On Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:19:44 GMT, "bmoag" wrote:

What do you want to use this lens for?
A 42-44mm equivalent lens is not what many would consider a "normal" lens on
a 35mm film camera. That would be more of a "semi-wide" lens. Lenses of this
focal length were used on film P&S cameras but never really caught on for
35m slr cameras.


On the contrary, the 40mm and 45mm focal lengths were the basis of
something of a cult. Nikon had its 45mm f/2.8 GN, and more recently
the AI-P, Pentax its 40mm f/2.8 SMC-M and Contax had the 45mm f/2.8
Tessar. There was also the superb Konica 40mm f/1.8 Hexanon.

All except the GN Nikkor were optically very good. They may not have
been mass market lenses but they certainly had a very enthusiastic
following.

40mm has also been a popular focal length in 35mm rangefinder cameras.
The Leica 40mm f/2 Summicron is optically one of the best lenses Leica
has ever made, and it can be purchased very cheaply indeed for a lens
of such excellence. The Minolta Rokkor versions for the Leitz/Minolta
CL and Minolta CLE followed the same basic design. The current 40mm
f/1.4 Nokton is a strong seller and is optically very good indeed.