p.1 #4 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
wolfloid wrote:
No AF is a crucial difference, as is the massive size difference. It is very much not compact. Even the CV 28mm f1.5 would be better.
Compact is in the eye of the beholder, you do understand there isn't a universal definition that everyone must abide to when using the term compact? Sheesh.
I would say my CV 28 AL is more compact that my Sigma 28 f/1.4 DG HSM. Sure the Sigma is a faster lens, but it is quite large.
p.1 #5 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
wolfloid wrote:
Why is nobody producing this lens? .
Why ask a question in a forum that no one there can answer anyway? Just write to all the manufacturers and then post their answers here. At least that would increase our knowledge.
p.1 #6 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
Yes, I do understand. I gave the 40mm f2.5 as an example. I thought that might have been noted. The APO Lanthar is twice the weight, and sticks out another 1.4cm, which is not negligible. For me, it is a lump - a very good, well made, very sharp lump, but a lump nevertheless. I have never heard it being referred to as compact, though, of course, there are larger lenses. Added to that it is not AF.
p.1 #7 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
Why ask a question in a forum that no one there can answer anyway? Just write to all the manufacturers and then post their answers here. At least that would increase our knowledge.
I thought someone may have some insight. I had no idea such questions were forbidden.
p.1 #13 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
I feel like I read something about this years ago. There was a claim that cell phones gravitated toward a 28mm equivalent focal length, and some conspiracy theory that camera companies intentionally avoided making lenses in that range to not compete. It is probably nonsense, but it stuck with me.
On the topic of 28mm, the FUJIFILM GFX100RF is a sweet 28mm equivalent.
wolfloid wrote:
Why is nobody producing this lens? Not Sony, not Sigma, not Tamron, not even any of the Chinese manufacturers!
Make one of these with a manual focus clutch and linear focusing with a distance scale and it will sell like hot cakes.
p.1 #14 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
I feel like I read something about this years ago. There was a claim that cell phones gravitated toward a 28mm equivalent focal length, and some conspiracy theory that camera companies intentionally avoided making lenses in that range to not compete. It is probably nonsense, but it stuck with me. On the topic of 28mm, the FUJIFILM GFX100RF is a sweet 28mm equivalent.
p.1 #15 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
Simple answer, the manufacturers have not seen a need for it. My guess is that their interpretation of the market is that there is more value/profit in developing zooms that cover the 28mm focal length than in developing a compact prime. Looking at Sony, the initial prime options like the 28/F2 are now quite long in the tooth, but have seen no upgrades which tells me Sony doesn't see enough market value in developing a new lens in that focal length. Their may be something in the future but given the slow pace that the 28mm focal has filled in with new releases, my guess is that Sony will protect the value of the 24mm lens line up including the G and GM and leave the 28mm F2 as its only option.
p.1 #16 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
Surfnsun wrote:
I feel like I read something about this years ago. There was a claim that cell phones gravitated toward a 28mm equivalent focal length, and some conspiracy theory that camera companies intentionally avoided making lenses in that range to not compete. It is probably nonsense, but it stuck with me.
Could be true, using the iPhone as an example it has only gotten wider over the years going from a 37mm in 2007-2009 to shifting around in the 29-35mm range between 2010 - 2015 to most recently stabilizing:
Personally going to 24 was unwelcome for me, especially with the minimum focus distance and maximum magnification getting worse (0.09x -> 0.07x -> 0.05x over the last three).
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Back on the topic of 28's. Maybe Viltrox can do something in this space as a pro 1.4 and compact 1.8/2 option would be great. Nikon had an amazing 28 F1.4 (F mount / DSLR) that was 645g. The Sigma Art is about the same optically but is huge.
As a 35 lover, I think a 28 is more versatile on a high MP body. I'd be down to try out a 30-32 too
p.1 #18 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
I’ve been wanting something better than the OG 28/2 for a decade, the copies I’ve owned have been somewhere between just ok to mediocre. It would be a perfect G lens like the 20/1.8 and not step on the 24/35 GM’s. It doesn’t look like Sony will make another 28, so hopefully a 3rd party like Tamron, Sigma or Viltrox will make one.
My bet is Viltrox, they’ve been cranking out a lot of glass lately. If it’s good I’m ordering immediately. Until then a slight crop on the 24 GM gets me there.
p.1 #19 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
wolfloid wrote:
Why is nobody producing this lens? Not Sony, not Sigma, not Tamron, not even any of the Chinese manufacturers!
Agree 100%. The lens you're looking for exists, but for another mount: the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 "muffin" at 155g and only 43mm long. I have the Nikon Zf permanently mounted on it.
There's a hack for Sony shooters though. Mount a 24mm G prime (or the Sigma equivalent) and switch your camera to 4:3 aspect ratio. Your experience will be very similar to shooting a 28mm on the full width of a sensor. The 3:2 ratio doesn't work for 90% of compositions anyway. And I insist on configuring the aspect ratio in-camera, not cropping in post. It makes a massive difference with your shooting experience and the quality of the results.
If you don't agree, let's not argue. Just try to follow this advice for at least 100 keeper-grade exposures, and see if that changes your mind. It may or may not. If it does, that will count as a win for you, so it's worth trying.
TLDR: 24mm is idiocy. 3:2 is idiocy. But when you combine them and chop off useless "ears", they cancel each other out.
p.1 #20 · Small, compact, relatively fast, high IQ (f2/2.5) 28mm lens in the same line as the 40mm f2.5 G.
Voigtlander 28 APO for high resolution landscapes and static subjects.
Sony 28 F2 for environmental portraits and moving subjects, Viltrox a bit better but quite big.
For landscape and moving subjects Sigma 24 f2 seems the best compact lens, closest to 28mm.
I'd welcome a 28 f2 update, or 28 1.8g.
