Best compact 28mm lens under $500

[Jamie Pillers]

I currently have a Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron lens for use with my R4A. The lens is a bit too big and heavy for my taste. I'd like to sell or trade it for something smaller. I don't need a lens as fast as the Ultron. And I'd be willing to pay up to $500 for it.

I know I can take the simple route and get a new CV 28/3.5. But what do you recommend? Used Leica, Konica, or Zeiss? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Second-hand Kobalux/Pasinon 28/3.5.

Cheers,

R.

 

[tripod]

vintage Canon 28mm f3.5 or f2.8

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Roger and tripod.. compare lenses?

Roger and tripod.. compare lenses?

Roger and Tripod,
Thanks for the suggestions. Do you have any idea how these lenses compare with the Voigtlander 28/3.5, with respect to sharpness, color rendition, or "character"?
Jamie

 

[tripod]

Sorry, don't have any other 28 RF lenses. Results are nice and crisp. The lens (mine's an f3.5) is tiny!

 

[raid]

Second-hand Kobalux/Pasinon 28/3.5.

Cheers,

R.

Hello Roger,

Just a week ago I bought a mint Kobalux 28mm/3.5 with matching hood and finder. I haven't used it yet. I am glad that you like it.

 

[raid]

I am planning a summer lens test of 21mm-28mm lenses.
Make suggestions.

 

[back alley]

I currently have a Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron lens for use with my R4A. The lens is a bit too big and heavy for my taste. I'd like to sell or trade it for something smaller. I don't need a lens as fast as the Ultron. And I'd be willing to pay up to $500 for it.

I know I can take the simple route and get a new CV 28/3.5. But what do you recommend? Used Leica, Konica, or Zeiss? Thanks for your thoughts.

the cv 28/3.5 is small, heavy, well made and sharp.
it is a perfect fit on the r4a.

joe

 

[hans voralberg]

if you can find the Minolta 28/2.8, I recommend that

 

[raid]

if you can find the Minolta 28/2.8, I recommend that

I should have sold my Minolta when the prices were very much higher than they are now.

 

[BillP]

Your first instinct is the best. Go with the 3.5.

Regards,

Bill

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger and Tripod,
Thanks for the suggestions. Do you have any idea how these lenses compare with the Voigtlander 28/3.5, with respect to sharpness, color rendition, or "character"?
Jamie

Dear Jamie,

There are ony about four lenses I've not tried in the Voigtländer line-up -- and unfortunately, the 28/3.5 is one of them!

But put it this way: the Kobalux/Pasinon is unreasonably sharp, with surprisingly good illumination, neutral-to-warm in colour (typical 'Japanese' look) and seems to have a high MTF at low frequencies for 'sparkle'.

I remember it as an excellent 'technical' lens, i.e. it doesn't have the personality of (say) a Sonnar-C 1,5/50, but then, I'd not want too much personality in a wide-angle: I'd rather have low distortion, high sharpness, etc.

Best of all, if you can find one, it's likely to be silly-cheap. Quite honestly, I'd be surprised if the 28/3.5 Voigtländer were all that different -- I've heard only good things about it -- but the Kobalux/Pasinon is cheaper.

The quality of wide-angles in general, and 28 and wider in particular, improved dramatically in the 70s, and I'd rather have a modern Voigtländer or Kobalux/Pasinon than a 60s Leica 28; I suspect the same is true of Canon and Nikon too. Of course there are exceptions -- 21 Biogons from the early 50s and later, for example, or 21 Nikkors rom the late 50s and later -- but they do tend to be exceptions.

Cheers,

R.

 

[hans voralberg]

I think Kobalux price has just rocketed recently, price are going silly on the bay. And those are quite hard to come by

 

[Didier]

IMO, the 28 Color Skopar is unreached in terms of sharpness and contrast, even compared with the Ultron 28 and the Summicron 28. The vintage Canon and Nikon 28mm lenses have a nice old-fashioned signature, but are definitely soft. The 28 Skopar is Cosina's real bargain - and the one with the best built quality, btw. It's only issue is vignetting, like the Summicron, too. Personally I do not mind about that in landscape photos (for what I use tat lens most), but others may do so.

Finally it makes no sense to recommend any lens. It's up to each one's taste.
Didier

 

[ampguy]

vignetting and speed

vignetting and speed

The compact size and IQ of the CV 28/3.5 CS is great, but the vignetting on both film and the RD1, is significant wide open. I'd put up with the larger size of the CV 28/1.9 (again) if I were to get another CV 28. The Cosina made Zeiss Biogon 28/2.8 is in between in size, better IQ than the 1.9 (IMHO) and while slower at 2.8, is much smaller but very usable at 2.8. I use a 46 to 52 step up adapter as the hood/protector, and that works well.

IMO, the 28 Color Skopar is unreached in terms of sharpness and contrast, even compared with the Ultron 28 and the Summicron 28. The vintage Canon and Nikon 28mm lenses have a nice old-fashioned signature, but are definitely soft. The 28 Skopar is Cosina's real bargain - and the one with the best built quality, btw. It's only issue is vignetting, like the Summicron, too. Personally I do not mind about that in landscape photos (for what I use tat lens most), but others may do so.

Finally it makes no sense to recommend any lens. It's up to each one's taste.
Didier

 

[raid]

But put it this way: the Kobalux/Pasinon is unreasonably sharp, with surprisingly good illumination, neutral-to-warm in colour (typical 'Japanese' look) and seems to have a high MTF at low frequencies for 'sparkle'.

Best of all, if you can find one, it's likely to be silly-cheap. Quite honestly, I'd be surprised if the 28/3.5 Voigtländer were all that different -- I've heard only good things about it -- but the Kobalux/Pasinon is cheaper.

Cheers,

R.

Hello Roger,

Usually, a Kobalux does not sell for less than $400. For many people, $400 is not cheap.

 

[Captain]

Hello Roger,

Just a week ago I bought a mint Kobalux 28mm/3.5 with matching hood and finder. I haven't used it yet. I am glad that you like it.

But Roger is on record as disliking the 28mm focal length in general LOL. I must disagree with the Kobalux choice I found it on ok lens but edge resolution was anything but "unreasonably sharp" the Voigtlander 3.5 proved better in contrast and edge resolution, the only area it lacked was the finish of the Kobalux didnt wear as rapidly. When I tried the Kobalux I bought it at the same time as another forum member and we have both onsold them with disappointment. I feel now that prices have dropped a bit the Rokkor is probably the choice now if you get a clean one. Its a good as version 3 Elmarit 28 and heaps more compact. So the Rokkor or Voigtlander 3.5 would be my choice.

 

[oscroft]

I love the CV 28/3.5 - and it goes really well on the R4A.

 

[Roger Hicks]

It must be that Kobaluxes are more expensive than they were: I have to confess that I don't keep an eye on such things, and therefore stand corrected. Last time I saw any for sale, they were silly-cheap, but that's not recently: I hadn't realized they had some degree of cult status.

This being the case, I'd go for the Voigtländer. But I really wouldn't go for an older lens than the 70s.

Cheers,

R.

 

[raid]

Captain:

Popular Photography's SQF results put the Kobalux side by side with the Heliar 50/3.5. I am sorry,but some people who insist that the Kobalux lenses are somehow inferior may have not done as extensive testing as Popular Photography's lens testing team has done.

Did you do extensive side by side testing of 28mm lenses when you concluded that your 28mm Kobalux was inferior to other 28mm lenses?