What 28mm was around in 1954? (William Klein)

[nightfly]

William Klein claims to have used a 28mm as his normal lens in his book New York 1954-55 (Life is Good and Good For You in New York Trance Witness Reveals or whatever the title of the original was) and I have no reason to doubt him. Just wondering what 28's were available then. Not sure what he was shooting with, some sort of Leica he got from HCB because he was getting a bunch of new ones (I'm assuming M3's were just coming out so maybe he grabbed one of Bresson's old screw mounts?) as the story goes.

Figure someone here might be able to satisfy my idle curiosity. If you've never seen this book and you like very un-Henri Cartier Bresson street photography, check it out.

 

[Edward Felcher]

Several of them, but they were generally very slow and not really optically all that great.

 

[xayraa33]

there was the Canon/Serenar 28mm f3.5 and the Nikkor 2.8cm f3.5 .
Leitz had a slow 28mm and Zeiss had this wide angle also in 1954.

 

[xayraa33]

even Fed had a none to common slow 28mm lens.
like the Zeiss and Leitz 28s, these were out before WW II.

 

[pizzahut88]

Leica Hektor?

Leica Hektor?

William Klein claims to have used a 28mm as his normal lens in his book New York 1954-55 (Life is Good and Good For You in New York Trance Witness Reveals or whatever the title of the original was) and I have no reason to doubt him. Just wondering what 28's were available then. Not sure what he was shooting with, some sort of Leica he got from HCB because he was getting a bunch of new ones (I'm assuming M3's were just coming out so maybe he grabbed one of Bresson's old screw mounts?) as the story goes.

Figure someone here might be able to satisfy my idle curiosity. If you've never seen this book and you like very un-Henri Cartier Bresson street photography, check it out.

There are four possible choices:
Leica Hektor 28mm F6.3 ( LTM / Started production in 1935 )
Was discontinued in 1955.

Summaron 28mm F5.6 (LTM / 1955 )
Ceased production in 1963, a total of 6,200 were made.

P. Angeneiux28
28mm F3.5 / 1953
France made.

Canon Lens 28mm F2.8 (LTM / started production in 1957 )
4 groups 6 elements. Quite ahead of its time.

It can't be the Canon, it came too late.
It may just be the Summaron.


Cheers,
Manfred

 

[xayraa33]

yes it can be the Canon/ Serenar 28mm f 3.5
this lens dates from the intro of the Canon IVf from Dec. 1951.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Manfred beat me by mentioning the Leica.

To think there was a time when a 28mm lens was the widest thing... 🙄

 

[xayraa33]

the Nikkor 2.8 cm f3.5 has a start date of Sept. 1952 from Rotoloni's book.
this lens could have been bought in LTM also.

 

[David Murphy]

Several of them, but they were generally very slow and not really optically all that great.

I'd take (friendly) issue with this. I've been relatively impressed with the Canon 28/3.5.

Also, did anyone mention the Zeiss 2.8cm F8 Tessar for Contax, available since about 1933. I believe there was a LTM version of this as well (rare). Some of us here on RFF actually own and use one of these (me included).

 

[xayraa33]

I did mention a Zeiss 28mm made before the war.
the earlier Canon/ Serenar 28mm f3.5 was actually a sharper lens than the later f2.8 Canon 28mm lens.
the f2.8 lens was a favorite of Winogrand.

 

[VinceC]

>>Several of them, but they were generally very slow and not really optically all that great.<<
I'll also take friendly issue. The Nikkor 2.8cm f/3.5 is a dynamite lens, remarkably sharp with pleasant light falloff.

For even wider lenses, Nikon introduced the 2.5cm/4 in 1953, also in Nikon and LTM mount. The Zeiss 21/4.5 was introduced in 1954.

Here are some examples with the Nikkor 2.8cm/3.5

 

[David Murphy]

I did mention a Zeiss 28mm made before the war.
the earlier Canon/ Serenar 28mm f3.5 was actually a sharper lens than the later f2.8 Canon 28mm lens.
the f2.8 lens was a favorite of Winogrand.

I'm with you 100% on that. I've owned and used both. The 28/2.8 is certainly an ambitious acheivment for the 1950's, but it's pretty bad my current day standards. It's a darling of the collectors however.

The 28/3.5 is much better -- quite acceptable sharpness and contrast even by present day standards -- I just love it.

 

[wlewisiii]

I have the Canon 28/3.5. I doubt that there is a sharper lens in my kit. Combine it with my Canon 35/1.8 & Canon 50/1.8 and you'll get an idea where I'm from 😉

William