p.1 #1 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Brightin Star (Xingyao Optics) is set to unveil a new 28mm f/2.8 Pancake lens designed for Leica M-mount on May 31st. You can find more information about the lens on their Amazon online store.
The Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount bears a resemblance in terms of size and style to the MS OPTICS APOQUALIA 28mm f/2 lens.
p.1 #2 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
I have long wondered what MS-Optics lenses would look like if they were made somewhere with "better" manufacturing capabilites.
Trying to get my hands on a review sample of these.
p.1 #3 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
BastianK wrote:
I have long wondered what MS-Optics lenses would look like if they were made somewhere with "better" manufacturing capabilites.
Trying to get my hands on a review sample of these.
Great!
I'm interested in the build quality and mechanics as well. I'm hoping for some character wide open and technically great performance at f/5.6-8.
p.1 #5 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
It does look a lot like the MS-Optics Apoqualia 28/2, especially like the version II. I have the Black Urushi version of that, this particular copy: https://www.mapcamera.com/search?janCode=2717005598408. I also have another Urushi "Sun" version III of the lens.
Curious about how the aperture ring works on the Brightin Star lens. On Apoqualia III with the hood on it's very difficult to control the aperture (e.g. requires a toothpick or such) whereas on version II aperture can be controlled by turning the hood. II is one of my favorite MS-Optics lenses and I prefer it over III esp. because of better handling and a bit closer MFD.
p.1 #9 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
Brightin Star (Xingyao Optics) is set to unveil a new 28mm f/2.8 Pancake lens designed for Leica M-mount on May 31st. You can find more information about the lens on their Amazon online store
I cannot find any information about this lens on their Amazon page.
p.1 #12 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Juha Kannisto wrote:
Curious about how the aperture ring works on the Brightin Star lens. On Apoqualia III with the hood on it's very difficult to control the aperture (e.g. requires a toothpick or such) whereas on version II aperture can be controlled by turning the hood. II is one of my favorite MS-Optics lenses and I prefer it over III esp. because of better handling and a bit closer MFD.
it looks like it has a ridged ring that will be easy to turn with your fingers.
p.1 #15 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Desmolicious wrote:
it looks like it has a ridged ring that will be easy to turn with your fingers.
Thanks! Yes, looks like it might be decent from handling perspective for this.
MFD might be 0.7m based on the markings on the lens. MS-Optics 28/2-II has MFD at around 0.4m which I like, and the version III that I have focuses to around 0.55m.
My 28/2-II has hard infinity spot-on on my Rayqual adapters for overall stopped down infinity focus (it has some field curvature but hard infinity lands at a sweet spot where the overall corner-to-corner sharpness is as I like it) so I can use it at hard infinity quite nicely. My 28/2-III on the other hand is not as nicely aligned and I always have to focus closer than hard infinity.
I'm not considering to buy the Brightin Star version right now since I have these MS-Optics lenses and a lot of others at 28mm already but will keep an eye on whether it will be sold in Japan and what the price will be. Looks like Amazon Japan have several other Brightin Star lenses listed through some vendors but not this one as of yet.
p.1 #16 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Juha Kannisto wrote:
Thanks! Yes, looks like it might be decent from handling perspective for this.
MFD might be 0.7m based on the markings on the lens. MS-Optics 28/2-II has MFD at around 0.4m which I like, and the version III that I have focuses to around 0.55m.
My 28/2-II has hard infinity spot-on on my Rayqual adapters for overall stopped down infinity focus (it has some field curvature but hard infinity lands at a sweet spot where the overall corner-to-corner sharpness is as I like it) so I can use it at hard infinity quite nicely. My 28/2-III on the other hand is not as nicely aligned and I always have to focus closer than hard infinity.
I'm not considering to buy the Brightin Star version right now since I have these MS-Optics lenses and a lot of others at 28mm already but will keep an eye on whether it will be sold in Japan and what the price will be. Looks like Amazon Japan have several other Brightin Star lenses listed through some vendors but not this one as of yet....Show more →
Hi Juha,
Besides the MTF differences, could you please outline the main changes between version II and III? Additionally, if you happen to know of any stores in Japan that carry these lenses, I would greatly appreciate the information. It seems quite challenging to find them from the US.
p.1 #17 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
Hi Juha,
Besides the MTF differences, could you please outline the main changes between version II and III? Additionally, if you happen to know of any stores in Japan that carry these lenses, I would greatly appreciate the information. It seems quite challenging to find them from the US.
Slippery - meet slope!
Once you start using these tiny lenses you get hooked.
p.1 #19 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
Hi Juha,
Besides the MTF differences, could you please outline the main changes between version II and III? Additionally, if you happen to know of any stores in Japan that carry these lenses, I would greatly appreciate the information. It seems quite challenging to find them from the US.
II and III are supposed to have exactly same optics but just mechnical / build differences. III was advertised as having improved ergonomics but to me II is the one with better ergonomics (esp. aperture control). There are also some variations within version II as there are many special editions of that and it seems that the focus stick placement is a bit different between various different versions of II. The MTF curves on the data sheets of II and III look identical. Also version I should have same optical design but II and III are stated to improve sharpness and perhipheral resolution over version I.
The measured weight of my specific copies are 49g for II without any extras and 50g with hood, and 46g for III without any extras and 47g with hood.
Version II
A few editions of II can be seen here: https://www.japanexposures.com/shop/camera-lens/ms-apoqualia-g-28-f2-ii.html
My copy is Black Urushi 111 bought from here: https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717013579436
Version II comes with a different shape of tiny hood (1g) that widens upwards and when screwed in, turning the hood turns the aperture mechanism, which is very nice and practical and makes aperture control easy. The focus stick on my version is angled upwards and in the middle of the lens body and perhaps this is the part where III is supposedly improved ergonomically as it's a bit easier to get fingers or part of the hand in front of the lens while turning the focus and that could show up in the photo if one is not careful. I've already learned to avoid that problem and I think it's much smaller issue than aperture control difficulty on version III. There seem to be also versions of II where the focus stick is placed more similarly to the side as in version III, perhaps it was a gradual development from II to III. The closest focus distance marked on the lens is 0.4m and the focus can go noticeably closer than that 0.4m mark. Some sources state that this version can focus down to 0.35m but official data sheet claims 0.75m. In my experience actual closest distance is around 0.4m, but there could be small variations between different editions of II as well.
Version III comes with a very small straight hood that is not linked to the aperture mechanism (instead the focus helicoid turns when hood is turned) and aperture can only be controlled by sticking something like a toothpick to a small hole and turning it at the inner area that is next to the hood. If hood is not used aperture can be changed by sliding with a finger but it doesn't feel very comfortable and one could easily touch the glass of the lens by accident. It is stated to focus to 0.55m at minimum and should be rangefinder coupled from 0.8m. The focus distance markings on my copy go to 0.5m but actual closest where the lens can physically focus is right between 0.5m and 0.6m markings so 0.55m should be accurate.
My version III is the red one 太陽 "Sun" that is shown here in the lower part of the page: https://www.japancamerahunter.com/2020/04/camera-geekery-ms-optics-apoqualia-g-28mm-f2-m-mount-urushii-special-edition/
See also: https://www.mkdirect51.com/product-page/apoqualia2-28
As for IQ between II and III I think it's just down to individual copy differences. My version II has a bit better performance on the edges and into the corners and only the extreme corners break apart a bit when shooting at infinity stopped down. My III on the other hand may have a little bit more center sharpness and it breaks apart a bit more towards the edges and corners.
Unfortunately both of these II and III are out of production and sold out in all the stores that I know of. MKDirect still had some stock of III until recently but about a month ago they also sold out. Then it's just 2nd hand market of used copies now. Version II is quite rare in 2nd hand market too but used copies of III may pop up at Map Camera occasionally (maybe once in 2-3 months) and could be sometimes found in Yahoo Japan Auctions. There is a rumor that MS-Optics is working on a new version of 28/2 (seen it mentioned in one of JCH's videos) so hopefully that might see the light of day sometime this year.
Nowadays the supply of MS-Optics lenses in general has become quite extinct in physical stores except for Map Camera still carrying Sonnetar 50/1.3. The best way in Japan too is to buy from MKDirect (https://www.mkdirect51.com/) and usually when I.C.S. Camera Fair happens twice a year there are some shops present there that get a package of MS-Optics lenses to be sold at the Fair (http://ics1972.jp/english.html). Map Camera also gets 2nd hand supply of various MS-Optics lenses every now and then, sometimes many show up in a short time and sometimes there's nothing new showing up for weeks. Yahoo Japan Auctions always have some supply of 2nd hand lenses too.
p.1 #20 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Desmolicious wrote:
I'm guessing $250. The same or less than the Lomo Minitar 32 2.8 which has a similar form factor but I'm sure not optical characteristics..
I think it will be around $250-300 as well. It's marketed to be priced at 1,890 RMB.
