Agreed, I start with apsc camera which most of my shot at 17mm & 50mm. When I change to fullframe, I stick with 28mm & 85mm, even though many photographers prefer 35mm & 85mm.
When I go out with primes for general shooting, I take those two and my Sigma 50 Art to fill in the middle. Maybe add my 20 to hedge against such a wider need.
I agree with everything you say. The 28mm lens was the very first wide angle lens I shot with back in the 1980's - my dad saved up for a Canon FD 28mm and it was a massive difference to the 50mm lenses we had been using for years. So 28mm became a very familiar focal length to me and I have literally hundreds of slides shot at that length. Now years later I occasionally enjoy using a Nikon 20mm F2.8 on my D200 which gives me about the same FOV - limitations never enter my head - it's all good.
I never understood the point of 28mm focal length but after spending some time with it, boy has it grown on me. Its literally the take it anywhere, capture anything lens. its extremely versatile and they are often small lenses. I currently use the 28 2.8 SE lens on my Nikon Z6II and absolutely enjoy it. There's a reason why Leica makes the Q cameras using 28mm...Great video!
Thank you so much! I agree completely about the versatility and small form factor being pros of this focal length. I was interested in the new 28 Z lens as well! Glad to hear you're enjoying it and thanks for watching!
Recently I did some portraits with a Nikkor 28mm f2.8. I must admit: they are the most compelling portraits I have shot recently. I am honestly quite shocked at how much I love the images from that shoot and am amazed by the way people resonate with and are amazed by this set of portraits. So, yes, I 100% AGREE!!!
Is a good practice to stick to a "new focal length" to force yourself to think differently. I have an old 28mm Pentax somewhere. I have a Pentax to Nikon adapter somewhere. It's time to give it a try. Nicely done video, Matthew!
When I started shooting film I shot a lot with a 28mm for similar reasons. It seemed to always be able to fit everything in. But then I realised that (for me) was actually a bad thing, I didn't have to work at all on my composition or positioning my subject and just ended up taking a lot of boring images that had everything in them but had no particular focus or unique composition. When I went to shooting mostly 35mm I did find there were situations where it was just a little too tight, but that was more than made up by the fact that it taught me to work my composition and subject just that little bit more, and I ended up getting more interesting images with a better composition.
Wanted to share this tidbit of information with you & others for a very creative way of using the 28/2.8 AiS lens - Nikon makes a "reversing ring" adapter, called the BR-2A. This adapter allows you to mount your 52mm threaded lenses (most AiS and older lenses) in "reverse" on your camera. In other words, the 52mm filter thread in the front literally screws into to lens mount on the camera, with the back element of the lens now acting as the front element. This yields a "macro" lens that goes well beyond 1:1. It works with 50mm and wider lenses, and the 28mm lens is ideal for this. Images quality is often better, but, of course, DOF is a micro-thin plane. Physically, your lens will only be a couple of inches from the subject. Creative abstract flower photography is great for reversing your 28mm lens, and then shooting wide open at f2.8 - masses of vibrant, blurry color with only a hint of sharpness on a tiny edge of a petal.
For most of my work I generally work with longer lenses anywhere from 80 mm up to 200mm. But recently I opted to dig my 28mm F2.8 Nikkor out of its slumber and put it to good use. And the set of portraits that came out of that exercise were as stunning as you describe. It was a wonderful experience to see those images while I was creating them as well as the amazing experience of observing what was produced after all of the editing was completed. You are absolutely correct: the 28 mm lens is not only a focal length but it is also an experience and an ethos that should be experienced by anyone and everyone who values photography.
Hi Matthew, completely agree, the 28mm is perfect for so many travel applications. I find the angles are not to severe, and distortions are kept at bay. Also great for street and people.
My favorite focal lengths are 20, 28, 40 and 135(ish)(the 105F1.4E is great, but I don't shoot Nikon (yet)). I think that 28mm is just right for all sorts of stuff. For travel, for a walk in the park, street, forest, environmental portrait, landscapes, indoors, weather (sky and clouds), MilkyWay, cars, selfies, food, pets, kids, flowers, parties, etc.
I have a Canon A1 that I bought new in 1981. My friend who ran a used camera shop insisted that I purchase a breech mount 28mm, 2.0 ssc lens. I wasn't particularly happy about it, until I shot my first roll of film with it. All I can say is thank you Steve for insisting that I get that lens
Great perspective on this! I think I'd have to agree. I shoot with Canon full frame, and the 28mm f/1.8 is fantastic all around, when I want to keep it simple. One other point that I would add is that 28mm lenses (outside of the Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4) are generally smaller profile lenses, so they are easy to carry and don't draw attention to you- a big bonus for travel, street, hiking, etc.
Thank you so much! That is a great point, as far as many 28's being small and unassuming. I've been using the 18mm (27mm equiv) f1.4 lens on my Fuji system, and although it's on the larger side for this system, it's still very compact and easy to carry.
28mm is my favourite lens as well. In fact I have the one that you have, the 28mm 2.8 Nikkor ais. This particular lens is the reason I fell in love with 28mm. The close focus distance of .2m along with tack sharpness and almost no distortion make it a very special lens. My first one I had was by accident as it came with a camera I purchased. For some stupid reason I sold it to purchase a zoom lens and regretted it almost instantly. Within a few months I purchased another one and plan to keep it forever. I agree fully that it is a very versatile lens. You can almost do macro with it, it’s great for portraits, landscape, street, whatever. And it’s compact. What more could you want. I don’t know but I always seem to find something 😆.
I'm glad to hear you feel that way about the 28mm as well! Definitely the most versatile lens in my kit and the one I keep coming back to. It can't be overstated how useful a short minimum focus distance is. You always miss it when you don't have it. I wish there were more modern lenses in the focal length. I've been using the Fuji 18mm (27mm equivalent) and so far it has exceeded my expectations. Thanks for your comment!
I agree with your thoughts on the 28mm focal length. I had the 28mm F2 AIS. But sold it years ago. 😭 Will probably get the new compact Nikon 28mm F2.8 Z lens for the Z system next year.
same here. I really love this focal-lenght for travel. Im not yet into mirrorless, and stick to a simple f-mount setup with D600+Voigtländer 28mm/2.8 and 58mm/1.4. 80% of the time I go with the 28mm. It is crazy sharp, have beautiful oof blur, and colorrendition are soo
Love 28mm. Such a versatile focal length and not as ‘obviously wide angle’ as 24mm depending on how you use it. It also helps that the Nikkor 28mm AI-S is one Nikon’s best lenses too. They were still making it until very recently.
Nice video!!! After a break of 12 years. from photography (I closed my studio in 12) I recently decided to get back into it. So with the Leica M11P in the bag and deciding which wide, I went with the 28mm Summilux. The focal length is a revelation. The 35mm by comparison feels like a lens you are always ready to take off after a shot for a more preferred focal length. It’s sort of in-between. I could do a major trip with just a 28. I guess that is why Leica makes the Q line of cameras.
I started with a 28mm lens. I was afraid of the wideness of the 24 for all the reasons you stated. I found I couldn't tell the stories I wanted to tell. My world opened up when I got a 24mm. You can avoid the people distortion by keeping them out of the very edge of the frame. You can avoid the exaggerated building distortion by paying attention to the level of the camera. Now I have graduated to the 16-35. The 24mm and wider wide angle lens does take practice to use well. Its a skill worth learning.
I agree, thanks for the video. I'm a 28, 50/58,105 shooter. I do have an 85 but a basic 1.8 prime where my 28,s are compact 2.8 and an f1.4. That does everything and dimly lit interiors too, not much distortion...
Yes you are absolutely right about 28mm, i love my ricoh gr 18.3mm and panasonic leica 15mm on my olympus penF they are both very great lens for what i mostly shoot from lands/cityscape- street/documentary- food- snapping family and friends- to environmental portrait- etc.. Except for a tight portrait i use olympus 75mm f1.8 wich is really rare i need that kind of shot
I see out of one eye and my vision is wide - 28mm is my natural field of view. So this Lens on my Camera feels very natural. its really beautiful. I recently acquired the Nikkor 28-70mm F3.5-4.5D. This lens is absolutely perfect. Because of my one eye vision 70mm is my natural telephoto. I know this because i tested my 50mm 1.4 on my DX. That felt natural. So having one lens that covers how i see naturally is perfect. I love your video. 👍🏽
It never ceases to amaze me how one person's orthodoxy is another person's heterodoxy. In 1983 I started my photography journey with a Canon A1 and a 28mm. In 1985 I switched to a 24mm and 7 other prime lenses ranging from 17mm to 300mm. In 1995 I bought a Canon EF 28mm f/1.8. I wanted to love it, I barely liked it. It mostly collected dust until I switched to Nikon in 2008. I haven't owned a fixed 28mm since. If you were to scrutinize the millions of digital images I've taken with wide angle zooms, I'm sure you'd only find a handful of images that were made at 28mm. The 28mm is a fabulous focal length for millions of people, but it simply doesn't work for me. YMMV, and I think that's a good thing. Cheers
I just picked this 28mm for $60, love it. I was missing the wide angle perspective, I can still get portraits by just getting closer. Took few sample pictures. They came out great. Light and has the 2.8. Love it
Matthew, awesome insights about the 28mm. I am looking for some inspiration for 2024 and this it. Documenting my travels with my Z6 and 28mm. Thanks, Brother!
Great video. You know how to do it. I'm a big fan of the 28mm lens. It's a good mix and a good always on top. Leica Q models also have a permanently installed 28 mm lens. And they know why! Your photos show a good photographer!
Hi, thanks to remind me the value of having a 28 mm prime Lens. The first Time I had one (Minolta) was in 1989. It was well suites for taking pictures in a trip to Japan. This year, I'll visit Japan again. Since now I've moved to video, I have adopted the MFT format ( with crop Factor of 2). There are two 14 mm primes for MFT. None have enough speed. Hence one of my lenses will be a Sigma 16mm f1.4 for Bokeh and low light. The other will be the very versatile Oly 8-25 mm for daylight shots with no need for Bokeh (it has a constant f 4.0). For landscape and traveling, I love those two lenses.
Great! This video just reinforces my thoughts. Came here two days after getting my new XF 18mm f1.4 which gives a FOV of 27mm in an APSC sensor. Happy about my decision. Cheers!
That's what I use for the live portion of my bridge videos. I can get close enough to get good sound with a microphone attached to the camera with no wide angle distortion. This lens is well known for its low distortion.
I agree, especially with 35mm film and shooting in a busy city. My favorite film camera is a Chinon SLR with the multi leaf shutter fixed with a Fuji 28mm prime. My walk around zoom is 28-300 on a full frame DSLR.
I just got the Z 28mm lens today and this video popped up! I like walking around with this and the 40 for lightweight street photography and just walking about. I'm looking forward having more experience with it. Now to check my meta data...
Back in the 70's-80's when I was shooting with a Canon F-1n, I had a Canon FD 28-85mm f4.0 almost permanently attached to the camera. I had the 50mm f1.8 and 70-210 f4.0 as well, but hardly used them. I never got the chance to go lower than 28mm then, but it was perfect for me.
28mm is an overlooked focal length - almost like 40mm. Because they are considered as boring. But that's their strength. They are allrounders with a very natural look. And there seems to be an abundance of them online
I got this lens recently and used it for a wedding this last weekend and I absolutely love it. It was fun, compact, lightweight and worked perfectly on my Z8. I’m looking for to using this on my Z F when it gets here tomorrow. This wedding had some tight areas so using this w/ my 85 1.4 F mount lens was a beautiful combination.
Good video. Back in the "day," 1970's to be exact, the 28 was king of the hill for a single lens. My best friend had a 28/3.5. His ONLY lens. He saw & shot the world with that lens. Those with more disposable money might buy a 35 & 24 combo. Otherwise the 28 fit the bill, and often the 3.5 version. And again, depending on preference, photographers would often couple a 20mm with their 28.
First order of business should be 85, 135 or 70-200 for most people. 100mm macro is a good choice too. Then maybe something in the 16-35 range. And if the urge is still there after all that, 50mm.
Completely agree. I’ve just bought the Leica Q3 with a fixed 28mm lens. I love it. I had to sell my 2 Fujifilm bodies, 3 primes and 2 zooms to help pay for it, but it was worth it. I hardly ever swapped out the lenses anyway and wanted a ‘do it all camera’.
I'm so happy to hear this was helpful! I definitely struggled between those two focal lengths and so glad to discover the 28mm equivalent in my search. Good luck with your decision!
Thanks for the kind words! Do you mean the video lighting? Pretty simple led panel shot through a diffusion umbrella, but I’d be happy to go into more detail if you’re interested!
@Matthew Arrington yeah that'd be awesome! I just got a soft box and I wasn't sure it would be bright enough for a source light. I love looking at setups, and I love your coloration, the palette, it's very similar to what I'm going for.
I love my Nikkor 28mm f1.4D I agree, great for indoor low light w/ balanced fill. I can be part of the table or scene and not backed up into a wall or hanging out a window to get the shot. lol. It's an amazing close personal feel w/o distorting angles. I grab my old 20-35mm f2.8D if I need more but it isn't as crisp as the 28 I feel.
I only had one lens and one camera for years. That was a pentax me with 50mm 1.8. When you say you see the world in 35mm i fully understand, I see the world in 50mm. But only because thats what I am used to. Moving from film (now shooting Nikons) to digital I have just gone to full frame and now have a real 50mm perspective again. But Im watching this video and looking at a Nikkor 28mm 1.4 - 1.8 or 2.8. I hope changing things up will change how I photograph and inspire me to try out new things. I also love my 105mm prime.
Great video. 28mm has been my go to lens for years. I love it for all the reasons you mentioned. My buddy who almost always uses 50mm tends to scoff at me for using 28mm, but I absolutely love it. I have shot a lot with the Hexanon 28mm f/3.5. It is an amazing lens. Thanks again! Keep up the great work.
I recently switched to a 28mm prime as my daily driver because I was gifted a leica m240 and the 28mm rokkor was the only lense I could find in my budget. I do mostly street portraits and the film look of the vintage lens plus the change from 50mm to 28mm has been an absolute joy to play with
Beautiful photographs 🎉🎉 I own this lens but have not used much after i had the 28mm Z. But your photos hv inspired me to pick it up again. Its close focus is great and it is very sharp
Love this video, really confirmed advice from some photo dudes to try 28mm lens while jumping fully into film for the first time and kicking auto mode training wheels to the curb. Mainly bc of my love for street and good composition, and from study on youtube university lol which has been a game changer for this never too late bloomer photo enthusiast! and some content is easier to digest than others. I'll be bingeing your content soon, keep it coming.
I recently went travelling with 3 prime lenses, a 28, 35 and a nifty 50. I thought that I would use the 35 the most, but I ended up using 28 for most of the shots and the 50 for those shots when you need a bit more zoom. The 28 and the 50 are the only lenses anyone really needs. The 35 focal length is a bit redundant for me as it’s not wide enough but also not long enough.
Wow, you hit on all the reasons I like the 28mm view. It's as wide as you can go without getting much distortion. Super wide lenses without distortion exist but they tend to be large, heavy and expensive. 28mm seems to me to match the field of view I see with my own eyes. I used to have the Olympus Zuiko 28mm f/2.8 on my OM-2n but now I use the Panasonic Lumix 14mm f/2.5 on my E-M5 Mk II.
Interesting timing. I just bought an 18mm for my Fujis. After 50-plus years of shooting, I had long ago left the 28mm, instead going with a lens pair of 24mm and 35mm for my Nikons. When I got into Fujifilm, I went 16mm and 23mm f/1.4, replicating the Nikon set. For some reason, I never go on with 50mm on my Nikons, but with the Fuji system, the terrific 35mm f/1.4 (50mm equivalent) won me back to loving the 50mm. So then it got too crowded in the bag. So I bought the 18mm to see if I could do without the 16mm and 23mm. So far, so good. I'm getting the field of view imprinted into my mind's eye, and with a bit of movement I can do what I could have done with the other two primes just on each side of the 18mm, and the jump to the 35mm give a nice change of angle to reward the effort of swapping glass. I use to scoff at 28mm lenses, but now I'm not so sure.
I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the 18mm! When I switched to Fuji, my first lens was a 35 f2, which is lovely and small. I usually find 50mm equivalent to be a little tight for a walk around lens, but there is something wonderful about it in the Fuji system. I’ve also heard amazing things about the 16mm 1.4, but couldn’t see getting that in addition to the 18. I like how you mention getting the field of view imprinted into your mind’s eye, that’s a great way of looking at it. When I can previsualize a scene at a particular focal length, I know I’ve gotten to know a lens well. Thanks for the comment!
Great video! Glad I found your channel. I’m a Nikon Z6ii shooter and looking at the new Z 28mm f2.8 and 40mm f2. I shoot landscapes , travel, street, low light.
Thanks so much! I’ve heard good things about the 28 2.8 Z and am curious what you think about the 40mm compared to the standard 50. Thanks for stopping by!
I've started to get into photography just very recently, with my father's old kit (from the 80). He had both a 50mm and a 28mm and so far I've never really understood the appeal of the 28, but I did found myself shooting the 50 and getting a little annoyed by how little background I was able to capture. Thank you for this video and the explaination! I will try to shoot my next roll in 28mm and see if I enjoy the difference :)
The appeal also stems from the fact that you can always crop into an image but you can't crop back from an image. So if you shoot with a 28mm on a high resolution camera you are completely free to shoot and compose images from distances you'd shoot the 50mm, crop in on the computer, and still have at least 12MP images. So in reality, you lose very little by shooting with a 28, and have much to gain.
When it comes to travelling, I'm a 24mm guy. I did few trips with 35mm. Love it. But I came across few situation I need to move back a bit but I have no more space for it. Recently I'm thinking of going for 28mm and carry another 85mm for travelling. Thanks for this great video 👍🏻
I recently got the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 (27mm equivalent). I got it initially for street photography. Challenging myself to find compositions and get close to my subjects. 35 was flat and boring, 50 wasn't intimate enough or lacked context. And after my recent holiday I have even greater love for the 28mm look. It is the perfect documentary lens to capture everything. People say the 35 is what the eye sees, but I beg to differ and claim the 28 is what the eye sees if we include peripheral vision (a.k.a. context) You expressed very similar sentiments to me with the 35mm. I was never quite a 35mm person, always never wide enough, never tight enough. I had a 35mm (52mm equiv) in case I needed reach, but I realized quickly that on a holiday, the girlfriend gets annoyed with every shot and lens change and I probably only took 12 photos out of 6000 on a 2 week trip with it. The 28mm look was all I needed for cafes, restaurants, hotels, beach, cats etc. I see you have the Fuji 18mm f/1.4 as well. It is too beautiful of a lens and there aren't many that match the sharpness of it.
I whole-heartedly agree with your comment about 35 not being quite wide enough and the documentary nature of the 28mm focal length. Also, my wife gets annoyed with me always photographing her, so I understand where you're coming from there. She signed up for it when she married a photographer! I love the idea of the 28 being a perfect "cafe" lens. Yes, I'm in love with the 18mm Fuji as well, so glad they made a world-class lens in that focal length for this system. Thanks for watching and for the thoughtful comment!
Over the decades, I have used the following focal length lenses as my one-lens solution on full-frame cameras: 21mm 24mm 28mm 35mm 40mm 45mm 50mm 55mm The 35mm is my personal favorite.
I bought a 28mm for my Canon AE-1 to take with us when my wife and I went to Scotland last year.I wanted something wide to capture landscapes, but like you said, not so wide as to cause distortion. I find now that it rarely comes off my camera!
Nice photos! I also have the Nikon 28mm F/2.8 AIS lens that you used for your photos. Based on the reviews of many photographers, that lens is supposed to be good at close focusing. That makes the lens more versatile and it shows in your pictures. It is also very light and small, making it perfect for travel.
Completely agreed, the close focusing is extremely useful in so many scenarios, particularly food and still life photography. Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by!
I had a 28mm with my full frame Nikon F Photomic FTN (great camera!) as early as in the 1970s and it was an absolutely lovely flexible wide angle lens. For a crop camera it is even more useful!
18mm (= approx 28mm fov) on my xpro2 was my preferred lens when I was in Hong Kong. With such a condensed city, any tighter for street photography and family photos wouldn't have worked as well in majority of the situations I found myself in.
Some time back I purchased a Nikon AI 28 mm which was more affordable than the 24 mm version which I thought I always wanted. Love it so much I never bothered getting the 24. I use just two lenses now the AI 28/28 and AI 50/1.4. Thanks for your nice short and sweet video.
Thanks for the comment! Yes I think I could shoot just about anything with a 28 and a 50. There are only certain circumstances where I'd prefer to have an ultra wide. Usually astrophotography and landscapes where I'm looking to draw interest in a foreground element without losing the scope of the scene.
Very interesting thanks. I recently ordered a 28mm lense for an elderly Sony A200 I own. I was so impressed with a 50mm I used on it I was keen to try this too. You seem to back up what I’ve been hearing elsewhere.
After 15 years shooting portraits and landscapes, using Nikon 20, 24, 28, 35, 50, 85, 105, 24-70, 24-120, 80-200... after some work on videos using rokinons 24, 35, 50 and 85 1.4... I totally agree with you! I sold out all my dslr gear and maybe i'll start now with only a 28mm 2.0 on a sony fullframe mirrorless body.
I have a Nikon F2SB and a Nikon FTN with lenses (20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 55mm macro, and 85mm), but when I traveled, I took my Olympus OM-1 with only a 28mm, 2.8 lens, in a "ever-ready" case, because it would fit into my carry-on hard-case with two-weeks of clothes. I forced myself to use only this focal length to capture scenic, close-up, portraiture, interiors just as you demonstrated. I heartily recommend trying a 28mm with film (or full-size sensor) and pay attention to minimizing extension distortion when doing portraiture, not too close to eliminate exaggeration of noses and keep the focal-plane as vertical as possible to reduce near-far distortion. David Riddle
I really like a standard zoom lens at this point. I've gone through the exercise of buying two different focal length primes, and I still have a hunch that I need one in between those two. So I got a zoom and I can now try and test whichever standard focal length I want! It is honestly so freeing. And no, I don't just zoom for whatever reason, I set a specific focal length and stick with it for a week or even a month, or until I have a good opinion on it, then I will know if I REALLY want that focal length prime. So the zoom helps me a ton in finding out which prime, if any I should get next. Will definitely try 28 too!
That's an excellent point! Zooms are definitely more convenient to primes when you don't want to switch lenses all the time for different scenarios. As you said, zooms are an amazing way of learning about your favorite focal lengths and what best suites your shooting style for each situation.
Fuji 18mm f2 is my favourite lens. Small, light and beautiful rendering. I love the look of the 50 f2 but have no idea how to shoot with it. everything in between feels really odd and generally just makes me want something wider.
I suggest use the 50mm with minimum focus distance all the time & spot yourself moving your body to the focus zone to the subjects eye or the nose if you are shooting kids, you’ll love 💕after you get creative with odd compositions
Love this video kept me right to the end and coincidently only two weeks ago bought a 28 man for my D850 .. you make a lot is sense many thanks for the suggestion
Way, way... wayyyy... back in 1970, when I was assigned to Vietnam with the Seabees, I had to choose my own photo gear (got repaid a year-and-a-half later). I settled on a 28mm lens as my "wide shooter" for basically all the reasons you mentioned... and kept using it in the Mekong Delta as my "primary" lens there and throughout my Navy/Naval Reserve career. In my final overseas tour in Vicenza, Italy in 1993 (lucky me), I used another 28mm lens I had with me. Took some nice portrait shots of sailors at work on board ship or ashore by the ship or in town when I visited Venice (lucky me, again!). The 28mm lens was just about perfect for all the reasons you noted. In my work (Kodak ISO 400 B&W, developed in D-76 -- last of the analog days!), I always made sure to take vertical and horizontal shots for the hometown newspapers to give the editors a choice of which shot they needed (layout in the paper was another consideration). I had a 35mm lens over the years, but it became more of a paper weight. If I were stuck on that desert island and could have only one lens, 28mm it would be, too! 😎
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Before even I knew your video existed, I bought a 28mm f2.8 Z for my Nikon and realized how amazing this focal length is. You are 100% right
скажите, вам не хотелось взять 28 f1.8 например от Viltrox? пробовали ли вы его и что думаете?
I thought I was the only one… 28mm and 85mm are my two most favorite focal lengths.
Agreed! I feel like I could photograph the world with those two lenses and be happy!
Agreed, I start with apsc camera which most of my shot at 17mm & 50mm. When I change to fullframe, I stick with 28mm & 85mm, even though many photographers prefer 35mm & 85mm.
When I go out with primes for general shooting, I take those two and my Sigma 50 Art to fill in the middle. Maybe add my 20 to hedge against such a wider need.
Same, but 105mm.
28mm, 85mm and 105mm. Can't wait for the new 135mm also
I agree with everything you say. The 28mm lens was the very first wide angle lens I shot with back in the 1980's - my dad saved up for a Canon FD 28mm and it was a massive difference to the 50mm lenses we had been using for years. So 28mm became a very familiar focal length to me and I have literally hundreds of slides shot at that length. Now years later I occasionally enjoy using a Nikon 20mm F2.8 on my D200 which gives me about the same FOV - limitations never enter my head - it's all good.
I never understood the point of 28mm focal length but after spending some time with it, boy has it grown on me. Its literally the take it anywhere, capture anything lens. its extremely versatile and they are often small lenses. I currently use the 28 2.8 SE lens on my Nikon Z6II and absolutely enjoy it. There's a reason why Leica makes the Q cameras using 28mm...Great video!
Thank you so much! I agree completely about the versatility and small form factor being pros of this focal length. I was interested in the new 28 Z lens as well! Glad to hear you're enjoying it and thanks for watching!
And the Ricoh GR ;)
@@MatthewArringtonphoto Is 28mm similar to an iphone image?
@@ks-rr3nbiPhone usally shoot on 23 or 24mm.
Recently I did some portraits with a Nikkor 28mm f2.8. I must admit: they are the most compelling portraits I have shot recently. I am honestly quite shocked at how much I love the images from that shoot and am amazed by the way people resonate with and are amazed by this set of portraits. So, yes, I 100% AGREE!!!
Thank you, great observations. I use 28 2.8 on Z8 for travel and with a quick switch to the crop mode it doubles as a 42mm for tighter street shots.
Great video. I think my favorite part was the last line, about looking in your metadata to see where you usually zoom to
Is a good practice to stick to a "new focal length" to force yourself to think differently. I have an old 28mm Pentax somewhere. I have a Pentax to Nikon adapter somewhere. It's time to give it a try. Nicely done video, Matthew!
Great video I’m looking forward to working with my newly acquired 28mm lens. Thank you for a very informative video.
I accidentally bought this few days ago and I am in love with this focal length for portraits and landscapes.
When I started shooting film I shot a lot with a 28mm for similar reasons. It seemed to always be able to fit everything in. But then I realised that (for me) was actually a bad thing, I didn't have to work at all on my composition or positioning my subject and just ended up taking a lot of boring images that had everything in them but had no particular focus or unique composition. When I went to shooting mostly 35mm I did find there were situations where it was just a little too tight, but that was more than made up by the fact that it taught me to work my composition and subject just that little bit more, and I ended up getting more interesting images with a better composition.
The more you fit the more you have to compose, you're understanding composition backwards.
@@AnotherInternetBlip I just was talking to my own experience ... by that logic everyone should just be shooting ultra wides ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Wanted to share this tidbit of information with you & others for a very creative way of using the 28/2.8 AiS lens - Nikon makes a "reversing ring" adapter, called the BR-2A. This adapter allows you to mount your 52mm threaded lenses (most AiS and older lenses) in "reverse" on your camera. In other words, the 52mm filter thread in the front literally screws into to lens mount on the camera, with the back element of the lens now acting as the front element. This yields a "macro" lens that goes well beyond 1:1. It works with 50mm and wider lenses, and the 28mm lens is ideal for this. Images quality is often better, but, of course, DOF is a micro-thin plane. Physically, your lens will only be a couple of inches from the subject.
Creative abstract flower photography is great for reversing your 28mm lens, and then shooting wide open at f2.8 - masses of vibrant, blurry color with only a hint of sharpness on a tiny edge of a petal.
The 28mm f/2.8 AIS is known for low distortion, so, as he said, it's OK for portraits.
For most of my work I generally work with longer lenses anywhere from 80 mm up to 200mm. But recently I opted to dig my 28mm F2.8 Nikkor out of its slumber and put it to good use. And the set of portraits that came out of that exercise were as stunning as you describe. It was a wonderful experience to see those images while I was creating them as well as the amazing experience of observing what was produced after all of the editing was completed. You are absolutely correct: the 28 mm lens is not only a focal length but it is also an experience and an ethos that should be experienced by anyone and everyone who values photography.
Hi Matthew, completely agree, the 28mm is perfect for so many travel applications. I find the angles are not to severe, and distortions are kept at bay. Also great for street and people.
My favorite focal lengths are 20, 28, 40 and 135(ish)(the 105F1.4E is great, but I don't shoot Nikon (yet)). I think that 28mm is just right for all sorts of stuff. For travel, for a walk in the park, street, forest, environmental portrait, landscapes, indoors, weather (sky and clouds), MilkyWay, cars, selfies, food, pets, kids, flowers, parties, etc.
i can so so so totally relate to you
I have a Canon A1 that I bought new in 1981. My friend who ran a used camera shop insisted that I purchase a breech mount 28mm, 2.0 ssc lens. I wasn't particularly happy about it, until I shot my first roll of film with it. All I can say is thank you Steve for insisting that I get that lens
Great perspective on this! I think I'd have to agree. I shoot with Canon full frame, and the 28mm f/1.8 is fantastic all around, when I want to keep it simple. One other point that I would add is that 28mm lenses (outside of the Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4) are generally smaller profile lenses, so they are easy to carry and don't draw attention to you- a big bonus for travel, street, hiking, etc.
Thank you so much! That is a great point, as far as many 28's being small and unassuming. I've been using the 18mm (27mm equiv) f1.4 lens on my Fuji system, and although it's on the larger side for this system, it's still very compact and easy to carry.
28mm is my favourite lens as well. In fact I have the one that you have, the 28mm 2.8 Nikkor ais. This particular lens is the reason I fell in love with 28mm. The close focus distance of .2m along with tack sharpness and almost no distortion make it a very special lens. My first one I had was by accident as it came with a camera I purchased. For some stupid reason I sold it to purchase a zoom lens and regretted it almost instantly. Within a few months I purchased another one and plan to keep it forever. I agree fully that it is a very versatile lens. You can almost do macro with it, it’s great for portraits, landscape, street, whatever. And it’s compact. What more could you want. I don’t know but I always seem to find something 😆.
I'm glad to hear you feel that way about the 28mm as well! Definitely the most versatile lens in my kit and the one I keep coming back to. It can't be overstated how useful a short minimum focus distance is. You always miss it when you don't have it. I wish there were more modern lenses in the focal length. I've been using the Fuji 18mm (27mm equivalent) and so far it has exceeded my expectations. Thanks for your comment!
I agree with your thoughts on the 28mm focal length. I had the 28mm F2 AIS. But sold it years ago. 😭 Will probably get the new compact Nikon 28mm F2.8 Z lens for the Z system next year.
same here. I really love this focal-lenght for travel. Im not yet into mirrorless, and stick to a simple f-mount setup with D600+Voigtländer 28mm/2.8 and 58mm/1.4. 80% of the time I go with the 28mm. It is crazy sharp, have beautiful oof blur, and colorrendition are soo
Wonderful photos - enjoyed watching them.
Love 28mm. Such a versatile focal length and not as ‘obviously wide angle’ as 24mm depending on how you use it. It also helps that the Nikkor 28mm AI-S is one Nikon’s best lenses too. They were still making it until very recently.
the F2 version is better at distance than the 2.8
@@billmoyer3254yup. The Nikon 28/2 is the better lens.
This is where the SIGMA ART 24-35 f2.0 comes in handy. Literally what I bring everytime I travel
Nice video!!! After a break of 12 years. from photography (I closed my studio in 12) I recently decided to get back into it.
So with the Leica M11P in the bag and deciding which wide, I went with the 28mm Summilux. The focal length is a revelation.
The 35mm by comparison feels like a lens you are always ready to take off after a shot for a more preferred focal length. It’s sort of in-between. I could do a major trip with just a 28. I guess that is why Leica makes the Q line of cameras.
Completely agree, never thought about that middle ground between 24-35, thanks!
I started with a 28mm lens. I was afraid of the wideness of the 24 for all the reasons you stated. I found I couldn't tell the stories I wanted to tell. My world opened up when I got a 24mm. You can avoid the people distortion by keeping them out of the very edge of the frame. You can avoid the exaggerated building distortion by paying attention to the level of the camera. Now I have graduated to the 16-35. The 24mm and wider wide angle lens does take practice to use well. Its a skill worth learning.
I'm sure I commented on this before, but it keeps coming up. I LOVE the 28mm. Paired with a 50, I'm good for everything.
Agreed! That's a perfect combo for me as well!
I agree, thanks for the video. I'm a 28, 50/58,105 shooter. I do have an 85 but a basic 1.8 prime where my 28,s are compact 2.8 and an f1.4. That does everything and dimly lit interiors too, not much distortion...
I’m a fan of the 28mm. Mine lives on my OM2 , zuiko glass is superb.
Yes you are absolutely right about 28mm, i love my ricoh gr 18.3mm and panasonic leica 15mm on my olympus penF they are both very great lens for what i mostly shoot from lands/cityscape- street/documentary- food- snapping family and friends- to environmental portrait- etc..
Except for a tight portrait i use olympus 75mm f1.8 wich is really rare i need that kind of shot
I got my first 28mm (the Zeiss f2 ZF.2) to pair with my F3 and it fits me way better than the 35mm. Close-focusing with a 28mm is great.
Thanks for the comment! I’ve been wanting to try the Zeiss and hear it’s an amazing lens. Glad to hear that I’m not the only 28mm lover!
I see out of one eye and my vision is wide - 28mm is my natural field of view. So
this Lens on my Camera feels very natural. its really beautiful. I recently acquired the Nikkor 28-70mm F3.5-4.5D. This lens is absolutely perfect. Because of my one eye vision 70mm is my natural telephoto. I know this because i tested my 50mm 1.4 on my DX. That felt natural. So having one lens that covers how i see naturally is perfect. I love your video. 👍🏽
I couldn’t agree more and have a 28mm f/2.8 hanging on my walk about camera often. It is also a great focal length for video. Thanks for sharing!
It never ceases to amaze me how one person's orthodoxy is another person's heterodoxy.
In 1983 I started my photography journey with a Canon A1 and a 28mm.
In 1985 I switched to a 24mm and 7 other prime lenses ranging from 17mm to 300mm. In 1995 I bought a Canon EF 28mm f/1.8. I wanted to love it, I barely liked it. It mostly collected dust until I switched to Nikon in 2008. I haven't owned a fixed 28mm since.
If you were to scrutinize the millions of digital images I've taken with wide angle zooms, I'm sure you'd only find a handful of images that were made at 28mm.
The 28mm is a fabulous focal length for millions of people, but it simply doesn't work for me. YMMV, and I think that's a good thing.
Cheers
I just picked this 28mm for $60, love it. I was missing the wide angle perspective, I can still get portraits by just getting closer. Took few sample pictures. They came out great. Light and has the 2.8. Love it
Matthew, awesome insights about the 28mm. I am looking for some inspiration for 2024 and this it. Documenting my travels with my Z6 and 28mm. Thanks, Brother!
Great video. You know how to do it. I'm a big fan of the 28mm lens. It's a good mix and a good always on top. Leica Q models also have a permanently installed 28 mm lens. And they know why! Your photos show a good photographer!
Really gorgeous photos, definitely I see the benefit of the 28mm lens now.
Thanks for the kind words!
This is why my travel, EDC is a Leica Q3. 28mm f/1.7 and loving the focal length. Thanks for the video, really enjoyed it.
the image at 4:19 sold me on buying the 28 over 35, beautiful shot!
Like your assessment of the 28mm focal length and why you like it....bravo!
Glad you like it!
Hi, thanks to remind me the value of having a 28 mm prime Lens. The first Time I had one (Minolta) was in 1989. It was well suites for taking pictures in a trip to Japan.
This year, I'll visit Japan again. Since now I've moved to video, I have adopted the MFT format ( with crop Factor of 2). There are two 14 mm primes for MFT. None have enough speed. Hence one of my lenses will be a Sigma 16mm f1.4 for Bokeh and low light. The other will be the very versatile Oly 8-25 mm for daylight shots with no need for Bokeh (it has a constant f 4.0). For landscape and traveling, I love those two lenses.
the pub that is featured in some of the shots looks so cozy!
Great! This video just reinforces my thoughts. Came here two days after getting my new XF 18mm f1.4 which gives a FOV of 27mm in an APSC sensor. Happy about my decision. Cheers!
Very nice presentation, and a good tutorial!
Thanks! I hope it was helpful!
Great video. I appreciate the real world photo examples as well. I do find 24mm too wide as well, but really enjoy 35-40mm.
Such a great video about the 28mm focal length. I couldn't agree with you more! The Nikon 28mm f/2.8 AI-s is still one of my all time favorite lenses.
That's what I use for the live portion of my bridge videos. I can get close enough to get good sound with a microphone attached to the camera with no wide angle distortion. This lens is well known for its low distortion.
I agree, especially with 35mm film and shooting in a busy city. My favorite film camera is a Chinon SLR with the multi leaf shutter fixed with a Fuji 28mm prime. My walk around zoom is 28-300 on a full frame DSLR.
Wow lovely photographs. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by!
The in between focal lengths of 28, 45, 75, and 90 are my favorites.
Thank you for wonderful insight. You have cleared doubts clouding my mind🙂
Looks like you just decided which prime lens I should be getting 🎉❤...thank you
Thank you Matthew. My 28mm is in the post! Great shots by the way 👍
Just magnificent bokeh at 5:07 in the picture with the watch. Well done.
Thanks for the kind words! Christmas lights always go out of focus in a lovely way!
I just got the Z 28mm lens today and this video popped up! I like walking around with this and the 40 for lightweight street photography and just walking about. I'm looking forward having more experience with it. Now to check my meta data...
Great job. You're a natural teacher with an expressive voice.
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Back in the 70's-80's when I was shooting with a Canon F-1n, I had a Canon FD 28-85mm f4.0 almost permanently attached to the camera. I had the 50mm f1.8 and 70-210 f4.0 as well, but hardly used them. I never got the chance to go lower than 28mm then, but it was perfect for me.
Nailed it! When I first bought my Ricoh GR III, I was a bit sceptical if I really would use it, but now it is one of my favorites!
28mm is an overlooked focal length - almost like 40mm. Because they are considered as boring. But that's their strength. They are allrounders with a very natural look.
And there seems to be an abundance of them online
I got this lens recently and used it for a wedding this last weekend and I absolutely love it. It was fun, compact, lightweight and worked perfectly on my Z8. I’m looking for to using this on my Z F when it gets here tomorrow. This wedding had some tight areas so using this w/ my 85 1.4 F mount lens was a beautiful combination.
Great video. I'm recently try 28 mm, switch from 24 and wanna say that I agree with author video!
I carry the 28 f2.8 and 85mm 1.8. All I need for my style. Thanks for the video.
I love the look from a 28mm lens. I had two but got rid of them a while back. Now I’m thinking of getting a new one
Good video. Back in the "day," 1970's to be exact, the 28 was king of the hill for a single lens. My best friend had a 28/3.5. His ONLY lens. He saw & shot the world with that lens.
Those with more disposable money might buy a 35 & 24 combo. Otherwise the 28 fit the bill, and often the 3.5 version. And again, depending on preference, photographers would often couple a 20mm with their 28.
First order of business should be 85, 135 or 70-200 for most people. 100mm macro is a good choice too. Then maybe something in the 16-35 range. And if the urge is still there after all that, 50mm.
Completely agree. I’ve just bought the Leica Q3 with a fixed 28mm lens. I love it. I had to sell my 2 Fujifilm bodies, 3 primes and 2 zooms to help pay for it, but it was worth it. I hardly ever swapped out the lenses anyway and wanted a ‘do it all camera’.
Thank you, great post. I have been trying to decide on a prime and I was stuck at 24 and 35. You gave a different perspective to me.
I'm so happy to hear this was helpful! I definitely struggled between those two focal lengths and so glad to discover the 28mm equivalent in my search. Good luck with your decision!
Your photography is excellent, your lighting is fantastic, would you do an indoor lighting tutorial?
Thanks for the kind words! Do you mean the video lighting? Pretty simple led panel shot through a diffusion umbrella, but I’d be happy to go into more detail if you’re interested!
@Matthew Arrington yeah that'd be awesome! I just got a soft box and I wasn't sure it would be bright enough for a source light. I love looking at setups, and I love your coloration, the palette, it's very similar to what I'm going for.
I love my Nikkor 28mm f1.4D I agree, great for indoor low light w/ balanced fill. I can be part of the table or scene and not backed up into a wall or hanging out a window to get the shot. lol. It's an amazing close personal feel w/o distorting angles. I grab my old 20-35mm f2.8D if I need more but it isn't as crisp as the 28 I feel.
I only had one lens and one camera for years. That was a pentax me with 50mm 1.8. When you say you see the world in 35mm i fully understand, I see the world in 50mm. But only because thats what I am used to. Moving from film (now shooting Nikons) to digital I have just gone to full frame and now have a real 50mm perspective again. But Im watching this video and looking at a Nikkor 28mm 1.4 - 1.8 or 2.8. I hope changing things up will change how I photograph and inspire me to try out new things. I also love my 105mm prime.
Great video. 28mm has been my go to lens for years. I love it for all the reasons you mentioned. My buddy who almost always uses 50mm tends to scoff at me for using 28mm, but I absolutely love it. I have shot a lot with the Hexanon 28mm f/3.5. It is an amazing lens. Thanks again! Keep up the great work.
I recently switched to a 28mm prime as my daily driver because I was gifted a leica m240 and the 28mm rokkor was the only lense I could find in my budget. I do mostly street portraits and the film look of the vintage lens plus the change from 50mm to 28mm has been an absolute joy to play with
Beautiful photographs 🎉🎉 I own this lens but have not used much after i had the 28mm Z. But your photos hv inspired me to pick it up again. Its close focus is great and it is very sharp
Love this video, really confirmed advice from some photo dudes to try 28mm lens while jumping fully into film for the first time and kicking auto mode training wheels to the curb. Mainly bc of my love for street and good composition, and from study on youtube university lol which has been a game changer for this never too late bloomer photo enthusiast! and some content is easier to digest than others. I'll be bingeing your content soon, keep it coming.
28mm is so versatile. Most phone cameras also seem to have around 28mm as their main lens. It just works!
I recently went travelling with 3 prime lenses, a 28, 35 and a nifty 50. I thought that I would use the 35 the most, but I ended up using 28 for most of the shots and the 50 for those shots when you need a bit more zoom. The 28 and the 50 are the only lenses anyone really needs. The 35 focal length is a bit redundant for me as it’s not wide enough but also not long enough.
Thanks for the comment! I couldn’t agree more! 28 and 50 cover just about all of my needs.
Wow, you hit on all the reasons I like the 28mm view. It's as wide as you can go without getting much distortion. Super wide lenses without distortion exist but they tend to be large, heavy and expensive. 28mm seems to me to match the field of view I see with my own eyes. I used to have the Olympus Zuiko 28mm f/2.8 on my OM-2n but now I use the Panasonic Lumix 14mm f/2.5 on my E-M5 Mk II.
Interesting timing. I just bought an 18mm for my Fujis. After 50-plus years of shooting, I had long ago left the 28mm, instead going with a lens pair of 24mm and 35mm for my Nikons. When I got into Fujifilm, I went 16mm and 23mm f/1.4, replicating the Nikon set.
For some reason, I never go on with 50mm on my Nikons, but with the Fuji system, the terrific 35mm f/1.4 (50mm equivalent) won me back to loving the 50mm. So then it got too crowded in the bag. So I bought the 18mm to see if I could do without the 16mm and 23mm.
So far, so good. I'm getting the field of view imprinted into my mind's eye, and with a bit of movement I can do what I could have done with the other two primes just on each side of the 18mm, and the jump to the 35mm give a nice change of angle to reward the effort of swapping glass.
I use to scoff at 28mm lenses, but now I'm not so sure.
I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the 18mm! When I switched to Fuji, my first lens was a 35 f2, which is lovely and small. I usually find 50mm equivalent to be a little tight for a walk around lens, but there is something wonderful about it in the Fuji system. I’ve also heard amazing things about the 16mm 1.4, but couldn’t see getting that in addition to the 18. I like how you mention getting the field of view imprinted into your mind’s eye, that’s a great way of looking at it. When I can previsualize a scene at a particular focal length, I know I’ve gotten to know a lens well. Thanks for the comment!
for film photography/analog SLR'S i can recommend :
- Pentax SMC-M 28mmf2.8
- Minolta MD Rokkor 28mmf2.8
- Canon FD 28mmf2.8
- Pentacon 29mmf2.8 (M42)
- Konica Hexanon AR 28mmf3.5
Great video! Glad I found your channel. I’m a Nikon Z6ii shooter and looking at the new Z 28mm f2.8 and 40mm f2. I shoot landscapes , travel, street, low light.
Thanks so much! I’ve heard good things about the 28 2.8 Z and am curious what you think about the 40mm compared to the standard 50. Thanks for stopping by!
I've started to get into photography just very recently, with my father's old kit (from the 80). He had both a 50mm and a 28mm and so far I've never really understood the appeal of the 28, but I did found myself shooting the 50 and getting a little annoyed by how little background I was able to capture.
Thank you for this video and the explaination! I will try to shoot my next roll in 28mm and see if I enjoy the difference :)
I'm so glad this was helpful to you! Thanks for watching and for telling me about your experience with the 28mm focal length!
@everyday tenor the most common telephotos 70s/80s were 200/135
The appeal also stems from the fact that you can always crop into an image but you can't crop back from an image. So if you shoot with a 28mm on a high resolution camera you are completely free to shoot and compose images from distances you'd shoot the 50mm, crop in on the computer, and still have at least 12MP images. So in reality, you lose very little by shooting with a 28, and have much to gain.
Lovely shots!
When it comes to travelling, I'm a 24mm guy. I did few trips with 35mm. Love it. But I came across few situation I need to move back a bit but I have no more space for it.
Recently I'm thinking of going for 28mm and carry another 85mm for travelling. Thanks for this great video 👍🏻
I recently got the Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 (27mm equivalent). I got it initially for street photography. Challenging myself to find compositions and get close to my subjects. 35 was flat and boring, 50 wasn't intimate enough or lacked context. And after my recent holiday I have even greater love for the 28mm look. It is the perfect documentary lens to capture everything. People say the 35 is what the eye sees, but I beg to differ and claim the 28 is what the eye sees if we include peripheral vision (a.k.a. context)
You expressed very similar sentiments to me with the 35mm. I was never quite a 35mm person, always never wide enough, never tight enough. I had a 35mm (52mm equiv) in case I needed reach, but I realized quickly that on a holiday, the girlfriend gets annoyed with every shot and lens change and I probably only took 12 photos out of 6000 on a 2 week trip with it. The 28mm look was all I needed for cafes, restaurants, hotels, beach, cats etc.
I see you have the Fuji 18mm f/1.4 as well. It is too beautiful of a lens and there aren't many that match the sharpness of it.
I whole-heartedly agree with your comment about 35 not being quite wide enough and the documentary nature of the 28mm focal length. Also, my wife gets annoyed with me always photographing her, so I understand where you're coming from there. She signed up for it when she married a photographer! I love the idea of the 28 being a perfect "cafe" lens. Yes, I'm in love with the 18mm Fuji as well, so glad they made a world-class lens in that focal length for this system. Thanks for watching and for the thoughtful comment!
Over the decades, I have used the following focal length lenses as my one-lens solution on full-frame cameras:
21mm
24mm
28mm
35mm
40mm
45mm
50mm
55mm
The 35mm is my personal favorite.
Yeah, I think 35mm or equivalent field of view is best for me too
Great job Matt..I just bought a Sigma 28mm F1.4. and can't wait to get out and use it..
Great vid and I'm looking forward to the review of the Fuji 18mm 😉✌🏻
Thanks! I've been using the 18mm quite a bit and will be working on a review soon!
I bought a 28mm for my Canon AE-1 to take with us when my wife and I went to Scotland last year.I wanted something wide to capture landscapes, but like you said, not so wide as to cause distortion. I find now that it rarely comes off my camera!
Nice photos! I also have the Nikon 28mm F/2.8 AIS lens that you used for your photos. Based on the reviews of many photographers, that lens is supposed to be good at close focusing. That makes the lens more versatile and it shows in your pictures. It is also very light and small, making it perfect for travel.
Completely agreed, the close focusing is extremely useful in so many scenarios, particularly food and still life photography. Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by!
I had a 28mm with my full frame Nikon F Photomic FTN (great camera!) as early as in the 1970s and it was an absolutely lovely flexible wide angle lens. For a crop camera it is even more useful!
Just picked up a 28mm z mount lens today. Can’t wait to use it.
Been using for a bit and really love it!
18mm (= approx 28mm fov) on my xpro2 was my preferred lens when I was in Hong Kong. With such a condensed city, any tighter for street photography and family photos wouldn't have worked as well in majority of the situations I found myself in.
Some time back I purchased a Nikon AI 28 mm which was more affordable than the 24 mm version which I thought I always wanted. Love it so much I never bothered getting the 24. I use just two lenses now the AI 28/28 and AI 50/1.4. Thanks for your nice short and sweet video.
Thanks for the comment! Yes I think I could shoot just about anything with a 28 and a 50. There are only certain circumstances where I'd prefer to have an ultra wide. Usually astrophotography and landscapes where I'm looking to draw interest in a foreground element without losing the scope of the scene.
Very interesting thanks. I recently ordered a 28mm lense for an elderly Sony A200 I own. I was so impressed with a 50mm I used on it I was keen to try this too. You seem to back up what I’ve been hearing elsewhere.
Thanks for this. Gearing up for a big trip next year and thinking of only taking my Leica Q
After 15 years shooting portraits and landscapes, using Nikon 20, 24, 28, 35, 50, 85, 105, 24-70, 24-120, 80-200... after some work on videos using rokinons 24, 35, 50 and 85 1.4... I totally agree with you! I sold out all my dslr gear and maybe i'll start now with only a 28mm 2.0 on a sony fullframe mirrorless body.
Yes 28mm (FF) is my favourite focal length too, and yes the Fuji equivalent 18mm 1.4 is superb.
I have a Nikon F2SB and a Nikon FTN with lenses (20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 55mm macro, and 85mm), but when I traveled, I took my Olympus OM-1 with only a 28mm, 2.8 lens, in a "ever-ready" case, because it would fit into my carry-on hard-case with two-weeks of clothes. I forced myself to use only this focal length to capture scenic, close-up, portraiture, interiors just as you demonstrated. I heartily recommend trying a 28mm with film (or full-size sensor) and pay attention to minimizing extension distortion when doing portraiture, not too close to eliminate exaggeration of noses and keep the focal-plane as vertical as possible to reduce near-far distortion. David Riddle
The 28mm focal length is my new favourite. Love it on my Fujifilm Klasse W!
I really like a standard zoom lens at this point. I've gone through the exercise of buying two different focal length primes, and I still have a hunch that I need one in between those two. So I got a zoom and I can now try and test whichever standard focal length I want! It is honestly so freeing. And no, I don't just zoom for whatever reason, I set a specific focal length and stick with it for a week or even a month, or until I have a good opinion on it, then I will know if I REALLY want that focal length prime. So the zoom helps me a ton in finding out which prime, if any I should get next. Will definitely try 28 too!
That's an excellent point! Zooms are definitely more convenient to primes when you don't want to switch lenses all the time for different scenarios. As you said, zooms are an amazing way of learning about your favorite focal lengths and what best suites your shooting style for each situation.
Fuji 18mm f2 is my favourite lens. Small, light and beautiful rendering. I love the look of the 50 f2 but have no idea how to shoot with it. everything in between feels really odd and generally just makes me want something wider.
I suggest use the 50mm with minimum focus distance all the time & spot yourself moving your body to the focus zone to the subjects eye or the nose if you are shooting kids, you’ll love 💕after you get creative with odd compositions
Love this video kept me right to the end and coincidently only two weeks ago bought a 28 man for my D850 .. you make a lot is sense many thanks for the suggestion
I’m so glad it was helpful! That’s an awesome combo with the D850.
Way, way... wayyyy... back in 1970, when I was assigned to Vietnam with the Seabees, I had to choose my own photo gear (got repaid a year-and-a-half later). I settled on a 28mm lens as my "wide shooter" for basically all the reasons you mentioned... and kept using it in the Mekong Delta as my "primary" lens there and throughout my Navy/Naval Reserve career. In my final overseas tour in Vicenza, Italy in 1993 (lucky me), I used another 28mm lens I had with me. Took some nice portrait shots of sailors at work on board ship or ashore by the ship or in town when I visited Venice (lucky me, again!). The 28mm lens was just about perfect for all the reasons you noted. In my work (Kodak ISO 400 B&W, developed in D-76 -- last of the analog days!), I always made sure to take vertical and horizontal shots for the hometown newspapers to give the editors a choice of which shot they needed (layout in the paper was another consideration). I had a 35mm lens over the years, but it became more of a paper weight. If I were stuck on that desert island and could have only one lens, 28mm it would be, too! 😎