Seems it's new lens (at least their page says so). This got me interested, cause I'm chasing used Sony 28mm F2 for some time already. And this Viltrox seems quite cheap new.
I am no expert in the lens market, but it seems like OMD and Panasonic only make Zoom lenses at the moment. I prefer a prime lens, but in the sense that I like to take out one lens and see what I get for the day. The next day, I take a different lens with me. I like Zoom lenses, but I would not shoot with the same focal length for a while day. 😅
One of my favorites for the micro four-thirds is the Panasonic-Leica 15mm F1.7 (30mm). It's not quite a 28 but it's awfully close. It's compact, sharp, and a superb option for this type of photography.
The Panasonic 14mm pancake is the ultimate street photography lens on m43 imo. It's so small you're not even sure you put a lens on! It's the best for busy streets.
@@followtheboat yes, the 14mm is a good lens, albeit a little slow. But then it's faster, albeit only just, than the Ricoh GRIII's 28 equivalent. I sold mine, but now, & due to how small it was, regret that. Criticism like purple fringing and corner sharpness was never an issue.
I believe the wider you go, the more skill of composition and light capture you need. As an amateur, even 35mm feels too wide for me to get good results, let alone 28mm or 24mm. Hats down to pro's like you who can get results from 24mm or 28mm 🎉
It's just a matter of habit. I use Sony A7 with 24/1.4 lens and this lens almost welded to my camera. I use it for everything from landscapes to portraits. Firstly it was a bit odd FL for me but just in about a month of using it i got used to it and it became my favorite lens.
@@maratbabayan9332 That is a good point. Why did you go for it, to have it for a month? I've tried both my 35mm prime and 16-35mm zoom, and I do use them when needed, but once it's done, they go off instantly for 85mm prime or 24-70mm to take it's place.
That's fair. And it does also depend on the types of things, and type of photography, you're most into. A good photographer might be better able to use a 28mm lens where a different one might have been the better choice, but it also comes down to the layout giving the photographer the opportunity to stand in the correct position to frame it properly. Some focal lengths simply don't work in some locations - so don't be too hard on yourself about that. :)
The optimum focal length is a function of how close you are comfortable shooting people. In crowded, elbow-to-elbow situations 20mm is not too wide, but 28mm is a good compromise. A lot of classic black and white New York street photography was shot on a 28.
28 mm should be used to tell a story. They're fantastic for street photography if you get close. They're wonderful lenses for everyday shooting. You'll get a deeper depth of field than you will with a 35mm lens. I just love it but that's my opinion. Great video
I think novices are too easily wowed into thinking they need ultra wides. But in most cases 28mm is far more useful and doesn’t rely on gimmicky perspective distortion.
When I started out I had a 50 (of course) then got a 35. After that my tutor discouraged me from getting a 28 because it was too close to a 35. When I eventually got a 28 I determined that his advice wasn’t really appropriate for me. The 28 opened up a whole new world. Over the years I also discovered that a ~40mm was the “real” normal lens. *FOR ME* … I could happily live with just the 28 and 40 for almost all of my work. I’ll keep my OM 21/2 forever - it’s one of the best “super wides” ever made. On a crop sensor the 28 becomes ~40 equivalent and the 21 becomes ~32 - close enough. I also have the Rokkor M mount 28mm - right now it pretty much lives on my XPro. And I have the Summicron-C 40mm, which makes a nice short tele on a crop sensor. The point is, all that is personal taste and habits. I have no idea why the 28 and 28 equivalent fell out of favour, except that there seems to have been a bit of a craze for wider and super wide. 28 and 40 for general and street work are pretty much perfect for me.
I love 28mm, but I started as a film photographer. 28 seems to be more popular with folks that came through film. In film, I shot Contax with Zeiss lenses. The 28 was my go-to street and wide. I still use that lens adapted. I have larger cameras and use the HUGE Sigma Art 28mm f1.4 DG HSM, that is an incredible lens, one of their best ones, but it is huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!. It was released with one of their best , the Sigma Art 105 f1.4 DG HSM and the 40 f1.4 DG HSM
I used to have a G2 with 28mm and 45mm. The 28mm was nice but I mostly used the 45, and although it's only 5mm different from the 50mm lenses I was used to the different was still noticeable.
28mm has always been my favorite wide angle lens. Coming from the film days I had 24mm lenses labeled "super wide", nowadays that label seems laughable with how prevalent ultra wides are now. 24mm was always just too wide for me to really walk around as my prime lens and I never really cared for 35mm. Imo if I could only choose two it would be 28mm and either 40 or 50mm. For many years I just shot a 28-70 2.8 zoom and never wanted for anything else aside from an occasional 16mm fisheye shot.
28mm focal length discussions always sound like this. Even Leica Q/Q2 shooters and GR3 fans simultaneously praise and grumble about its limitations. But you’re correct, Sony shooters are deficient in 28mm options which would give us an equivalent focal length which our Leica friends prefer. So having said that, I managed to get a great deal on a Leica CL with the 18mm pancake lens - 35mm crop equivalent of 27mm, and whoops, I’m really liking that focal length (and the camera, dang). But I’m hard pressed to leave a nifty 50 or one of my many 35mm options for 28mm, because I crop a whole lot less..
For me the Fujifilm XF18 1.4 is the lens i really like using for Party- / Eventphotography. Especially for kind of Dancefloor shots and so on. In my eyes a fantastic lens and good in combination with X-T3/5 or X-H2 and so on. I like the focal lenght also for general photography. A bit wider than 35mm but a bit less distortion than a 24mm lens.
Definitely need a compact high quality 28mm prime for a walkabout one prime lens solution. 24mm a bit wide for people and 35mm a bit narrow for landscapes. The 28mm FL is a good compromise.
Nikon have it in compact and Canon has it in pancake. Nikkor 26mm f/2.8 pancake lens is great also. Both companies have the zoom. Canon 15-35mm f/2.8 zoom lens is fantastic what I see on RUclips. Cheers!
It's the most versatile focal length. My most used lens at weddings. It's the lens I use as a filler while I'm creating "art" with the other focal lengths
28 is most favorite focal length for walk around and 90% of what I like to shoot. Love to find a great quality one. My love of it started when I picked up a Nikon CoolPix A.
For.a long time, I avoided the 28mm for a silly reason. I figured (back then) that if I want to shoot in 28mm, I can just use my phone so I rather spend my money on other focal length. Then I got a used GX9 with the 14mm f2 5 attached and found I actually enjoyed that lens.
Thanks I have been considering that lens for it's rectilinear nature. It has been hard to give up the idea of loosing the lens control rings because I use them so extensively on my other lens.
Hands down my favourite street focal length. Forces you to get close enough to "smell the streets" 😉 The Sony f2 FE is a dated but excellent lens. No pancake but compact, plus it has an adapter to go wider. I was in love with that Panasonic 14mm on m43. Took my best strobe shots with it. I've been window-shopping Fuji and was disappointed to see there is only one, dated, pancake 28mm equivalent.
I've just picked up a Canon EF 28mm 2.8 (the old non-IS one) to use with my 6D. I will use it in combination with my 50mm 1.8 as a compact and lightweight all day carry option. It's ironic that the 28mm lens is relatively unloved on cameras , when millions of smartphone users love their 28mm focal length cameraphones!
I’m checking out the options for Nikon F-mount 28mm. They’re at least three decent options out there. Voigtländer 2.8 would also cover my film camera, but Nikon has both 1.4 and 1.8 versions.
I learnt photography on a 35mm Ricoh KR-10, where my everyday lens was a 28mm for many years. It’s great for street/documentary photography and I love it to this day. It wasn’t a premium lens, but it got the job done, which is exactly how I see the Lumix 14mm. You refer to 40mm as being an odd ball lens, but this is a field of view I have grown to love as well. I’ve used both the lumix 20mm and Fuji xf 27mm which are roughly 40mm equivalents on their systems and they’re both great. Also, I believe 40mm is closer to what the human eye sees than a 35mm or 50mm lens, which is probably why I love it so. I’m no pro, so I won’t usually spend vast amounts of money on lenses, but there are decent enough choices out there. You’ve got me thinking about the Fuji xf 18mm f1.4 now though
I used to hate the 28mm focal length - it felt too wide after almost 2 years of using a 50mm exclusively. Yet now it's become my personal favorite. I absolutely love the zuiko 28mm f2.8 when shooting on film, it's so nice.
Hi Matti. You should be taking in the aspect ratio also when comparing lens focal lengths between systems. In landscape orientation, the Leica 15mm for micro 4/3 for example works out comparable to a full frame 30mm lens width wise but comparable to about a 26mm lens in image height, and this is a great lens not far at all from the 28mm full frame lens with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
My favorite lens combo is 28mm&40mm. It's perfect for documenting my friends and lover. BTW, I'm so glad that here's a video talking about focal length.
I can agree that. I am amateur photographer. I usually shoot my family, friends, dogs and sometimes street. Shoot on old Nikon DF and use 70% 28mm with Nikon 28 1.8G af and 20% on the same lens croped to 42mm or use 40mm Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 mf. Have also many other lenses but these are my fav.
I like 27/28mm as a standard street focal length. For some years I used the Fujifilm X70 which had the fixed 28mm equiv lens. So I never thought they were rare or not common.I also have several 18mm options for my APSC Fujis which are 27mm equiv, so I'm rather spoiled for choice. I do prefer that over 35mm.
Totally agree! I favor 28mm over 35mm any day. There is another gap in the E-mount lens line-up around 100mm focal length. As much as I would love to see a compact 28mm f/1.8 with less distortion as the older f/2 version, I would love to get a compact 100mm f/1.8 as well.
I never liked this focal length until I bought the TTArtisan 28mm f/5.6 a year ago for my Leica M and LumixS5 (with an adapter for L mount). I now use it daily because of its small size and discreet appearance (I bought the black version). I've found that it's a perfect length for street photography.
For me, a mft user, 28 mm (equivalent 14 mm) is a real prominent focus length. My EXIF dates show this though I am using a 12-60 mm Lumix/Leica lens. That is why also the Lumix 14-140 mm matches my needs.
I love 28mm, particularly for filming motion. My most used vintage lens after the Helios is the Mir 10a (28mm) which focuses to 20cm. A real jewel. If only we could have some modern versions I'd snap one up.
I've used both 24mm and 28mm primes and I absolutely agree that 28mm is the widest general purpose lens. With lenses this wide 4mm makes a lot of difference. I'm a bit baffled by the obvious gaps in many lens ranges these days. I think some people are probably put off buying into a particular system because there are one or two lenses they need that aren't available for that system. I can remember when film SLR lens ranges were vast but I think those days are over. Zooms these days are excellent and their old reputation for mediocre image quality is a thing of the past, but we still need a good range of primes.
I also fell in love with 28mm as a result of using the GR3. I found it to be the 'do it all' focal length. I use 35mm and 40mm prime lenses + various zooms, so I can shoot 28mm easily enough. I'd prefer a 28mm prime though!
Its my go to wide angle focal length. It's like 24mm for people/portraits, just tightened up enough to still be wide like 24mm but without the perspective distortion. It's like a perfected 24mm.
In your video, you actually answered your question. The compacts has the 28mm. that is the reason why companies are not making a 28mm, it's because they are saving it for the compact cameras.
Back when I shot film, 28mm was definitely my favourite. It was basically what I considered to be my "normal" lens. (I had previously used 35mm as mornal, but once I got a 28mm I never went back...)
Hi Matt. I totally agree with you 28 mm is neglected and it’s a shame. I used to like 24 and 35 but then I discovered the 28mm with a Leica Q and I do love it. It replaces easily a 35mm (you just have to crop a little) and easier to use than a 24. Then some rems for the panorama you give of the 28mm that we can find in the big brands : 1/ I don t remember to find the Sony 28mm f2 so bad… 2/ for m43 you a phage the Leica 15mm (not a big difference) which is quick short and very pleasant to use (with its rare aperture ring) , for Nikon you have the 28mmf1.8 afs compatible with Nikon reflex and z series through the ftz adapter. A very good lens that you can find for less than 300 € on second market usually in good shape as poorly used. 4/ I also tried the 18mm Fuji but I found it a little noisy. So it s not so rare, more versatile than a 35mm (you can just do more) and it’s probably not an error if Ricoh and Leica chose it for they non interchangeable hybrid.
Learned how to really take pictures on 28mm Ricoh GR2 and an Olympus OM20 with a 28mm f/2.8.. Great setups.. That Olympus lens is still one of the best I've ever used.
My last trip to Mexico I took a Nikon FM with a 28mm and a few rolls of film. Anything larger doesn’t allow getting a good street shot in narrow streets. As a travel lens, it was perfect. A very fun experiment!
I learn to use the 28mm equivalent as the result of using the Fujifilm X70 (18.5mm f2.0). This reason to try the Panasonic Leica 30mm in my Olympus Pen F and now is my favorite option for street photography.
For candid street photography , I am using 35mm when the places are not so crowded. If crowded, I am using 28mm. From my experience, if you want to shoot the full body using 35mm focal length, the distance is around 3-3.5m. In order to maintain the similar size of the subject when using 28mm, you need to move closer to the subject. The distance is around 2-2.5m. Of course, you can shoot at 3m or further but the targeted subject maybe blocked by other subjects. If you are using mirrorless camera (even the Sony A7C) + a small prime lens, the subject may aware you are taking their photo because it is too close to the subject. (Not only the size of the camera, the shutter sound also draw the attention.) People may not want to be photographed. Also not all photographers want to get too close to the subject. As a result, 35mm / 40mm / 50mm are more welcome by majority. P.S. I am using Leica M + 28mm / 35mm / 50mm for street photography. For other genres, I am using Sony with fast prime and zoom lenses.
I just got a Brightin Star super compact 28mm F2.8. I purchased it because it’s such a beautiful design, but it’s a really fun lens to use. Def not perfect in the corners but I can forgive the flaws for its ultra compact extremely cool design. I am on a full frame mirrorless camera, but If you are on a crop sensor you wont have issues with the corners. I normally shoot on much faster 50mm and 90mm lenses. But the compact nature of this lens was too nice to resist. If you are adapting this lens to a mirrorless camera get a close focus adapter and it will allow you to get as close as you want to the subject.
I think that Lecia agreed with all lens manufacturers that they would not release 28mm and leave her a place in the market for her new Q3 :) I have all those lovely little sony g's too. But I don't use 24/2.8 at all On a sunny day, I really like to use the 28-60 - it's a very fun lens! At 90% it is in the 28mm position.
I have very many 28mm lenses and 35mm lenses. I learnt photography with 50mm standard lenses and my first purchase was a 28mm and this was my lens pair. I bought 100mm next and that was it in most use cases. The 28mm was the least used. Then I discovered the 35mm lens and suddenly I could make more compelling images more of the time. 35mm was enough to make storytelling more powerful where 28 had tended to dilute the image too much. When I started shooting APSC. I used 35mm most and then went for 28mm and it is a great focal length in the way that 35mm was on film and full frame. I have several 28mm lenses and it’s a good go-to focal length. The rise of the zoom has limited the range of primes you can explore and lenses are too complex and overly large to use discretely. I think Fujifilm have a 27mm or too an that means Viltrox could be another source of lenses in this range.
I just realized that,,,unconsciously... I agree with you. When I was shooting Sony NEX 6 cameras, my go to wide was a Sigma 19mm 2.8--- which is a 28.5mm APSC equivalent. Then, after switching to M4/3, I adopted the 15mm 1.7 Leica as my favorite wide prime-- not an exact 28mm match, but a much better lens than either than either Panasonic or Olympus 14mm lenses. Close enough for me and much more useful than the old "35mm is the true way" standard that I grew up with.
I thought I wasn't a fan of the 28mm focal length until I came across a good deal I couldn't pass by on a Nikkor 28mm f1.8 lens. I've found I've used it a lot, much more than I expected. Funny how things work out 😋
As many I was a strong 24+35mm fan. I was not at ease with 28mm too wide for portraits,, to straight for landscapes. Then i sold my gr II... But I felt in love lately with pentax 31mm that I used as a 35mm but with more spaces for groupes and environnements pictures, and was perfect for street photography. I have progressed a lot with that focal. Then I gave ricoh gr a new chance with the 3rd edition and I love it. I would just have like a f/2 or a tiny flash. Options on pentzx mount are too big for this camera
I use only 28mm manual prime lens for my Nikon D610. I tried also 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, but... At least for my style of photography, 28mm is the best prime lens (I shoot with primes only).
Thanks Matti. I also think that 24mm has limited use. 28mm has been my preferred wide angle lens for many years. In my practice, usually wide enough and not have the risk of giving « unnatural » images. My standard lens is 35mm and I switch to 75/90 or 24 when needed. I feel I have a wide choice and still a small and light bag to tote around.
The reason the Sony 28/2 hasn't been updated is because it was quite good, and modern out of the gate. The problem appears (like with many early Sony lenses) to be inconsistent quality control. I would highly recommend trying another one. Would I like an updated 1.8 or 1.4? Sure, but the the 28/2 has served me very well, and continues to.
That exactly was the problem with Sony lenses back then. I'm sure there are many good copies of the Sony 28mm out there but so far I'm happy with the two Viltrox 28mm lenses that I have.
As most of my photography consist of walking around and shooting the things I see in the small town that I live in or landscape photography my choice of lens for the day is usually determined by how much sky I want in my pictures. If the sky is filled with interesting clouds I'll put the Summicron 28mm v1 on my camera if not I'll go with Summicron 35mm v2. While most people may find little difference between a 28mm and 35mm and say you can just step back or forward a few feet depending on which you're using I've found that doing so gives you very different results.
I bought lumix 14mm f2.5, but late i discovered by reading its patent that it is a 15mm and not a 14. For quivalence you are skilled to calculate by yourself.
Just saw this video. I have the same dilemna. I previously owned a Lumix 7-14mm and a Pentax MX 1 (1/1.7" sensor, 28-105mm equivalent lens). Both of which I love shooting on the 28mm equivalent focal length.
Hello Matti, I simply can't get used to wide angle lenses. My zoom can go to 24mm and I rearly use it below 40mm-same focal length as my Prime lens. My artistic eye doesn't see good compositions below 40mm, except for landscape photography, with some nice skies. I think it comes with the fact, that I have to shoot from a shorter distance to the subject, which I'm not that comfortable with.
I also underestimated and disdained the 28mm for years. Since switching to MFT the 15mm 1.7 Panasonic Leica (30mm, I know!) has grown dear to me but it took time. The quality is awesome and I cannot do without anymore. It glued to my Olympus E-PL10, like the 20mm 1.4 (=40mm) to my Olympus E-M5 MkIII. I dropped 35mm after 15 years. It was a favourite but looking back at a decade of digital photography I found the shots always to be boring. That is of course a personal issue 😂
I think I mostly use the Panasonic-Leica 15mm F1.7 lens on the Lumix GX80 camera body. You can probably say that this lens is almost premium quality and has a very similar angle of view to the discussed 28 mm focal length.
It might be that lens manufacturers are trying to differentiate themselves from the standard iPhone look. The default lens on my iPhone X is 28mm. If half the smartphones on the market are taking every shot at 28mm default, you might go slightly higher or lower to look different and make the lens feel stand out from the plethora of images on social media.
Thanks for the video. Don’t know why I missed this but still very relevant even now. I want a modern quality updated one for Sony full frame. My current work around is the new FE 24-50/2.8 zoom with markings for 24, 28, 35, and 50mm focal lengths. Would still like a quality prime that’s small but on the fast side. Maybe someday. Take care.
I guess part of the problem is that for entry level systems, the kit lenses or even fixed lenses are around 28mm. 27mm for phones, 14mm for Micro 4/3rds and 18mm for APS-C. For the reasons you outline... it's a good all around focal length, not much distortion, good reach, but wide enough for use indoors and for landscapes. So, when you offer add on lenses, to make people feel like they're getting something "better" or "professional" for their money, primes are usually at a longer focal length.
Well on most DSLR kits the zoom starts at 18 mm which is equivalent to about 28 mm. By compact camera is G9 X Mark II which starts at 28 mm so I am used to it. If I want wider then it should be much wider.
Absolutely agree. Just bought a 28mm. In the time of film 28mm was always my choice, I've just sold a 20mm. Amazing piece of kit and I'm looking to replace it with a truly wide angle zoom but 28mm would be my lens of all round choice.
I have that Nikon Z mount lens and use it with my Z5. It’s a great little lens. I didn’t think I’d like it too much, but it actually gets more use than my 50mm 1.8
I have and still use the 28 mm 2.8 Nikkor lens. It is not a premium lens and does its job, I also don't see too much curvature of the focal plane. A field of view equivalent to 28 mm in 135-terms is used by many smartphones for their main camera. In order to take pictures which are instantly recognizable as non-smartphone lenses, other options might be more sought after. Like 24 mm. I have a 24 mm 1.8 lens which is (borderline) still usable for general photography. Like 35 mm. It is boring, because it almost always works. I think it is the most useful lens for any user, while not exciting it usually comes with good close-focus which helps, and gets the job done
I got started with 28mm with a Yashica film point and shoot with a T* 28mm lens that I really liked - compact and sharp. That stopped working, and I went back to my Canon FTb with Canon 50mm f/1.8. Use what you have! I went through some Fuji pocket point and shoots when I was travelling, then transitioned to early Fuji digital point and shoots. Then, I bought a used Sigma DP1 - the original one, with a 28mm equivalent lens. Wow! Suddenly, I was enthused about photography again! The lens extension arm inside was plastic, and as it turned out, fragile. I sent it back twice for repairs, then it got old enough that Sigma would no longer repair it. I went back to the Fuji's but by comparison to the Sigma were very disappointing. I picked up a used Canon M100 and a used Canon 22mm f/2 M-series lens, but compared to the crispness, the clarity of the Sigma ... it was also disappointing, but decent enough as a video camera. I bought a used Sigma DP2M (Merrill) with the 45mm equivalent, and REALLY missed the 28mm equivalent of the DP1. I bought a new Sigma SD Quattro with the 30mm f/1.4 Art kit lens, then a used Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 zoom, and that got me back into 28mm equivalent. I now use a Sigma fp, and with the Sigma MC-21 SA-L mount adapter have found new love for the 30mm f/1.4 Art lens - which is a crop sensor lens, but actually fills full-frame with just a bit of vignette, and a lot of character. It's 2mm tighter than 28mm and even with the adapter light and compact. I have a 35mm f/1.4 Art, which is heavy and huge and kinda great but just a bit too narrow ... the 30mm is perfect! -Tom
The Fuji 18mm f/1.4 is the only lens keeping me on Fuji now. Not a single mirrorless 28mm equivalent lens across all brands come close to the Fuji's optical performance.
I think one important thing that doesn't get mentioned enough with the GR cameras when talking about 28mm vs 35mm or other focal lengths is that since you're shooting on an LCD screen and the camera is in your hand, with your arm extended, rather than on your face at eye level, you compose/frame as if it were a 35mm but the image feels like 28mm. I bet many people shooting a 28mm through a viewfinder won't enjoy it as much. You can test this by shooting two 28mm images, one at eye level and another at arm's length. The distance you "cover" by extending your arm is enough to change the feel of the image. And this is something we do unconsciously when we shoot with the GR.
Interesting. I commented separately that when using an OVF or EVF, we are restricting our bodies potential positions somewhat and therefore our composition options, which when using a camera like the GR (or in my case Fuji XF10) is no longer a problem. I had not considered the camera to subject distance. Your point is also valid, though limited to taking pictures of things rather than places. Arguably when shooting a wide angle lens we should not be using the viewfinder at all if possible.
Have the Tameron 11-20mm 2.8 for APSC and I adore it toward the narrower focal end. It's a super sharp zoom so if you like the 28mm focally, go and try that one.
Thanks for your tip. However, in the video I'm talking about prime lenses, not zooms. I have tested the Tamron and I like it a lot: ruclips.net/video/2WO6syfFlUc/видео.html
I am shooting with canon apsc. My main lens is canon efs 24mm f2.8 pancake lens. Love that little thing. Very compact, fast enough, but.. I wish I could try 28mm. I always end up cropping most of my images in post processing. Seems to be a little bit too wide. Unfortunately, there is no option for 28mm lens for canon apsc. The only available full frame 28mm af lens would not be 28mm on my crop sensor. So... Must forget that and keep enjoying the pancake!
In the ZUIKO lens of the film era, up to 28mm was a "wide-angle lens" and 24mm or less was a "ultra-wide-angle lens". Has it changed in the digital age? I don't know why it happened either.
Meanwhile most phone cameras are somewhere in the 26-28mm focal length, and we see those pictures basically every day. That focal length is the most popular in the world because of the sheer number of cell phones, whether the camera companies know it or not.
I love the 28mm equivalent field of view. Very sad to see that Sony doesn't have many options. I don't like the 24mm. Guess I've got to adapt my Minolta MD 28f2.8.
28mm is my all time favorite for landscape photography in the mountains and hope we see primes soon. iPhone is what actually got me to love that focal length, then came the A7C with the kit lens 28-60 followed by the GR III that I also own. 28 is a versatile focal length that will always be my favorite. In fact many users wished the Fuji X100v was 28mm when it came out.
Thanks for sharing. I remember it when the X100 came out, the first one, and even back then some were not happy the 35mm lens, but you can't please everyone. Later I think people have been hoping for a 28mm so it would be more like the Leica Q. Poor man's Q, that is😀
@@mattisulanto lol yes not all of us can afford the Leica Q2. Thank goodness for the Ricoh GR III. It was really a great decision that Ricoh chose the 28 mm.
Interesting Matti - thanks. I’ve recently bought the small & light Sigma 19mm which is 28mm equiv on my a6500. I also have Pentax & Olympus vintage 28mm lenses which are a versatile 42mm or 56mm on my a6500 or Oly EM5 mk iii.
Still have my original Nikkor 24f/2.8, 50f/1.8 and 105f/2.5 lenses, looking at them now… These days I prefer 21mm, 35mm, and a short tele like a 90mm. Never really bonded with 28 but definitely see the appeal of 28, 50 in day to day photography. Although I have a Zeiss ZF.2 28mm that is dreamy and comes out on special occasions.
Totally agree, for a one prime compact lens to do it all I think 28mm is perfect (especially in full frame where you can also get 36mm out of it) but have hit your exact problem even with sony!
I have been a fan of the 28mm however I am not a fan of the newest modern lenses because of their clinical look. I don't need auto focus 90% of the time so now I look for quality vintage lenses for my mirrorless camera.
🙂 Love this video and totally agree with your perspective🙂...part of the reason I started using the Fujifilm X-E1 was bc they had a FUJIFILM XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens which is a 27.54mm F2.14 35mm equivalent lens...its was as close as I could get to the 28mm focal length 🙂I really love the feel of that lens 🙂You should try it...I think you would like it 🙂
sadly you forgot the Fujifilm xf18mm f1.4 R LM WR. There you got a fine 28mm lens that is small, compact, un-expensive, water resistant, easy to carry around, bright, fast focusing, Video ready, premium lens 😅
I also have the TTArtisans 28mm f/5.6 manual lens, Leica M to L mount adapter. It produces excellent results on my L-mount Leicas and Panasonic. As you say, the Sigma 28mm is probably a very good lens, but it's on the large side, and I wouldn't buy one in L-mount for that reason.
For landscapes and other scenic shots, I prefer a lens with a 65-degree horizontal angle-of-view. For my 6x9cm medium format camera, that would be a lens with a 65mm focal length. For my full-frame cameras, that would be a lens with a 28mm focal length. When I shoot landscapes with my 28mm lens, I like to use it in the following three-lens kit: 14mm f/2.8 28mm f/2.8 or 28mm f/2 55mm f/3.5 macro
i've said this many times, but i really, really must get my efm 28mm off the shelf & dusted! (i bought it for its macro capabilities, & seem to remember liking it for general purpose stuff too!) 😊
I love this focal length. I use a 20mm on an APSC body which becomes a 30mm. This focal length is close to the iPhone main camera focal length too so if I don't have my camera with me, I am used to the focal length and can focus on composition.
For me, 28mm (or wider) is a bit difficult. There's a tendency to put as many as possible stuffs in the frame so you need to be careful when framing. And for people-oriented street photos, usually you'll want to get closer, but I don't like the "distorted" (bigger than actual) look. But for architecture/geometry-oriented shoots, I usually happy with the result. Well, it's a matter of taste. There are some situations which require 28mm. But that's not something I put on my daily camera bag. Other folks may think 28mm is their normal focal length.
In the early 1970's, my first 35mm film camera was an Olympus 35 SP with a 42mm f1.7 lens. I thought it was weird that it didn't have a 50mm lens like most top brands of cameras. Then I "graduated" to SLR's with 50mm lenses. I found out that 50mm "normal" lens was a good compromise, but was two short in some cases, and too long in others. That's when I realized why Minolta and Nikon had 57/58mm lenses. Better for portraits, with a 28mm making a great pairing. When I bought my first MFT camera, I also got the Panasonic 20mm lens, and I've been happy with it. I still have the Panasonic 20, and also have a Veydra 19mm. For S35 format I do consider a 28-32 lens as a normal, for FF sensors I'd go with a 40mm normal lens.
After I recorded the video I realized that Viltrox has a 28mm F1.8 for Sony. Somehow I ignored that.
that came out 4 days ago but no review yet about it
Seems it's new lens (at least their page says so). This got me interested, cause I'm chasing used Sony 28mm F2 for some time already.
And this Viltrox seems quite cheap new.
@@AllTrackerz WOW ... that's interesting. I was not aware there are two versions of this lens. Now I have to search for new one but used :D.
I am no expert in the lens market, but it seems like OMD and Panasonic only make Zoom lenses at the moment.
I prefer a prime lens, but in the sense that I like to take out one lens and see what I get for the day. The next day, I take a different lens with me. I like Zoom lenses, but I would not shoot with the same focal length for a while day. 😅
This does support your point though. That's only one lens!
One of my favorites for the micro four-thirds is the Panasonic-Leica 15mm F1.7 (30mm). It's not quite a 28 but it's awfully close. It's compact, sharp, and a superb option for this type of photography.
This is my go to lens, love it!
The DJI 15mm 1.7 'clone' is even cheaper. I have that one, and it's stunning. Cost me £170. It's my go-to m43 lens.
The Panasonic 14mm pancake is the ultimate street photography lens on m43 imo. It's so small you're not even sure you put a lens on! It's the best for busy streets.
I bought the 15 mm 1.7 like that before I even owned the micro four-thirds camera...
@@followtheboat yes, the 14mm is a good lens, albeit a little slow. But then it's faster, albeit only just, than the Ricoh GRIII's 28 equivalent. I sold mine, but now, & due to how small it was, regret that. Criticism like purple fringing and corner sharpness was never an issue.
I believe the wider you go, the more skill of composition and light capture you need. As an amateur, even 35mm feels too wide for me to get good results, let alone 28mm or 24mm. Hats down to pro's like you who can get results from 24mm or 28mm 🎉
It's just a matter of habit. I use Sony A7 with 24/1.4 lens and this lens almost welded to my camera. I use it for everything from landscapes to portraits. Firstly it was a bit odd FL for me but just in about a month of using it i got used to it and it became my favorite lens.
@@maratbabayan9332 That is a good point. Why did you go for it, to have it for a month? I've tried both my 35mm prime and 16-35mm zoom, and I do use them when needed, but once it's done, they go off instantly for 85mm prime or 24-70mm to take it's place.
That's fair. And it does also depend on the types of things, and type of photography, you're most into. A good photographer might be better able to use a 28mm lens where a different one might have been the better choice, but it also comes down to the layout giving the photographer the opportunity to stand in the correct position to frame it properly. Some focal lengths simply don't work in some locations - so don't be too hard on yourself about that. :)
Excellent comment, and so true and on point! 👍
The optimum focal length is a function of how close you are comfortable shooting people. In crowded, elbow-to-elbow situations 20mm is not too wide, but 28mm is a good compromise. A lot of classic black and white New York street photography was shot on a 28.
28 mm should be used to tell a story. They're fantastic for street photography if you get close. They're wonderful lenses for everyday shooting. You'll get a deeper depth of field than you will with a 35mm lens. I just love it but that's my opinion.
Great video
Fuji's 18mm 1.4 or f2 has a 27mm field of view. Also, the X100v has a 28mm conversion lens that works very well. I use it all the time.
My experience is pretty similar. I didn't like 28mm until I started using the Ricoh GR 3 a year ago...
I think novices are too easily wowed into thinking they need ultra wides. But in most cases 28mm is far more useful and doesn’t rely on gimmicky perspective distortion.
When I started out I had a 50 (of course) then got a 35. After that my tutor discouraged me from getting a 28 because it was too close to a 35. When I eventually got a 28 I determined that his advice wasn’t really appropriate for me. The 28 opened up a whole new world. Over the years I also discovered that a ~40mm was the “real” normal lens. *FOR ME* … I could happily live with just the 28 and 40 for almost all of my work. I’ll keep my OM 21/2 forever - it’s one of the best “super wides” ever made. On a crop sensor the 28 becomes ~40 equivalent and the 21 becomes ~32 - close enough. I also have the Rokkor M mount 28mm - right now it pretty much lives on my XPro. And I have the Summicron-C 40mm, which makes a nice short tele on a crop sensor.
The point is, all that is personal taste and habits. I have no idea why the 28 and 28 equivalent fell out of favour, except that there seems to have been a bit of a craze for wider and super wide. 28 and 40 for general and street work are pretty much perfect for me.
I love 28mm, but I started as a film photographer. 28 seems to be more popular with folks that came through film. In film, I shot Contax with Zeiss lenses. The 28 was my go-to street and wide. I still use that lens adapted. I have larger cameras and use the HUGE Sigma Art 28mm f1.4 DG HSM, that is an incredible lens, one of their best ones, but it is huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!. It was released with one of their best , the Sigma Art 105 f1.4 DG HSM and the 40 f1.4 DG HSM
I used to have a G2 with 28mm and 45mm. The 28mm was nice but I mostly used the 45, and although it's only 5mm different from the 50mm lenses I was used to the different was still noticeable.
Same. I started with a k1000 and a 28mm. Still a favorite focal length for me.
28mm has always been my favorite wide angle lens. Coming from the film days I had 24mm lenses labeled "super wide", nowadays that label seems laughable with how prevalent ultra wides are now. 24mm was always just too wide for me to really walk around as my prime lens and I never really cared for 35mm. Imo if I could only choose two it would be 28mm and either 40 or 50mm. For many years I just shot a 28-70 2.8 zoom and never wanted for anything else aside from an occasional 16mm fisheye shot.
28mm focal length discussions always sound like this. Even Leica Q/Q2 shooters and GR3 fans simultaneously praise and grumble about its limitations. But you’re correct, Sony shooters are deficient in 28mm options which would give us an equivalent focal length which our Leica friends prefer. So having said that, I managed to get a great deal on a Leica CL with the 18mm pancake lens - 35mm crop equivalent of 27mm, and whoops, I’m really liking that focal length (and the camera, dang). But I’m hard pressed to leave a nifty 50 or one of my many 35mm options for 28mm, because I crop a whole lot less..
For me the Fujifilm XF18 1.4 is the lens i really like using for Party- / Eventphotography. Especially for kind of Dancefloor shots and so on.
In my eyes a fantastic lens and good in combination with X-T3/5 or X-H2 and so on. I like the focal lenght also for general photography.
A bit wider than 35mm but a bit less distortion than a 24mm lens.
Definitely need a compact high quality 28mm prime for a walkabout one prime lens solution. 24mm a bit wide for people and 35mm a bit narrow for landscapes. The 28mm FL is a good compromise.
Nikon have it in compact and Canon has it in pancake. Nikkor 26mm f/2.8 pancake lens is great also. Both companies have the zoom. Canon 15-35mm f/2.8 zoom lens is fantastic what I see on RUclips. Cheers!
I think the Canon RF 28mm came out just after I made the video and zooms don't count since I'm talking about primes😀 Thanks for your input anyway.
@@mattisulanto I know but that 15-35mm zoom looks awesome. Expensive though but I love the Canon RF 28mm. Cheers!
Just bought an 18mm (28mm full frame equivalent) for my Fuji kit…but it’s a few years old and a bit noisy, sharp though!..❤😊
Canon 28mm RF f/2.8 pancake is small and light, with great color, contrast, sharpness, and character
That lens is indeed very nice, but it did not exist when I made the video.
It's the most versatile focal length. My most used lens at weddings. It's the lens I use as a filler while I'm creating "art" with the other focal lengths
I often carry a 28 and a 35 simultaneously. Love both; each has its strengths. I find the 35 to be more useful more of the time.
28 is most favorite focal length for walk around and 90% of what I like to shoot. Love to find a great quality one. My love of it started when I picked up a Nikon CoolPix A.
I bought the Fuji 18mm f1.4 ( 27mm on my APS Fuji camera. Life is beautiful now. It is used for almost all my work now..
For.a long time, I avoided the 28mm for a silly reason. I figured (back then) that if I want to shoot in 28mm, I can just use my phone so I rather spend my money on other focal length. Then I got a used GX9 with the 14mm f2 5 attached and found I actually enjoyed that lens.
Thanks I have been considering that lens for it's rectilinear nature. It has been hard to give up the idea of loosing the lens control rings because I use them so extensively on my other lens.
LoL I have had a 28mm lens (or multiple even) and left it home not to have the same as my phone. But why do I love shooting with my phone? :)
Hands down my favourite street focal length. Forces you to get close enough to "smell the streets" 😉 The Sony f2 FE is a dated but excellent lens. No pancake but compact, plus it has an adapter to go wider. I was in love with that Panasonic 14mm on m43. Took my best strobe shots with it. I've been window-shopping Fuji and was disappointed to see there is only one, dated, pancake 28mm equivalent.
If you go back to micro 4/3, the f1.7 panasonic Leica 15mm (30mm equiv) is small, light, well built and fast and it even has an aperture ring...
I've just picked up a Canon EF 28mm 2.8 (the old non-IS one) to use with my 6D.
I will use it in combination with my 50mm 1.8 as a compact and lightweight all day carry option.
It's ironic that the 28mm lens is relatively unloved on cameras , when millions of smartphone users love their 28mm focal length cameraphones!
I’m checking out the options for Nikon F-mount 28mm. They’re at least three decent options out there. Voigtländer 2.8 would also cover my film camera, but Nikon has both 1.4 and 1.8 versions.
I learnt photography on a 35mm Ricoh KR-10, where my everyday lens was a 28mm for many years. It’s great for street/documentary photography and I love it to this day. It wasn’t a premium lens, but it got the job done, which is exactly how I see the Lumix 14mm. You refer to 40mm as being an odd ball lens, but this is a field of view I have grown to love as well. I’ve used both the lumix 20mm and Fuji xf 27mm which are roughly 40mm equivalents on their systems and they’re both great. Also, I believe 40mm is closer to what the human eye sees than a 35mm or 50mm lens, which is probably why I love it so. I’m no pro, so I won’t usually spend vast amounts of money on lenses, but there are decent enough choices out there. You’ve got me thinking about the Fuji xf 18mm f1.4 now though
I used to hate the 28mm focal length - it felt too wide after almost 2 years of using a 50mm exclusively. Yet now it's become my personal favorite. I absolutely love the zuiko 28mm f2.8 when shooting on film, it's so nice.
I use this lens too, I have the 40mm and 85mm f2 I didn't knew that the price is so high for those vintage lens.
Hi Matti. You should be taking in the aspect ratio also when comparing lens focal lengths between systems. In landscape orientation, the Leica 15mm for micro 4/3 for example works out comparable to a full frame 30mm lens width wise but comparable to about a 26mm lens in image height, and this is a great lens not far at all from the 28mm full frame lens with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
My favorite lens combo is 28mm&40mm. It's perfect for documenting my friends and lover.
BTW, I'm so glad that here's a video talking about focal length.
Thank you.
I can agree that. I am amateur photographer. I usually shoot my family, friends, dogs and sometimes street. Shoot on old Nikon DF and use 70% 28mm with Nikon 28 1.8G af and 20% on the same lens croped to 42mm or use 40mm Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 mf. Have also many other lenses but these are my fav.
I had a 28mm, 50mm and a short telephoto zoom with my Olympus OM1 and I looked at the 35mm before I purchased the 28mm and never regretted it .
I like 27/28mm as a standard street focal length. For some years I used the Fujifilm X70 which had the fixed 28mm equiv lens. So I never thought they were rare or not common.I also have several 18mm options for my APSC Fujis which are 27mm equiv, so I'm rather spoiled for choice. I do prefer that over 35mm.
Try another copy of the Sony FE 2/28. There are well aligned copies. It is the best 28mm I've used.
I use a fuji 16mm 2.8 and 50mm f2 they work well . 16mm is usable but you just have to give yourself time to get used to it.
Totally agree! I favor 28mm over 35mm any day. There is another gap in the E-mount lens line-up around 100mm focal length. As much as I would love to see a compact 28mm f/1.8 with less distortion as the older f/2 version, I would love to get a compact 100mm f/1.8 as well.
I never liked this focal length until I bought the TTArtisan 28mm f/5.6 a year ago for my Leica M and LumixS5 (with an adapter for L mount). I now use it daily because of its small size and discreet appearance (I bought the black version). I've found that it's a perfect length for street photography.
For me, a mft user, 28 mm (equivalent 14 mm) is a real prominent focus length. My EXIF dates show this though I am using a 12-60 mm Lumix/Leica lens. That is why also the Lumix 14-140 mm matches my needs.
I love 28mm, particularly for filming motion. My most used vintage lens after the Helios is the Mir 10a (28mm) which focuses to 20cm. A real jewel. If only we could have some modern versions I'd snap one up.
I've used both 24mm and 28mm primes and I absolutely agree that 28mm is the widest general purpose lens. With lenses this wide 4mm makes a lot of difference. I'm a bit baffled by the obvious gaps in many lens ranges these days. I think some people are probably put off buying into a particular system because there are one or two lenses they need that aren't available for that system. I can remember when film SLR lens ranges were vast but I think those days are over. Zooms these days are excellent and their old reputation for mediocre image quality is a thing of the past, but we still need a good range of primes.
I also fell in love with 28mm as a result of using the GR3. I found it to be the 'do it all' focal length. I use 35mm and 40mm prime lenses + various zooms, so I can shoot 28mm easily enough. I'd prefer a 28mm prime though!
28mm on compact camera is almost 35mm as you don't use a viewfinder and hold the camera away from the body (distance reduction).
Its my go to wide angle focal length. It's like 24mm for people/portraits, just tightened up enough to still be wide like 24mm but without the perspective distortion. It's like a perfected 24mm.
In your video, you actually answered your question. The compacts has the 28mm. that is the reason why companies are not making a 28mm, it's because they are saving it for the compact cameras.
Back when I shot film, 28mm was definitely my favourite. It was basically what I considered to be my "normal" lens. (I had previously used 35mm as mornal, but once I got a 28mm I never went back...)
Agreed. I just bought the Canon R 28mm pancake. Delighted to have it.
Hi Matt. I totally agree with you 28 mm is neglected and it’s a shame. I used to like 24 and 35 but then I discovered the 28mm with a Leica Q and I do love it. It replaces easily a 35mm (you just have to crop a little) and easier to use than a 24. Then some rems for the panorama you give of the 28mm that we can find in the big brands : 1/ I don t remember to find the Sony 28mm f2 so bad… 2/ for m43 you a phage the Leica 15mm (not a big difference) which is quick short and very pleasant to use (with its rare aperture ring) , for Nikon you have the 28mmf1.8 afs compatible with Nikon reflex and z series through the ftz adapter. A very good lens that you can find for less than 300 € on second market usually in good shape as poorly used. 4/ I also tried the 18mm Fuji but I found it a little noisy. So it s not so rare, more versatile than a 35mm (you can just do more) and it’s probably not an error if Ricoh and Leica chose it for they non interchangeable hybrid.
Learned how to really take pictures on 28mm Ricoh GR2 and an Olympus OM20 with a 28mm f/2.8.. Great setups.. That Olympus lens is still one of the best I've ever used.
My last trip to Mexico I took a Nikon FM with a 28mm and a few rolls of film. Anything larger doesn’t allow getting a good street shot in narrow streets. As a travel lens, it was perfect. A very fun experiment!
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a fun trip.
I learn to use the 28mm equivalent as the result of using the Fujifilm X70 (18.5mm f2.0). This reason to try the Panasonic Leica 30mm in my Olympus Pen F and now is my favorite option for street photography.
For candid street photography , I am using 35mm when the places are not so crowded. If crowded, I am using 28mm. From my experience, if you want to shoot the full body using 35mm focal length, the distance is around 3-3.5m. In order to maintain the similar size of the subject when using 28mm, you need to move closer to the subject. The distance is around 2-2.5m. Of course, you can shoot at 3m or further but the targeted subject maybe blocked by other subjects.
If you are using mirrorless camera (even the Sony A7C) + a small prime lens, the subject may aware you are taking their photo because it is too close to the subject. (Not only the size of the camera, the shutter sound also draw the attention.) People may not want to be photographed. Also not all photographers want to get too close to the subject. As a result, 35mm / 40mm / 50mm are more welcome by majority.
P.S. I am using Leica M + 28mm / 35mm / 50mm for street photography. For other genres, I am using Sony with fast prime and zoom lenses.
I just got a Brightin Star super compact 28mm F2.8. I purchased it because it’s such a beautiful design, but it’s a really fun lens to use. Def not perfect in the corners but I can forgive the flaws for its ultra compact extremely cool design. I am on a full frame mirrorless camera, but If you are on a crop sensor you wont have issues with the corners. I normally shoot on much faster 50mm and 90mm lenses. But the compact nature of this lens was too nice to resist. If you are adapting this lens to a mirrorless camera get a close focus adapter and it will allow you to get as close as you want to the subject.
I think that Lecia agreed with all lens manufacturers that they would not release 28mm and leave her a place in the market for her new Q3 :)
I have all those lovely little sony g's too. But I don't use 24/2.8 at all
On a sunny day, I really like to use the 28-60 - it's a very fun lens! At 90% it is in the 28mm position.
I have very many 28mm lenses and 35mm lenses. I learnt photography with 50mm standard lenses and my first purchase was a 28mm and this was my lens pair. I bought 100mm next and that was it in most use cases. The 28mm was the least used. Then I discovered the 35mm lens and suddenly I could make more compelling images more of the time. 35mm was enough to make storytelling more powerful where 28 had tended to dilute the image too much. When I started shooting APSC. I used 35mm most and then went for 28mm and it is a great focal length in the way that 35mm was on film and full frame. I have several 28mm lenses and it’s a good go-to focal length. The rise of the zoom has limited the range of primes you can explore and lenses are too complex and overly large to use discretely. I think Fujifilm have a 27mm or too an that means Viltrox could be another source of lenses in this range.
I just realized that,,,unconsciously... I agree with you. When I was shooting Sony NEX 6 cameras, my go to wide was a Sigma 19mm 2.8--- which is a 28.5mm APSC equivalent. Then, after switching to M4/3, I adopted the 15mm 1.7 Leica as my favorite wide prime-- not an exact 28mm match, but a much better lens than either than either Panasonic or Olympus 14mm lenses. Close enough for me and much more useful than the old "35mm is the true way" standard that I grew up with.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I thought I wasn't a fan of the 28mm focal length until I came across a good deal I couldn't pass by on a Nikkor 28mm f1.8 lens. I've found I've used it a lot, much more than I expected. Funny how things work out 😋
As many I was a strong 24+35mm fan.
I was not at ease with 28mm too wide for portraits,, to straight for landscapes. Then i sold my gr II... But I felt in love lately with pentax 31mm that I used as a 35mm but with more spaces for groupes and environnements pictures, and was perfect for street photography. I have progressed a lot with that focal. Then I gave ricoh gr a new chance with the 3rd edition and I love it. I would just have like a f/2 or a tiny flash. Options on pentzx mount are too big for this camera
I use only 28mm manual prime lens for my Nikon D610. I tried also 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, but... At least for my style of photography, 28mm is the best prime lens (I shoot with primes only).
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Matti. I also think that 24mm has limited use. 28mm has been my preferred wide angle lens for many years. In my practice, usually wide enough and not have the risk of giving « unnatural » images. My standard lens is 35mm and I switch to 75/90 or 24 when needed. I feel I have a wide choice and still a small and light bag to tote around.
olympus kit always starts from 14mm at f3.5. the next best thing to a 28mm is the 15mm f1.7 panaleica.
The reason the Sony 28/2 hasn't been updated is because it was quite good, and modern out of the gate. The problem appears (like with many early Sony lenses) to be inconsistent quality control. I would highly recommend trying another one. Would I like an updated 1.8 or 1.4? Sure, but the the 28/2 has served me very well, and continues to.
That exactly was the problem with Sony lenses back then. I'm sure there are many good copies of the Sony 28mm out there but so far I'm happy with the two Viltrox 28mm lenses that I have.
As most of my photography consist of walking around and shooting the things I see in the small town that I live in or landscape photography my choice of lens for the day is usually determined by how much sky I want in my pictures. If the sky is filled with interesting clouds I'll put the Summicron 28mm v1 on my camera if not I'll go with Summicron 35mm v2. While most people may find little difference between a 28mm and 35mm and say you can just step back or forward a few feet depending on which you're using I've found that doing so gives you very different results.
I bought lumix 14mm f2.5, but late i discovered by reading its patent that it is a 15mm and not a 14. For quivalence you are skilled to calculate by yourself.
Just saw this video. I have the same dilemna. I previously owned a Lumix 7-14mm and a Pentax MX 1 (1/1.7" sensor, 28-105mm equivalent lens). Both of which I love shooting on the 28mm equivalent focal length.
28mm is the most versatile focal length being the widest and still people/face friendly focal length. You are right, it should not be neglected.
Hello Matti, I simply can't get used to wide angle lenses. My zoom can go to 24mm and I rearly use it below 40mm-same focal length as my Prime lens. My artistic eye doesn't see good compositions below 40mm, except for landscape photography, with some nice skies. I think it comes with the fact, that I have to shoot from a shorter distance to the subject, which I'm not that comfortable with.
Thanks for sharing. To each their own😀 Use whatever works.
I also underestimated and disdained the 28mm for years. Since switching to MFT the 15mm 1.7 Panasonic Leica (30mm, I know!) has grown dear to me but it took time. The quality is awesome and I cannot do without anymore. It glued to my Olympus E-PL10, like the 20mm 1.4 (=40mm) to my Olympus E-M5 MkIII.
I dropped 35mm after 15 years. It was a favourite but looking back at a decade of digital photography I found the shots always to be boring. That is of course a personal issue 😂
I think I mostly use the Panasonic-Leica 15mm F1.7 lens on the Lumix GX80 camera body. You can probably say that this lens is almost premium quality and has a very similar angle of view to the discussed 28 mm focal length.
It might be that lens manufacturers are trying to differentiate themselves from the standard iPhone look. The default lens on my iPhone X is 28mm. If half the smartphones on the market are taking every shot at 28mm default, you might go slightly higher or lower to look different and make the lens feel stand out from the plethora of images on social media.
Thanks for the video. Don’t know why I missed this but still very relevant even now. I want a modern quality updated one for Sony full frame. My current work around is the new FE 24-50/2.8 zoom with markings for 24, 28, 35, and 50mm focal lengths. Would still like a quality prime that’s small but on the fast side. Maybe someday. Take care.
I guess part of the problem is that for entry level systems, the kit lenses or even fixed lenses are around 28mm. 27mm for phones, 14mm for Micro 4/3rds and 18mm for APS-C. For the reasons you outline... it's a good all around focal length, not much distortion, good reach, but wide enough for use indoors and for landscapes.
So, when you offer add on lenses, to make people feel like they're getting something "better" or "professional" for their money, primes are usually at a longer focal length.
Well on most DSLR kits the zoom starts at 18 mm which is equivalent to about 28 mm. By compact camera is G9 X Mark II which starts at 28 mm so I am used to it. If I want wider then it should be much wider.
Absolutely agree. Just bought a 28mm. In the time of film 28mm was always my choice, I've just sold a 20mm. Amazing piece of kit and I'm looking to replace it with a truly wide angle zoom but 28mm would be my lens of all round choice.
Thanks.
I have that Nikon Z mount lens and use it with my Z5. It’s a great little lens. I didn’t think I’d like it too much, but it actually gets more use than my 50mm 1.8
I have and still use the 28 mm 2.8 Nikkor lens. It is not a premium lens and does its job, I also don't see too much curvature of the focal plane. A field of view equivalent to 28 mm in 135-terms is used by many smartphones for their main camera. In order to take pictures which are instantly recognizable as non-smartphone lenses, other options might be more sought after.
Like 24 mm. I have a 24 mm 1.8 lens which is (borderline) still usable for general photography. Like 35 mm. It is boring, because it almost always works. I think it is the most useful lens for any user, while not exciting it usually comes with good close-focus which helps, and gets the job done
I got started with 28mm with a Yashica film point and shoot with a T* 28mm lens that I really liked - compact and sharp. That stopped working, and I went back to my Canon FTb with Canon 50mm f/1.8. Use what you have! I went through some Fuji pocket point and shoots when I was travelling, then transitioned to early Fuji digital point and shoots. Then, I bought a used Sigma DP1 - the original one, with a 28mm equivalent lens. Wow! Suddenly, I was enthused about photography again! The lens extension arm inside was plastic, and as it turned out, fragile. I sent it back twice for repairs, then it got old enough that Sigma would no longer repair it. I went back to the Fuji's but by comparison to the Sigma were very disappointing. I picked up a used Canon M100 and a used Canon 22mm f/2 M-series lens, but compared to the crispness, the clarity of the Sigma ... it was also disappointing, but decent enough as a video camera. I bought a used Sigma DP2M (Merrill) with the 45mm equivalent, and REALLY missed the 28mm equivalent of the DP1. I bought a new Sigma SD Quattro with the 30mm f/1.4 Art kit lens, then a used Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 zoom, and that got me back into 28mm equivalent. I now use a Sigma fp, and with the Sigma MC-21 SA-L mount adapter have found new love for the 30mm f/1.4 Art lens - which is a crop sensor lens, but actually fills full-frame with just a bit of vignette, and a lot of character. It's 2mm tighter than 28mm and even with the adapter light and compact. I have a 35mm f/1.4 Art, which is heavy and huge and kinda great but just a bit too narrow ... the 30mm is perfect!
-Tom
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Timely video. My daughter just invested in a Nikon Z7II. I am buying her the new Nikkor 28mm F2.8 SE lens.
The Fuji 18mm f/1.4 is the only lens keeping me on Fuji now. Not a single mirrorless 28mm equivalent lens across all brands come close to the Fuji's optical performance.
I think one important thing that doesn't get mentioned enough with the GR cameras when talking about 28mm vs 35mm or other focal lengths is that since you're shooting on an LCD screen and the camera is in your hand, with your arm extended, rather than on your face at eye level, you compose/frame as if it were a 35mm but the image feels like 28mm. I bet many people shooting a 28mm through a viewfinder won't enjoy it as much.
You can test this by shooting two 28mm images, one at eye level and another at arm's length. The distance you "cover" by extending your arm is enough to change the feel of the image. And this is something we do unconsciously when we shoot with the GR.
Interesting. I commented separately that when using an OVF or EVF, we are restricting our bodies potential positions somewhat and therefore our composition options, which when using a camera like the GR (or in my case Fuji XF10) is no longer a problem. I had not considered the camera to subject distance. Your point is also valid, though limited to taking pictures of things rather than places. Arguably when shooting a wide angle lens we should not be using the viewfinder at all if possible.
Have the Tameron 11-20mm 2.8 for APSC and I adore it toward the narrower focal end. It's a super sharp zoom so if you like the 28mm focally, go and try that one.
Thanks for your tip. However, in the video I'm talking about prime lenses, not zooms. I have tested the Tamron and I like it a lot: ruclips.net/video/2WO6syfFlUc/видео.html
GM 28mm f1.0
This is definitely going to be THE big splashing milestone for making Sony becoming the new unique legend in professional photo gear.
I am shooting with canon apsc. My main lens is canon efs 24mm f2.8 pancake lens. Love that little thing. Very compact, fast enough, but.. I wish I could try 28mm. I always end up cropping most of my images in post processing. Seems to be a little bit too wide. Unfortunately, there is no option for 28mm lens for canon apsc. The only available full frame 28mm af lens would not be 28mm on my crop sensor. So... Must forget that and keep enjoying the pancake!
In the ZUIKO lens of the film era, up to 28mm was a "wide-angle lens" and 24mm or less was a "ultra-wide-angle lens".
Has it changed in the digital age?
I don't know why it happened either.
It has changed. Probably because now we have many more super wides available and phone cameras all have some sort of a super wide too.
@@mattisulanto
Certainly, the effect of the ultra-wide angle of the mobile phone camera is huge.
I own the Tamron 28-75 for my Sony a7iv. I really love it. I know it’s not a prime however it’s a quality lense.
I have that zoom too and it’s very nice. However, it’s not a prime and not the only zoom that covers 28mm.
Meanwhile most phone cameras are somewhere in the 26-28mm focal length, and we see those pictures basically every day. That focal length is the most popular in the world because of the sheer number of cell phones, whether the camera companies know it or not.
I love the 28mm equivalent field of view. Very sad to see that Sony doesn't have many options. I don't like the 24mm. Guess I've got to adapt my Minolta MD 28f2.8.
28mm is my all time favorite for landscape photography in the mountains and hope we see primes soon. iPhone is what actually got me to love that focal length, then came the A7C with the kit lens 28-60 followed by the GR III that I also own. 28 is a versatile focal length that will always be my favorite. In fact many users wished the Fuji X100v was 28mm when it came out.
Thanks for sharing. I remember it when the X100 came out, the first one, and even back then some were not happy the 35mm lens, but you can't please everyone. Later I think people have been hoping for a 28mm so it would be more like the Leica Q. Poor man's Q, that is😀
@@mattisulanto lol yes not all of us can afford the Leica Q2. Thank goodness for the Ricoh GR III. It was really a great decision that Ricoh chose the 28 mm.
Interesting Matti - thanks. I’ve recently bought the small & light Sigma 19mm which is 28mm equiv on my a6500. I also have Pentax & Olympus vintage 28mm lenses which are a versatile 42mm or 56mm on my a6500 or Oly EM5 mk iii.
Thanks for sharing.
Still have my original Nikkor 24f/2.8, 50f/1.8 and 105f/2.5 lenses, looking at them now… These days I prefer 21mm, 35mm, and a short tele like a 90mm. Never really bonded with 28 but definitely see the appeal of 28, 50 in day to day photography. Although I have a Zeiss ZF.2 28mm that is dreamy and comes out on special occasions.
Porst 28mm 2.8...macro for my Fujica STX-2. My favorite "sensor": Ilford super xp2 400.
Totally agree, for a one prime compact lens to do it all I think 28mm is perfect (especially in full frame where you can also get 36mm out of it) but have hit your exact problem even with sony!
I have been a fan of the 28mm however I am not a fan of the newest modern lenses because of their clinical look. I don't need auto focus 90% of the time so now I look for quality vintage lenses for my mirrorless camera.
🙂 Love this video and totally agree with your perspective🙂...part of the reason I started using the Fujifilm X-E1 was bc they had a
FUJIFILM XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens which is a 27.54mm F2.14 35mm equivalent lens...its was as close as I could get to the 28mm focal length 🙂I really love the feel of that lens 🙂You should try it...I think you would like it 🙂
Thanks for the tip. I do own a Fuji X-T30, but the 18mm F1.4 is a bit too much for me at the moment as the Fuji is not my main system.
I bought Nikon AF-S 28m 1.4E for my d780 2 weeks ago, and it's amazing! I switched to it from the 35 1.8 and i'm really enjoying it!
Thanks for sharing!
sadly you forgot the Fujifilm xf18mm f1.4 R LM WR. There you got a fine 28mm lens that is small, compact, un-expensive, water resistant, easy to carry around, bright, fast focusing, Video ready, premium lens 😅
I also have the TTArtisans 28mm f/5.6 manual lens, Leica M to L mount adapter. It produces excellent results on my L-mount Leicas and Panasonic. As you say, the Sigma 28mm is probably a very good lens, but it's on the large side, and I wouldn't buy one in L-mount for that reason.
For landscapes and other scenic shots, I prefer a lens with a 65-degree horizontal angle-of-view.
For my 6x9cm medium format camera, that would be a lens with a 65mm focal length.
For my full-frame cameras, that would be a lens with a 28mm focal length.
When I shoot landscapes with my 28mm lens, I like to use it in the following three-lens kit:
14mm f/2.8
28mm f/2.8 or 28mm f/2
55mm f/3.5 macro
That is why I love Nikon with two cheap and small primes z40 and z28 mm
i've said this many times, but i really, really must get my efm 28mm off the shelf & dusted! (i bought it for its macro capabilities, & seem to remember liking it for general purpose stuff too!) 😊
I love this focal length. I use a 20mm on an APSC body which becomes a 30mm. This focal length is close to the iPhone main camera focal length too so if I don't have my camera with me, I am used to the focal length and can focus on composition.
For me, 28mm (or wider) is a bit difficult. There's a tendency to put as many as possible stuffs in the frame so you need to be careful when framing. And for people-oriented street photos, usually you'll want to get closer, but I don't like the "distorted" (bigger than actual) look. But for architecture/geometry-oriented shoots, I usually happy with the result.
Well, it's a matter of taste. There are some situations which require 28mm. But that's not something I put on my daily camera bag. Other folks may think 28mm is their normal focal length.
In the early 1970's, my first 35mm film camera was an Olympus 35 SP with a 42mm f1.7 lens. I thought it was weird that it didn't have a 50mm lens like most top brands of cameras. Then I "graduated" to SLR's with 50mm lenses. I found out that 50mm "normal" lens was a good compromise, but was two short in some cases, and too long in others. That's when I realized why Minolta and Nikon had 57/58mm lenses. Better for portraits, with a 28mm making a great pairing. When I bought my first MFT camera, I also got the Panasonic 20mm lens, and I've been happy with it. I still have the Panasonic 20, and also have a Veydra 19mm. For S35 format I do consider a 28-32 lens as a normal, for FF sensors I'd go with a 40mm normal lens.
Thanks for sharing.