Looking for a decent 28mm f2.8 (m42)

[mikel]

Hi all,

I am currently enjoying a Mir 1V 37mm f2.8 with my APS-C dslr (Sony A100), which I like a lot: both sharpness and colours are great for me, as well as the field of view.

But...

I sometimes find those 37mm rather restricting for street photo. I already own a Pentacon 29mm f2.8 that gives me the extra width I want. The problem with the pentacon is that its borders are rather soft wide open (even though once stopped down to say f/5.6 its performance is quite good). Thus, I'm looking for another 28 mm lens with a decent performance (doesn't have to be stellar), which should have an aperture of at least 2.8 ).

Which one can you recommend me? What's your opinion of the Tokina 28mm f/2.8? Beroflex?

Thanks in advance!

[Spotmatic]

Why would you want only a "decent" lens when you can buy a better one for just a few more euros/dollars? 28mm's are abundant enough to be cheap, so I would recommend (noting your avatar) a S-M-C Takumar 28mm f/3.5. Granted, it's not a f/2.8 but does that make a big difference for you?

[mikel]

OK, so, considering the Pentacon is my starting point, I'm open to excellent 28mm's too

Any other recommendations apart from the S-M-C Tak?

[Jieffe]

[Spotmatic]

[LucisPictor]

You might want to go for a Vivitar 2.8/28 (by Komine) or a Vivitar 2.5/28 (by Kiron).
Both lenses can be excellent (if the copy is good) and be found for very little money.

[kuuan]

I have read many good things about the Vivitar 28/2.5 and 28/2.8 Lucis Pictor is recommending.
If you go this route mind that there is a 2.8/28 which is called 'Close Focus' which is the one described as being the best of all, another called 'Wide Angle'. If you want a Komine check that the serial number starts with 28 ( there are others made by e.g Cosina which are quite good too )

but about those I only have read...about the Takumar I know it is very good, I have been using it quite a lot.

A Vivitar 28/2..great if you want it really fast

[Arkku]

Another recommendation for the Vivitar/Komine 28mm f/2.8. It's excellent: sharp even wide open (especially in the centre) and even the bokeh is pretty good. Here's one sample wide open (original size in my flickr):

[Razster]

I love my Yashica/Yashicor M42 28mm 2.8
http://yashica.org/290-2-AUTO-YASHIKOR-28mm-12-8.html



I also have the YUS version as well http://yashica.org/165-2-YUS+28mm+128.html

[luisalegria]

Sigma Mini-wide 28/2.8; the close up performance is better than most. Tehy are available in lots of mounts too.

The problem with these is that they too often go for too much money in my opinion.

[supahmario]

[tkbslc]

I know this is a manual focus forum, but seriously the Sigma 30mm 1.4 is what I would (and did) do. It is such a good lens in every way.

MF is insanely hard on a lens that wide in my experience. I tried a couple of cheaper 28 MF primes and I was probably 1/10 for focus accuracy.

One I did try which I would not consider worthy as even a weapon to throw at my worst enemy, was the Miida 28mm f2.8. It was like a soft focus lens until f8.

[Attila]

[hinnerker]

As Attila wrote... seek better ones..

Not M42.. Leica R to xxx you need for that.

Here a some samples taken with the Elmarit 2.8/28mm,
SNo. near 3.000.000, Canon 5D FF, "Kieler Woche 2009"





greetz
Hinnerker

[sichko]

[supahmario]

the first is kind of surreal!

[hinnerker]

[tkbslc]

[Attila]

[Helios]

No, supahmario , definitely not a problem of magnification effect . It's probably a 3D-Effect !

28mm : I vote for the smc-Takumar 3,5/28 , the Vivitar 2,5/28 , Tamron 2,5/28mm , Chinon 2,8/28 .

[mikel]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions.

Thing is that, apart from the Tak, the others seem to be more scarce and tricky to find in fleabay. Will take my time for them.

[mikel]

Finally... the Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 is coming home.