wayne seltzer wrote:
The Otus 28 is pretty special if you like 28mm.
A local buddy of mine recently acquired the lens and you're absolutely right about it being special, but the chances of me investing in a 1390g fast 28 are very low, because that lens would not see a lot of use. The 55 makes the most sense to me because I would use it wide open for some things, and I can pano out pretty much any shorter focal length I want. I sent my rental copy back yesterday and I already miss it. If I still feel like this in a couple of weeks, I'll pick up my own copy.
I considered the Otus 28, and decided I'd rather have "two for one" with Milvus 25 and 35. Very happy with that decision and while I do have the Otus 55 and 85, I'm glad to have 25+35 instead of a sole 28. They're both so good that I'd venture a guess that they're very similar to the Otus 28 a couple of stops down. Wide open, they do get a touch softer toward the corners, while the 28 is more evenly sharp.
No Regrets wrote:
The Milvus 35 f1.4 is an incredible lens! You may want to look at that as a much more affordable option to 28 Otus. Both great options either way.
Best Wishes
I rented the Milvus 35/1.4 before the Otus. It's a sweetheart, but I'd honestly rather have my Summilux-M 35 pre-A and ZM Biogon 35/2. I can carry both and not even come close to the size and weight of the Milvus, and I prefer the Lux for portraits. The Biogon's not quite the landscape equal to the Milvus, but it's close at 5.6 and 8, and the Biogon has no discernible distortion.
Wesley Perrault wrote:
I have the 35mm & 25mm f1.4 Milvus they are both fantastic. That said I have considered selling both to purchase the 28mm Otus. The Otus just has the something extra, hard to describe but it's there. Going down to take some sunset pictures tonight, maybe I'll bring one along and share later tomorrow.
Would love to see your sunset pictures
Best Wishes,
Don
Aug 04, 2019 at 08:34 AM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
Wesley Perrault wrote:
I have the 35mm & 25mm f1.4 Milvus they are both fantastic. That said I have considered selling both to purchase the 28mm Otus. The Otus just has the something extra, hard to describe but it's there. Going down to take some sunset pictures tonight, maybe I'll bring one along and share later tomorrow.
Interesting Wesley. I actually did the reverse. I sold the Otus to finance buying the Milvus 25 and 35 f/1.4. I have been quite happy with my decision so far. The Otus 28 is a wonderful lens, but in my experience it isn't much better than the Milvus 25 and 35. For me it was also about the set of lenses. I am quite happy with the Milvus 18, 25, & 35 and then going to the Otus 55. With the Otus 28, there is quite a gap to the Otus 55, too big for my taste and I find the Milvus 35 and Otus 28 to be awfully close to have both. I could have gone Milvus 15, 21, & Otus 28, but although the Milvus 21 is still very good I think it is weaker than the 18 or 25, especially if you don't want to correct distortion.
So I have Milvus 18 f/2.8, 25 f/1.4, 35 f/1.4, Otus 55 f/1.4, Milvus 85 f/1.4, and 135 f/2, which I think makes a very nice set. That said I am thinking of swapping out the Milvus 85 and 135 for the Otus 100, which looks to be a fabulous lens. I can see someone arguing for an Otus 28, 55, & 100 kit for everything except very wide angle.
Steve Spencer wrote:
Interesting Wesley. I actually did the reverse. I sold the Otus to finance buying the Milvus 25 and 35 f/1.4. I have been quite happy with my decision so far. The Otus 28 is a wonderful lens, but in my experience it isn't much better than the Milvus 25 and 35. For me it was also about the set of lenses. I am quite happy with the Milvus 18, 25, & 35 and then going to the Otus 55. With the Otus 28, there is quite a gap to the Otus 55, too big for my taste and I find the Milvus 35 and Otus 28 to be awfully close to have both. I could have gone Milvus 15, 21, & Otus 28, but although the Milvus 21 is still very good I think it is weaker than the 18 or 25, especially if you don't want to correct distortion.
So I have Milvus 18 f/2.8, 25 f/1.4, 35 f/1.4, Otus 55 f/1.4, Milvus 85 f/1.4, and 135 f/2, which I think makes a very nice set. That said I am thinking of swapping out the Milvus 85 and 135 for the Otus 100, which looks to be a fabulous lens. I can see someone arguing for an Otus 28, 55, & 100 kit for everything except very wide angle....Show more →
My friend that picked up the 28 sold off his Otus 85 and Nikon 105/1.4 to get the Otus 100, and he's very pleased. I haven't used it much, but, I will warn you that, if you love and use the close focus capabilities of the Sonnar 135 at all, do not let it go in favor of the 100. The 100's better corrected, but cropping to match the 1:4 you get from the 135 natively will not have the same oomph. And isn't it all about the oomph?
freaklikeme wrote:
My friend that picked up the 28 sold off his Otus 85 and Nikon 105/1.4 to get the Otus 100, and he's very pleased. I haven't used it much, but, I will warn you that, if you love and use the close focus capabilities of the Sonnar 135 at all, do not let it go in favor of the 100. The 100's better corrected, but cropping to match the 4:1 you get from the 135 natively will not have the same oomph. And isn't it all about the oomph?
I agree 100%. I can’t ever imagine letting my 135 APO go. Truly a first class lens that continues to impress me😊
freaklikeme wrote:
My friend that picked up the 28 sold off his Otus 85 and Nikon 105/1.4 to get the Otus 100, and he's very pleased. I haven't used it much, but, I will warn you that, if you love and use the close focus capabilities of the Sonnar 135 at all, do not let it go in favor of the 100. The 100's better corrected, but cropping to match the 1:4 you get from the 135 natively will not have the same oomph. And isn't it all about the oomph?
Edited because it's 4:1 only in my dreams.
I do love the close focus abilities of the 135, but on FF 35mm since I have gotten the new Voigtlander 110 f/2.5 APO Macro, I don't use the Milvus 135 for close focus any more. The Voigtlander is just too good. And with that lens now available its older brother the Voigtlander 125 f/2.5 APO Macro has dropped to fairly reasonable prices. I plan to pick up that lens for the GFX. It is unfortunate that the new 110 won't work on the GFX, but the older lens is awfully good too and between them I think I will be just fine without the close focus abilities of the Milvus 135 as very nice as that lens is.
Steve Spencer wrote:
I do love the close focus abilities of the 135, but on FF 35mm since I have gotten the new Voigtlander 110 f/2.5 APO Macro, I don't use the Milvus 135 for close focus any more. The Voigtlander is just too good. And with that lens now available its older brother the Voigtlander 125 f/2.5 APO Macro has dropped to fairly reasonable prices. I plan to pick up that lens for the GFX. It is unfortunate that the new 110 won't work on the GFX, but the older lens is awfully good too and between them I think I will be just fine without the close focus abilities of the Milvus 135 as very nice as that lens is....Show more →
Sounds like a good plan. Let us know how it works out for you.
Assuming everything works out with the auction I won this morning, mine will be a ZE. While its a bit heavier than the ZF and lacks an aperture ring, it focuses the right direction and I believe the ZE's report focus distance where the ZF's do not.
freaklikeme wrote:
Assuming everything works out with the auction I won this morning, mine will be a ZE. While its a bit heavier than the ZF and lacks an aperture ring, it focuses the right direction and I believe the ZE's report focus distance where the ZF's do not.
Congrats Brad!
Hope you are out enjoying shooting this fine lens.
wayne seltzer wrote:
Congrats Brad!
Hope you are out enjoying shooting this fine lens.
Thanks, Wayne! Fine, indeed. I love the little mid-zone rise in resolution. That reward for proper framing makes it a beautiful thing to shoot wide open.
