WTB 24mm 1:2.8 Manual focus lens with 'A' setting

Aside from Pentax lenses (likely to be three figures for 24mm), the best regarded of the older 24mm lenses are the Sigma Ultrawide II. The same lens is also available rebadged as a Carl Zeiss Jena, but for silly money.

I recently bought a Tamron Adaptall 2 24mm/2.5, which I'm very happy with. Bought from KEH outlet on EBay (they probably still have some left) and it is brand new, complete with 6 year warrantee (Tamron standard 6 years in the USA!). It's a bit soft wide open (which I expected and which does not bother me) but nice and sharp by the time you reach the apertures you're likely to use. Secondhand, I would have thought these would run to around £60.

But you also need a Tamron PKA adapter, which adds a lot to the cost. I already had one of those, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered getting the lens as the cost the lens and a PKA adapter together would have been more than it was worth.

A second vote for the Tamron - excellent lens. My copy is quite sharp wide open, so there may be some sample variation. Also worth looking out for are the Vivitar 24/2.8A or 24/2.0A and Cosina/Chinon versions of the same, although A versions are rarer.

I have a spare tamron 24mm f/2.5, but there is no a PKA mount to go with it. PM me if you are interested

I also have a couple of 24mm lenses in PK mount. the one most beloved is Vivitar 24mm f/2, but it's not for sale.

Thanks mowog, I'll keep looking for a 24mm for now. Spent too much time on ebay today!

Andy

Cheers...very helpful!

Andy

Thanks for all the info, I now have even less idea what I want/need! [but more lens knowledge]

I an shying away from non 'A' mount lenses, but do wonder if having one would force me to learn more about what is happening with my camera, and they are cheaper! ...

Pretty much gone off topic,so thanks and I'll ask any more questions in the correct forum.

Andy

I wouldn't want you to think non-"A" mount lenses are unusable, merely more awkward.

With "A" lens you'll get aperture priority; without it, you'll have to use manual. As you point out, a great learning point and, to be honest, you soon get used to making an educated guess at exposure in changing light conditions.

Regards,

Andrew

I wouldn't let non-A put you off if you found a good lens at a good price.

It's easy enough to set the camera up so that you can use the optical depth of field preview to give you stop down metering, and the e-dial (I use the rear edial for this) to control shutter speed. So it's not really that much different from many of the old manual cameras that we used to use with an aperture ring on the lens (tick) and a shutter speed dial (tick, sort of) with indication in the viewfinder of whether the camera thinks you've set the correct exposure (tick).

Alternatively, the green button is pretty useful too!