Biggles
My cup runneth amok.
...M-mount or Leica screwmount. Something I can use on a CL. I've got a black-tie museum ball coming up in spring, and I'm thinking of maybe getting my Winogrand on for it. Also a fan of Avedon's Volpi Ball series.
I've read several reviews of 28s, but I'd like to hear this hive's ruthless opinions of their own (or owned) 28mm lenses, f/2.8 or faster.
I've read several reviews of 28s, but I'd like to hear this hive's ruthless opinions of their own (or owned) 28mm lenses, f/2.8 or faster.
peter_n
Veteran
Well I have the Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8 which I like a lot. I don't like the tabs on Leica wide anle lenses so the Hexanon is perfect in that respect. Very sharp, perfect focusing on a Leica, beautiful off-focus rendering and unbelievably high build quality. Available here on PN and on eBay for $400-600. A super lens. 
venchka
Veteran
Mega Dittos!
Mega Dittos!
I concur with Peter. HOWEVER, while the 28mm M-Hexanon works perfectly on my M5 with swinging meter arm, I don't know if the same is true for the CL. I've never had a CL in my hands and I don't know what the flange to arm clearance is relative to the CL. I also don't know how the M-Hexanon will or won't obscure the viewfinder. The same is true for the equally nice C/V 28mm/1.9 lens.
I would suggest that you look for the 28mm Rokkor/Leitz lens designed for the CL. KEH has a bunch of them in the same price range as the M-Hexanon. You can be assured that it will work nicely on the CL.
Mega Dittos!
I concur with Peter. HOWEVER, while the 28mm M-Hexanon works perfectly on my M5 with swinging meter arm, I don't know if the same is true for the CL. I've never had a CL in my hands and I don't know what the flange to arm clearance is relative to the CL. I also don't know how the M-Hexanon will or won't obscure the viewfinder. The same is true for the equally nice C/V 28mm/1.9 lens.
I would suggest that you look for the 28mm Rokkor/Leitz lens designed for the CL. KEH has a bunch of them in the same price range as the M-Hexanon. You can be assured that it will work nicely on the CL.
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SSELKIND
Newbie
I agree with peter_n that the Konica M-Hexanon is a very good lens and I would recommend it. By the way, it is a better lens than the slower CV f/3.5 28mm Color-Skopar, which I had a few years ago but sold not only because I wanted something faster, but also because of the Color-Skopar's distracting distortion.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
I just picked up a C-V Ulton 28/1.9 but haven't processed the tests yet. It would be big on a CL, but it has a reputation for quality.
richard_l
Well-known
The CV Ultron is good, but it is big. I use it mostly on an M6. Not sure how well it would work on a CL.
Richard
Richard
Biggles
My cup runneth amok.
On the in-body protrusion issue: I once had a collapsible 50mm Summicron for about a week. Never took a picture with it, but I did measure its collapsed protrusion past the flange. I then measured the CL's meter arm-to-flange clearance.
That particular lens *could* safely be collapsed into my CL. I guess anything that protrudes the same or less could, as well.
With that said, I'm liking the thought of the smaller, pancake-y lenses for this body. It doesn't handle well at all with big logs stuck onto it.
That particular lens *could* safely be collapsed into my CL. I guess anything that protrudes the same or less could, as well.
With that said, I'm liking the thought of the smaller, pancake-y lenses for this body. It doesn't handle well at all with big logs stuck onto it.
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
I have the VC Ultron 28/1.9, excellent lens...faster than the rest.
Get the 28/1.9 Ultron and some Tri-X for BW or Fuji Press 800 for color and have a ball (punny huh?).
Todd
Get the 28/1.9 Ultron and some Tri-X for BW or Fuji Press 800 for color and have a ball (punny huh?).
Todd
wintoid
Back to film
Add me to the chorus of very satisfied Hexanon 28mm users. No idea about how it would be on a CL, but it's lovely on my R2a and RD1s.
venchka
Veteran
Rear element & meter arm
Rear element & meter arm
When I got real serious about the 28mm M-Hexanon lens I was concerned about the rear element's depth inside the body on the M5. Happily, when I mounted the lens on the body and slowly cocked the shutter, the meter cell swing arm didn't strike the rear of the lens. Several rolls of film confirmed that all was well between the lens and the mertering system.
I am attaching photos of the Konica lens and the Rokkor lens on my M5s. Perhaps you'll get an idea of what either might look like on the CL. It still seems to me that the Rokkor is the answer as it was designed specifically for the CL.
Yes, I do sometimes wonder why I picked the M-Hexanon over the Ultron.
At no time do I ever wonder why I bought the M5.
PS: The Rokkor lens belonged to the Bubba's prevous owner. I do not own that lens.
Rear element & meter arm
When I got real serious about the 28mm M-Hexanon lens I was concerned about the rear element's depth inside the body on the M5. Happily, when I mounted the lens on the body and slowly cocked the shutter, the meter cell swing arm didn't strike the rear of the lens. Several rolls of film confirmed that all was well between the lens and the mertering system.
I am attaching photos of the Konica lens and the Rokkor lens on my M5s. Perhaps you'll get an idea of what either might look like on the CL. It still seems to me that the Rokkor is the answer as it was designed specifically for the CL.
Yes, I do sometimes wonder why I picked the M-Hexanon over the Ultron.
At no time do I ever wonder why I bought the M5.
PS: The Rokkor lens belonged to the Bubba's prevous owner. I do not own that lens.
Attachments
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furcafe
Veteran
Well, I wouldn't consider f/2.8 fast, but YMMV. I like my Cosina Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron, which I picked up to use on my R-D1 (normally, 28mm & wider is too wide for my general use), but it is a little low in contrast wide-open. That said, it's a great value compared to the Leica 28/2 (& it's nice that I have the option of using it on my LTM bodies). Using your definition of fast, I also have the 28/2.8 Biogon for the Kyocera Contax G2 & it's a great lens, but obviously not Leica-compatible; perhaps the ZM version is similar.
Biggles said:
raid
Dad Photographer
I like my Rokkor 28mm/2.8 lens in M mount. It is small and very sharp.
Raid
Raid
Monz
Monz
I'm another 28mm Voigtlander Ultron user. I picked it up second hand from ebay at a good price. It is sharp, fast and excellent for parties, weddings etc. I recently used it at a wedding on an M6 (Neopan 400)... see my gallery for examples of photos taken. As others have stated, it will look big on a CL but f1.9 is worth the bulk in my opinion.
--
Monz
--
Monz
Biggles
My cup runneth amok.
furcafe said:
Heh. True enough. I just wasn't considering a 28 f/2 affordable, and f/3.5 would be too slow for me.
Thanks for all the suggestions thus far.
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Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
I just tossed some quick test pics from the 28 Ultron in my Gallery... I think it's going to be a winner!
x-ray
Veteran
The Ultron is a winner. I love mine!
raid
Dad Photographer
I like my Rokkor, but is it comparable to other 28mm lenses?
Are there any posted comparisons/tests for the 28mm lenses?
It is easy to claim that your lens is somehow the "best" but how does it perform optically against other 28mm RF lenses? You have issues of:
1. sharpness wide open and at smaller apertures
2. out of focus behavior
3. weight and size
4. cost
5. contrast
6. "look" or signature or ...
7. appearance of the lens
8. ruggedness of built
Maybe there is a need for such a test.
Raid
Are there any posted comparisons/tests for the 28mm lenses?
It is easy to claim that your lens is somehow the "best" but how does it perform optically against other 28mm RF lenses? You have issues of:
1. sharpness wide open and at smaller apertures
2. out of focus behavior
3. weight and size
4. cost
5. contrast
6. "look" or signature or ...
7. appearance of the lens
8. ruggedness of built
Maybe there is a need for such a test.
Raid
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vol72
Established
If you consider fast as F2 or greater, I think you have 2 rangefinder lenses to consider: the 28 Summicron and the 28 Ultron. Not that the Hexanon, Zeiss ZM, and Elmarit aren't great lenses (they are), but most would not consider them fast by the standards of today. My Summicron is the best of the best regardless of focal length, but the Ultron is an exceptional lens as well for a lot less money. Shoot them both together wide open and enlarge the negatives to 30", and maybe you see some differences. I received a great deal on my Summicron because of a liquidation sale at a closing photo store or else I might have chosen the Ultron. A good photographer will get good results from either lens. If I have any advice, it would be to pay attention to the opinions of Xray. Don is a master photographer who has made a good living for close to 40 years from his art, and he really likes his Ultron.
Biggles
My cup runneth amok.
Thank you all for taking the trouble to reply. Lots of good food for thought.
Turtle
Veteran
I am very happy with my ZM 28 Biogon. Sharp, very even resolution across the frame, small, super flare resistant etc. I did not need f2 but obviously if you do I think you have only two choices; the summicron and 1.9 ultron?