p.8 #1 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
I didn't want to believe!
But yes, although their optical design is quite distinct, they do share the same 'unique character' (FC weirdness). Even at f/2.8 it's hard to manage that rendering unless shooting at very close distance.
Ok, knowing everything you now know about the BS and the MS 28, and you had to pick one… which would it be?
p.8 #2 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Desmolicious wrote:
Ok, knowing everything you now know about the BS and the MS 28, and you had to pick one… which would it be?
The FC effect can negatively impact the rendering of your photos, causing sharp areas where they shouldn't appear due to uncorrected extreme FC. Some folks do appreciate this rendering though. If I had to choose, I'd go for the BStar. When you shoot wide open at f/2.8, the effect is not as strong as with the new MS Optics Apoqualia at f/1.7. It's also well-made, with a brass body and shiny black paint.
p.8 #4 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
Did you finally get yours?
Nope. Just checked my paypal account and it is still 'under review'. So, paypal has had my claim for about a month now. They keep pushing the resolution date back - it was meant to be resolved (one way or another) by 8/16. Now 8/20..
p.8 #5 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
A very nice gentleman reached out to me on l-cameraforum and offered me his BS. I may take him up on that once my case gets resolved by paypal.
FYI looking at the lens deets, it has a 25.5 filter thread. Which happens to be a size offered by Pentax for their mighty Auto 110 (perhaps the greatest film slr ever made). Now Pentax made a complete filter and lens hood kit in that size (I have one because I have said Pentax) which means a complete filter kit is available for this lens.
And the filters are high quality Pentax stuff, so would be about as good as you can get for that size.
My filter kit is just looking at me, waiting for me to get a BS 28.
p.8 #6 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Desmolicious wrote:
A very nice gentleman reached out to me on l-cameraforum and offered me his BS. I may take him up on that once my case gets resolved by paypal.
FYI looking at the lens deets, it has a 25.5 filter thread. Which happens to be a size offered by Pentax for their mighty Auto 110 (perhaps the greatest film slr ever made). Now Pentax made a complete filter and lens hood kit in that size (I have one because I have said Pentax) which means a complete filter kit is available for this lens.
And the filters are high quality Pentax stuff, so would be about as good as you can get for that size.
My filter kit is just looking at me, waiting for me to get a BS 28....Show more →
p.8 #7 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
My freakin lens finally showed up. How? I googled the name under my address sticker on the wrongly delivered package, found an email address, emailed this person. Now that is where I thought it would end because, ya know, crazy person asking 'hey were you expecting an iphone case but got a lens?'
The sweet lady actually emailed me back and said she had my lens! She coulda just kept it, sold it etc and I would have been none the wiser. As that lens was worth a lot more than the crummy $5 iphone case..
And she was 'local' - Santa Paula, California which is about an hour-ish drive. So last night I went and did the trade.
So how is this lens? Remarkably nicely made. This would be such a sweet piece if it didn't have all the writing on it. Really dense/heavy given the size - due to being milled from brass. The focus action on mine is surprisingly smooth, aperture is clickless but easy enough (if a tad fiddly) to change, with good weighting so it stays put.
The front lens element is barely recessed in the housing, so one would have to be very careful not to touch it, let it touch anything. Initial focus test shows it is dead on with my 10r using the RF. Took some quick test shots w my 10r, now mounted on a film M as I have a few shots that need shootin' to finish the roll so might as well use the BS lens. Will dev/post those later.
The repeat images are at 2.8 and then (I think) 11. First glance it has a very funky effect if you look deeply into the image, where the curvature makes things go in and out of focus, but when it is stopped down much less so. I'm actually really vibing with this lens - it is so different from my other 28s (and that is the point, isn't it?) and just fun to use.
And oh yeah, the Pentax Auto 110 filters and hood work perfectly! The last two images are taken with the 25.5 UV filter AND lens hood attached, to test for hard vignetting. At f16 at min and infinity. Only at infinity was there hard vignetting at f16. If you use just the filter, or just the hood - no hard vignetting at all. But it is so slight that at the moment I am using them together. When I dev the film I will see if I need to change my mind.
p.8 #11 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Compared to my other body cap lens - the Lomo Minitar 32:
The Lomo shows how, IMO, the minimalist design is far more pleasing aesthetically. Also the Lomo lens has a tab as well as the ring to change the aperture settings. That actually is much better than just the ring. Another plus is it has 'notches' at 1.5 and 3m focus settings, so you can super quick zone focus. That would have been a great addition for the BS lens.
But the Lomo is built crappy compared to the BS and the aperture only stops down to about f8 no matter what it says on the lens. It also has super heavy vignetting, very high saturation but that is the point of Lomography. For all the flaws of the BS, I still would say you are getting a better lens overall.
p.8 #12 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Congratulations, Huss! What a wonderful surprise. Just like you mentioned, it's a fantastic lens for street photography, especially when you close down the aperture a bit to control the FC.
p.8 #13 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Fred Miranda wrote:
Congratulations, Huss! What a wonderful surprise. Just like you mentioned, it's a fantastic lens for street photography, especially when you close down the aperture a bit to control the FC.
Thanks Fred. Yeah, I never expected a response from my email. And I still would never use AliExpress again, as they left me hung out to dry.
It will be fun to use when I do not need optically perfect results. Is it worth $320? I'd say yes because the MS alternative is three times the price, and this lens IS really nicely made.
Is it the best 28mm lens for $320? The TTA 28 5.6 that I have is better optically (and really nicely made) but even though it is very small, it is bigger and slower.
The BS is not a serious lens, but that's what makes it fun.
I think the cheapest serious 28mm M mount is the 7A 28 1.4 at $440 - I had one and it was surprisingly good optically but not pleasant to use. Very big and heavy (expected) but the aperture and focus mechanisms felt scratchy. Next up would be the new CV 28 2.8 which I'd prefer over the 7A 28 1.4.
p.8 #14 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Desmolicious wrote:
Thanks Fred. Yeah, I never expected a response from my email. And I still would never use AliExpress again, as they left me hung out to dry.
It will be fun to use when I do not need optically perfect results. Is it worth $320? I'd say yes because the MS alternative is three times the price, and this lens IS really nicely made.
Is it the best 28mm lens for $320? The TTA 28 5.6 that I have is better optically (and really nicely made) but even though it is very small, it is bigger and slower.
The BS is not a serious lens, but that's what makes it fun.
I think the cheapest serious 28mm M mount is the 7A 28 1.4 at $440 - I had one and it was surprisingly good optically but not pleasant to use. Very big and heavy (expected) but the aperture and focus mechanisms felt scratchy. Next up would be the new CV 28 2.8 which I'd prefer over the 7A 28 1.4....Show more →
Absolutely, there are different levels of compactness. The MS Optics 28 Apoqualia is lighter, but the BS lens is more solidly constructed. it's great for zone focusing. Given the price, I'd recommend choosing the latter.
Following that, I'd suggest the Voigtlander 28/2.8. It's fantastic optically and still very compact.
p.8 #17 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Desmolicious wrote:
Cool. Yeah that front element is super exposed. And those spin on lens caps suck!
I DO have the close up filter! Never thought about using it in LV! Fun idea!
The filter set for 25.5 is UV, Skylight, Close up S16, Close up S31
"Closeup filters could be combined for even closer pictures"
I believe the S16 lens offers higher magnification, while the S31 has lower magnification, making it more versatile. Interestingly, you can even take out the glass from one of these filters and use it as a lens hood. It would be great if you could test it out with LV and see what happens!
p.8 #18 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Ok, BS 28 on M10r - no corrections added and uncropped apart from the last pic. All at 2.8 First pic at standard min focus distance. Next pic with S31 close up filter. Then with S16 close up filter. Then with both close up filters stacked. Then 100% crop from stacked shot. Hand held so may get better results w tripod but who uses an M on a tripod?
p.8 #20 · Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 lens for Leica M-mount
Congratulations on getting your lens, abet through your own detective work and no help from AliExpress. Images look surprisingly good. Should make for a great street lens!
