Is something wrong with 28mm FL?

I have used a 28 and a 24mm in the past. I find the 24mm to be a bit more "liberating," personally. It makes composition a bit more dynamic/sweeping and it doesn't feel as restricted as a 28mm. When I shoot the 28mm I find that I want to put more things into the frame, rather than trying to use what available space I have.

I like a 28mm lens on a RF, but not on an SLR. I'll shoot a 24mm on an RF or an SLR. Different strokes for different folks / cameras, I suppose.
 
I like the Ultron 28/1.9 (not the 28/2) for its low contrast/high resolution rendering, which makes it an ideal B&W lens for extended grayscale - similar to DR Summicron or the Summaron. However, when I need a 28mm for shooting in low light, the Summicron is king, as it has no coma even wide open.
 
28mm was my only wide angle for over 30 years. It seems very normal to me.

The next to come was a 24mm, which does feel wide.

So far, the only 35mm I've had have been in P&S so it always felt like a snapshot length to me.

So I like 28mm ... a lot
 
I've just spent three years getting used to the 35mm focal length after being fairly locked into 50mm.

I don't think I have enough years left in me to get used to 28mm! :p
 
gavinlg said:
Love the 28mm. Just bought a Contax biogon 28mm for my G1 in fact.
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:) Ah, for my Contax Biogon 28mm I bought a G1, based on Bob Michael's recommendation. It's an excellent lens, as sharp as my Leica 35 lenses; but sharper than the Distagon 28/2.8, sharper than the 28/2.0 Nikkor..
 
I was out early this morning with my M6 + 28 Summicron taking autumn photos with Velvia 100 and 28FL felt the perfect fit. Never bonded with 35 at all and 28/50 seems to be me.
 
PKR said:
Sharper than "your" 28 f2.8 Nikkor, or sharper than "the" 28 f2.8 Nikkor? Not all lenses are equal. Non AI, AI, AIS ? Is it new? Do you test and service the lens regurally? You may be correct.. just asking?
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"... sharper than the 28/2.0 Nikkor.." I said..

My 28/2.0 Nikkor is AI, actually all 28/2.0 lenses non-AI, AI and AI-S share the same formula, coatings differ.

In case you need to see actual test results, just PM me..
 
Interesting thread. I went from 35 down to 25 and I am also now using a 21 a lot. I did take a holiday where I used only a 25. I suppose I was too mean to widen only to 28, knowing I would soon go wider anyway. And there is some opportunity cost photographically in investing in a new focal length and learning its ways. I may just never get to a 28 now.
 
My minimal M lens setup (speaking of 135 film standard FoV) is 28/50, starting always with the 28 mounted, if I don't know where the next snap situation will come up. Same if I carry my standard lens setup (15/28/50/90): I mostly start with the 28mm lens.

As already mentioned here, I like the 28mm FoV alot because:
- in a hurry, I don't have to frame properly, can crop later
- widest frame lines on my M body
- wide, but still no distortion
- I feel it very similar to my own (focussed) FoV
 
Just curious, but where is your data coming from?

Why do you believe for each 28 they are selling ten 35s?

Is this just from reading the internets that you think 28mm is phasing out?

BobYIL said:
These months what I note with the general interest in some preferred wide angles that people are talking primarily on some 35mm and 21mm lenses. Very few had mentioned about 28mm FL.. Is it phasing out?

I am aware of the fact that it has never been as popular as the 35mm FL however some great photographers come to mind who were using 28mm extensively. Salgado, for example.. Garry Winogrand, Sam Abell need to be mentioned.. Bruce Gilden too..

Both Summicron asphericals, 28/2 and 35/2 are great lenses; however I tend to believe as if for each 28mm one Leica is selling ten 35mm Summicrons.

I might be wrong, however this is what I found a little weird..
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35mm is easier, as I see in 35mm. 50mm forces me to pick, 28mm to include more.

If I feel creative I use 50/28, if I carry a single lens or just want to get it done, I use a 35
 
Nothing is wrong with the 28 FL, when I use it I love it.

There are times I love the 50mm, sometimes it is the 75mm, the 24mm is fantastic when I do take it out, I can walk around with the 35mm for a couple of weeks at a time. I am not going to like it when I have to narrow down my kit but that day is coming.


The 28mm I use is the Voigtlander Ultron Asph 28/1.9 and just love it as a couple of others have mentioned above. I had the opportunity to use a Leica 28 Cron for a few hours at a Leica event and loved that as well. I just do not think I can love it seven times as much at the Ultron. The output from the 28/1.9 has been fantastic and along with the Voigtlander Nokton Asph 50/1.5 are two VC lenses I do not think I will ever part with.

I know, never say never . . . . .
 
28 is my favorite focal length. Particularly on indoor people shots or if I'm the part of a group. Wide but doesn't distort very much, so I can get a nice portrait and still show the background which I like in in my photographs, like windows, doors, whole rooms etc. Just a single person can often be it bit boring to me.

But when I do want just a person, the 50 or sometimes a 35 is the better choice.

I usually go out with a 28 and a 50 and on rare occasions the 21 gets to come along too. :)
 
I changed my RF kit from 50-35-25 to 50-35-28-21 once I found a good, affordable 28. Sold the 25 and bought the wider 21. Now my RF focal lengths match my SLR lenses.
 
wblynch said:
So far, the only 35mm I've had have been in P&S so it always felt like a snapshot length to me.

So I like 28mm ... a lot
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So I do. I have 35mm FL only in compact film cameras and some SLR zooms. I still use film compacts with 35mm lens - because of overall experience not because I really like focal length - but it certainly helps to excersize.
 
Gary Sandhu said:
28 requires intimacy. 21 is for impersonal scenics. 35 people are used to from their point and shoots. Maybe.
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Not necessarily. It's quite the opposite for me. the 20 is for for up-close and personal, and the 28 is for taking in the scene or "painting" a tableau.
 
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