Search for a better 28

naruto

naruto

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So, here we go yet another thread on which 28. 🙂

I currently own a VC 28/3.5 Color-Skopar. While I love the size and the pictures it gives with color film, I am looking for a faster 28 for use on my M6TTL. After reading up on threads, the web, and seeing samples from flickr, my choices are narrowed down to the following.

1) M-Elmarit 28/2.8 - there is one for sale locally at a very decent price. type 3 I think the one with E49 filters.
2) 28/2 Ultron - new from a local dealer
3) 28/2.8 Hex - though I am unable to find this lens anywhere. I expect it is so good that people don't want to part with theirs.

My needs are mostly for - street shooting in available light (not lux dark), and portraits. The only other lens I use is a 50/1.4 Nikkor in LTM.

Thanks in advance. 🙂
 
If "fast" is your primary objective, go with the F2 for F1.9 Ultron - great bang for the buck.

For portraits, corner/edge sharpness would not be critical, so I think the CV Ultron will also pass your criteria.
 
hunghang: what is stopping me from getting the Ultron is the price difference between the Ultron and the Elmarit. The Elmarit is just 200$ more than the Ultron. 🙂

back_alley: Is it listed on the classifieds?
 
The Hexanon's are certainly prone to glass problems and those that are in good shape seem to be very pricey (probably because of collectors seeking a diminishing sample). I've never owned an Elmarit, but I have no doubt they are all excellent (cause every other Leica lens I've owned is!). Types 2, 3, and 4 seem to be reasonably priced by Leica standards - they made many of these. Every Cosina Voigtander lens that I've seen was very good optically, if not outstanding.
 
David
curious about hex problems. What do you refer to? Please excuse my ignorance. I have been chasing my tail to by Georges lens. Seems he has a great copy.
 
If you shoot film, consider the Biogon 28 too. I just looked over 3 rolls of negs shot on mine and was again reminded of how darned sharp this lens is. Someone once said that he thought the reduced corner performance on MTFs (compared to legendary 25 biogon) was due to field curvature that would not show in real life 3D scenes. I don't know if this is true, but I recently shot a scene with sheep in a field of thistles and my goodness those thistles were crisp right into the corners. I have used this lens for a couple of years now and I was really taken aback by how well the detail was recorded. It is a high contrast lens though, so if your others are low contrast old school lenses there may be some issues with continuity if used on the same rolls of film.

Personally, very personally, I would get either a Hexanon 28, Biogon 28, Elmarit 28 V4 and see which one turns up first. The Elmarit V3 looks big to me and with that nuissance 49mm thread. The 28 ultron I am far from convinced by from reviews, although it is fast.
 
f16sunshine said:
David
curious about hex problems. What do you refer to? Please excuse my ignorance.
Click to expand...
I suspect (but can't be sure) that David is referring to the "spots" problems with M-Rokkor 28mm lenses, rather than the M-Hexanons.

Back to the OP's question, though:

If speed is what you're after then an f2.8 lens doesn't seem to buy you much, so an f2 (or 1.9) from CV or Leica seems indicated - but if it's the latter it will cost you. Of course, if you're just after another nice lens then other opportunities present themselves.

...Mike
 
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Joe: Thanks. I dropped him a PM.

JSU: The size. 🙂 However, I did ping hiromu, but I was too late.

David: I read that the Rokkor has had it's share of problems with white spots. The Elmarit is a Leica, and I hope it use it for a lifetime. 🙂

Turtle: That's the thing I am not looking for. I don't like contrastiy pics due to a characteristic of the lens. for that reason alone I left out the Zeiss.

Mike: The 28 summicron is way out of my reach. I am after a nice lens that I can use everyday. My kit is lean compared to most standards. I just use the 50 and 28.
 
naruto said:
Mike: The 28 summicron is way out of my reach. I am after a nice lens that I can use everyday. My kit is lean compared to most standards. I just use the 50 and 28.
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Well, I do have more than two lenses 😱 I often take just a 28 and a 50, though. When I do, eight times out of ten it's the two M-Hexanons in 28 and 50. Sometimes I'll take the Ultron f1.9 instead of the M-Hexanon - but only if I know I'll be shooting a lot indoors or in low light. The M-Hexanon 28 is good enough that I'm happy to give a stop of max aperture away in most circumstances. You can take that for whatever it's worth.

...Mike
 
lemuel: now you are really complicating things. 🙂

Mike: The Hex does look good. Let me see if I can try and find one. It looks like it might be the Hex Vs Elmarit.
 
The III version of the Elmarit 28f2.8 is a good lens. I have had one since 1981 and though I did have both the version IV and the Summicron - the one I kept was the version III. In part because I dont get anything in trade for it (it is well seasoned) - but also because it has a nice bl/w rendition. It is a 2.8 though and occasionally it can be limiting.
For a more speedy 28 I use the Ultron 28f2 and sometimes the 28f1.9. I do prefer the f2 though,. It is smaller and I find the close-up performance considerably better. The f1.9 is good - but it is an aspherical and a bit prone to blown highlights.
The Rokkor 28f2.8 can have problems with "balsam" separation - but if you get a good one, they work well, as does the Hexanon 28f2.8 - but again - you loose a stop with those compared to the Ultron's.
 
I'd look at one of the faster lenses. CV f/2 or f/1.9 or the Summicron. The jump from f/3.5 to f/2.8 isn't that much and I don't think it will probably make that much of a difference. When I'm out with my CV/3.5 and I need something faster, f/2.8 wouldn't cut it. f/2 barely does. It's usually time to change to a higher ISO as well (for me).
 
Tom A,

The 28 1.9 may be aspherical, but I was under the impression that its one of the lowest contrast modern 28s out there. I don't own one and have never used one, so could be very wrong, but this comment surprised me.
 
For the 28 1.9, perhaps low contrast is the wrong word, but lower in contrast than the Biogon. Elmarit asph, 28 3.5 CV, Hexanon etc. I recall Reid saying its contrast was a little lower than the 28 Cron asph too. I have never owned one, but have heard quite a few people saying they like it for modest contrast and good dynamic range on digital (as well as B&W).
 
TomA: Thanks for the input. I saw some scans of photos printed out of the Elmarit 28 type III on flickr (user gumanow), and they look really good.

Turtle, oscroft, dfoo: The CV lens (samples on flickr) seems to have out of focus area similar to the 40/1.4 which I wasn't terrible fond of. I know this may sound more like reasons to get the Elmarit 🙂 But, I am getting a very good deal on it. 🙂
 
An update on the 28 search: The seller decided to sell it off the elmarit to someone else. 🙁

After a *let-me-splurge* moment, my senses seemed to have returned (Thanks to Tom A - I need to add to that thread), and I got a Ultron 28/2 from the local dealer.

Initial impressions: The lens feels really light, compared to my 50/1.4 Nikkor LTM. The handling is very smooth and aperture/focussing is very nice. My only grouse is that with the hood on, it's very difficult to put on/take off the lens cap. Does this lens take a square hood?
 
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