Computar f2.8 28mm on Olympus OM-D E-M5

[iangreenhalgh1]

Vintgage 28mms are a mixed bunch, they range from crap to medicore, with the best affordable ones being just 'okay'. I've tried a lot of them as 28mm is a useful length on M43 cams, mostg recently I was bitterly disappointed by the poor performance of a not cheap at all Ricoh f3.5 28mm Aspherical - terrible wide open due to low contrast and diffuse glow, sharpens up stopped down but overall, not great at all. Perhaps the best of the bunch I've tried were the late Minolta MD 2.8/28 and the Olympus Zuiko 2.8/28, I doubt I'll find a better afforable vintage 28 than th0se.

But, this Computar runs it close, it's a very unusual lens, very rarely seen for sale, in M42 mount with an automatic iris, but is probably not from the era of M42 lenses, more likely from the 90s or even newer. I have two of them, both brand new in box when I got them, and I paid 99p each for them - no-one knew the name and they are uninspiring almost indiustrial looking things, but very well made and all metal. I have no idea who made them, maybe Kowa and Computar is a brand name used by Kowa for industrial & CCTV lenses in C mount.

Anyways, this little 28mm is very sharp indeed, even wide open at f2.8, it's contrast is very strong, both macro and micro, whjich I think indicates modern multi coatings at play, and it is rather flare resistant too, even pointing it sunwards doesn't induce much veiling flare or coloured patches on the image. CA seems pretty much absent, it's just a very good all-round lens, the IQ is more in keeping with what you would expect from a vintage 50mm than a vintage 28mm, and it's one of the more compact 28s I've tried, so it's a keeper and will see much more use on my M43 cams I think.


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[iangreenhalgh1]

Wouldn't you know it, one has shown up on ebay UK, I have no relationship to the seller, but it's exactly the same lens as I have.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294977009191?hash=item44adfff627:g:QQAAAOSw47hieqI3

[D1N0]

This one isn't as dirty: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255545090001 Much too expensive though. It doesn't even have an aperture pin.

Seller has some other interesting stuff https://www.ebay.com/itm/384910765257 Meyer Optik 28/2.8? Never heard of it no aperture pin but at least it has a hole where it should be.



And what is this? No brand at all (and no pin)https://www.ebay.com/itm/384895600078

[iangreenhalgh1]

The Meyer Optik is a post-reunification (1991) Pentacon Prakticar 2.8/28, same lens, just a different branding. They probably produced a few of them for some market(s).

That other lens is made by Kobori. I have one branded Koboron in Canon FD mount, can't remember if it is any good or not.



https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_2557.html

[16:9]

[Slalom]

Yes I won it, intersting now to try it out.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Good luck, hope you enjoy it.

[16:9]

Keep us posted.

[eggplant]

You should give a Tamron 28mm 2.5 a go, if you already haven't. No glow on mine wide open on M4/3. I'd been using mine for all my product photos.

[16:9]

The Adaptall version?

[eggplant]