The Insecurity Of The Lowly 28

[dcsang]

Lately, not just on this site but many others, I've noted that more often than naught, if there is a used M-mount lens up for sale (be it Leica or Zeiss or Voigtlander) it has the focal length of 28mm.

I'm curious if I'm the only one that's noticed this.

What is with the 28mm focal length that seems to have made it the most maligned focal length in Rangefinder-dom ?

Curious,
Dave

 

[illuminati_02]

For me personally I have never been able to work with the 28mm. I like a 21mm and then the 35mm.

That and my favorite cameras, the M2, M3, and M7 0.85x do not have framelines for the 28mm.

I would like to try the 28mm 'cron, but I don't have a camera with that FL. Saves me some $$ I suppose.

 

[FrankS]

Personally, I love the 28mm on 135 format. 35mm, for me, is wishy-washy.

20/21 is wide, 28 is versatile, 50 is selective, no need for a longer focal length for what I do

 

[filmfan]

I think you just made that up.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Hi Dave
Perhaps it's sellers who have switched from an M8 to an M9 so looking to sell the '28 to get a '35? Just a thought.

 

[Calzone]

I love 28mm FOV. For me its the best for both street shooting and urban landscape.

From what I see is that many shooters don't have bad boundies like me and also don't have the personality to get close to people to make a 28 effective. I'm talking setting an exposure using F5.6 and zone focusing, but taking the shot from 5-7 feet away optimately. Takes a certain person to engage strangers on a personel level whether they like it or not.

Right now I use a 28/3.5 Canon/Serenar, but I want a chrome 28 Cron ASPH bady. Too bad I'm broke.

Cal

 

[furcafe]

I agree. There are plenty of street photographers who love & use 28mm like the sainted Winogrand, et al., but I'm guessing they're not the core of RFF membership. If any focal length is maligned, or @ least ignored, in rangefinderdom, it's 135mm & other teles.

Personally, although I'm mostly a 35-40-50mm guy, there's definitely a place for 28mm in my bag, especially for crowded spaces & interiors. In that vein, my main complaint gear-wise has been that Leica, Cosina, & Zeiss have all thus far failed to deliver a 28/1.4; that's a lens that I would love to use for available light indoors.

Hi Dave
Perhaps it's sellers who have switched from an M8 to an M9 so looking to sell the '28 to get a '35? Just a thought.

 

[ferider]

I don't understand it either. It's my favorite focal length.

 

[Fraser]

If I'm out with one lens then its the 50 with two its 28 and 90, I do like the 35 but find its too close to the 50. Saying that I originally bought the 28 cron for the m8 and i do think quite often about changing it for a 35 cron for the m9, nice and small but still f2.

 

[Mackinaw]

One of my favorite street photo combinations is a 28mm lens on a Leica M3 or MP. Use a roll of Tri-X, scale focus, and shoot away. And yes, I'll even shoot from the hip too. More times than not I'll get at least a few good pics on the roll.

Jim B.

 

[back alley]

i find 28 and 35 very close and prefer the 35. funny, i don't find 35 and 50 close at all and still prefer the 35.

28 and 50 is a very handy combination but i would choose a 35 if carrying only 1 lens.

 

[Paul Luscher]

28's one of the most heavily used lenses in my bag. It's the 35 that spends a lot of time on the bench these days....

 

[porktaco]

i love my 28

 

[Neare]

I think you just made that up.

^

Maybe the OP is just craving a 28mm and so is just noticing them more easily? 😉
Also, the reason you might see many of them is not because it is a "maligned focal length" but rather because it is popular so there are so many 28's going around.

 

[Tim Gray]

Not picking on back alley, but his views seem to mirror the majority of RF users in my mind. A lot of 28s were bought when the M8 came out to fill in for a 35. Now with the M9, they are on the market.

At least that's my theory. I don't particularly care for 35. I'd much rather have a 28 and a 50, or if forced to pick one lens, just a 28.

 

[KenR]

CV R4A with the 28mm f3.5 is my combo of choice for street shooting (although I like the 21mm as well). 35 is too blah for me - neither wide nor tight.

 

[presspass]

I like the 28 but don't use it as often as I should. One reason is the max stop of 2.0 of the Summicron. When I have it, I wish it was a 1.4. A 28 1.4 would be a favorite, but there's no such animal in rangefinderland.

 

[dcsang]

@Neare - nope.. I've had a 28mm Ultron - I liked it but for my wedding work I needed something wider so I went with the zeiss 25mm. That seemed the perfect compromise. I actually keep looking for 50mm lenses or 35mm lenses - yet I always, always, always, see 28mm lenses up for sale regardless of brand name. And I don't buy the fact that it's that popular - if that were the case why would people be unloading them on what seems like a regular basis?

I think I'm more apt to agree with the theory put forth by Tim Gray and a few others here that the 28mm was purchased along with the M8 and it's 1.3x crop. It seems that there may be enough folks moving to the M9 (used or new) to leave the 28mm behind and opt for a 35mm.. that's just a theory mind you.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Calzone]

I think I'm more apt to agree with the theory put forth by Tim Gray and a few others here that the 28mm was purchased along with the M8 and it's 1.3x crop. It seems that there may be enough folks moving to the M9 (used or new) to leave the 28mm behind and opt for a 35mm.. that's just a theory mind you.

Cheers,
Dave

I can see that. Kinda good for me since I've seen a black "like new" 28 Cron get listed on Ebay 3 times by a dealer, only to be sold under $2.9K. Came with box, hood and covers. If it were a chrome version I would have had to buy it.

Plus one on observing deals on 28's. I'm just holding out for a chrome version.

Cal

 

[BTMarcais]

How are you liking that 25 by the way Dave?

-Brian