Focal 28mm -- Surprising Lens

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

So I won an eBay auction the other week for a Hanimex 35 SL that included a Focal 28mm, Hanimex 55mm, and Soligor 90-230mm lens. I figured the Focal would be a quick resell as it's a brand I'm not a huge fan of. So I took it out to Lime Ridge to get some shots to use in my eBay listing. Upon reviewing the photos, I'm not going to sell this lens. The lens has an interesting sticker on the side: 20-06-50. Does that indicate that the lens was made 61 years ago? It is an M42 mount.

Here is the lens:

Here are some of the shots:

Mt. Diablo at Sunset

A blooming thistle silhouette

Grass, but more importantly check the bokeh, which is not unpleasant

A blooming thistle

A succulent of some type

A yellow flower -- check out that fantastic sun glare

Some kinda spiney plant. The coloration was NOT done post-process.

A thistle at f2.8 (wide open)

Same thistle at f16 (fully stopped)

This lens has absolutely changed my opinion about Focal. This is an absolutely amazing lens.

Willem · Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 280 Location: Netherlands

looks great!

the thistle silhouette is my favourite.

casualcollector · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:18 am Post subject:

A chain store I worked in back in the 1975-77 period carried this lens under the Continental Optics brand. I recall the manufacturer being Makina Optical Co. I believe your lens to be about 35 years old.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Great stuff. This is exactly why many of us started using MF lenses as a cheap alternativ to modern gear. I'm really pleased it has hit the spot for you. I believe this lens has been branded with many different names, even Helios! You may find that other Focal branded lenses may have been made by someone else, and thus might not be up to the same standards, however. But that's all part of the fun!!

natebarnz · Expire: 2013-01-23

What region of the world are these photos taken in? Reminds me of AZ/NM.

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

Northern California. It's a desert here, too, but no one wants to admit it.

eddieitman · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 1246 Location: United Kingdom

That looks a very decent lens, and love the thistle picture

RioRico · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:27 am Post subject:

Hmmm, I just checked my lens bins, and dang me but I have the same! In M42, #540547, with a sticker on the side: 20-06-50(A) (the A is inside a circle). My database says I paid US$6 for it, shipped. It's one of a batch of 28/2.8's that haven't yet made it to my Lens-Of-The-Day rotation.

Made by Makina, you say casualcollector? Others in that batch include an M42 Makinon 28/2.8 #796472 (US$8, with original case and caps) that looks very very similar -- slightly different maker's lettering placement and gnurled ring, and no side sticker, otherwise identical build, same weight, same 55mm thread, same aperture+focus numbering. I have twins! I guess I need to use them someday...

buerokratiehasser · Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 470

Any relation to Albinar?

My Super-Albinar 28/2.8 looks pretty similar. It seems to have the same "blocky" font (Nr. 755264) with funny f = 1 : 2.8 spacing, the same "twin" screws on the M/A ring...

However "MC" is in white, not yellow, numbers in ft are over the distances in m, ft are orange, m are white; there are no silver rings on the focusing rubber; the distance scale is flat, not conically extending in girdth to the focusing rubber. This is probably the worst evidence against these being the same lens; however, the distance scale basically is part of the focusing ring, so maybe they just added a little to make it thicker.

Makes a nice loupe for diapositives. Saw no "sticker" and took it for a budget lens from the 70s

quicksilver86 · Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 39

I read the title: a surprising 28mm lens and I though immediately about a lens from a friend of mine.
He discovered this 28mm from Kinor, an unknown lens manufacture and this one is a very good one.
It's sharp, it's well build, it's quite fast, it have a gorgeous bokeh and it's funny to use in sunlight because of it's funny flare.
It's also has 0.3 meters MFD !!

And surprise! Your one is a Kinor too! I had one too year ago.

If you wait I'll prove that Smile

quicksilver86 · Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 39

cheekygeek · Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 183

Finding little baubles that "trip our triggers" is part of the fun of accumulating manual focus lenses. I also like the mostly-sillouetted thistle shot the best. Well done!

I'm NOT a big fan of what I call "weird-ass bokeh" which is what I see in some of the other pics. I'm not a fan of Ken Rockwell, but he has a good explaination of exactly what this lens shows: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm. I agree with those who say that hard and busy edges (in the bokeh) distract viewers from the main subject. To me, bokeh is like the instrumental score of a movie. If you notice it too much then it is taking center stage away from the actors/plot/storyline.

But one of the great things about any art is that it is subjective and what two people like may be entirely different from one another. Almost any lens excels at some things and is not great at others. Figuring out when to use a particular lens over another is also part of the fun.