inexpensive 28mm?

[haley]

I'm wanting to pick up a 28mm to try out, but I don't know yet how much I'll use that length, so I'm looking for something that's low in price but not terrible in quality. Any recommendations?

[Nordentro]

Chinon, Soligor, Panagor or Lentar maybe

[Nesster]

You can often get a Takumar 28/3.5 for little money. Also, e.g. some of the Nikon 28's are inexpensive, due to the idea that only certain ones are their best and thus the only ones worth having. Obviously this sort of thing is bunk - certainly the better ones are better, but the rest aren't exactly beach glass

Also, with the various Vivitars you usually get reliably decent quality for cheap.

[std]

i had a vivitar 2.5 /28 for a while .. very good for the money

[Attila]

Vivitar 28mm any, Yashica ML 28mm ,Kiron 28mm any. Nikon, Takumar 28mm f3.5 , Meyer-Primagon 30mm , Pentacon 30mm, Pentacon 29mm quality is very vary. Japanese made Carl Zeiss Jena , Olympus OM 28mm f2.8 , f3.5

http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/japenese/othermaker/carl_zeiss_jena_II_28mm_f2_8/

http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/japenese/yashica/yashica_ml_28mm_f2_8/

http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/japenese/Olympus_Om/28mm_f2_8_MC/

[dsmlogger]

I strongly recommend Tokina RMC 28mm f2.8 in any mount and Vivitars made by Kino, Komine and Tokina. Also Quantaray (made by Sigma) is a very good value-for-money option.

That's for lenses you can find very cheap.

[alex]

[DigiChromeEd]

Don't forget the Tamron Adaptall II 28mm f2.5. An excellent lens for little money!

[aoleg]

Here's a list of some extremely nice 28mm that can be had for under $60:

- Yashica ML 28/2.8: perfect all the way: contrast, colors, and resolution. Not a Zeiss Distagon, but rather close.
- Olympus Zuiko 28/2.8 (make sure to get the "Zuiko" or "MC Zuiko" version, not "H.Zuiko"): a very nice and tiny lens that's extremely sharp corner to corner if stopped down at least one stop. Kind of low contrast, but in a good way (has lots of detail in shadows); at the same time, it has high resolution.
- Nikkor AI or AIS 28/3.5: if you can settle for a slower max aperture lens, this is the one to get. It's very sharp straight from wide open. Very little distortion and excellent flare control.
- S-M-C Takumar 28/3.5: the oldest of the bunch, it is still a capable performer. Grab one if you can get it for little money.

[woodrim]

I would think the OP would want something adaptable to his camera without the need for additional optics. I'm not familiar enough with Canon to know what lenses are easily used, but M42 is usually the best bet. I'll also recommend Vivitar, which can be found in M42 for reasonable money except for the Close Focus version which would be expensive. I see the f2.5 M42 versions in the $40 range.

[LucisPictor]

I'd like to second the Vivitar suggestions.
2.8/28 (by Komine) or 2.5/28 (by Kiron) - very good lenses for very little money. They are worth much more than they usually go for!

[AhamB]

[alex]

[stuey]

I bought a Vivitar 28mm F2.8 PK mount for less than £25.00 - I have not used it that much as yet but each time I do it seems very good.

[aleksanderpolo]

Olympus 28 and S-M-C Tak 28 are so tiny you will love it on your body.

[Nesster]

Perhaps you should have asked, "which cheap 28 should I avoid?" instead

[karabud]

[Excalibur]

[Phenix jc]

[james]

The Nikkor 28/2.8 AIS (later version) is truly one of the great classics; near-macro close focus, optimized for near to medium distances, sharp from f/2.8 and compact. Can be had in used condition for between US$150-175. Reputed to be the sharpest 28mm Nikkor ever made and after 30 years, remains in production.

[martyn_bannister]

[peterqd]

Another vote here for the Vivitar 2.8/28. Beautiful quality and I just don't understand why they go for less than $20.
http://forum.mflenses.com/best-cheap-wide-angle-t28526,start,20.html

[eeyore_nl]

[Attila]

[magkelly]

Sounds like this is the lens I need to be on the lookout for. Under $20 and good? My kind of lens!