Has anyone on FM gotten one to try yet? I see they are in stock at Cameraquest and available through Lensrentals.com, but it's hard to find examples/reviews from anyone who has tried the lens.
It looks like a nice lens, esp. for the bokeh and color, but the corner softness and CA tell me that you're better off with something like a Contax 28/2.8 or Oly 28/3.5 for landscapes or architecture. It looks like Voigtländer cut too many corners again to achieve good all-round performance, like with their 20/3.5.
I've got no complaints about this lens or the 40/F2 Ultron. I've looked at slides with a 8X loupe and saw no corner softness on either lens. I shoot normally at F8 on both. Love the lightweight feel of these lenses and don't miss the weight of the Nikkors at all. The build of these lenses kick Nikon's "plastic wonders" butts. The aspherical element on both does it's job very well. What's not to like?They both look sexy on an F3 & F2.
AhamB wrote:
It looks like a nice lens, esp. for the bokeh and color, but the corner softness and CA tell me that you're better off with something like a Contax 28/2.8 or Oly 28/3.5 for landscapes or architecture. It looks like Voigtländer took too many corners again to achieve good all-round performance, like with their 20/3.5.
...especially if you're shooting stopped-down, there's little point at spending so much on a compromised lens like that. The CV 20 really does little well beyond controlling flare, and the 28 from Lloyd Chamber's analysis seems along those lines but not as challenged. Probably fine for a crop sensor camera but surely not worth the cost.
mohawk51 wrote:
I shoot normally at F8.... Love the lightweight feel of these lenses and don't miss the weight of the Nikkors at all. The build of these lenses kick Nikon's "plastic wonders" butts.
Then the venerable Nikkor 28/2.8 AIS (used) is half the price and easily its match.
ebrandon wrote:
....lord knows I have a lot of 28's.
It's not a sin.
Bona fidé gearhead sins:
Sold a DMR and Leica R 280 to be first in line for a Sigma SD-1..........sin
Owning 3 NOCT Nikkors as a 'collector'..............................................sin
#3 on waiting list for Hasselblad Lunar................................................sin
Not sure theyre 'bad' but clearly corners at infinity are not a strength, as appears to be the case with the CV28. The Nikkor 28/2 does much better at infinity.
Nikon guru Bjorn Rorslett has short pithy reviews, upon which I got hold of a 28/2 AI-S, very nice lens bought in the but end days of my Nikon period. I liked its look, until I saw what the CY 28/2.8 produced. He also notes the infinity weakness of the 28/2.8 AI-S.
j.liam wrote:
...especially if you're shooting stopped-down, there's little point at spending so much on a compromised lens like that. The CV 20 really does little well beyond controlling flare, and the 28 from Lloyd Chamber's analysis seems along those lines but not as challenged. Probably fine for a crop sensor camera but surely not worth the cost.
Then the venerable Nikkor 28/2.8 AIS (used) is half the price and easily its match.
I had the Nikkor 28/F2.8 AIS. I don't think it's a match at all. The Nikkor is designed to be good at close to mid distances. That's what it was designed for. It sucks at infinity. I mean don't you buy a wide angle to be good at foreground to infinity when needed? I sold my Nikkor as soon as I got the Voigt.
I had the Nikkor 28/F2.8 AIS. I don't think it's a match at all. The Nikkor is designed to be good at close to mid distances. That's what it was designed for. It sucks at infinity. I mean don't you buy a wide angle to be good at foreground to infinity when needed? I sold my Nikkor as soon as I got the Voigt.
As you've mentioned, the Nikkor is optimized for near-macro distances--'close up' is where it really is a marvel of its time (1981)--; at best, it's unremarkable at infinity. "Suck" is a tad harsh. In fact, it is still available NEW from Nikon.
Personally, I used a Nikkor 28/2 for years which was a bit too 'glowy' at ƒ/2 (though superior for infinity compared to the ƒ/2.8) and ZF 2/28 that I found neither easy to use (strong vignetting and FC) nor as sharp as was claimed. Very nice colors and great for infinity, though. I was so disappointed with the CV 20 that upon hearing the 28 shared its design priorities, promptly canceled my order for the latter (which reminds me I still have a credit with Cameraquest!!).
After a long search, I ended up with a Leica R 28 Elmarit v.2. Completely different league....along with the 28 (equiv)/2.8 on my Ricoh GR.
