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Best vintage wide angle lenses

By the criteria below, the Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm f/4 leads: 20mm f/4 on M42, typically $420 used. Close behind: Olympus OM-System Zuiko Auto-W 24mm f/2.8 and Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y). 6 lenses qualify.

How this list was built

  • Focal length of 35mm or shorter on full frame

Ordering: Widest first, then lower typical used value. Values are used-market estimates, not appraisals, and each lens page states the basis for its range. Minimum focus distance, weight, and measured sharpness are not in the catalog, so no list ranks on them.

The 6 lenses that qualify

  1. Carl Zeiss Jena

    Flektogon 20mm f/4

    20mmf/4M42

    Used value
    $250 to $750
    Made
    1960s-1980s

  2. Olympus

    OM-System Zuiko Auto-W 24mm f/2.8

    24mmf/2.8Olympus OM

    Used value
    $90 to $300
    Made
    1975-1980s

  3. Carl Zeiss

    Distagon T* 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y)

    28mmf/2.8Contax/Yashica

    Used value
    $180 to $550
    Made
    1975-2005

  4. Carl Zeiss Jena

    Flektogon 35mm f/2.4

    35mmf/2.4M42

    Used value
    $130 to $380
    Made
    1975-1990

  5. Canon

    FD 35mm f/2 (concave)

    35mmf/2Canon FD

    Used value
    $150 to $500
    Made
    1971-1979

  6. Nikon

    Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 AI-S

    35mmf/1.4Nikon F (AI-S)

    Used value
    $350 to $900
    Made
    1976-2020s

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