{"id":1499,"date":"2015-11-16T21:37:10","date_gmt":"2015-11-16T20:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=1499"},"modified":"2024-04-21T14:55:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T13:55:23","slug":"affordable-manual-lenses-for-the-sony-alpha-77r7ii7rii-and-7s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/affordable-manual-lenses-for-the-sony-alpha-77r7ii7rii-and-7s\/","title":{"rendered":"Affordable manual lenses for the Sony Alpha 7,7r,7ii,7rii and 7s"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DSC09982\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This is a collection of good\u00a0manual lenses which are available for less than $100, it is meant as a resource for photographers who own a Sony a7\/ a7r\/ a7ii\/ a7rII and want to discover the world of manual lenses without breaking the bank.<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about a lens please check one of my reviews or follow the linked test.\u00a0You will find the average price for a copy in good condition in the description for each lens.<\/span><\/p>\n

All links market with a * are affiliate links. If you use them I will receive a small commission on your purchase without any additional cost to you. So if you found this article helpful using them is a great way to show your support. Thanks!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

You can find this article in German on phillipreeve.de<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Wideangle lenses<\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n

Canon nFD 2.8\/24<\/b><\/h1>\n

\"Canon_nFD_24mmf2p8-6\"<\/a>This would be my suggestion for\u00a0someone looking for a small, sharp and\u00a0affordable wideangle lens to take landscape images.
\nWeaknesses are mustache distortion and mediocre built quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

240g | $85 | my Review<\/a> | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC00426\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Canon nFD 2.8\/24 | f\/11 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/h2>\n

Olympus OM 3.5\/28<\/span><\/h2>\n

I haven’t used this lens myself (yet) but going by other photographers results it delivers a very even sharpness across the frame. It is also small and very affordable.<\/p>\n

180g | $35 | MTF Measurements\u00a0<\/a>| another test<\/a>\u00a0| sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

Minolta MD 2.8\/35<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09971-2\"<\/a>This is a very sharp lens which also happens to be very small and affordable. It has quite a bit of field curvature.<\/span><\/p>\n

170g | $60 | my review<\/a> |\u00a0sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC09959\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MD 2.8\/35 | f\/8 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canon nFD 2.8\/35<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09969\"<\/a>This is a very sharp lens which also happens to be very small and affordable. Downsides are average build quality and only 5 aperture blades.<\/span><\/p>\n

165g | $50 | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC00434\"<\/a>
Sony a7 |Canon nFD 2.8\/35 | f\/8 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Normal Lenses<\/span><\/h1>\n

Canon new FD 1.4\/50<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC04008\"<\/a>At f\/1.4 it is the sharpest ~50mm lens I have used so far. I think it is a very good lens to get started with. The field of view is handy for many applications and the fast aperture allows you to create images with very little depth of field. Bokeh is okay but not great and you need to stop down to f\/5.6 for very good corner sharpness.<\/span><\/p>\n

235g | $50 | my Review<\/a> | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC09008\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Canon nFD 1.4\/50 | f\/2 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta MC\/MD Rokkor 1.4\/50<\/span><\/h2>\n

Not as sharp as the Canon at f\/1.4 but I think it has nicer bokeh at f\/2. The older MC version is heavier and feels more solid than the younger MD versions. There are three optically different versions but the differences are not big enough to worry about them. \u00a0Weaknesses are only six aperture blades and you need to stop the down to f\/5.6 or better f\/8 for very good corners.<\/span><\/p>\n

245g | $60 | my unfinished\u00a0Review<\/a> | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"Minolta<\/a>
Minolta MD Rokkor 1.4\/50 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta MD 2\/50<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09961\"<\/a>I haven\u2019t used an affordable 50mm lens with more even sharpness than this, the corners at faster apertures are much better than with other versions. My choice for a hinking lens \u00a0when a small size and good sharpness matter. Built quality and bokeh are okay but not great.<\/span><\/p>\n

150g | $25 | my Review<\/a> | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC09804\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MD 2\/50 | f\/8 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sigma 2.8\/50\u00a0Macro<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09976\"<\/a><\/p>\n

About any manufacturer like Minolta, Canon or Olympus sold a 3.5\/50 Macro back in the day and any of those is a good buy. The Sigma is in the same league optically but it is a bit faster and most importantly it does 1:1, not 1:2 like all the other macros. The build quality is clearly worse than that of the major brands.<\/p>\n

310g | $45 |sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"Sony<\/a>
Sony a7 | Sigma 2.8\/50 Macro | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta MC Rokkor 1.7\/55<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Minolta<\/a><\/p>\n

Not the sharpest lens but sharp enough and it has very nice character and build quality. My choice when I want a small normal lens with good bokeh.<\/span><\/p>\n

230g | $20 | my Review<\/a> | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC07676\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MC 1.7\/55 | f\/1.7 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tele Lenses<\/span><\/h1>\n

Minolta MC Rokkor 2.5\/100<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Minolta<\/a><\/p>\n

Great bokeh and good sharpness at f\/2.5 make this a very enjoyable portrait lens. Built quality is great and it isn\u2019t too large. The only real weakness of this lens is that \u00a0it is very sensitive to flare.<\/span><\/p>\n

410g | $90 | my Review<\/a> | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC07011\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MC 2.5\/100 | f\/2.5 | full resolution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta MD Rokkor 2.8\/135<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09964\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It doesn’t set any records\u00a0but it is a solid lens very well suited for portraits.<\/p>\n

535g | $60 | \u00a0sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC01892\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MD 2.8\/135 | f\/2.8 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canon FD 2.8\/135<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09965\"<\/a>If you are looking for a very affordable portrait lens this is a good choice, bokeh and sharpness are good (but not great). Built quality isn\u2019t great but good enough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

395g | $50 |\u00a0sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC00578\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Canon nFD 2.8\/135 | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta MC Rokkor 4\/200<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09966\"<\/a>I was surprised how sharp this lens is across the frame from f\/4, a great solution for landscape photography. The lens feels very solid but the rather stiff focusing ring makes it less ideal for moving subjects. I also don\u2019t care for the very obvious CA outside of the focal plane and it\u2019s proneness to flare.<\/span><\/p>\n

520g | $35 | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC01542\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MC 4\/200 | f\/4 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zoom lenses<\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n

Minolta MD 3.5\/35-70 Macro<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09968\"<\/a>A useful focal range and a handy 1:4 macro-mode make this a very vesatile lens. In the 40-70mm range it is as sharp as a good prime lens at f\/8, only at 35mm the corners are a bit soft. Contrast and bokeh benefit noticeably from stopping down to f\/5.6 and distortion at 35mm is \u00a0a bit high.<\/span><\/p>\n

365g | $60| my Review<\/a> | sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC05972\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MD 3.5\/35-70 | 35mm | f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta MD 4\/75-150<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"DSC09963\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A small tele-zoom\u00a0which is as sharp as the corresponding primes, only at 150mm it get a little softer towards the corners. Weaknesses are some distortion and CA outside of the focal plane.<\/p>\n

445g | $30 |\u00a0sample images<\/a><\/p>\n

buy from ebay<\/a>* | adapters on amazon<\/a>*<\/p>\n

\"DSC08554\"<\/a>
Sony a7 | Minolta MD 4\/75-150 | 75mm | f\/8 | full resolution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How a lens gets onto this list<\/h1>\n

To make it into this list I must have either personally used a lens or someone else must have published a well done test and some full resolution images.<\/p>\n

I will only add lenses which meet my subjective criteria for a good lens and I want to avoid having too many very similar lenses in this selection.<\/p>\n

If you think I have missed a lens please tell me about it! But don’t forget to link to meaningful tests and full resolution sample images.<\/p>\n

Further Links<\/h1>\n