Biogon 28mm or Hexanon 28mm?

[yoyo22]

I just reserved a Hexanon 28 in exc. condition with hood and a Hexanon 90 exc for 430 EUR as a set. Tonight I will send the money, the lenses should arrive next week.
The 90mm I will definetly keep. But with the 28mm I don't really know. Shall I keep it and sell the Biogon? Or shall I keep both 28mm lenses?
Anyone got some advice?

 

[Huck Finn]

Since you have both, try them out. See if either makes a difference. I doubt that you'll see much.

The Hexanon is pretty much a clone of the Leica Elmarit 28/2.8 pre-ASPH, which is a symmetrical design. The Zeiss lens is a Biogon design. Size is very similar. Distortion & flare are well controlled in both.

 

[sleepyhead]

The Biogon focuses down to 0.5 (not rangefinder coupled below 0.7m).

And it has 1/3 stop increments on the aperture ring - this could be something you like, or it could drive you crazy, that is, the different ergonomics between using the 90mm Hex and the 28 Biogon could prove annoying...

 

[pfoto]

You got those two lenses for a very good price. Try the Hexanon 28 for yourself, Yaron makes a good point about the handling. The Biogon is an excellent lens but I find the ergonomics of the Zeiss lenses to be awkward.

 

[srtiwari]

I have wondered the same, and (as yet) have neither. But my other Hexanons feel real Solid.
There's more info here...
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35406

 

[Palaeoboy]

What 50mm do you have? If its a Hexanon also then that would be the 28mm that you have since you have a set.

 

[MCTuomey]

i think you're in an enviable position to *test* both lenses and share your impressions here 🙂

(nothing like having a question answered with an assignment ... sorry!)

 

[BigSteveG]

Great price. I'd love a 28 Hex! Should be nice on the M8. Really want a 50mm 2.4, but already have 2 great 50's.

 

[sirius]

I find that the hexanon lens take photos with a very even tonality and the colour seems very natural, if not a little neutral. The Zeiss have beautiful tones but seem to have a little more contrast and the colour is slightly saturated, leaning slightly to the cool (or just naturalistic) side.

I have the Zeiss 28 and it is a lovely lens to handle. It's well made and considered. Here are some samples from it. They are taken with film and with an R-D1 in recent photos (so the focal length changes a little).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grivois/tags/28/

I hope this helps. I've found Flickr very useful to seeing the character of lenses.

 

[sirius]

Oh, and a 28 took me quite a while to get used to, but now I love the depth of field and how it still feels quite natural---like a natural view of a scene through both my eyes.

 

[yoyo22]

I think I'll keep both and the old 28 Biogon.

 

[pfoto]

Why not? If you can manage it financially its a good idea to try lenses against each other over a period of time. I've even tried chrome and black Leica lenses of the same focal length on occasion. The Hexanons are excellent lenses and will take a hammering, I have a 28mm that was obviously very well used by the previous owner but it produces quality images. Check on flickr to see a number of samples of how your two 28's render images. Like sirius I find flickr very useful for checking out what lenses can do.

 

[aizan]

i'm about to get a 28mm elmarit asph or 35mm summicron asph. if i get the 28mm, i'd be happy to conduct a 28mm lens test. i already have the m-hexanon and canon 2.8.