There are fairly many 28mm options from smaller suppliers, also considering all the MF options. I personally have CV 28/1.5 (my favorite), Laowa 28/1.2, Samyang 28/3.5 (part of Remaster Slim set), Viltrox 28/4.5, 7Artisans 28/1.4 FE-Plus (M-mount but optimized for Sony sensor stack) and will have Kistar 28/3.2 E-mount version as soon as it's released (December or so) and CV 28/2 APO-Lanthar (E-mount) as soon as it gets released (hopefully December or Jan/Feb).
Although there are not many top level AF options from major players, I'm already feeling quite well covered with the available options as I prefer to shoot with MF lenses anyway.
Sigma makes the 16-28, 28-70, and 28-105 zooms. You can’t say they have forgotten the 28mm focal length. I own the first two of those zooms and they are fine. I actually am not all that fond of 28mm; it is not wide enough for me. 20mm is where its at or 40mm at the other end. But there are times when it comes in handy.
jdcoletv wrote:
Sigma makes the 16-28, 28-70, and 28-105 zooms. You can’t say they have forgotten the 28mm focal length. I own the first two of those zooms and they are fine. I actually am not all that fond of 28mm; it is not wide enough for me. 20mm is where its at or 40mm at the other end. But there are times when it comes in handy.
I suspect the OP is interested in primes. If you include zooms, then you have the 20-xx, 24-xx, 16-35, etc. zooms that cover 28mm as well. And in that context, relative to choices in other focal lengths for primes (like 24/25 or 35), I think he can say they have forgotten 28mm. (Technically I think he can say whatever he wants no matter what...then it comes down to some people may agree and some people may not.)
It seems like the ask is for a lens that has never existed in any system ever, but somehow it should exist for FE.
The Sony FE 28mm F2 is better than the other 28mm lenses I've tried. Just like most older Sony lenses very are quite a few poorly aligned copies. It is also the least expensive of those lenses.
QuietOC wrote:
It seems like the ask is for a lens that has never existed in any system ever, but somehow it should exist for FE.
The Sony FE 28mm F2 is better than the other 28mm lenses I've tried. Just like most older Sony lenses very are quite a few poorly aligned copies. It is also the least expensive of those lenses.
I'd prefer a 30/32mm before another 28mm.
What is being asked for that has never existed in any system ever?
All this talk about the different focal lengths has made me realize that a great feature would be a “variable sensor zoom” mode in which you could use the dials on the body to dial in different crop levels between “full frame” and “APS-C”. The camera would use the lens information to provide you with your new “virtual” focal lengths and “virtual” aperture via the viewfinder or back display. It would work well for high res bodies.
Of course, the bean counters and business leaders would veto such a feature because it would leave money on the table for future offers such as the upcoming 28GM, 30GM, and 32GM primes!
I have been waiting for a quality 28mm lens ever since I bought into the system with the first A7!!! Currently I have a well used Leica Q2 monochrom to fulfil the is need and live in hope for something for Sony
There are so many fine 28s in manual focus, because Leica and Zeiss were long term supporters, and enough from the mainstream as well, back in time two decades and more. Cosina market four of them right now in the Voigtlander lenses in VM; and others in no particular order:
Zeiss CY 28/2.8 and 28/2 Hollywood, and the 28/2 in ZEF; Leica's 28/2.8 R v2, Summilux and Summicron, both in M; Pentax 28/3.5; Thypoch 28/1.4; Nikon had some Ai-s 28s. I'm sure there are plenty more, and nearly all of these are very sound lenses. There are a few recent monsters too, Otus 28 and from Sigma.
It's a great focal length, the widest you can go for people while having them look 'normal'. Designers often used to build in curvature at mid-apertures for an amazing 3D effect. What can a 28mm do? Environmental portraits, landscapes (intimate and expansive), architecture, people in groups and solo, cafe, street. With people, you get a sense of intimacy simply because you have to stand rather close to them for 'chest and above' images. 28mm also virtually guarantees great 3D and longitudinal spatial separation.
In AF, this 'prince of focal lengths' was pushed aside by mid-zoom lenses. But most of the great ones from the past were leaded lenses, and benefited greatly from its enhanced saturation and clarity. 28mm means you can use a 50mm as the next longest, where 24mm pushes you to 35mm.
It's the best all round FL, that's why Leica chose it for the Q system. Many fantastic medium format film lenses were 28mm equivalents, from Mamiya and Fuji. 90mm was also huge in large format. They had a better idea about it than the people running miniature format.
Unfortunately, the coming growth of light cine ranges (Zeiss, Cooke, Leitz) intended for social media and YT content all feature 24/25mm so they can start with 18mm lenses. They have figured they need a 35mm (32mm for Cooke) in their six-lens ranges. But we have more than enough..
Newenglandrocks wrote:
All this talk about the different focal lengths has made me realize that a great feature would be a “variable sensor zoom” mode in which you could use the dials on the body to dial in different crop levels between “full frame” and “APS-C”. The camera would use the lens information to provide you with your new “virtual” focal lengths and “virtual” aperture via the viewfinder or back display. It would work well for high res bodies.
Of course, the bean counters and business leaders would veto such a feature because it would leave money on the table for future offers such as the upcoming 28GM, 30GM, and 32GM primes!...Show more →
IMO, thypoch is changing the game in MF primes , especially considering their very competitive pricing strategy (28 & 35 on sale atm for $369 each)
I went with their trio of 28,35,50 and am happy
Use the CV 21 Nokton & color skopar for even wider FOV
And Nokton 75 (M-mount with and without Techart Adapter) and Samyang 75/1.8 & 85/1.4 for AF
However as the demand for this focal length is so low they haven’t bothered to make a DG DN version yet.
On APSC there’s also a Sigma 16 and 23mm (24/35 equivalent). Low demand for a 28mm equivalent means they didn’t bother to make one.
I love the Sigma 28mm 1.4. However, I don't know that the low demand is reflective of demand for a 28 or the fact that this is an old lens that is big and heavy and isn't very good at autofocus. I use it frequently for astrophotography and for clothing flat lays because it is exceptionally sharp even by today's standards. For other uses, it also has a nice rendering for how flat and sharp it is across the frame. Again, its only downside is that it has a harder time keeping up with faster subjects. And, of course, it's from the bigma era. I'm actually ok with the bigger Sigma's, and I appreciate the attempt to optically correct everything in the optical formula. I hope lens makers don't completely abandon that approach because it still has benefits over software corrected lenses, and I'm glad to see that the new 135mm 1.4 stayed in that traditional rather than something like the 200mm f2 or 85mm 1.4 DG DN that tried to follow the trend of smaller and lighter at the expense of often massive distortion, heavy vignetting, and aperture vignetting/ significant cat's eye and clipped bokeh.
I can appreciate the desire for a 28mm autofocus lens on par with lenses such as the Sony 24mm GM. I don't fully agree with the premise that 28mm, 50mm, 85mm (or 100mm) was historically set in stone as THE standard for focal lengths. Looking at vintage lenses, what you see is manufacturers provided lenses in 50mm - 55mm and 24mm - 28mm as set ranges rather than a single focal length. Many companies provided lenses at both ends of a focal range. i.e. Canon had both a 50mm and 55mm simultaneously in FD mount and Canon, Pentax, Olympus all offered 24mm and 28mm simultaneously in multiple mounts. My guess today is that manufacturers have developed more lenses in the 24mm range with the logic that you can crop down to simulate 28mm. I also believe that lens manufacturers have invested in better zooms with the logic that they will appeal more to portraiture photographers than single focal length lenses.
I think the other thing that has affected the development of better 28mm lenses is the sales record of the Sony 28mm F2. When it was released, it was one of the better E-Mount lenses and at a very affordable price point. My understanding is that it's been a dependable seller, enough so to keep it in production but not enough volume to warrant development of a new lens at this focal length. I do think we are in an era when lens manufacturers are backfilling gaps and that we will see new high performing autofocus 28mm lenses in the next couple of years but I don't think it will come from sources like Sony who want to protect sales of existing models like the 24mm GM and recent zooms.
Viramati wrote:
I have been waiting for a quality 28mm lens ever since I bought into the system with the first A7!!! Currently I have a well used Leica Q2 monochrom to fulfil the is need and live in hope for something for Sony
I would probably pass on a fast GM 28mm lens because the Q2 is fun to shoot and makes for a nice backup camera too.
If Sony upgraded the A7CR EVf and controls I might consider selling the Q for an upgraded compact but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
