An inexpensive, small 28mm for street shooting

[nightfly]

I'm looking for a small, relatively inexpensive 28mm lens for street shooting. Fast would be nice, but I don't want to pay a ton and I'll sacrifice fast for light and small. I'm thinking about the Voightlander 28 3.5 with an M adaptor but also saw some interesting things about the Kobalux 28 3.5. Can't seem to find any for sale though. Seems like they stopped making them a few years back and they disappeared into the hands of happy users.

Any others to consider? I've handled the Voightlander and it feels good to me. I like the focusing tab thing (not quite a tab but whatever). How does it compare to the Kobalux in size, weight and performance. Anyone know where to find a Kobalux? It looks flatter from pictures than the CV which might be nice.

Other suggestions?

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Supposedly Adorama used to distribute Kodalux products (which also go by another name, but I forgot which). Otherwise, Stephen Gandy's well-known website Camera Quest should stock the CV lens you're interested on.

Your other choice is the Ultron 28/f1.9, but then... what's your budget?

Good luck! 🙂

 

[FrankS]

Perhaps also consider the CV 25mm f4.

 

[back alley]

canon 28/3.5, very nice lens.

 

[raid]

canon 28/3.5, very nice lens.

... it is not that inexpensive, Joe. I second Frank's recommendation to look into the CV 25mm/4 lens. It is a very good lens at a reasonable cost.

 

[vrgard]

... it is not that inexpensive, Joe. I second Frank's recommendation to look into the CV 25mm/4 lens. It is a very good lens at a reasonable cost.

Other than the obvious difference between a 25mm lens and a 28mm lens, why do you guys recommend the CV 25 over the CV 28? The 28 looks to be cheaper and physically smaller while being a hair faster. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Randy

 

[kbg32]

Ya can't beat the price of the 28 f3.5 skopar for color and sharpness!

 

[nightfly]

Well, I've got a camera with 28mm framelines and that's about as wide as I'd like to go right now, so I'm not too interested in the 25mm.

The Canon 28/3.5 sounds interesting. Any hints on where to find one?

 

[back alley]

i sold one here for cheap and i think the buyer might want to sell it (he went even wider)

maybe put up a want to buy ad.

joe

 

[Fred]

I have the 28 Skopar and love it, there's a few images in my gallery from it's use. It really is a tiny lens. I bought a used 28 finder for use with the Bessa R and L.

 

[RayPA]

The CV 28/3.5 meets your criteria: small...no, TINY, and inexpensive. It may be more contrasty than the Canon 28/3.5, though (Joe?). The CV 28/1.9 while very nice, is big, and not inexpensive.

🙂

 

[kbg32]

The skopar is much better lens then the 28 f3.5 Canon. I have owned both.

 

[raid]

The points made above are all acceptable and valid. It is a matter of taste which focal length a person prefers. I have a nice 28mm Rokkor lens that is hardly used but I often use the CV 25mm/4 lens. Maybe soon I will explore the world of 28mm photography and I will exclusively use the 28mm lens for fun.

 

[kbg32]

The CV 28/3.5 meets your criteria: small...no, TINY, and inexpensive. It may be more contrasty than the Canon 28/3.5, though (Joe?). The CV 28/1.9 while very nice, is big, and not inexpensive.

🙂

You're correct Ray. The CV lens is sharper and more contrasty.

 

[Fred]

I don't have the 25 but I do find that the gap between the 35 and 28 is about right (but I also have the 21). RF coupling at this FL is not that important unless shooting wide open, definitely if using the 1.9.