with slower wide lenses though.

 

[Katsunami]

I would have loved a native 24mm f/2 lens for my GXR-M. Forced to choose between a Zeiss 21mm and 25mm f/2.8, I went with the 21, to get 32mm... it sits in the middle of 28 and 35mm, and I feel that this is more versatile for me than a 25, which would become 38mm.

The Leica Summilux 21mm f/1.4 shows why there are no fast wides for M-camera's otherwise. It's weight, size, and price are all huge.

Maybe I'll get a 28mm f/2 Voigtlander. It'd sit right in between my Zeiss 21mm/2.8 and 35mm/2...

With the high ISO capability of the modern digital cameras, you can get away with slower wide lenses though.

Yes, the loss of speed can be compensated for with ISO, but f/2 and f/1.4 do give somewhat limited DOF, even in 21mm and 25mm lenses.

 

[BCMielke]

I am debating that same wisdom right now @Katsunami. I jumped at the 25mm Zeiss f/2.8 as my expensive lens. I think I might like the 21mm lens better for the reasons that you state. I think I will be looking for the Oly to see how it performs on the GXR-M.

 

[Katsunami]

It depends on what you want to do. If you are doubting between a 35mm or a 40mm FOV, the 25 may just be what you need. With 38mm, it sits right in between. So, go for the 21 to create a 28-35mm viewpoint, go for the 25 to create a 35-40mm viewpoint.

I doubted between a 28mm and 35mm viewpoint; so thought about a Zeiss 18mm f/4 (27mm) and a 25mm f/2.8 (38mm). I decided to omit both, and go for the 32mm viewpoint by using the 21mm. It's cheaper too

This also leaves me the possibility to someday shove a Voigtlander 28mm f/2 in between my Zeiss 21mm/2.8 and 35mm/2, to add a fast "42mm". When owning the 25mm f/2.8, I would probably never do this as the 25 and 28 are too close. Similarily, the 21mm leaves the option to add a Voigtländer 15mm/4.5, which I would not do when I'd owned an 18mm f/4.

 

[ricohlizer]

i use the voigtlander 28mm 1.9 screw mount with my mount module , its a nice combo ...ok sharpness wide open but a pleasure to shoot with, it becomes very good by f4

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I used to have the AIs 35mm f1.4 and UD 20mm f3.5 for my Nikon F2s. The DoF was limited on the 35mm lens but from 24mm and wider, the variation between DoF becomes extremely marginal while the price rockets.

I'm considering a GRX M and would like a "wide" lens as I have a 28mm Elmarit-M and 50mm Summicron which will become 42mm and 75mm respectively due to the crop factor. The lens I think I would end up with is the Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 Heliar.

It might be worth checking out the specification as this is a great lens for the price and the few stops difference shouldn't be noticeable as you should be able to hand-hold fown to around 1/30th with little blur.