Yashica ML 2.8/28 compared to ML 2.8/35: an underdog really?

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

I am coming to the last of my small Yashica ML set. After ML 1.9/50, ML 1.4/50 and ML 2.8/35 here comes Yashica ML 2.8/28.

This lens is sometimes told to be the "worst" of the ML series, at least the one which has the poorest IQ. I cannot confirm that. On the contrary, I'd say it stands well by the side of highly praised ML 2.8/35, in terms of general IQ and resisance to flare. To be sure of my impression, I put side by side several views photographed by both lenses at different aperture values. The shots were taken in two different days, so light conditions differ slightly. In spite of that the whole series gives a pretty good idea, I think.

All those shots are out-of-camera jpgs resized, except one couple retouched, explicitly marked. The camera is an APS-C Sony Nex. First comes a shot from ML 2.8/28, next from ML 2.8/35. I present here only shots wide open and at f4, as at from f5.6 and further the already small difference vanishes completely.

#1 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f4 (I have a slight doubt if I touched contrasts in this shot: if yes, the touch was minimal)

#2 Yashica ML 2.8/35, at f4

#3 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f4, unprocessed as well as the followng ones (I clearly marked that in my notes)

#4 Yashica ML 2.8/35, at f4

#5 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f2.8

#6 Yashica ML 2.8/35, at f2.8

#7 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f2.8

#8 Yashica ML 2.8/35, at f2.8

#9 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f4

#10 Yashica ML 2.8/35, at f4

#11 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f4, with contrast and exposure corrected. The most visible difference from ML 2.8/35 is purple fringing in strong counterligt which gets more visible with contrast boosted.

#12 Yashica ML 2.8/35, at f4, with contrast and exposure corrected

Here follows a couple of single SOOC shots from ML 2.8/28.

#13 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f4, back to unprocessed. One may note that fringing is not that visible in all counterlight situations.

#14 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f4. With a good light and exposure colours are saturated and contrast is great already SOOC.

#15 Yashica ML 2.8/28, at f4. A close-up is neither bad.

For me those results speak well in favour of the ML 2.8/28. Please judge by yourself.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

Thank you, Stephan, I was unaware of two versions. I looked through a thread dedicated to the topic in this forum, but essential links lead to nowhere. So I could not say which version I have. Its serial starts with A1242, the MFD is 0.3m. That might be second version, I guess?

Some additional sources are pretty contradictory about the IQ per version. Here is a discussion in Yashica dedicated forum, where some members state that versions difference is less important than the lens condition.

And here is a review which is far from being really complimentary, stating outmost the lens' great central sharpness. But the samples the guy presents are just outstanding as for the IQ.

Buy the way, I should also acknowledge that, aside visible purple fringing, the lens shows some visible fall of corner sharpness at f2.8-f4 even with APS-C sensor. For me that was not an issue, as the landscape I shot was as patchy as an old library. I find it generally a pretty tolerable issue, as this approaches the shot to psychological effect of human vision. But I admit that for more common landscape use this is considered a heavy sin.

Ultrapix · Joined: 06 Jan 2012 Posts: 551 Location: Italy

A comparison Vs the Zeiss Distagon: https://yadi.sk/a/vxGr_ivD3XXhA4

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland

Here's a little teaser for the test of twelve 2.8/28mm on 43MP FF. There are pretty obvious differences even at f11:

AS SUSAL, PLEASE CLICK TWO TIMES ON THE IMAGE TO GET THE FULL SIZE VIEW.
THE PREVIEWS SHOWN HERE WITHIN THE POSTNG MAY BE MISLEADING.

S

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

I haven't seen shots from Yashica ML 2.8/28 in BW. So adding here a couple of them.

A simple BW conversion

Processed in Nik Silver

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

Some more test shots by Yashica ML 2.8/28, the first one unprocessed, in the other three contrast and exposure are slightly corrected.

#1 Caught a flare, which seems to be pretty rare with this lens

#2 WO, nice bokeh and some 3D efefct at a right distance

#3 At f4, 3D goes more visible

#4 At f5.6, the main subject is even better distinguished, in spite of the iris closed

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

That's a captivating task, Stephan! I'll be glad to post some shots once I get back to the place I left the lens. I did not think to shoot it before. I'll post here as soon as I put my hand back on it, I think in a month or so.

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

Stephan, I got back to the lens. Here it is

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

You are welcome! That would have been cool if some visible signs might be noted.

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

I recently took my Nex with Yashica ML 2.8/35 on and turned back to the forest, to find it... burnt.

It's a bitter show, to see the wild beauty so violently reduced to ashes. So this sequel is about the same places hurt by fire other than about lenses compared.

While crossing burnt spaces and passing by suffocated plants one also notes perfectly conserved green spots and sprouts of new life springing through the ashes. This gives a nice touch of hope to the land of desolation.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6