Which 28mm lens

sara

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Mmm, I have a 35 Voigtlander at the moment, but I would like to get a 28mm lens as the other lens I would use once in a while (kind of want to shoot a project with it).

Thing is, I'm not one to afford an expensive Summicron 28 (I would rather save for the 35 Summicron), as I think 35 is my main lens...

Would there be a general sort of 28mm You would recommend I can use? 🙂
 
As far as 28s go I'm a fan of the Voigtländer 28/3.5 but I don't like 28mm frame lines so I sold it
 
I would love that Summicron. I have the tiny Elmarit ASPH. It is perhaps too contrasty but it is very sharp and good at dusk. It is the cheapest Leica lens new and cheaper still second hand. No doubt you can find something equally or more satisfactory for less.
 
If you have CV 35mm lens as main and OK with it as main lens, what is the logic to buy expensive 28 Cron for occasisional use?
Leica has made three usable versions of Elmarit-M 28. Cosina Vioghtlander has made the 28mm, two Ultrons and one Skopar. Zeiss has at least one 28. Canon made at least two 28, 2.8 and 3.5. Soviets made one interesting, Orion 15. And where are Kobalux 28 3.5 made in small quantities.
Each lens is usable for "general sort".
 
If you have CV 35mm lens as main and OK with it as main lens, what is the logic to buy expensive 28 Cron for occasisional use?
Leica has made three usable versions of Elmarit-M 28. Cosina Vioghtlander has made the 28mm, two Ultrons and one Skopar. Zeiss has at least one 28. Canon made at least two 28, 2.8 and 3.5. Soviets made one interesting, Orion 15. And where are Kobalux 28 3.5 made in small quantities.
Each lens is usable for "general sort".
Ah no! 🙂 I mean I don't want an expensive 28 lens 🙂 hence, scouting for a cheaper option (for now!)
Just want to have a go at different things 🙂
 
Thanks for clarification, Sara.
Elmarits M are also expensive. Inexpensive (in Leica, RF terms) and neat IMO is Color Skopar 28 3.5.
I'm also hoping to look for 28 soon, I agree what it is different from 35, which is also my main lens. And I have tried one 28mm lens already 🙂
Biogon 28 2.8 is next lens to look at if you want to have modern rendering, but it is twice expensive comparing to Skopar.
And old Canon Serenar 28 is also inexpensive and famous for use by Garry Winogrand before he switched to Elmarit-M 28.
Cheers, Ko.
 
I find 28 and 35 a little too close together. The last few years I've slowly made the transition to Zeiss glass for my M shooting. Consider the 25/2.8 Zeiss. It's just wide enough to be a very noticeable change from a 35. After using it I can't image a better wide lens even against Leica's offerings.

For me the 21 is a little too wide. I have the CV 21/4 and it's fantastic. I also have the 28/3.5 CV and it's a nice lens for the money but I'm not enamored of its ergonomics.

With the 25 you can use the who RF window to estimate the framing.

Here's two with the Zeiss 25:



https://www.flickr.com/photos/53604458@N00/27909036122/in/dateposted-public/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/53604458@N00/27475279343/in/dateposted-public/
 
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IMHO, the best value in 28mm is the Hexanon-M 28/2.8.

Agree with this comment. The 28 mm FOV is my favourite and I have 3 lenses: M-Hexanon 28/2.8, Avenon 28/3.5 and Zeiss 28/2.8. In addition to cost they handle very differently, but I would say the rendering of these is more similar than, say, the much older Canons. For compactness the Avenon is best; it's my go-to travel lens. If choosing only one it would be the M-Hexanon. I've often considered picking up a 28/3.5 CV as they are so highly regarded (wasn't originally this way though) but prices are not really that much lower than the Hexanon so it's been hard to justify that purchase. It's only drawback is its larger size than the other two, but handling and build quality are the best of the three.

Steve
 
Well, as a person who also seems to use 35 more often, I have a couple/few 28mm lenses in the cupboard.

Of my 28mm lenses, my v4 elmarit is my hands-down favorite. I nearly got the v3 elmarit, but a v4 came along at better price and I like the smaller size of the v4. But, being Leica lenses, none are "cheap". To me, the v3 elmarit has a look I really like, and its usually priced nicely for a somewhat recent Leica M lens.

Other than the elmarit, I seem to only have LTM 28's. The small, well-made Canon 28/3.5 is really a nice lens. Mine is haze free, but its still quite low contrast. Sharp, but low contrast. None of my other 28's impress me.

But I leave with my actual recommendation: The CV 28/2 Ultron. There are a few folks here on RFF who swear by this lens, and backed it up with some lovely photos. Search for the threads, you'll find them. In terms of bang-for-the-buck, it really seems to be the way to go. And, not being one to recommend a lens I've never tried....I had a day (actually 2 days) with said lens about a year ago. It was mid summer and very contrasty daytime conditions, so my images were really contrasty, but really sharp. I didn't get a chance to take advantage of f/2 during my test, but considering my other f/2 lenses, I know I would appreciate it!

Using a 28 in general. That's something you'll have to see if you like. I like it, but its not my primary "vision" with Leica's. Typically 35 or 50 for me. I also struggle to use 90, but there are times for that focal length too. Least we got choices, eh?
 
Love the MS Optical 28/4 Perar Triplet. Not sure what the cost is right now but it is a tiny little pancake lens that does an awesome job. The only problem is flare and reduced contrast if you shoot into the sun.

You may also want to consider the Skopar Snapshot 25, if you can find one. They were very popular for quite awhile.
 
I have the Leica M 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit ASPH and that's the lens I would recommend. It is extremely well made, small, lightweight, contrasty, brilliant and ungodly sharp. The current version has a screw on metal lens hood that stops at the exact right orientation every time you screw it on. No more plastic Toys R Us lens hood!

I had the older version of the Leica 28/2.0 Summicron (with the plastic hood) up until about a year ago. The new Elmarit 28 is a stop slower than the older Summicron lens I previously owned; still, the Elmarit is a better lens provided you can get by without the extra stop of speed.

The new Elmarit 28 is a superb lens for not a lot of money (compared to Leica's other 28mm offerings).
 
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