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28-50mm zoom lenses
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 11:18 am    Post subject: 28-50mm zoom lenses Reply with quote
I am looking at some compact zooms in the wide to normal range and specifically 28-50mm (not 24-50mm since those are generally less compact and higher end and also not 28-70/80 or 35/70 those are larger too. Let's say the lower limit is 28mm and the upper limit is 55mm.

So far I am looking at:
SMC Pentax(-M) 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5
Tamron Adaptall II 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 07A
Vivitar 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 (Komine made 28xxxx version)

Do you have a experience with those or any other 28-50/55mm lenses please post in this topic.

I'll list them here (if I find it I will post width, length and weight, filter thread CFD and the presence of a macro close-up option one or two touch):


    - SMC Pentax(-M) 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 (65 x 52mm 310 grams) 52mm filters, CFD 60cm (55 for the non-M version) no macro option two touch
    - Tamron Adaptall II 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 07A (64.7mm x 46.2mm (depending on mount) 297 grams) 58mm filters, CFD 0.25mm (1:4 macro at 50mm) two touch
    - Vivitar 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 (Komine made 28xxxx version) (65.6mm x50mm 285 grams) 58mm filters, CFD 60cm no macro option , one touch
    - Zoom-Nikkor 28-50mm f/3.5 (68.5mm x 65.5mm 395 grams) 52mm filters CFD 60cm macro option @50mm 35cm. One touch. Thx Ken
    - Zoom-Nikkor 28-45mm f/4.5 (75mm x 79mm 440 grams) 72mm filters CFD 60cm, no macro option, two touch
    - Sicor 28-50mm F3.5-4.5 (Gold Edition or not) 52mm filters, one touch
    - Olympus Zuiko 28-48 mm f/4.0 (65 x 54mm 300 grams) CFD 65cm no macro option Filters 49mm two touch
    - Soligor C/D 28-55 mm f/ 3.3-4.5/SUN 28-55mm 1:3.3-4.5 Macro NRC
    - Soligor 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 (Kobori) 52mm filters CFD 60MM + macro option
    - Yashica ML Zoom 28-50mm F/3.5 (75x74.5mm 475 grams) 72mm filters CFD 1m no macro one touch.
    - Canon nFD 3.5-4.5/28-55mm (63mmx60.9mm 220 grams) 52mm filters CFD 40cm + macro two touch
    - Canon FD 3.5/28-50mm (69mmx99.5mm 470 grams) 58mm filters CFD 1M +macro CFD 25-60mm two touch
    - Cosinon Z 3.5-4.5/28-50mm two touch
    - Mamiya Sekor E 3.5-4.5/28-50mm (..x.. 290 grams) 55mm filters, CFD 60cm no Macro option, one touch
    - Osawa MC 3.5-4.5/28-50mm filter thread 55mm two touch
    - Auto Chinon Zoom Macro 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 two touch with 52mm filter thread.
    - Cimko (Super-Paragon) PMC Auto Zoom 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 55mm filters, two touch
    - SIGMA Zoom 28-50mm f/2.8-3.5 (64mm x 49.3mm 300 grams) 52mm filters CFD 50cm no macro function
    - Fuji Fujinon-Z 29-47 mm f/ 3.5-4.2 (**x65mm) 300grams CFD 60cm Filter thread 55mm one touch



Some of the third party ones will have to be traced down to the original manufacturer so I can throw them in one bunch.

I am guessing they are all either -
Cimko 10/30 meter/ft .5m cfd Beroflex, Paragon, super Danubia, Auto revuenon, Magnon, Rokinon.
Sun (28-55mm just seen as Soligor and Sun),
Cosina (Petri, Hoya, Cosinon and a Vivitar (no serial on name ring, but aperture ringand VMC instead of MC, two touch) .5m CFD and ft/mt 20/10 markings, 55mm filters
Kobori (Soligor 28-50mm, Osawa, there is a Chinon with 52mm thread (CHINON 28-50mm f 3.5 - 4.5 MC Macro)) .6m cfd + macro ft/mt marking 12/5
Komine (Just the Vivitar 28-50mm one touch with 58mm filters so far)

There is a CHINON Multicoated 28-50mm f 3.5 - 4.5 with 58mm filters 0.5m cfd and 15/5 ft/mt two touch a bit of an outlier. Also a Revuenon but that says 30/10 ft/mt again. I am not sure about the Sicor, The Mamiya -Sekor. The Zykkor MC 28/50mm. f3,5-4,5 look very off beat. The CPC Phase 2 CCT 28-50mm Macro 1:3.5-4.5 is yet a mystery.

Last edited by D1N0 on Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:56 am; edited 44 times in total


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 11:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
There's also the following that might be worth considering

Zoom-Nikkor 28-50mm f/3.5 (1984)
Olympus Zuiko 28-48 mm f/4.0 (1975)
Soligor C/D 28-55 mm f/ 3.3-4.5 (? 1970s)

Here's a hot take, though- why not an average speed 28mm prime + digital zoom? Providing you own a camera that allows for it.

My Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f2.5 is pretty small, even smaller than these wide to normal zooms. 28/2.5 = 11.2 aperture diameter

50 / 11.2 = 4.46

So you could have a 28-50mm f2.5-4.5, essentially, with hopefully enough megapixels left for you.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
eggplant wrote:

Here's a hot take, though- why not an average speed 28mm prime + digital zoom? Providing you own a camera that allows for it.

My Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f2.5 is pretty small, even smaller than these wide to normal zooms. 28/2.5 = 11.2 aperture diameter

50 / 11.2 = 4.46

So you could have a 28-50mm f2.5-4.5, essentially, with hopefully enough megapixels left for you.


I collect lenses. That would not be any fun Wink I will probably get all three mentioned. (Still not moved to mirrorless so that is limiting my choices to K-mount or M42) If I would have to start collecting everything of all mayor brands that would really get out of hand :p. I meant this topic as a general one on 28-50mm zooms tough. So all are welcome.

The Tamron is not very common and often seen with a great yellow blob near the rear element. Probably balsam separation or maybe accumulated oil. Maybe someone knows more about that issue.

This is a particularly bad one:



PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
This one caught my eye for obvious reasons:

Pentax PK Sicor 28-50mm F3.5-4.5 Gold Edition


#1


#2


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
D1N0 wrote:
eggplant wrote:

Here's a hot take, though- why not an average speed 28mm prime + digital zoom? Providing you own a camera that allows for it.

My Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f2.5 is pretty small, even smaller than these wide to normal zooms. 28/2.5 = 11.2 aperture diameter

50 / 11.2 = 4.46

So you could have a 28-50mm f2.5-4.5, essentially, with hopefully enough megapixels left for you.


I collect lenses. That would not be any fun Wink I will probably get all three mentioned. (Still not moved to mirrorless so that is limiting my choices to K-mount or M42) If I would have to start collecting everything of all mayor brands that would really get out of hand :p. I meant this topic as a general one on 28-50mm zooms tough. So all are welcome.

The Tamron is not very common and often seen with a great yellow blob near the rear element. Probably balsam separation or maybe accumulated oil. Maybe someone knows more about that issue.

This is a particularly bad one:



Yes there was a thread here not long ago where someone had one of these with an oil 'layer' or deposit between some elements. Very strange but the design is all airspaced so shouldn't be seperation issues.

I own the Tamron 28-50mm you reference that's rough but still works, had some okay results with it on film, haven't got this oily deposit issue.

The bigger issue is the 'continuous focus' which has gone stiff. That is, certain minimum focusing distances are only available at certain focal lengths. As you focus closer the lens will zoom in accordingly. You will be prevented from zooming out further until you select an appropriate distance.

I don't know if the previous owner got a little too enthusiastic trying to rotate the zoom ring, or whether it was merely dropped, or it's just seized over time- I'm not sure if this continuous focus feature can be made to damage the lens.

I can post some size comparison pics if you'd like.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
D1N0 wrote:
This one caught my eye for obvious reasons:

Pentax PK Sicor 28-50mm F3.5-4.5 Gold Edition

#3


I'm not going to comment on the aesthetics of that lens; each to their own, but applying a gold finish to the rubber focus grip is a really bad decision as far as aesthetic longevity is concerned; that will wear off in no time at all which is already evident on that sample... Rolling Eyes


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Another example the SUN 28-55mm 1:3.3-4.5 Macro which is also sold as Soligor:


#1


#2


Not the most compact option i'd guess.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Yashica ML 28-50 is a stand-out in this range.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 9:35 pm    Post subject: Re: 28-50mm zoom lenses Reply with quote
D1N0 wrote:
I am looking at some compact zooms in the wide to normal range and specifically 28-50mm (not 24-50mm since those are generally less compact and higher end and also not 28-70/80 or 35/70 those are larger too. Let's say the lower limit is 28mm and the upper limit is 55mm.


I have four lenses in that range, and none is on your list:

* Canon nFD 3.5-4.5/28-55mm (cheap, plasticky lens, not to be confused with the earlier FD 3.5/28-50mm)
* Cosinon 3.5-4.5/28-50mm
* Mamiya Sekor E 3.5-4.5/28-50mm (full metal barrel, apart from plastic aperture ring)
* Osawa MC 3.5-4.5/28-50mm

I have tested only the Canon and the Mamiya. Theses two lenses perform pretty equally at 28mm (quite OK) and 50mm (not soi good), but the Mamiya seems to be quite a bit better at f=35mm (landscape use as usual; tested wide open and at f11).

The Mamyia is slightly smaller and much better built than the Canon. The Canon MFD is 0.4m, and it has a "Macro" function as well; the Mamiya MFD is only 0.6m, and no Macro function.

i would certainly consider the Tamron SP 24-28mm as well. It has about the same size as the Mamiya (and is slghtly heavier), but 24mm are certainly useful. And it basically offers the same image quality as the Canon nFD 3.5/20-35mm.

S


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There's a Sigma AF 24-50 that is dirt cheap and quite decent, certain usable.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Tamron Adaptall II 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5 07A is a very good lens, and it is compact Macro 1:4. It's a lens I use a lot with my A7II when I don't want to be changing lenses when I'm out walking in the rain. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

A few other options that I have -

Soligor CD Zoom Macro 24-45 / 3.5-4.5 ( SUN ) it's slightly heavier and slightly longer than the Tamron, but it's slightly wider focal length and Macro 1:3. It's a very well made lens, but it is my second choice after the Tamron. It's still a very good lens and worth looking for.

Getting bigger and heavier

The Tamron SP Macro 27A 28-80 / 3.5-4.2 Is another good Tamron with 1:4 Macro

My long time favourite - the Vivitar Series 1 VMC 24-48 / 3.8 ( Kiron ) It's big - 85mm long with 77mm filter thread, and heavy. Great focal range, constant aperture, and fast enough. Well made, sharp and no serious vices

And the surprise option is the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 EX Aspherical - I bought this lens for next to nothing because it was a horrible sticky mess, it had a soft drink spilled over it, but it cleaned up perfectly. I'm not a huge fan of Sigma, I wasn't going to keep the lens. Until I tried it, and it impressed me straight away. It is almost twice the length of the Tamron 07A and 10mm bigger diameter, and a lot heavier. But it's fast, reasonably usable at 2.8, very sharp and a good focal range


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
A Thanks gentlemen. I am adding all of your suggestions to the first post as long as they don't go wider than 28mm or longer than 55mm, since that is the scope of this topic.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I thought allphotolenses would list a few of these, but seems to be sorely lacking! Nevertheless.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:39 pm    Post subject: Re: 28-50mm zoom lenses Reply with quote
stevemark wrote:
D1N0 wrote:
I am looking at some compact zooms in the wide to normal range and specifically 28-50mm (not 24-50mm since those are generally less compact and higher end and also not 28-70/80 or 35/70 those are larger too. Let's say the lower limit is 28mm and the upper limit is 55mm.


I have four lenses in that range, and none is on your list:

* Canon nFD 3.5-4.5/28-55mm (cheap, plasticky lens, not to be confused with the earlier FD 3.5/28-50mm)
* Cosinon 3.5-4.5/28-50mm
* Mamiya Sekor E 3.5-4.5/28-50mm (full metal barrel, apart from plastic aperture ring)
* Osawa MC 3.5-4.5/28-50mm

I have tested only the Canon and the Mamiya. Theses two lenses perform pretty equally at 28mm (quite OK) and 50mm (not soi good), but the Mamiya seems to be quite a bit better at f=35mm (landscape use as usual; tested wide open and at f11).

The Mamyia is slightly smaller and much better built than the Canon. The Canon MFD is 0.4m, and it has a "Macro" function as well; the Mamiya MFD is only 0.6m, and no Macro function.

i would certainly consider the Tamron SP 24-28mm as well. It has about the same size as the Mamiya (and is slghtly heavier), but 24mm are certainly useful. And it basically offers the same image quality as the Canon nFD 3.5/20-35mm.

S


The fact you didn't mention Minolta must mean it doesn't exist.



This turned up on eBay

Auto Chinon Zoom Macro 28-50mm `1:3.5-4.5 a two touch with 52mm filter thread. Looks like makina so will probably be crap Wink


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 12:15 am    Post subject: Re: 28-50mm zoom lenses Reply with quote
D1N0 wrote:
The fact you didn't mention Minolta must mean it doesn't exist.


Correct - no 28-50mm or 28-55mm lens was ever mass produced by Minolta. However a prototype MD-III 28-50mm was for sale at ebay around 2008, together with other oddities and a MD-III 2.8/300mm prototype.

S


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 7:57 am    Post subject: Re: 28-50mm zoom lenses Reply with quote
stevemark wrote:
D1N0 wrote:
The fact you didn't mention Minolta must mean it doesn't exist.

Correct - no 28-50mm or 28-55mm lens was ever mass produced by Minolta. However a prototype MD-III 28-50mm was for sale at ebay around 2008, together with other oddities and a MD-III 2.8/300mm prototype.

I know the OP didn't want to go wider than 28mm, but if the reason is size Minolta did make a very compact MD 24-35mm f/3.5:

http://forum.mflenses.com/testing-minolta-md-zoom-24-35mm-35-t76076.html

There was a similar SMC Pentax-M model, too.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
This review of Yashica lenses from Photo Techniques in ‘79 shows how good the ML 28-50 is. I regret selling mine, given the prices now.

Yashica ML Lens Review by bp reid, on Flickr


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:14 am    Post subject: Re: 28-50mm zoom lenses Reply with quote
[quote="D1N0"]
stevemark wrote:

This turned up on eBay
Auto Chinon Zoom Macro 28-50mm `1:3.5-4.5 a two touch with 52mm filter thread. Looks like makina so will probably be crap Wink

I don't think that Chinon is a Makina lens... too shiny! Perhaps a Kobori, but I don't remember ever seeing a Koboron version.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The OP explicitly asks for 28-50 mm lenses so it would make most sense not to include "24 to something" lenses Wink

Among the 28-50 mm species, I only have and use the Canon nFD 28-50 mm f/3.5 and the Olympus OM-System S Zuiko 28-48 mm f/4 lenses. Both are very good in optical terms, with uniform sharpness throughout the frame when closed down a few stops.

The Canon is a 1970s "professional class" zoom lens with two group conception, very similar in build to the 35-70 mm f/2.8-3.5 but shorter in length. Both were very expensive when sold new, only slightly less expensive than the 24-35 mm f/3.5 L, which hints to the excellent performance. Nethertheless, most samples nowadays suffer from degraded slider bearings so changing the 9 rollers would be an essential thing to do in order to restore the best possible quality.


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Last edited by Alsatian2017 on Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:29 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some can already be found here http://forum.mflenses.com/super-paragon-pmc-auto-zoom-28mm-50mm-is-this-a-rarity-t71935.html

Super-Paragon PMC Auto Zoom 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5





Believed to be Cimko and I found one on eBay so it is:



Last edited by D1N0 on Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:43 am; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
D1N0 wrote:
Some can already be found here http://forum.mflenses.com/super-paragon-pmc-auto-zoom-28mm-50mm-is-this-a-rarity-t71935.html

Super-Paragon PMC Auto Zoom 28-50mm 1:3.5-4.5



The Super - Paragon was likely made by Cima Kogaku (Cimko) who supplied the same lens to other distributors (Beroflex, etc.) as well as camera makers (Topcon and Chinon).


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Alsatian2017 wrote:
The OP explicitly asks for 28-50 mm lenses so it would make most sense not to include "24 to something" lenses Wink

Among the 28-50 mm species, I only have and use the Canon nFD 28-50 mm f/3.5 and the Olympus OM-System S Zuiko 28-48 mm f/4 lenses. Both are very good in optical terms, with uniform sharpness throughout the frame when closed down a few stops.

The Canon is a 1970s "professional class" zoom lens with two group conception, very similar in build to the 35-70 mm f/2.8-3.5 but shorter in length. Both were very expensive when sold new, only slightly less expensive than the 24-35 mm f/3.5 L, which hints to the excellent performance. Nethertheless, most samples nowadays suffer from degraded slider bearings so changing the 9 rollers would be an essential thing to do in order to restore the best possible quality.


#1




#2




#1


#2


#3

[/img]


Volker, I have always been interested in this 28 50 3,5 I do not own. You just answered the question I had in mind: this lens also has the slider bearings issue.

Does the later 28 55 nFD suffers from the same problem? And does the image quality compares if you happen to have tested this lens?

I would like a wide range of non issue FD zooms and I am quite happy at the long end with the 70 210 f4. I need to find the counterpart on the short end...

Alternatively I think you should open a business of slider bearing overhaul and you would be blessed for that.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Obviously there is a disparity in this focal range. Small and compact zooms aimed at consumers who carry it around on trips and larger hefty ones more aimed at the professional looking for the best IQ.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
lumens pixel wrote:



Volker, I have always been interested in this 28 50 3,5 I do not own. You just answered the question I had in mind: this lens also has the slider bearings issue.

Does the later 28 55 nFD suffers from the same problem? And does the image quality compares if you happen to have tested this lens?

I would like a wide range of non issue FD zooms and I am quite happy at the long end with the 70 210 f4. I need to find the counterpart on the short end...

Alternatively I think you should open a business of slider bearing overhaul and you would be blessed for that.


Hello, Michel,
the later Canon nFD 28-55 mm lens as well as the Canon nFD 35-70 mm f/3,5-4,5 twin ring zoom don't suffer from the slider bearing issues, given at that point of time Canon had already replaced the luxorious brass/rubber rollers by much cheaper but durable nylon ones. BTW, I believe that the two lenses were conceived and made by Sigma given that this third party lens maker had lenses with similar if not identical specs in its lens line. I haven't tested the 28-55 mm lens since I've had the 35-70 mm before and I just hated the sloppy build quality. Optically, both might be fine by judging the results obtained by Gary Reese.

Yes, the slider bearing service might be useful, i'll think about it.

Bien cordialement Volker


PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
D1N0 wrote:
Obviously there is a disparity in this focal range. Small and compact zooms aimed at consumers who carry it around on trips and larger hefty ones more aimed at the professional looking for the best IQ.


Yes, one could argue like that. But I guess that the heavier ones like the Canon and Yashica 28-50 mm were just older lenses designed in the later half of the 1970s which kept selling because they offered excellent optics. Starting at the beginning of the 1980s, every lens maker wanted to offer small and (relatively) light lenses even if this meant lowering the quality standards a little bit. Nethertheless, some compact lenses still offer superb performance. The Olympus 28-48 mm, for instance, is outstanding while the Pentaw SMC 28-50 mm f/3,5-4,5 is lacking outside of the image center.
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