What Is Wrong With 28mm? -It's The Most Ignored and Rejected Lens
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My name is Matti Sulanto, I'm a photographer based in Helsinki Finland.
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After I recorded the video I realized that Viltrox has a 28mm F1.8 for Sony. Somehow I ignored that.
that came out 4 days ago but no review yet about it
Seems it's new lens (at least their page says so). This got me interested, cause I'm chasing used Sony 28mm F2 for some time already.
And this Viltrox seems quite cheap new.
@@AllTrackerz WOW ... that's interesting. I was not aware there are two versions of this lens. Now I have to search for new one but used :D.
I am no expert in the lens market, but it seems like OMD and Panasonic only make Zoom lenses at the moment.
I prefer a prime lens, but in the sense that I like to take out one lens and see what I get for the day. The next day, I take a different lens with me. I like Zoom lenses, but I would not shoot with the same focal length for a while day. 😅
This does support your point though. That's only one lens!
One of my favorites for the micro four-thirds is the Panasonic-Leica 15mm F1.7 (30mm). It's not quite a 28 but it's awfully close. It's compact, sharp, and a superb option for this type of photography.
This is my go to lens, love it!
The DJI 15mm 1.7 'clone' is even cheaper. I have that one, and it's stunning. Cost me £170. It's my go-to m43 lens.
The Panasonic 14mm pancake is the ultimate street photography lens on m43 imo. It's so small you're not even sure you put a lens on! It's the best for busy streets.
I bought the 15 mm 1.7 like that before I even owned the micro four-thirds camera...
@@followtheboat yes, the 14mm is a good lens, albeit a little slow. But then it's faster, albeit only just, than the Ricoh GRIII's 28 equivalent. I sold mine, but now, & due to how small it was, regret that. Criticism like purple fringing and corner sharpness was never an issue.
I believe the wider you go, the more skill of composition and light capture you need. As an amateur, even 35mm feels too wide for me to get good results, let alone 28mm or 24mm. Hats down to pro's like you who can get results from 24mm or 28mm 🎉
It's just a matter of habit. I use Sony A7 with 24/1.4 lens and this lens almost welded to my camera. I use it for everything from landscapes to portraits. Firstly it was a bit odd FL for me but just in about a month of using it i got used to it and it became my favorite lens.
@@maratbabayan9332 That is a good point. Why did you go for it, to have it for a month? I've tried both my 35mm prime and 16-35mm zoom, and I do use them when needed, but once it's done, they go off instantly for 85mm prime or 24-70mm to take it's place.
That's fair. And it does also depend on the types of things, and type of photography, you're most into. A good photographer might be better able to use a 28mm lens where a different one might have been the better choice, but it also comes down to the layout giving the photographer the opportunity to stand in the correct position to frame it properly. Some focal lengths simply don't work in some locations - so don't be too hard on yourself about that. :)
Excellent comment, and so true and on point! 👍
The optimum focal length is a function of how close you are comfortable shooting people. In crowded, elbow-to-elbow situations 20mm is not too wide, but 28mm is a good compromise. A lot of classic black and white New York street photography was shot on a 28.
Fuji's 18mm 1.4 or f2 has a 27mm field of view. Also, the X100v has a 28mm conversion lens that works very well. I use it all the time.
28 mm should be used to tell a story. They're fantastic for street photography if you get close. They're wonderful lenses for everyday shooting. You'll get a deeper depth of field than you will with a 35mm lens. I just love it but that's my opinion.
Great video
Definitely need a compact high quality 28mm prime for a walkabout one prime lens solution. 24mm a bit wide for people and 35mm a bit narrow for landscapes. The 28mm FL is a good compromise.
Just saw this video. I have the same dilemna. I previously owned a Lumix 7-14mm and a Pentax MX 1 (1/1.7" sensor, 28-105mm equivalent lens). Both of which I love shooting on the 28mm equivalent focal length.
I love 28mm, but I started as a film photographer. 28 seems to be more popular with folks that came through film. In film, I shot Contax with Zeiss lenses. The 28 was my go-to street and wide. I still use that lens adapted. I have larger cameras and use the HUGE Sigma Art 28mm f1.4 DG HSM, that is an incredible lens, one of their best ones, but it is huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!. It was released with one of their best , the Sigma Art 105 f1.4 DG HSM and the 40 f1.4 DG HSM
I used to have a G2 with 28mm and 45mm. The 28mm was nice but I mostly used the 45, and although it's only 5mm different from the 50mm lenses I was used to the different was still noticeable.
Same. I started with a k1000 and a 28mm. Still a favorite focal length for me.
For me the Fujifilm XF18 1.4 is the lens i really like using for Party- / Eventphotography. Especially for kind of Dancefloor shots and so on.
In my eyes a fantastic lens and good in combination with X-T3/5 or X-H2 and so on. I like the focal lenght also for general photography.
A bit wider than 35mm but a bit less distortion than a 24mm lens.
28mm has always been my favorite wide angle lens. Coming from the film days I had 24mm lenses labeled "super wide", nowadays that label seems laughable with how prevalent ultra wides are now. 24mm was always just too wide for me to really walk around as my prime lens and I never really cared for 35mm. Imo if I could only choose two it would be 28mm and either 40 or 50mm. For many years I just shot a 28-70 2.8 zoom and never wanted for anything else aside from an occasional 16mm fisheye shot.
Hands down my favourite street focal length. Forces you to get close enough to "smell the streets" 😉 The Sony f2 FE is a dated but excellent lens. No pancake but compact, plus it has an adapter to go wider. I was in love with that Panasonic 14mm on m43. Took my best strobe shots with it. I've been window-shopping Fuji and was disappointed to see there is only one, dated, pancake 28mm equivalent.
Hi Matti. You should be taking in the aspect ratio also when comparing lens focal lengths between systems. In landscape orientation, the Leica 15mm for micro 4/3 for example works out comparable to a full frame 30mm lens width wise but comparable to about a 26mm lens in image height, and this is a great lens not far at all from the 28mm full frame lens with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
28mm focal length discussions always sound like this. Even Leica Q/Q2 shooters and GR3 fans simultaneously praise and grumble about its limitations. But you’re correct, Sony shooters are deficient in 28mm options which would give us an equivalent focal length which our Leica friends prefer. So having said that, I managed to get a great deal on a Leica CL with the 18mm pancake lens - 35mm crop equivalent of 27mm, and whoops, I’m really liking that focal length (and the camera, dang). But I’m hard pressed to leave a nifty 50 or one of my many 35mm options for 28mm, because I crop a whole lot less..
You are so right. I have a Yashica SLR with 28mm f2.8, beautiful combination
Thanks for the video. Don’t know why I missed this but still very relevant even now. I want a modern quality updated one for Sony full frame. My current work around is the new FE 24-50/2.8 zoom with markings for 24, 28, 35, and 50mm focal lengths. Would still like a quality prime that’s small but on the fast side. Maybe someday. Take care.
For me, 28mm (or wider) is a bit difficult. There's a tendency to put as many as possible stuffs in the frame so you need to be careful when framing. And for people-oriented street photos, usually you'll want to get closer, but I don't like the "distorted" (bigger than actual) look. But for architecture/geometry-oriented shoots, I usually happy with the result.
Well, it's a matter of taste. There are some situations which require 28mm. But that's not something I put on my daily camera bag. Other folks may think 28mm is their normal focal length.
Agreed. I just bought the Canon R 28mm pancake. Delighted to have it.
I learnt photography on a 35mm Ricoh KR-10, where my everyday lens was a 28mm for many years. It’s great for street/documentary photography and I love it to this day. It wasn’t a premium lens, but it got the job done, which is exactly how I see the Lumix 14mm. You refer to 40mm as being an odd ball lens, but this is a field of view I have grown to love as well. I’ve used both the lumix 20mm and Fuji xf 27mm which are roughly 40mm equivalents on their systems and they’re both great. Also, I believe 40mm is closer to what the human eye sees than a 35mm or 50mm lens, which is probably why I love it so. I’m no pro, so I won’t usually spend vast amounts of money on lenses, but there are decent enough choices out there. You’ve got me thinking about the Fuji xf 18mm f1.4 now though
When I started out I had a 50 (of course) then got a 35. After that my tutor discouraged me from getting a 28 because it was too close to a 35. When I eventually got a 28 I determined that his advice wasn’t really appropriate for me. The 28 opened up a whole new world. Over the years I also discovered that a ~40mm was the “real” normal lens. *FOR ME* … I could happily live with just the 28 and 40 for almost all of my work. I’ll keep my OM 21/2 forever - it’s one of the best “super wides” ever made. On a crop sensor the 28 becomes ~40 equivalent and the 21 becomes ~32 - close enough. I also have the Rokkor M mount 28mm - right now it pretty much lives on my XPro. And I have the Summicron-C 40mm, which makes a nice short tele on a crop sensor.
The point is, all that is personal taste and habits. I have no idea why the 28 and 28 equivalent fell out of favour, except that there seems to have been a bit of a craze for wider and super wide. 28 and 40 for general and street work are pretty much perfect for me.
Learned how to really take pictures on 28mm Ricoh GR2 and an Olympus OM20 with a 28mm f/2.8.. Great setups.. That Olympus lens is still one of the best I've ever used.
I like 27/28mm as a standard street focal length. For some years I used the Fujifilm X70 which had the fixed 28mm equiv lens. So I never thought they were rare or not common.I also have several 18mm options for my APSC Fujis which are 27mm equiv, so I'm rather spoiled for choice. I do prefer that over 35mm.
It's the most versatile focal length. My most used lens at weddings. It's the lens I use as a filler while I'm creating "art" with the other focal lengths
Canon 28mm RF f/2.8 pancake is small and light, with great color, contrast, sharpness, and character
That lens is indeed very nice, but it did not exist when I made the video.
As many I was a strong 24+35mm fan.
I was not at ease with 28mm too wide for portraits,, to straight for landscapes. Then i sold my gr II... But I felt in love lately with pentax 31mm that I used as a 35mm but with more spaces for groupes and environnements pictures, and was perfect for street photography. I have progressed a lot with that focal. Then I gave ricoh gr a new chance with the 3rd edition and I love it. I would just have like a f/2 or a tiny flash. Options on pentzx mount are too big for this camera
Just bought an 18mm (28mm full frame equivalent) for my Fuji kit…but it’s a few years old and a bit noisy, sharp though!..❤😊
Thanks Matti. I also think that 24mm has limited use. 28mm has been my preferred wide angle lens for many years. In my practice, usually wide enough and not have the risk of giving « unnatural » images. My standard lens is 35mm and I switch to 75/90 or 24 when needed. I feel I have a wide choice and still a small and light bag to tote around.
My favorite lens combo is 28mm&40mm. It's perfect for documenting my friends and lover.
BTW, I'm so glad that here's a video talking about focal length.
Thank you.
I had a 28mm, 50mm and a short telephoto zoom with my Olympus OM1 and I looked at the 35mm before I purchased the 28mm and never regretted it .
My experience is pretty similar. I didn't like 28mm until I started using the Ricoh GR 3 a year ago...
I learn to use the 28mm equivalent as the result of using the Fujifilm X70 (18.5mm f2.0). This reason to try the Panasonic Leica 30mm in my Olympus Pen F and now is my favorite option for street photography.
I used to hate the 28mm focal length - it felt too wide after almost 2 years of using a 50mm exclusively. Yet now it's become my personal favorite. I absolutely love the zuiko 28mm f2.8 when shooting on film, it's so nice.
I use this lens too, I have the 40mm and 85mm f2 I didn't knew that the price is so high for those vintage lens.
Totally agree! I favor 28mm over 35mm any day. There is another gap in the E-mount lens line-up around 100mm focal length. As much as I would love to see a compact 28mm f/1.8 with less distortion as the older f/2 version, I would love to get a compact 100mm f/1.8 as well.
I thought I wasn't a fan of the 28mm focal length until I came across a good deal I couldn't pass by on a Nikkor 28mm f1.8 lens. I've found I've used it a lot, much more than I expected. Funny how things work out 😋
I also fell in love with 28mm as a result of using the GR3. I found it to be the 'do it all' focal length. I use 35mm and 40mm prime lenses + various zooms, so I can shoot 28mm easily enough. I'd prefer a 28mm prime though!
28mm on compact camera is almost 35mm as you don't use a viewfinder and hold the camera away from the body (distance reduction).
As most of my photography consist of walking around and shooting the things I see in the small town that I live in or landscape photography my choice of lens for the day is usually determined by how much sky I want in my pictures. If the sky is filled with interesting clouds I'll put the Summicron 28mm v1 on my camera if not I'll go with Summicron 35mm v2. While most people may find little difference between a 28mm and 35mm and say you can just step back or forward a few feet depending on which you're using I've found that doing so gives you very different results.
Interesting Matti - thanks. I’ve recently bought the small & light Sigma 19mm which is 28mm equiv on my a6500. I also have Pentax & Olympus vintage 28mm lenses which are a versatile 42mm or 56mm on my a6500 or Oly EM5 mk iii.
Thanks for sharing.
Glad you praise the angle of field of the 28mm. Perhaps now I will use my Nikon f1.4 28mm AF D more…in nighttime street photography. :-)
Porst 28mm 2.8...macro for my Fujica STX-2. My favorite "sensor": Ilford super xp2 400.
Thanks for your video. As always perfect 🙂 ... I have the 18mm f1.4 from Fuji so 27mm ff-aequivalent (sharp from corner to corner) ... I love this focal length ... esp. for videography but also for landscape photography. And also the "best kit lens on earth" - the 18 -55mm from Fuji is on the short end in this 27/28mm "area".
Thanks so much for sharing.
I never liked this focal length until I bought the TTArtisan 28mm f/5.6 a year ago for my Leica M and LumixS5 (with an adapter for L mount). I now use it daily because of its small size and discreet appearance (I bought the black version). I've found that it's a perfect length for street photography.
I've just picked up a Canon EF 28mm 2.8 (the old non-IS one) to use with my 6D.
I will use it in combination with my 50mm 1.8 as a compact and lightweight all day carry option.
It's ironic that the 28mm lens is relatively unloved on cameras , when millions of smartphone users love their 28mm focal length cameraphones!
I use a fuji 16mm 2.8 and 50mm f2 they work well . 16mm is usable but you just have to give yourself time to get used to it.
For.a long time, I avoided the 28mm for a silly reason. I figured (back then) that if I want to shoot in 28mm, I can just use my phone so I rather spend my money on other focal length. Then I got a used GX9 with the 14mm f2 5 attached and found I actually enjoyed that lens.
Thanks I have been considering that lens for it's rectilinear nature. It has been hard to give up the idea of loosing the lens control rings because I use them so extensively on my other lens.
LoL I have had a 28mm lens (or multiple even) and left it home not to have the same as my phone. But why do I love shooting with my phone? :)
If you go back to micro 4/3, the f1.7 panasonic Leica 15mm (30mm equiv) is small, light, well built and fast and it even has an aperture ring...
I have that Nikon Z mount lens and use it with my Z5. It’s a great little lens. I didn’t think I’d like it too much, but it actually gets more use than my 50mm 1.8
I bought Nikon AF-S 28m 1.4E for my d780 2 weeks ago, and it's amazing! I switched to it from the 35 1.8 and i'm really enjoying it!
Thanks for sharing!
I have and still use the 28 mm 2.8 Nikkor lens. It is not a premium lens and does its job, I also don't see too much curvature of the focal plane. A field of view equivalent to 28 mm in 135-terms is used by many smartphones for their main camera. In order to take pictures which are instantly recognizable as non-smartphone lenses, other options might be more sought after.
Like 24 mm. I have a 24 mm 1.8 lens which is (borderline) still usable for general photography. Like 35 mm. It is boring, because it almost always works. I think it is the most useful lens for any user, while not exciting it usually comes with good close-focus which helps, and gets the job done
I have been a fan of the 28mm however I am not a fan of the newest modern lenses because of their clinical look. I don't need auto focus 90% of the time so now I look for quality vintage lenses for my mirrorless camera.
olympus kit always starts from 14mm at f3.5. the next best thing to a 28mm is the 15mm f1.7 panaleica.
Back when I shot film, 28mm was definitely my favourite. It was basically what I considered to be my "normal" lens. (I had previously used 35mm as mornal, but once I got a 28mm I never went back...)
I like the 28 mm for landscape and street photography but not so much for shooting people. If you ask strangers to take your picture with an i-phone or a camera with the 28mm lens, he or she would have to know how to position to avoid distortion.
I own the Tamron 28-75 for my Sony a7iv. I really love it. I know it’s not a prime however it’s a quality lense.
I have that zoom too and it’s very nice. However, it’s not a prime and not the only zoom that covers 28mm.
Today B&H has available for full frame format: 23 20mm lenses, 37 24mm, 42 28mm, 71 35mm, 100 50mm and 69 85mm lenses.
How many of those 28mm lenses are native autofocus mirrorless full frame lenses? In the video I'm talking about those. This video is one year old and it's possible that today there are more 28mm native autofocus full frame mirrorless lenses than at the time of making the video.
@@mattisulanto Yeah, my comment wasn't well thought-out. Sorry. Can we agree that the 28mm lens we wish we could have is the one on the Leica Q series, but without having to spend the cash on a Leica Q? 🙂
@@MikeC2K10 Yeah, the Q lens is pretty good and we can agree on that😀
In M43 world with very little in 14mm (28), I'm hoping that OM expands their f1.4 Pro line...a 14mm f1.4 or even f1.8 would be great.
i use sony fe 28/2 for indoor portrait almost all the time
Use a wide converter. 0.75x on 40mm is 30mm. Search Nizo ultrawideangle adaptor from Schneider kreuznach. It's acrylic but works well. It's available to n Germany in 3 sizes
I got started with 28mm with a Yashica film point and shoot with a T* 28mm lens that I really liked - compact and sharp. That stopped working, and I went back to my Canon FTb with Canon 50mm f/1.8. Use what you have! I went through some Fuji pocket point and shoots when I was travelling, then transitioned to early Fuji digital point and shoots. Then, I bought a used Sigma DP1 - the original one, with a 28mm equivalent lens. Wow! Suddenly, I was enthused about photography again! The lens extension arm inside was plastic, and as it turned out, fragile. I sent it back twice for repairs, then it got old enough that Sigma would no longer repair it. I went back to the Fuji's but by comparison to the Sigma were very disappointing. I picked up a used Canon M100 and a used Canon 22mm f/2 M-series lens, but compared to the crispness, the clarity of the Sigma ... it was also disappointing, but decent enough as a video camera. I bought a used Sigma DP2M (Merrill) with the 45mm equivalent, and REALLY missed the 28mm equivalent of the DP1. I bought a new Sigma SD Quattro with the 30mm f/1.4 Art kit lens, then a used Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 zoom, and that got me back into 28mm equivalent. I now use a Sigma fp, and with the Sigma MC-21 SA-L mount adapter have found new love for the 30mm f/1.4 Art lens - which is a crop sensor lens, but actually fills full-frame with just a bit of vignette, and a lot of character. It's 2mm tighter than 28mm and even with the adapter light and compact. I have a 35mm f/1.4 Art, which is heavy and huge and kinda great but just a bit too narrow ... the 30mm is perfect!
-Tom
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Interesting video. Nice work. Leica Q has 28mm fixed. I own the TT M mount 28mm. I think you summed it up by saying you liked the 28mm experience with the GR3. I think it's a get used too option. If what you have is 28mm it will work just fine.
The Leica Q2 is like a 24 or 26mm though. Not a true 28mm. Maybe the M-mount lens is closer to a true 28mm.
@@professionalpotato4764 The Q I owned stated it was a 28mm f1.7 lens. "Is like" maybe have merit but I'm unable to debate the factuality of this. From images I've taken the Q & M 28mm look reasonably similar.
Its my go to wide angle focal length. It's like 24mm for people/portraits, just tightened up enough to still be wide like 24mm but without the perspective distortion. It's like a perfected 24mm.
🙂 Love this video and totally agree with your perspective🙂...part of the reason I started using the Fujifilm X-E1 was bc they had a
FUJIFILM XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens which is a 27.54mm F2.14 35mm equivalent lens...its was as close as I could get to the 28mm focal length 🙂I really love the feel of that lens 🙂You should try it...I think you would like it 🙂
Thanks for the tip. I do own a Fuji X-T30, but the 18mm F1.4 is a bit too much for me at the moment as the Fuji is not my main system.
I love this focal length. I use a 20mm on an APSC body which becomes a 30mm. This focal length is close to the iPhone main camera focal length too so if I don't have my camera with me, I am used to the focal length and can focus on composition.
The EF 28mm f/2.8 IS is one of my most used lenses on Canon full frame. I went to China a few years ago with a 5D classic, the 28mm and a 50mm. I barely used the 50mm.
Thanks for sharing. You chose the classic two prime kit.
Hey man I am with you u love 28mm and Sony needs an update in this focal length.
Have the Tameron 11-20mm 2.8 for APSC and I adore it toward the narrower focal end. It's a super sharp zoom so if you like the 28mm focally, go and try that one.
Thanks for your tip. However, in the video I'm talking about prime lenses, not zooms. I have tested the Tamron and I like it a lot: th-cam.com/video/2WO6syfFlUc/w-d-xo.html
Still have my original Nikkor 24f/2.8, 50f/1.8 and 105f/2.5 lenses, looking at them now… These days I prefer 21mm, 35mm, and a short tele like a 90mm. Never really bonded with 28 but definitely see the appeal of 28, 50 in day to day photography. Although I have a Zeiss ZF.2 28mm that is dreamy and comes out on special occasions.
There is also Viltrox 28mm 1.8 for sony. It's pretty sharp and has AF as well. Reasonably sized.
There is indeed, please see my video: th-cam.com/video/gs2p-U3xTJI/w-d-xo.html
2:25 Best example of an environmental portrait I've seen on youtube!
I was expecting Sigma to release a very compact 28mm for the 55mm-filter I-series; I still hope that they do.
Thanks! That little creature sure is in his/her environment😀
I think that Lecia agreed with all lens manufacturers that they would not release 28mm and leave her a place in the market for her new Q3 :)
I have all those lovely little sony g's too. But I don't use 24/2.8 at all
On a sunny day, I really like to use the 28-60 - it's a very fun lens! At 90% it is in the 28mm position.
I agree that there aren't a lot of options. I find 28mm is a hard focal length to use. I find using a GR is easier because you can walk up to ppl and no one notices you. A 28mm on a DSLR or mirrorless is a little more conspicuous. Most people would want that focal length as part of a zoom but maybe not a prime. It's a shame.
Agree. The problem is that many people try to use 28mm for portrait with street environment. And it’s not the best option for approaching strangers.
You might have missed the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 pancake lens. I thought you might have mentioned that because you usually like a nice pancake lens.
That lens did not exist when I recorded this video.
For me, a mft user, 28 mm (equivalent 14 mm) is a real prominent focus length. My EXIF dates show this though I am using a 12-60 mm Lumix/Leica lens. That is why also the Lumix 14-140 mm matches my needs.
Try another copy of the Sony FE 2/28. There are well aligned copies. It is the best 28mm I've used.
28mm is the common focal length for most cell phones. There is some mfgs that do not even off a 28mm on a interchangeable camera. Someone can argue from a cell perspective it’s the most used and most ignored length.
Thanks. I think many high end phones now use even wider lens on their main camera, but you are right that a 28m has been common on phone cameras.
Hi Matti! Hope all is well... What about the xf18mm from Fuji... You talked about exteemely briefly. Did you try it yet?
All the best my friend!!
I bought the Nikon 28mm f/2.8 in the z mount around Christmas to go along with the 40mm f/2. I bought it for street photography. I really like that lens even though it's not a premium lens. Nikon made improvements with this new version. All of the z lenses are better than the old f mount lenses. There's not a lot of distortion. Nikon automatically imports the lens corrections into Lightroom for the z lenses. I know with the 14-30mm it automatically crops in just a little bit. Hudson Henry has a video on that. The 28mm focal length is a little forgiving when trying to be sneaky and not put the camera up to your eye. I can hold it down low and point it in the direction and usually get a good shot. I may have to straighten the photo up. I use a zone focus on front of me to get everything in focus. And having a wide angle lens helps with having a larger depth of field even when you're at f/5.6.
Thanks for sharing.
I also underestimated and disdained the 28mm for years. Since switching to MFT the 15mm 1.7 Panasonic Leica (30mm, I know!) has grown dear to me but it took time. The quality is awesome and I cannot do without anymore. It glued to my Olympus E-PL10, like the 20mm 1.4 (=40mm) to my Olympus E-M5 MkIII.
I dropped 35mm after 15 years. It was a favourite but looking back at a decade of digital photography I found the shots always to be boring. That is of course a personal issue 😂
i've said this many times, but i really, really must get my efm 28mm off the shelf & dusted! (i bought it for its macro capabilities, & seem to remember liking it for general purpose stuff too!) 😊
I am curious whether you prefer to use GR III (28mm equiv.) or GR IIIX (40mm equiv.).
I learnt photography with a Nikon D40X with a 18-55mm kit lens. At 18mm with APS-C crop, it's equivalent to a 28mm. At the time, I thought 28mm was often "not quite wide enough" but now, I find it to be a very nostalgic and comfortable focal length. Enough to put some emphasis on your subject for street photography but yet wide enough for some landscapes. I am also looking for a compact 28mm f/2.8 option on my Sony system that preferably does close focusing (1:2) as well.
Nikon D40X brings back fond memories. Thanks for sharing.
I often carry a 28 and a 35 simultaneously. Love both; each has its strengths. I find the 35 to be more useful more of the time.
I would love to see a Leica 14mm micro 4/3 lens for my GH5. I like the compact size.
My grid (@freshouttafocus) main go-to setup is A7iii + Sony 28mm f/2.0. For more 28mm "look" there's a lot of Ricoh GRii shots there as well (technically a 18mm Leica lens on the crop sensor). I do think I'm going to play with a 24-70 f/2.8 glass soon for more versatility when needed but I think I'll still have the zoom set around 28mm more often than not.
I think I mostly use the Panasonic-Leica 15mm F1.7 lens on the Lumix GX80 camera body. You can probably say that this lens is almost premium quality and has a very similar angle of view to the discussed 28 mm focal length.
I've used both 24mm and 28mm primes and I absolutely agree that 28mm is the widest general purpose lens. With lenses this wide 4mm makes a lot of difference. I'm a bit baffled by the obvious gaps in many lens ranges these days. I think some people are probably put off buying into a particular system because there are one or two lenses they need that aren't available for that system. I can remember when film SLR lens ranges were vast but I think those days are over. Zooms these days are excellent and their old reputation for mediocre image quality is a thing of the past, but we still need a good range of primes.
I have an old Nikon CoolpixA with a fixed 28mm lens and 16mp apsc sensor. Takes great pics. Sharp as a tack, great colour and pocketable. Use it as much as my Lumix GX9 and various lenses or my full frame Nikons and assorted gear.
I love my 28mm 2.8 Nikkor AF. I bought it used on ebay in $60.
Sounds like a great value.
It would be nice if APS-C vs full frame were mentioned.
Timely video. My daughter just invested in a Nikon Z7II. I am buying her the new Nikkor 28mm F2.8 SE lens.
Hi Matt. I totally agree with you 28 mm is neglected and it’s a shame. I used to like 24 and 35 but then I discovered the 28mm with a Leica Q and I do love it. It replaces easily a 35mm (you just have to crop a little) and easier to use than a 24. Then some rems for the panorama you give of the 28mm that we can find in the big brands : 1/ I don t remember to find the Sony 28mm f2 so bad… 2/ for m43 you a phage the Leica 15mm (not a big difference) which is quick short and very pleasant to use (with its rare aperture ring) , for Nikon you have the 28mmf1.8 afs compatible with Nikon reflex and z series through the ftz adapter. A very good lens that you can find for less than 300 € on second market usually in good shape as poorly used. 4/ I also tried the 18mm Fuji but I found it a little noisy. So it s not so rare, more versatile than a 35mm (you can just do more) and it’s probably not an error if Ricoh and Leica chose it for they non interchangeable hybrid.
For Micro 4/3 best and closest to 28mm focus length is Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7 which in FF is 30mm. Is absolutely best lense for in Micro 4/3
I am shooting with canon apsc. My main lens is canon efs 24mm f2.8 pancake lens. Love that little thing. Very compact, fast enough, but.. I wish I could try 28mm. I always end up cropping most of my images in post processing. Seems to be a little bit too wide. Unfortunately, there is no option for 28mm lens for canon apsc. The only available full frame 28mm af lens would not be 28mm on my crop sensor. So... Must forget that and keep enjoying the pancake!
Indeed, now on Sony 28mm this is a problem. I myself am now walking with Minolta md 28/3.5. There are several Sigma I in the arsenal, I would like to collect focal 17, 28, 45, 90mm (the last two are already there) There is also Laowa 28/1.2, but this is a huge manual lens. Viltrox released 28.1.8, Tamron promised 28/1.4. But I need Sigma I 28/2 (3.5)
Agreed, a Sigma 28mm F2 would be awesome.
It might be that lens manufacturers are trying to differentiate themselves from the standard iPhone look. The default lens on my iPhone X is 28mm. If half the smartphones on the market are taking every shot at 28mm default, you might go slightly higher or lower to look different and make the lens feel stand out from the plethora of images on social media.
Well on most DSLR kits the zoom starts at 18 mm which is equivalent to about 28 mm. By compact camera is G9 X Mark II which starts at 28 mm so I am used to it. If I want wider then it should be much wider.
I love 28mm. It was the go to focal length for years. I wish there was a small sony 28mm f1.8 as sharp and small as the sony 35mm f1.8
I love the 28mm equivalent field of view. Very sad to see that Sony doesn't have many options. I don't like the 24mm. Guess I've got to adapt my Minolta MD 28f2.8.
I have a vintage manual Beroflex MC 28mm F2.8. It takes wonderful pictures with very life-like color and tone. For example, on the 5D classic the photo I took of my Machi (the cat) on the rug: on the computer screen the rug feels like the real rug, with the same texture and dimensionality, and Machi looks exactly like the real Machi: same colors, the hairs are just like her hairs, same shine in the eyes... even though I had to use ISO3200, as it is not the fastest lens, and the shot was at night, indoors with plain room lights.
If it was a little faster it would be better, but as I have realized this lens produces beautiful lifelike textures and three dimensionality even at the top ISO of the 5D classic. For a long time I was shooting only with 50mm. With 28mm I can capture so much, with so little distortion, I am finding a lot more opportunities to use my camera. Also, it does not distort yet as the 24mm does, I find I do not have to make special precautions for the barrel distortion... what a sweet lens!
Thanks for sharing your take on this.
What's wrong with 28mm? It isn't wide enough! That said I own a DJI 15mm 1.7 PanaLeica clone, and I love it.
I have the 28mm f1.4 Art lens from Sigma, and I really like it. Mine is for Canon EF, but they make a version for Sony FF.