Pros and cons for 24/2.8 vs 28/2.8 lens

[JoeMac]

I am getting a MP-3 with a 50/1.4 and only want one more lens being a wide angle. What are the pros and cons between the 24/2.8 and the 28/2.8 lenses.
Thanks
JoeMac🙂

 

[back alley]

are you talking about the focal length differences or the qualities of each lens itself?

i can't talk to the lenses themselves but very recently made the decision between a 25 and a 28 lens.

after buying a 19-35 zoom for my om 1, i was able to 'dial in' each focal length (25 & 28) and discovered there was not much of a difference in what is actually in the photo. there was a difference though and my mind kept thinking that with the slight change in perspective, the 25 was the one to keep. i could have kept both easily but i don't like having to decide what lenses to carry with me and keping only one made that decision much easier 😉

so, for me, the 28 is the more 'normal' of the wide angles and the 24/25 is the wide angle with a bit of an edge to it.
in fact, this morning i used the 25 exclusively in my early morning photo excursion.

joe

 

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum Joe! I use a Leica 24/2.8 and a Konica 28/2.8, so I cannot speak to the Leica 28mm lens which is presumably your interest. The 24/2.8 ASPH is a stellar lens right from f2.8. It could be at its best at f4, certainly you don't need any more than f5.6. It's very sharp and you can point it directly into the sun and not get flare. The wider angle of a 24 means that it can be used in fewer situations than a longer lens. It helps if your subject matter has strong, close foreground interest. OTOH the 28 is easier to use and less demanding of the image content. It is perhaps the best general lens for providing that "you are there" feeling in a photograph. I love both focal lengths.

I think even more important than the differences between the two focal lengths is which one matches best with a 50? My personal opinion is that 24 to 50 is too much of a gap, and that the 28/50 combo is an excellent two lens combination. It can't be beat! 🙂

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Not wanting to put a spanner in the works but having just spend a few weeks scanning some recent images using the Lecia 50,35 and 28 lenses i've come to the conclusion that even the 28 is too wide in some of the the things i do where i'm very close in a situation. At the time the compostion felt right but when seen alongside other shots the 28 seemed slightly too far away even though i was closer. If you really like the 50/1.4 (which i think the MP3 is ideal for with the simplied frame lines) why not consider a good 35?

 

[JoeMac]

Thanks for your replys. My question really was whether the 24mm was too wide a combination with the 50mm compared to the 28mm. I had a M6 a few years ago and used the 35mm lense most of the time. Since the MP I am getting comes with the 50mm which I seldom used, I thoght a wider angle lense would complement the 50mm better.

🙂

 

[back alley]

simon, i tend to agree with you which is why i have a 25/35/50 combination of lenses.
if i had to choose 2 lenses, one being the 50 then i'd get a 24/25 so my other lens wasn't so 'ordinary'.
if i could only have 1 lens i would choose a 35.

joe

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Depending on the lens you're considering, keep in mind that the 24 requires (not necessarily, though) an external viewfinder, whereas the angle of the 28 can be seen in your MP already (provided it's a 0.72).

I'd take the 28. It's at a fairly large distance from your 50 to make it "exotic" enough (in comparison with the 'lux).

BTW, there's a new 28 in town... 😉 Is that the one you may buy?

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Depending on the lens you're considering, keep in mind that the 24 requires (not necessarily, though) an external viewfinder, whereas the angle of the 28 can be seen in your MP already (provided it's a 0.72).

I'd take the 28. It's at a fairly large distance from your 50 to make it "exotic" enough (in comparison with the 'lux).

BTW, there's a new 28 in town... 😉 Is that the one you may buy?

My understanding is the MP3 doesn't have the 28 framelines as it's a modern day version of the M3?

Joe your avatar looks like you just dropped your cameras.......that or you're getting into pack shot photography (just kidding 🙂 )

 

[back alley]

My understanding is the MP3 doesn't have the 28 framelines as it's a modern day version of the M3?

Joe your avatar looks like you just dropped your cameras.......that or you're getting into pack shot photography (just kidding 🙂 )

what's pack shot photography?

i'm going for the the 'simple kit' look with that shot. not working?

joe

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

pack shot was slang for product shots - those shot against white backgrounds for easy "cut outs" before the the arrival of digital and used a lot in catalogue photography ( and i've nothing against this style of photgraphy in case anyone asks!)
Your shot works fine i was just messing around Joe 🙂

 

[back alley]

ah, product shots...
i actually like this kind of shooting, it's like a still life but with my cameras as pretty much my only subject.
i normally use a reflector and one light source but i'm liking the on camera flash look lately.
btw, no offense taken.

joe

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

we're getting OT here Joe but i used to do a fair bit myself i used to build a large light box table light underneath with a difused light and then light from above - this was before the portable light coves were introduced.
Speaking of flash and way OT now but have you tried using a ring flash setup?

 

[back alley]

never used a ring flash. this was the tiny built in flash on the panasonic z20 digital i just traded for.
i usually prefer a moody sort of light set up, more dark than light but i have become intrigued with the glare of on camera.

joe

 

[rpsawin]

Joe,

It's a matter of what you want to shoot and your style of shooting. However, as a broad statement I think that once you go wider than 28mm each mm is significant. For me I like the 24/25mm lenses for "wide angle" and rarely use the 21mm. Stop in to a camera store and try one of each.

Bob

 

[sebastel]

i believe that it's quite a problem to find an answer on this for myself - the harde it gets to help someome else, especially since i do not know your preferences.

but maybe looking at my experience helps:

initially i went for a 24/50/100 setup. then i decided to switch systems, and i believed i'll do it similarly. while financial constraints limited me to use the 105mm exclusively for quite some time, this time was very helpful to learn a lot about picture composing. then i added a 55, and finally a 35mm lens - and this 35mm lens to my surprise turned to be my most important lens. finally, a 17mm happened to be mine, and my setup was complete.

then RF came along, and again 35mm took over the main part, followed by 50mm and 21mm. the short "tele" 90mm, though beloved, was rarely used.

and now, with my DRF setup, i use a 15-25-35-50 lineup, that transfers (roughly) to
23-38-53-75 in the 24x36 format, the 38mm equivalent being the most important.

so, back to your question, i second simon's proposal to get a 35mm.

for the trully wide stuff, 21mm should work well.
but that's just me! you might be just happy with either 21, 24, 28, or 35mm FL.
everyone has her or his preferences, and without actual experience, it is very hard to predict.

maybe, if there is a really good store at hand, you might borrow one lens over weekend?

em, sorry if i confused u even more. ;-)
cheers,
sebastian

 

[Magus]

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[Magus]

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[Nachkebia]

Nice points, but none mentioned sizes of lenses, 28mm are usualy smallest lens, while 25mm or 24 are quet big and heavy 🙂 after my elmarit 28mm asph, with its size and quality I think it is becoming my favorite lens! now I need R4 🙂

 

[Nachkebia]

back alley : We are talking about f/2.8 lenses 🙂

 

[JoeMac]

Thanks all, I appreciate your comments and suggestions.🙂