24 or 28, That is the Question

[Bike Tourist]

I have my M262 + Voigtlander 35/1.2. I would like my next acquisition to be a used wider lens. I am thinking the 28 is too close to 35 and would like to find a 24. I think I have read that the 24 is useable without a separate viewfinder and that the limits of the 262's viewfinder just about coincides with the 24 field of view. Do any of you use a 24 this way? An auxiliary viewfinder would entail removing my Thumbs Up each time I used it and I'm too lazy for that.

 

[Mcary]

JMO but the need for an external viewfinder can depend on what you're shooting and your style of shooting. Myself I shoot a lot of landscapes with a 21mm on my M9 by guestimting (SP) using the 28mm frame lines, since I'm not in a hurry and can shoot several frames to get what I want this work for me, but may not work for others.

 

[Veggies]

On my M240, I use the Zeiss 25mm withot a finder and it works fine. The viewfinder seems to approximate the FOV quite nicely.

 

[narsuitus]

The 28mm is too close to my 35mm for my taste and shooting style.
I use a 24mm with my 35mm on my SLR.
I use a 21mm with my 35mm on my Leica rangefinders.
The 21mm and the 24mm focal lengths both work well with my 35mm lens.

 

[farlymac]

I skipped the 24, and went with the 21 because I have a 28, and prefer it to a 35. I use an external finder since the 28 frame lines are pretty much at the edge of the M4-P viewfinder anyway, and the other camera (CL) doesn't have that big of a finder in the first place. But if the M262 has a larger viewfinder, then a 24 would make more sense for you.


PF

 

[Roger Hicks]

For me, 28 is a really dull betwixt-and-between lens: neither "standard" like a 35 nor decently wide like a 24 (though I actually prefer 21). But it's intensely personal.

Cheers,

R.

 

[jarski]

24 is first usable wide for me, but would also prefer even wider like 20ish.

 

[BillBingham2]

For me a 28 is way to close to a 35. But as you said, removing the Thumbs-Up is, well, a pain in the thumb. Frankly I think you have crossed the boundary one camera and should look into a mirror-less body like the Fuji XE-3 and go with something REALLY wide and just leave it on there. Sticking an ultrawide body and manual lens in a case is a lot quicker than switching out the 35 to say a 21.

B2 (;->

 

[Dogman]

Given the choice, I would take a 24mm over a 28mm since I've always loved the 24mm view. In reality, I don't currently own anything with a 24mm FOV.

I don't consider 28mm and 35mm close at all. The 35mm is a normal for me, just slightly wider than 50mm. The 28mm gets you into the "wide" category without much perspective distortion. I prefer the 24mm but you have to be careful with how you use it.

My range of wide angles today (in 35mm equivalents since I use Fuji APS-C) are 21mm, 28mm and 35mm. I used the same range when I used Leicas.

 

[Godfrey]

I never liked the 28mm focal length on FF, but got friendly with it using an M4-2 and the Voigtländer Color-Skopar 28mm f/3.5. Such a nice little lens and so small... 28mm also works particularly well as a 'wide normal' on the CL's APS-C format.

For FF, I prefer 35/50/21/75, in that order.

G

 

[shimokita]

I am thinking the 28 is too close to 35

One option is to get rid of the 35 \(ツ)/

As Roger wrote the 28 can loose some luster if you like shooting wider... a 21mm is looking good... it's all such a personal choice.

My film rangefinder combination (MP) is 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH, 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH, and the CV15 f/4.5

 

[emraphoto]

On my M240, I use the Zeiss 25mm withot a finder and it works fine. The viewfinder seems to approximate the FOV quite nicely.

Zeiss 25mm. All the way to the bank

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I you like the 35 FL and want a bit more around the edge, I would skip over the 28 and go with the 24/25 FL. You can always crop a little if you want less.

Although you can look around the edges in the RF for an approximation up to the 24 FL, if you wear glasses forget about it! Personally, I use accessory finders for framing on everything 28 and wider (I find WA shooting more pleasant that way).

I particularly like wide-angle lenses, so I have to admit I'm a bit biased. I've never liked the 28 FL - it's either too long or too short for my taste.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

BTW - I've owned many of the Leica and Zeiss offerings both long and wide and I can highly recommend the Zeiss 25mm Biogon f/2.8 ZM. It's every bit as good as the, now discontinued, Leica 24mm Asph Elmarit-M.

 

[raid]

The 28mm lens is boring to me.
The 21mm lens will look much more distorted than a comparable 24mm lens will. The 24mm lens can be used a wide normal lens but he 21mm lens is a very wide lens.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I couldn't get used to 24 even with viewfinder. I could do 21 without viewfinder, basically it is the same I see not-blurred.
21-35-50. But 28 is not 35.

 

[Archiver]

I have numerous wides including 12, 15, 21, 25 and 28. My most used 'travel wide' is the Zeiss 21/2.8, as it captures lots of context and aids with memory.

I love the Zeiss 25/2.8 and yes, it is just usable within the borders of the M9 and M7.

28 is my everyday rock and roll lens, along with a 50. Both the Zeiss and Leica 28/2.8's are excellent, and I prefer the handling of the Zeiss because it gives a better grip on the focus ring. The 25 and 21 are progressively larger than the 28, and this may or may not affect the way you like the handling of the camera.

 

[Ccoppola82]

I feel more comfortable with a 35, but tend to like the images from a 28 a little better sometimes if I want a more dynamic photo, or for a landscape situation. 35 feels very normal to me and forces me to compose a decent image (I try anyway) without the gimmicky feel of an ultra wide. So, 28 for me over the 21.

 

[Canyongazer]

A strong influence is your anchor or pivot...what is your "normal" lens?
50mm?
35mm?
Something else???
I favor the 50 above all other lenses and do not care for nor do I own a 35.
Given that, I find the 28 a nice, big, wide angle jump from "my normal."


If forced to limit myself to only two lenses (shudder) they would be 50 and 28.



YMMAPWV (Your Mileage May and Probably Will Vary 🙂

 

[Michael Markey]

50/90 has always been my favoured combination and I have a 28 and 21 for wide.
Of the two wides I tend to favour 28 after many years shooting with the GR series of cameras.