Fujian TV lens GDS-35 35mm f1.7

I am looking for a 35mm lens for my OM-D EM5, when I came across this Made in China lens... it is selling very cheaply at around S$20+ with free postage in the ebay. I read some reviews (there aren't many, trust me) and these reviews are pretty alright. So I thought, "What the heck! It is S$20. I might as well try it. If I don't like it... I can still sell it off for slightly lesser money." So I buy the lens.

It took ages to reach me... I almost forgotten that I have bought it... and finally it came...

I will not comment on the packaging... one word... "cheap." In fact cheap is already a good word for it. I would have curse and swear... even the cheapo Russian 50mm lens came in a decent box. This one is just in an envelope with bubble bags.

I took out the lens... yeah... it was construct of metal (aluminium I suspect), pretty cheap and rough feels to it. I mean, I could have done better with a CNC machine than these guys. Really... rough edges, untrimmed edges... whats more?

There is a few cheap looking silkscreen or tempo print on the lens itself (not the optic element, of course!) that stated Fujian China TV lens GDS-35 f=35mm 1:1.7. And the lens cap that came with it is... yes... you say it... cheap... I would not say it is a lens cap... more like a cheap cover.

Anyway, I leave the lens there for a while not touching it because I am going overseas for business. And it was so small that I almost forget about it completely. Then one fine day, I remember I have this little lens and decided to play with it.

Well... turning on the zoom and aperture rings are smooth enough... actually it is smoother than many manual lens and easy to turn, I was surprise.

Hmm... looked like an easy to use lens after all.

So I wasted no time but try it on some static objects in the comfort of my room... the result almost blow me away with such a small and inexpensive lens.

Wow... so I decided to try my luck on my baby dog.

I must say... I am really really please with the lens. The sharpness and ease of use is amazing. Even more modern lenses might not been able to achieve such a clarity of this lens. So who says the Chinese cannot make good lens.

All they need is some packaging and for goodness sake... do a better job with the printing and construction of the body! Make the lens looked more premium!

In conclusion... yeah... this is a good lens. One of the better ones I have seen for quite some time... and actually better than many manual lenses that I have bought in the past and sold them off almost immediately... this lens is good.

Ok... Tested abit for colour fringing and vignetting... and guess what... NONE!

And don't you just loved the sharpness and clarity?

Guess like this lens is a winner. Highly recommended.