Buying a 28mm lens when you already own a 35mm lens

[ornate_wrasse]

I am questioning the wisdom and reasoning behind buying a 28mm lens when I already own a 35mm lens. Specifically, I own a 35mm Summicron and am looking at buying a used CV 28mm 1.9 Ultron lens for about $350 from my local camera shop. An adapter is not included but I already own one so would not have to purchase one, at least not right away.

I'd appreciate hearing from others on why or why not they decided to buy a 28mm lens when they already had a 35mm lens.

Thanks.

Ellen

 

[ferider]

Either because of the lens itself. If you get a good copy, you might be surprised that the 28/1.9 is a (significantly) better performer than your pre-asph Summicron 😱 It's true, even if you read in between the lines of Puts reviews.

Or, the classic way (doesn't apply to your case though, but is what I do): use a fast 35 and slow/small 28. The fast 35 is easier on people shots. The 28 easier to carry around .... I now carry my 35 Summicron with a 28/3.5 Color Skopar, for instance. Very similar signature, IMO. Back to back together the size of the single 28/1.9.

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Either because of the lens itself. If you get a good copy, you might be surprised that the 28/1.9 is a (significantly) better performer than your pre-asph Summicron 😱 It's true, even if you read in between the lines of Puts reviews.

Roland,

As far as getting a good copy, that's one thing I like about buying from my local camera store. I can buy it and try it out for a week and return it if I don't like it. When I looked at the lens in the store, the lens looked a little beat up (i.e. read KEH bargain copy) but the optics looked great. I didn't have my 28/90 adapter with me so couldn't really try it out on my M6.

Wow, that's interesting that the 28/1.9 is a better performer than my pre-asph Summicron version 3. That would definitely be a reason to buy it.

Thanks.

Ellen

 

[mfogiel]

This lens is a gem, although is a bit bulky. A 28mm will excel in the wider street scenes, landscapes and off the hip street shooting. Here are some examples of shots taken with the 28/1.9 Ultron:

this one is slightly blurred because of insufficient shutter speed, but it renders the idea of the off the hip shot:

 

[ampguy]

I think the 28fl is good for travel or carry around. A lot of times with just a 35, I just can't get wide enough as I'd like.

So often my 1 carry around lens is a 28, but if I know I'll need wide for mountaintops or certain landscapes, I'll bring the 21, and even 15. For fast (indoors, or near dark), I always like a 1.4 or faster lens available.

 

[Calzone]

Either because of the lens itself. If you get a good copy, you might be surprised that the 28/1.9 is a (significantly) better performer than your pre-asph Summicron 😱 It's true, even if you read in between the lines of Puts reviews.

Or, the classic way (doesn't apply to your case though, but is what I do): use a fast 35 and slow/small 28. The fast 35 is easier on people shots. The 28 easier to carry around .... I now carry my 35 Summicron with a 28/3.5 Color Skopar, for instance. Very similar signature, IMO. Back to back together the size of the single 28/1.9.

Cheers,

Roland.

+1 on keeping the Cron and getting a slow 28.

I bought a 28/3.5 Canon/Seranar. Considering I got it with a Canon VF (A very nice VF BTW) Leica M-adapter with the lens It was cheap and good to go. I use it on a Leica IIIG for a compact camera. The slow speed is no handicap because usually I meter off the back of my hand, stop down a bit, and shoot the camera as a point-and-shoot.

The added DOF if exploited as an asset is reason enough to get a 28. My 35 is a Cron V.4 BTW. The Canon/Serenar have incredable builds also and are rather inexpensive.

Cal

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Ellen,

Did you feel a need for a 28 before this one became available? In other words, did you keep thinking, "What I need is a lens a little bit wider"?

If so, buy. If not, why buy?

Cheers,

R.

 

[ferider]

Roland,

As far as getting a good copy, that's one thing I like about buying from my local camera store. I can buy it and try it out for a week and return it if I don't like it. When I looked at the lens in the store, the lens looked a little beat up (i.e. read KEH bargain copy) but the optics looked great. I didn't have my 28/90 adapter with me so couldn't really try it out on my M6.

Wow, that's interesting that the 28/1.9 is a better performer than my pre-asph Summicron version 3. That would definitely be a reason to buy it.

Thanks.

Ellen

Hi Ellen,

I also have the v3 Summicron. An interesting lens as it is optimized for micro contrast and not for resolution (much like for instance the R 35/1.4). It appears very sharp, but if you pixel-peep, it's not so much across the field until f8 or so.

The 28/1.9 Ultron is more mellow in overall contrast but has very high resolution already at f4, easily > 100 lp/mm, across the field. Beautiful bokeh, wide open, too. When I had it, it was a great fit to my 50mm DR Summicron.

Great that you can try it out, see if it focuses right at close focus, and try an infinity shot at f4 or so. Also, see if it flares, some copies flare more than others. My last copy was quite flare proof. You will need a good LTM adapter for the Ultron - this is much more critical with a wide angle to get top performance.

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[ferider]

Dear Ellen,

Did you feel a need for a 28 before this one became available? In other words, did you keep thinking, "What I need is a lens a little bit wider"?

If so, buy. If not, why buy?

Cheers,

R.

As an alternative, Ellen might wonder if she still needs the 35 Summicron after the 28 became available 🙂

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Did you feel a need for a 28 before this one became available? In other words, did you keep thinking, "What I need is a lens a little bit wider"?

Hi Roger,

My way of thinking about it was the following:

I've been wanting a wider lens for my M6 than my 35mm Summicron v. 3. My "real goal" is to get a 21mm 3.4 SA Leica lens but that lens is both 1) a lot of money and 2) difficult to find at a reasonable price. So I thought I'd go for an intermediate solution while I'm waiting for a reasonably priced 21 SA and see how I like the 28 before springing for the 21 SA. I currently have a Zeiss 25mm lens for my FM2N which I like a lot and use fairly often. I didn't want to go with the 25mm lens for the Leica as I'd need an external viewfinder, but I thought if I go with a 28mm, I would be able to use the 28mm frameline and wouldn't need a separate external viewfinder. I also wouldn't have to carry a separate camera (my FM2N) if I wanted to use a 25mm lens.

Does that make sense?

Ellen

 

[ampguy]

or, more likely

or, more likely

realize that a lot of photo opps are missed with a slower 2.8 sunshine lens, and end up going for a 35/1.4 lux 😉

As an alternative, Ellen might wonder if she still needs the 35 Summicron after the 28 became available 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

My question would also have been why you wanted a 28mm versus a 35mm. You didn't express any real desire for a 28mm over a 35mm. If 35mm isn't wide enough for you in a lot of cases, you certainly need something wider. Then it just becomes how much wider.

Personally, I like having a stable of wides. In my 35mm RF, I have a Kiev. If I could afford it, I would buy at least a 28mm, or maybe wider. I don't find 35mm wide enough, but it is all I can afford at the time (I need to sell some things). If I thought I would only get one lens, I would personally probably get a 25mm or wider. But that is just me. YMMV, and only you know.

 

[pagpow]

When I started out, a couple of centuries ago, one piece of advice was to get a series of lenses that about doubled in FL -- 24, 50, 100, etc.

Another way to look at it is that everytime you multiply a FL by 1.4 you cut down the area the lens takes in by 50% -- so the 28 will see about twice the area of a 35.

Yet another way was to live with a lens until you no longer could and then buy another.

I was happy with the 2x progression for a long time, until I got to crop sensors (like the RD1s).

Looks like you're in FF only and already questioning the need.

 

[elmer3.5]

Hi, at least to my limited experience i got only the 28mm for the m8, when shooting film i go most of the time with a 21mm and a 35mm wides.
I really love that voigt 21mm!!!!
I switched to the ZM 28/2.8 from the ultron 28/2 , think it´s better, but have to agree the ultron´s f2 worked fine when isolating subjects.

Cheers!

 

[sanmich]

Dear Ellen,

Did you feel a need for a 28 before this one became available? In other words, did you keep thinking, "What I need is a lens a little bit wider"?

If so, buy. If not, why buy?

Cheers,

R.

Roger

I dare disagree with you.
The true essence of a FOV is something you cannot imagine, but need to try.
Or at least I don't have enough immagination to do so😱.
I bought a 28mm for the first time without feeling the need for it.
It also took me quite a while to tame it and teach myself some ways to get decent stuff from it. Stuff I would never have thought about without extensively trying the lens...
In my experience, the 28 is significantly different from the 35, if you don't try to use it as a wider 35 (but am I clear here?) and use it as a totally different thing...
At least that was my experience with this focal...

 

[lawrence]

When I started out, a couple of centuries ago, one piece of advice was to get a series of lenses that about doubled in FL -- 24, 50, 100, etc.

Another way to look at it is that everytime you multiply a FL by 1.4 you cut down the area the lens takes in by 50% -- so the 28 will see about twice the area of a 35.

Yet another way was to live with a lens until you no longer could and then buy another.

I was happy with the 2x progression for a long time, until I got to crop sensors (like the RD1s).

Looks like you're in FF only and already questioning the need.

28mm x1.4 gives about 40mm

 

[ferider]

Cropping a 28 to a 35 is like .... cropping a 40 to a 50, or a 75 to a 90, or a 5x7 to an 8x10. Almost within the limits of frameline accuracy, and no big deal really, unless one religiously hates cropping.

 

[peter_n]

It depends on what you might want to shoot or expect to shoot. I like to have two lenses at least and I mostly use a 35 with a 75, but if I expect to have the subject matter a bit closer I'll pair a 28 with a 50. Closer still and I use a 24 with a 35.

28mm goes very well with a 50mm lens.

 

[tbarker13]

I like having both a 35 and a 28, but I'd never carry them both at the same time. They are just too similar to me.
I like the 35mm alone or paired with a 21 and/or 75.
I like the 28 when paired with a 50 or 75.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I am questioning the wisdom and reasoning behind buying a 28mm lens when I already own a 35mm lens.

I am a literary critic. I do this for a living... and your note has so many layers to it that I can't help. Here, your first lines are something: you're questioning the wisdom of those who, having a 35mm, buy a 28... yet you feel inclined to do the same. Are you wise? 🙂 Are we who have bought both lenses wise? Hmmm...

I'd say we're plenty wise!

Specifically, I own a 35mm Summicron and am looking at buying a used CV 28mm 1.9 Ultron lens for about $350 from my local camera shop.

You have stated that you own a 'cron 35... and that doesn't stop you from fantasizing about a 28. Given the price and shape, I'd think about it. There may be other lenses in better condition and for a similar price. However, I don't see any fault in having both focal lengths. They're similar enough to become kind of interchangeable, and then distinct enough to have their own use. But back to your issue...

I'd appreciate hearing from others on why or why not they decided to buy a 28mm lens when they already had a 35mm lens.

If you really will appreciate hearing from my experience, here it is: when I have traveled to Europe, I like having a lens for street shooting, and another for city scapes. The 35mm provides the former, while the 28 gives me the latter. Besides, the fact that neither requires an external VF adds to the fascination. Because that's what it was to me: a fascination with the wide end of the focal length spectrum. My next Leica lens will be a 21mm... preferably something I can use with my metered and unmetered bodies.

Needless to say, I enjoy having both lenses and even take them with at once: my 'lux is a color shooter, while my Elmarit 28 goes for B&W.

That's just the way I like it, not based in any arcane knowledge or technique. Have fun shopping... but check other stores and other prices before commiting to the lens you described. 🙂