Carenar 28mm F2.8 made in Korea samples

[eddieitman]

Well browsing through a junk shop i found a lens pouch inside a carenar 28mm f2.8 made in Korea, exactly the same construction as my surprising 135 F2.8 so i managed to buy it for a small price it does have some spots on the rear element from lens separation but nothing terrible.
Took it out for a quick walk to sample the lens.
I dont think its the worse 28mm Lens i have but does not seem terrible.

[scsambrook]

I think these are actually quite good when you remember that such lenses were absolutely built down to the lowest possible price in ordeer to compete in the bargain-basement sector of the market. Yes, certainly top-marque brands do better but these sold at between one quarter and one twentieth of the big names . . .

Be interesting to put this lens up against one of one of the packaged 18-55s from Canikonytax

[miran]

Judging from the description I have the same lens too (as well as the 135/2.. I think mine is a little defective because wide open at infinity focus it completely falls apart and is just useless. I think it might be some element separation or something, I haven't looked very closely. But stopped down a bit it gets very sharp and at close focus it seems to be reasonably sharp even wide open! And at all settings it is very contrasty and gives very rich vibrant colours. More than most other lenses I have actually. Many photos I've shot with it for some reason came out as if I had a polarizer on.

[eddieitman]

I like the 135 a lot its very good
This 28, considering it has optical damage is not bad not the best not the worse
Here is a pic of the lenses

[iangreenhalgh1]

Samyangs. The 135 is very common, came in a lot of brandings - Carenar, Exaktar, Mirage, Kestrel etc etc.

It's pretty good, certainly better than a few other bargain basement 135s.

The 28mm is less common, there is a 35mm too, I had one and it was pretty bad.