Here's an example of the Nikkor 28mm f/2 on an overcast day stopped down to f/4 I believe...

aleksanderpolo wrote:
The Hollywood has a very beautiful way of drawing

I've heard the CY 28/2 is a no-go for the 5D2 (and 5D3/5DC I assume). Please tell me I am wrong.

Krosavcheg wrote:
I am vignetting junkie... lol
And drawing style for me wins over curvature.
There should be ZF of it? Or perhaps CY would be wiser, as I plan to get a mirrorless some time later?


Yes, mine is a ZF.2. The photo which I just couldn't get out my mind, and which ultimately led me to buy it (along with some other great shots by Cyra) was by Hrannar:

Hi Dimitri,

This is the list of my recommended lenses in the range 21-28mm with examples:

Z Distagon 21/2.8

Crazy photos! Absolutely love those.

Frank: 5DMk3 got a smaller mirror compared to 5DMk2 afaik at 0.45mm. No clearance issues on CY35/1.4 and 35-70/3.4, even 45/2.8 nearly clears and only hangs at infinity.

Heannar's photos are inspiring indeed. I still can't get most of his Zuiko 18/3.5 out of my head!!

Well, I got ZE21/2.8 already. It's great for landscape and at infinity, but it's close up performance isn't much to write home about in terms of bokeh (naturally).

28/2.8 Nikkor sounds like a great lens and so does zeiss 28/2. Just wish I could test Oly 28/2 soonest.

Peire: amazing shots. Disturbingly, I haven't been able to match your 21/2.8 result in terms of PP. back to school for me...

carstenw wrote:
Krosavcheg wrote:
I am vignetting junkie... lol
And drawing style for me wins over curvature.
There should be ZF of it? Or perhaps CY would be wiser, as I plan to get a mirrorless some time later?


Yes, mine is a ZF.2. The photo which I just couldn't get out my mind, and which ultimately led me to buy it (along with some other great shots by Cyra) was by Hrannar:

Krosavcheg wrote:

Peire: amazing shots. Disturbingly, I haven't been able to match your 21/2.8 result in terms of PP. back to school for me...

Thank you Dimitri.Forgot to add Zuiko 28/3.5 and SMC Pentax M 28/3.5.Very good lenses with the latter being better overall.

BTW: my PP techniques are very basic with no frills-I'm sure you know all that.

cliff notes on MY Zuiko 28mm f2 late MC

not great at f2. near range bokeh is typical late zuiko (ie funky). f4 is fantastic.

it's a good option if you don't want to spend up to the Zeiss Hollywood.

Krosavcheg wrote:
Frank: 5DMk3 got a smaller mirror compared to 5DMk2 afaik at 0.45mm. No clearance issues on CY35/1.4 and 35-70/3.4, even 45/2.8 nearly clears and only hangs at infinity.


Good to hear. I am surprised to hear about the 45 Tessar, I though it was impossible. Just be careful so it's not the glass the mirror hits. It's a neat little lens!

If you want the unusual mix of top quality and cheap you can always get the CY 28/2.8 which is almost a steal still. Dont have that many digital shots yet as it is currently glued on a Contax S2 so I apologize for those that have already seen these:

CY28/2.8

IMG_0679 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr


IMG_0775 1024w II by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

Krosavcheg wrote:
carstenw wrote:
Krosavcheg wrote:
I am vignetting junkie... lol
And drawing style for me wins over curvature.
There should be ZF of it? Or perhaps CY would be wiser, as I plan to get a mirrorless some time later?


Yes, mine is a ZF.2. The photo which I just couldn't get out my mind, and which ultimately led me to buy it (along with some other great shots by Cyra) was by Hrannar:

carstenw wrote:
Krosavcheg wrote:
Carsten, do you know if there are ZF1 out there?

I don't know, sorry. I don't think I have ever seen one.

There is. My copy was a ZF1. It was cheap, too. I think I picked it up for $700 or so. That's one I wish I had held on to when I made the switch to Sony, and one I'm debating picking up again to go in a two lens kit if the 135/2 is what I'm hoping it will be.

Another lens that belongs on this list is the Elmarit-R 28/2.8 vII. Very impressive, very high resolution lens. It's probably a better all-around lens than the Zeiss, but it's slower (f/2 is very usable on the Zeiss) and the Zeiss can produce eye-popping visuals with the right light (as evidenced above).

I was well impressed with Olympus 24/2.8 MC today. It can be bought well below £100 these days. I remember 16-9 had some good words to say about it too.

Just found ZF1 for auction in Japan, but I think one of the shops got them on the shelve for about $700. Going there tomorrow to have a look.

Haven't found any Series II Leica 28/2.8 sadly - all copies for sale here have serial under 300.000.
Zuiko 24/2.8 is also available, but for a little more than I would like.
Here is 16-9 hall of fame for 28mm:
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/best28mm.html

Perhaps I should just stick to OM 28/2 then? Really, really curious about Hollywood 28 though.

Frank: Gamla Stan never been looking better...already miss it.. Out of curiosity, at what aperture did you shoot that dashing vehicle?..
checked the rear of my 45/2.8 and it seems just fine. It's a 100Jahre edition, so I make it a habit to only shoot in LV mode..

Edgards: I think Oly 24/2.8 lost to Canon 24/1.4L in terms of performance...though of course, the price difference is too much of a factor.

I am also really curious about Zeiss Jena at 24-28mm there was one highly regarded, but I can't seem to find reference to it..

The best 24mm lens I ever owned was the 24 f/1.4L II from Canon, that was simply superb in all ways.
Naturally the Zeiss lenses are rather exceptional, and I quite liked how the ZE 21mm drew with close up subjects.

Lately though I've been shooting quite a bit with a Nikkor 24mm AI with close range correction (CRC) on my F3 body and it is really quite good for such an inexpensive lens!

I'm a fan of the ZE/ZF 21, Sigma 24 Superwide, MC Rokkors, OM 21 and 24s, and the G28.

Btw..what about Voigtlander 28/2.8? Anyone tested it?

I am not sure Jena has 24mm or 28mm lens, the 28mm Jena lens is a rebranded Cosina from old days if I remember correctly, and usually sell for cheap. You might have confused it with Yashica ML lens? (the other half of C/Y) which is of good reputation.

Krosavcheg wrote:
I am also really curious about Zeiss Jena at 24-28mm there was one highly regarded, but I can't seem to find reference to it..

At 28mm I really like the Minolta MC Rokkor 28 f/2 that I had. It is a nice all around lens, but does well close-up. The bokeh is a little funky wide open, but gets very nice from f/2.8. Here are a couple of examples. The first is f/2; the second is f/2.8. Either way, I always liked the painterly drawing style of this lens. I didn't keep it when I got the ZE 35 f/1.4, but I regret that decision fairly often.

aleksanderpolo wrote:
I am not sure Jena has 24mm or 28mm lens, the 28mm Jena lens is a rebranded Cosina from old days if I remember correctly, and usually sell for cheap. You might have confused it with Yashica ML lens? (the other half of C/Y) which is of good reputation.

Krosavcheg wrote:
I am also really curious about Zeiss Jena at 24-28mm there was one highly regarded, but I can't seem to find reference to it..


Perhaps I am confusing with Jena 35/2.8 which seems to be sought after?