Manual aperture lens - for Canon 7D?

[thomas.bamber]

Hello

I am looking for an old manual aperture lens that I can use on my Canon 7D.

I am looking for a 50mm and also a wider lens - something like 17mm or 18mm. Does anyone know what model numbers I should be looking for?

Many thanks
Tom

[OsmosisStudios]

Old manual aperture? Those would likely be FD lenses, and they're not immediately compatible with any current Canon dSLRs. You *can* have them modified to fit a dSLR (the EF mount) but its generally not worth the expense unless you A) already have the lenses and B) they're some kind of special.

A 50mm f/1.8 lens is about $100 (US), so I dont see the point there. As for going wider: the kit lens that the 7D is usually packaged with covers the ranges you mentioned. If youre looking for MUCH wider, thent here are other options but likely not worth the cost for primes.

[RobertTDI]

You mean with an aperture ring?

I have a bunch of old M42 lenses I found in my loft, and I bought a £10 adapter that let me use them all on my Canon 40D. They can be found quite cheaply so that's probably what I'd do

[inkista]

About the 17mm or 18mm? Don't think you're going to find many viable alternatives that are that wide if you want a rectilinear lens. The only two that spring to mind are the Olympus OM-mount 18mm f/3.5 (now hideously expensive in the $1k+ range), and the Contax/Yashica Zeiss 18mm f/4 (also hideously expensive).

Crop-body focal lengths only really came in with digital cameras. Manual focus lenses were all for 135-format film (35mm), so, what you think of as 18mm on a crop was more like a 28mm-30mm lens for full-frame.

Your best bet would probably be to look for 35mm or 24mm f/2.8 lenses, if you want cheap ones. M42 is likely to be the best place to look for bargains.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by RobertTDI

You mean with an aperture ring?

I have a bunch of old M42 lenses I found in my loft, and I bought a £10 adapter that let me use them all on my Canon 40D. They can be found quite cheaply so that's probably what I'd do

I was assuming Canon manual lenses: you crazies with your adaptors scare the bejeezus outta me!

[inkista]

Originally Posted by inkista

Don't think you're going to find many viable alternatives that are that wide if you want a rectilinear lens. ...

Wait a mo'. Forgot. There's always the Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f/2.8. No adapting required.

OS: I pity you so very heartily. Cheap Zeiss glass utterly rocks. You should look into the Leitax C/Y kits. I keep telling you: Distagon 28mm f/2.8.


Canon XT/350D, c/y Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm f/2.8.

[thomas.bamber]

Hey

Thank you all for your advice. Yes, I am looking for a lens with an aperture ring.

I am looking into doing stop motion animation, and I have been recommended manual aperture lenses to avoid the slight flicker you can get when using standard lenses. Apparently the aperture doesn't always return to the exact same position (we're talking tiny increments here) so there's a very slight difference in each picture. When multiplied throughout an animation, it can be quite noticeable.

I will look around for some cheap lenses.

Tom

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by thomas.bamber

Hey

Thank you all for your advice. Yes, I am looking for a lens with an aperture ring.

I am looking into doing stop motion animation, and I have been recommended manual aperture lenses to avoid the slight flicker you can get when using standard lenses. Apparently the aperture doesn't always return to the exact same position (we're talking tiny increments here) so there's a very slight difference in each picture. When multiplied throughout an animation, it can be quite noticeable.

I will look around for some cheap lenses.

Tom

The flicker is more related to the use of Aperture or Shutterspeed priority modes (namely the former) and the metering systems tendency to change exposure slightly for each shot.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by thomas.bamber

Hey

Thank you all for your advice. Yes, I am looking for a lens with an aperture ring.

I am looking into doing stop motion animation, and I have been recommended manual aperture lenses to avoid the slight flicker you can get when using standard lenses. Apparently the aperture doesn't always return to the exact same position (we're talking tiny increments here) so there's a very slight difference in each picture. When multiplied throughout an animation, it can be quite noticeable.

I will look around for some cheap lenses.

Tom

Just shoot manual everything and it won't be a problem.

[RobertTDI]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I was assuming Canon manual lenses: you crazies with your adaptors scare the bejeezus outta me!

I was scared too at first, but since trying it I am definitely converted!