battle of the 28mm

[Juan Valdenebro]

I have CV 28/3.5 and 28/1.9 - nothing else required in addition to that pair.

If you get a good sample, under most conditions, the 28/1.9 runs circles around any other 28mm lens but the 28 Summicron. Confirmed by Puts 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

To my photography and some other forum members photography, a small 28 runs circles around bigger ones, no matter the brand.

Another (more important, less important?) subject would be "do Puts' photographs run circles around Winogrand's photographs?", or "do most photographs by users of x lens run circles around photographs by great photographers that used other lenses?"

Maybe what the forum member who started this thread needs/wants for his photography, is a bit or possibly a lot different from "a faster" or "a more expensive" or "a better" lens... Just saying... Especially when his words talked about fast street shooting... If the photograph is good, it will be printed as big as he or any gallery ever wants to print it, no matter the lens used or how ultrasharp his negatives are or how the lens performs in tripod tests... Just anyone can buy an expensive lens, but who can exhibit really great photographs?

The Leica jonmanjiro uses and did comment on, is superb and small too, though... A great choice, of course, if not the best in the world IMO.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[ferider]

To my photography and some other forum members photography, a small 28 runs circles around bigger ones, no matter the brand.

Except at f2.

Re-read my post. I own and use the CV 28/3.5. But, say, with 100 ASA film, a yellow or red filter, indoors, or outdoors in the shade, I find f3.5 and even f2.8 quite limiting.

Especially when his words talked about fast street shooting...

The OP did not mention "street shooting" - you did. The OP stated quick hyperfocal "blam blam" and wants to print big. Not everybody tries to emulate Winogrand (who used an f2.8 lens, BTW).

The Leica jonmanjiro uses and did comment on, is superb and small too, though... A great choice, of course, if not the best in the world IMO.

Haven't used the 28/2.8 ASPH, have you ? Also, the OP mentioned the ZM to be too expensive, so I guess the Elmarit is as well.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Except at f2.



The OP did not mention "street shooting" - you did. God forbid anybody would use an RF for anything else than imitating Winogrand :bang:... The OP stated "quick hyperfocal blam blam" and wants to print big.



Haven't used the 28/2.8 ASPH, have you ? Also, the OP mentioned the ZM to be too expensive, so I guess the Elmarit is as well.

Hi Roland,

I was not attacking you...

My photography (and street photography in general) doesn't require f/2. And I carry f/2 and f/1.4 lenses: I explained to me it doesn't make sense to carry a fast 28.

"Quick hyperfocal blam blam" means street shooting. Does it mean low light indoors? Portraiture? Product? And I did include a comment about printing big: a photograph that earns that is a good photograph, not a sharp photograph.

I like the Leica 28 2.8 because it's small and good, as I like lots of other lenses I don't own, and I don't feel bad about it, and obviously I'm sure it's a great lens, especially for its size, and second for its build quality. Its optical quality gives nothing to the kind of photography I admire, but if it's there, it doesn't hurt... Yet if Leica made a much smaller 28 3.5, that's the one I'd like better...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[OurManInTangier]

Let's not forget Konica M-Hexanon 28mm f2.8. Same build and optical quality of Leica Elmarit 28m f2.8.

I've got the M-Hexanon 28mm. It's a very good lens but not one I've ever really fallen for particularly. I've toyed with the idea of changing to a Zeiss but 28mm just doesn't get used that much so price would be a big factor for me

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Not everybody tries to emulate Winogrand (who used an f2.8 lens, BTW).

I think you're relating the use of a prefocused, stopped-down wideangle lens, and Garry Winogrand, "a bit too much"... It's a common procedure I tried before hearing about Garry for the first time... If I wanted to emulate him, I wouldn't develop my film rolls... 🙂 Not focusing is a much older game than Winogrand... You've been too imaginative... But no problem, really... 🙂

Cheers,

Juan

 

[sazerac]

That's a good list! I struggle with the 35/1.2. It's a great lens but it is almost too unique to fit a standard list. 😉

Sure. These are just my opinion though and based on me shooting the lenses... not on scientific data.

Under $500 - CV Color Skopar 2.5
Under $1000 - Zeiss 35mm C-Biogon 2.8
Under $1500 - Leica Summicron Version 3 or Summarit 2.5
Under $2000 - Leica Summicron V4
Over $2000 - I have no idea.

 

[jsrockit]

That's a good list! I struggle with the 35/1.2. It's a great lens but it is almost too unique to fit a standard list. 😉

Good point...the 35mm 1.2 should be on that list in the under $1500 section... probably the 35mm 1.7 Ultron too in the $500 or less section.

 

[meandihagee]

Hi Roland,

I was not attacking you...

My photography (and street photography in general) doesn't require f/2. And I carry f/2 and f/1.4 lenses: I explained to me it doesn't make sense to carry a fast 28.

"Quick hyperfocal blam blam" means street shooting. Does it mean low light indoors? Portraiture? Product? And I did include a comment about printing big: a photograph that earns that is a good photograph, not a sharp photograph.

I like the Leica 28 2.8 because it's small and good, as I like lots of other lenses I don't own, and I don't feel bad about it, and obviously I'm sure it's a great lens, especially for its size, and second for its build quality. Its optical quality gives nothing to the kind of photography I admire, but if it's there, it doesn't hurt... Yet if Leica made a much smaller 28 3.5, that's the one I'd like better...

Cheers,

Juan

Juan, +1 for more shooting, less optics talk. Big up!

ferider, thank you for the advice. I'm sure the 28/1.9 is one hell of a lens. I hope someday I will be blessed to own a fast wide just for interiors shots.

everybody, the comments on other possible 28mm is greatly appreciated. as always, RFF is the place to be.

my hat goes off for this great community.

here are my photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meandihagee

 

[ampguy]

I've owned the CV 28/1.9, more distortion than the Canon 28/2.8, and M-Hexanon 28/2.8. It was nice to have that speed, but if I could only own one, it would be the Canon 28/2.8.