p.1 #1 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
Perhaps, in the Leica ‘M’ environment the 28mm prime exists because of the lack of great zooms, whereas Sony has one kit lens and some great zooms. I’ll pick up an APO Lanthar when it goes on sale, but a 28mm GM that performs like the 24mm GM, or a small G would be a great alternative. It seems that there isn’t much of a demand for a quality 28mm prime.
p.1 #3 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
I would kill for a fast, sharp GM 28mm (or Sigma, Viltrox, etc). I use a Leica Q with 28mm f1.7 to fill the gap, but I would sell this camera in an instant if a similar lens was available for Sony FE. I've tried the GM 24mm f1.4 in full screen and crop-mode and it just isn't a good replacement, for my needs. Years ago, when it was first released, I acquired the Sony FE 28mm f2, but it just wasn't what I consider to be a great lens.
p.1 #4 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
@bwcolor SAR reprted a while ago that the f/1.8 G variant is in development to replace the aging 28mm FE. I lazily tried to track the source, and looks like everyone is pointing at this tweet: https://x.com/camerainsider/status/2084992322044059982
While I am awaiting for that release, I managed to make peace with the 24mm focal length. First of all, cropping a 24mm FOV to 28mm FOV gives me 36MP file on the A1, and anything bigger than 20MP is more than enough for my needs. Second, I often chop off the "ears" on 3:2 aspect ratio anyway to 4:3, which produces a similar look to 3:2 @28mm.
But yeah, a proper 28mm is still a dream. So much so that I'm periodically contemplating adding an L-mount camera just to get acess to the 28mm APO Summicron SL. I am a 28+50 person, not a 24+35+50 person.
p.1 #5 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
This is why great zooms are your friends
Seriously, 28mm has always been a "no man's land" option for me; never quite long enough or never quite wide enough. I owned the Nikon 28/1.4 back in the DSLR days and essentially used it twice -- the day I got it and the day before I sold it. In my case I used my 24 and 35 f1.4's more often, at least until I realized I never used the 24 wide open and so sold that one too.
Perhaps ironic, but today I find the little Viltrox 26 pancake is sort of the "just right" wider angle street focal, being very good optically in a conveniently small package. Enough tighter than 24 to eliminate more obvious distortions of people and not quite as restrictive compositionally as the 28 when close in. Am I splitting hairs? Probably. Also, if I'm honest, I would like the 26 more if it were an f1.8 or even f2 lens, but it isn't; and it would be larger anyway, so for now I live with it.
p.1 #6 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
I really, really like 28mm FL, but I mainly do landscape (and maybe a bit of architecture) photography. So my CV 28 AL and Sigma 28-45 have satiated my appetite for 28mm, but neither of them are as fast as what some people are looking for.
I also love the Loxia 25, which is probably a bit closer to 26mm as a landscape lens. But I'd still pick 28mm as kind of my all arounder focal length.
There are perspective differences when going after a certain framing if switching between 24mm, 28mm, 35mm....often 28mm works for me. Think of it as in the sweet spot of how I often compose shots. Yes, I know there's an argument that you can crop 24mm, so really it's a personal thing. I'd never fault someone for saying 28mm is "meh" for them, as long as people are respectful to those who like shooting it.
So maybe it's a lack of demand thing, who knows. But there are people who do like 28mm a lot.
p.1 #8 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
I got sick of waiting and picked up the APO Lanthar (stellar lens). I also have the non-native Zeiss ZF 28/2, that is sublime, if a little heavy with its adapter.
I could see a solid case being made for a moody f/1.x, similar to the Leica M 35/1.2 and an f/2 version for precision work. I would snap up the first for sure and would consider replacing the other two with a truly great native AF f/2. That bar is high, though.
p.1 #9 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
My 28mm collection spans three mounts: CZ Distagon 28/2.8 C/Y, the Elmarit-M ASPH, and the Nikkor AF-S 28/1.4E. All are great in their own ways, but I did want to cover 28mm natively. The surprise solution was the Sony FE 28-60/4-5.6 which is the mother of all kit zooms. Besides the powerhouse perfomance, it weighs 167g and looks close to a pancake when collapsed. Fred did a detailed review.
p.1 #10 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
old-gregg wrote:
@bwcolor@ SAR reprted a while ago that the f/1.8 G variant is in development to replace the aging 28mm FE. I lazily tried to track the source, and looks like everyone is pointing at this tweet: https://x.com/camerainsider/status/2084992322044059982
While I am awaiting for that release, I managed to make peace with the 24mm focal length. First of all, cropping a 24mm FOV to 28mm FOV gives me 36MP file on the A1, and anything bigger than 20MP is more than enough for my needs. Second, I often chop off the "ears" on 3:2 aspect ratio anyway to 4:3, which produces a similar look to 3:2 @28mm.
But yeah, a proper 28mm is still a dream. So much so that I'm periodically contemplating adding an L-mount camera just to get acess to the 28mm APO Summicron SL. I am a 28+50 person, not a 24+35+50 person. ...Show more →
That post is encouraging. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
p.1 #11 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
jaggedhorizon wrote:
For me, 28mm is a great street photography lens. Fortunately it doesn’t need to be perfect for that purpose, a bit of character works. So 28 f2 it is.
I can post some samples if anyone’s interested.
I shoot street with the 28 f2. Does what I need. Nice and compact. I mostly go wider though, using a 25, 40 and 85 combination for my cultural / street.
p.1 #12 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
I love 28mm, it was one of my first purchase when I bought into the FF Sony Mirrorless since I thought my old Minolta Maxxum 28mm F2 was(is) great and they have a 28mm f2 for E mount. Then I got that lens and was very disappointed by the results compared to my Minolta(with LE-EA5) that I just stuck with my Minolta until I got the CV 28mm APO.
I think 28 gets a wide enough FOV but without the edge distortion that becomes noticeable even with 24mm. Its also just tight enough to be able to put emphasis on a main subject...
p.1 #13 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
Andrea Pizzini was going over a few Sony registrations in China a month or so ago and said one of the lenses could be a 28mm G... So if we're lucky we might hear an announcement before end of 1st Q 2027?? I'd buy one for sure!!
I also add I'm surprised Sigma has not made a run of 28mm for the Contemporary Series... I'd buy that one too!
p.1 #14 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
John Straus wrote:
Andrea Pizzini was going over a few Sony registrations in China a month or so ago and said one of the lenses could be a 28mm G... So if we're lucky we might hear an announcement before end of 1st Q 2027?? I'd buy one for sure!!
I bet that it'll be announced alongside the new A7c III
p.1 #15 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
I've got a spot in my camera bag that's been waiting for a really good 28mm f/1.4 GM for years. I've always loved that focal length, especially for landscapes. There's just something about 28mm that feels right to my eye. It's how I naturally see a scene, without everything looking stretched or overly wide. My 16-35mm GM II is a fantastic lens, but a really exceptional 28mm prime is something I'd buy in a heartbeat. I just wish Sony would make one.
p.1 #16 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
neilvan wrote:
There's just something about 28mm that feels right to my eye. It's how I naturally see a scene, without everything looking stretched or overly wide.
Someone here recently offered an explanation of 3D in photography, that I really liked: it's when a viewer can feel the distance between different objects in a scene. Two examples of when it's not happening:
1. Fast lenses with longer focal lengths and shallow DOF render flat images with just two distinct layers: the sharp primary subject floating over the blur. This gets worse and worse as the focal length grows.
2. Ultra wide leses deliver everything-is-in-focus look, which flattens the image, while also discomforting the viewer with unrealistic distortions.
This is where the magic of 28mm comes in. At this focal length, you get the modest exaggeration of proportions of subjects based on distance, and also retain the ability to control DOF. That's what gives the sense of 3-dimensionality in an image. You feel that "you're in".
Go wider - and the modest exaggeration turns into uncomfortable distortions, while DOF stretches to almost everything.
Go longer - and you end up with a two-layered image.
p.1 #17 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
John Straus wrote:
Andrea Pizzini was going over a few Sony registrations in China a month or so ago and said one of the lenses could be a 28mm G... So if we're lucky we might hear an announcement before end of 1st Q 2027?? I'd buy one for sure!!
I also add I'm surprised Sigma has not made a run of 28mm for the Contemporary Series... I'd buy that one too!
Not Sigma, but Vitrox has the new 28mm f/2.8 EVO pancake lens.. not a review, but this is an early video where the travel YouTuber shoots in Bali with the EVO pancake lens.
p.1 #18 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
Not Sigma, but Vitrox has the new 28mm f/2.8 EVO pancake lens.. not a review, but this is an early video where the travel YouTuber shoots in Bali with the EVO pancake lens.
p.1 #19 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
My most used focal length (My Leica Q3m goes everywhere with me) Personally I don't want a large GM 1.4 lens but a small, light f2 version. Amazed nothing has ever been released. I bought the viltrox 26mm pancake lens a few weeks ago is good but suffers from severe flaring but is the nearest to what I want
p.1 #20 · Where are Sony’s 28mm GM and/or G Prime Lenses?
I love 28mm so much. I find it just right... Getting tired of carrying the 28mm ART though it looks amazing! Here's to hoping the rumors about a 28/1.8G are true!
