Ensinor & Promaster 24mm f/2.8 - cheap'n'wide delight

kido · Joined: 06 Jun 2013 Posts: 105 Location: Chile

I've been looking for a cheap, decent 24mm or wider lens and one of the suggestions I received (thank you Lloydy) was the Ensinor 24mm f/2.8 or one of its equivalent incarnations.

http://forum.mflenses.com/wide-lens-for-close-distance-action-photography-t66056.html

At the time I've found two auctions that were starting at reasonable prices, posted my bid in each... and accidentally won both. This way I became a proud owner of the Ensinor (M42) and Promaster 24mm f/2.8 (Nikon mount) .

Even though both look roughly as same lens with different badges, there are quite a few differences in its appearance. The front element is much more protruding on the Ensinor, the coating differs in coloring, there appear to be some internal differences as well and the serial numbers are separated by a mere 7.8M (if that means anything).

Physical differences aside, both perform in similar way. Haven't done any scientific comparison but both cover roughly the same FOV. When pixel peeping I got the impression that the Promaster is a tad sharper and handles the CA slightly better, but these conclusions are yet to be confirmed.

Being that the same lens or two completely different optical solutions, I love both. I really expected much less for what I paid. Both are sharp enough, focus from much closer than I'll ever need, handle the adverse light bravely and produce the kind of bokeh that appeals to me. I couldn't be happier Smile

Haven't really used it much for the purpose mentioned in the original thread, nevertheless, here are a few samples. Some came from the Ensinor, some from the Promaster. Some were cropped, some were not. Most were shot at wide open.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9 - f/5.6 I think

#10

#11 at f/11

#12

#13 against the setting sun

#14

#15

#16 - f/5.6 if I remember correctly

#17 - aperture same as the above

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I think that's the Ozone made lens, but it looks to be as good a performer as the Ensinor made by Cimko.

Nordentro · Expire: 2015-01-29

Looks great! Congratz...
Sigma has a similar 24mm in Pentax K mount Surprised

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

My Clubman is the same as the Promaster, the serial No is K8400+++. I have a Tefnon 24 / 2.8 non macro that I think is a different manufacturer - but it also looks older so it might be a different generation ?
Just to confuse the "who the hell made these lenses?" theorists among us, I recently sold a Super Paragon that some people say is the same as these Clubman, Promaster etc - but that was almost certainly a Cimko, it was different in so many respects. And....the Clubman 28 / 2.8 non macro that's on my desk is possibly a Cimko, maybe a Tokina?

But whatever, the 24 / 2.8 macro is a nice little lens. Cool

kido · Joined: 06 Jun 2013 Posts: 105 Location: Chile

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Cimko seem to be very consistent with using the unequal green diamond as the focusing mark.

kido · Joined: 06 Jun 2013 Posts: 105 Location: Chile

RSalles · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 3:14 pm Post subject:

Certainly a lot of lens for the money.
Myself also, after watching this pics had run to ebay to see if I could find a copy but, no luck, only 2.8/28, which is not the case,

Renato

dnf_spedition · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: The Netherlands

Picture #16 is so funny Laughing

Have lots of fun with your lenses and your cats.

bernhardas · Expire: 2017-05-23

Edited

kido · Joined: 06 Jun 2013 Posts: 105 Location: Chile

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I think the Super Paragon might possibly be the same, but every Super Paragon I've seen is different and a Cimko, but Super Paragon / Paragon was the house brand of a UK company called Photax, and they might well have sourced lenses from different manufacturers.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Excellent noname lens, well known to me, congrats!!

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Tefnon was the house brand of Kobori so the Tefnon one is probably made by Kobori.

Mark · Joined: 01 Dec 2012 Posts: 251 Location: Budapest, Hungary

Nice images, the apple is really stunning!

Newfie · Joined: 04 Mar 2014 Posts: 242 Location: Austin, Texas

Very nice lenses. Not to be fooled, I have the 28mm version made by Cimko (3rd version) as well as the Ensinor 24mm.
They both are tak sharp and very pleasing bokeh. Here is the Cimko 28mm third version

Regards,
Gavin

kido · Joined: 06 Jun 2013 Posts: 105 Location: Chile