Best Legacy 28mm lens choices?

[Brody LeBlanc]

Any thoughts?
I'm considering the CV Ultron 28/2, the Canon LTM 28/2.8, the SLR CV 28/2.8, or the Nikon 28/2 ai-s. Any other options? I'm really aiming to have a f2 or faster lens.

 

[nikonosguy]

love the canon 28mm

 

[semilog]

If you're aiming for f/2 or faster your only choices are the Ultron or the Summicron ASPH, so far as I know. Is a 42mm EFL really what you're after?

If so, you might consider the Fuji 27/2.8 pancake lens that's due out this year. Personally, I'm waiting for the 23/1.4...

 

[back alley]

i don't understand the desire for a manual focus lens on the x cameras...they are built for af...

 

[semilog]

I'm using both native AF lenses and MF lenses on the X-E1, pretty interchangeably. They both work well, and I don't find that either kind slows me down appreciably.

 

[back alley]

i guess for me, the reason to sell off the rangefinders and get the fujis was the desire for af...in a rf style package...

 

[nightfly]

If fast wasn't a requirement the CV 28/3.5 is a really nice lens. Well built, small and a nice modern but not overly harsh rendition.

 

[Godfrey]

Any thoughts?
I'm considering the CV Ultron 28/2, the Canon LTM 28/2.8, the SLR CV 28/2.8, or the Nikon 28/2 ai-s. Any other options? I'm really aiming to have a f2 or faster lens.

I have both the Ultron 28/2 and Color Skopar 28/3.5 lenses, which I use on the Ricoh GXR (and yes, I love the wide-normal FoV). But I'm not sure that RF lenses are the best for the Fuji cameras since their sensor was not designed for the issues inherent with RF short focal length lenses. The Ultron would likely perform better on this sensor than the Color Skopar as it is more of a retro focus design. And SLR lenses will likely perform best.

The Nikkor 28/2 AI is one of the finest 28mm lenses around.

 

[Cron]

I like my Canon FD 2/28 and want to try an Olympus OM 2/28 ...

 

[Brody LeBlanc]

The Nikkor 28/2 AI is one of the finest 28mm lenses around.

I haven't seen much but as a general rule, it seems that RF designed lenses that work well on the XP-1 cut off around the 28mm mark. Though, there are a few exceptions (i.e. the CV 15mm f4.5) but I'm leaning towards the Nikon 28/2 because I know I won't have performance issues.
I have the Nikkor 24mm f2.8 and though it's great, I'd rather a more narrow view on a brighter lens.

 

[Godfrey]

I haven't seen much but as a general rule, it seems that RF designed lenses that work well on the XP-1 cut off around the 28mm mark. Though, there are a few exceptions (i.e. the CV 15mm f4.5) but I'm leaning towards the Nikon 28/2 because I know I won't have performance issues.
I have the Nikkor 24mm f2.8 and though it's great, I'd rather a more narrow view on a brighter lens.

The specific lens design also weighs in. The Color Skopar 28 is a more symmetrical design, tougher on digital sensors at this focal length and mount register as the primary nodal point is closer to the sensor. The Ultron (and the SLR lenses at this focal length) are all more retrofocal (inverted telephoto) designs which move the primary nodal point further from the sensor.

On the M9, the Color Skopar 28/3.5 requires the use of CornerFix to solve color shifting problems on critical scene types, where the Ultron 28/2 does not. The GXR's smaller format and different adaptation to RF lenses allows the Color Skopar to work without needing CornerFix type adjustments.

The Nikkor 28mm f/2 AI is truly a superb lens, regardless, and should work well on nearly any sensor ... can't go wrong with that. It's only downside is that it's somewhat bulky, but that's worth it for the speed and quality.

 

[Tom Rymour]

If you are lucky enough to own a Canon LTM 28mm then you must simply choose the best camera to go with that old sunny day lens! Up to you...

 

[Brody LeBlanc]

I'm stuck between the Ultron 28/2 and the Nikkor 28/2... Damn so hard to choose.

 

[Godfrey]

I'm stuck between the Ultron 28/2 and the Nikkor 28/2... Damn so hard to choose.

The two lenses have very different characters.

In my experience, the Nikkor is nearly faultless in technical accuracy, images very high resolution even wide open but the image rendering is a little flat. It doesn't change rendering dramatically between wide open and f/5.6.

The Ultron 28/2 shows a good bit of corner fall off wide open, which improves to nearly none just a stop and some down. Corners and edges are also a little soft and improve as you stop down, hitting a plateau somewhere near f/5.6.

The Nikkor does extremely well in most lens tests; most people find the Ultron to perform only so-so in testing rigs. However, both perform quite nicely in actual use, which demonstrates that lens tests only ever achieve telling part of the lens' story. The best way to discover a particular lens' capabilities and learn whether you like it is to buy and use, of course.

Samples:
Two recent photos made with the M9 and Ultron 28mm f/2:

​

I don't have any of my Nikkor 28 photos on line ... IIRC, I used that lens way back when I was shooting Nikon F3 and film (1990s at latest) and for a brief while in 2008 on the Panasonic G1 (I ultimately chose the Summilux-D 25mm f/1.4 ASPH for FourThirds SLR over the Nikkor 28/2 for that camera).

Good luck! ;-)

 

[seakayaker1]

You will also find a Voigtlander 28mm 28/1.9 Ultron Used on the Cameraquest web page which requires a LTM to M adaptor but is a great 28mm lens. http://checkout.cameraquest.com/catalog/product/aec4106e397b4f748e602fd4f47bd104

I own and love this lens.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Ezzie]

I love my 28/1.9 Ultron, but am less than enamored with it mounted on the X-E1. Edge smearing at apertures, up to f5.6 is quite prominent.

I would not choose a wide angle lens without having tried it on camera.

 

[ferider]

I love my 28/1.9 Ultron, but am less than enamored with it mounted on the X-E1. Edge smearing at apertures, up to f5.6 is quite prominent.

I would not choose a wide angle lens without having tried it on camera.

To avoid edge smearing, I would pick something more retrofocal than Ultron 28/1.9, Canon 28/2.8 or Skopar 28/3.5. Many choices out there, depending on the look you want, and how much money you have. Nikkor 28/2 or 28/2.8 AIS, Zuiko 28/2 (smaller than the Ultron - a really cool lens if you ask me), Elmarit-M 28/2.8 vIII, etc.

Roland.

 

[hrzlvn]

I guess Elmarit-M 28/2.8 V1 is the best legacy lens..

 

[Nescio]

To avoid edge smearing, I would pick something more retrofocal than Ultron 28/1.9, Canon 28/2.8 or Skopar 28/3.5. Many choices out there, depending on the look you want, and how much money you have. Nikkor 28/2 or 28/2.8 AIS, Zuiko 28/2 (smaller than the Ultron - a really cool lens if you ask me), Elmarit-M 28/2.8 vIII, etc.

Roland.

I'm anything but an expert on digital sensors, but Godfrey says exactly the opposite:

The specific lens design also weighs in. The Color Skopar 28 is a more symmetrical design, tougher on digital sensors at this focal length and mount register as the primary nodal point is closer to the sensor. The Ultron (and the SLR lenses at this focal length) are all more retrofocal (inverted telephoto) designs which move the primary nodal point further from the sensor.

Could any of you illuminate me and the OP on this?

I have both an Elmarit 28 v III and a 28 Color Skopar, but no digital M to compare them.

Nescio

 

[someonenameddavid]

There are many people more expert than I, but the argument for retrofocus lenses in digital use is that the incident light beams are more perpendicular to the sensor surface and there is less "smearing" of the image.