tbarker13 Posted May 7, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 7, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I hope this doesn't sound like a stupid question. But I am trying to assemble a kit of lenses that I'll describe as being classical/old-school in nature. These would be used on my M8. I'm thinking: 35 summicron (fourth version, perhaps) 50 rigid summicron and/or 50 sonnar (the new model) What I'm wondering: Is there is a 28mm lens out there that would fit well with these in terms of character and bokeh? I guess I could just try to find a 28 that was made around the same time as the summicrons. I have a 28 summicron asph, which I love. But it doesn't seem to mesh quite as well in that little family. To my eye, it is just a little too crisp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 7, 2007 Posted May 7, 2007 Hi tbarker13, Take a look here Classic 28mm alternatives. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
macusque Posted May 7, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 7, 2007 While I love my 28 Summicron, the latest pre-asph version of the 28/2.8 Elmarit has more "classic Leica fingerprint" as far as bokeh and general drawing. You can also find it relatively cheap these days, due to the low price of the new 28/2.8 asph. Just my 0.02 euro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. borger Posted May 8, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 8, 2007 Canon 28mm/ 2,8 in LTM (screwmount) ..... Winogrands lens ... Sean Reid also uses this lens! I use the 35mm Canon 2,8 as one of my vintage lenses on the M8 .. it has a very similar fingerprint to the 28/2,8.......... this are 2 samples from the 35mm Canon on the M8 to give you an idea ... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/23531-classic-28mm-alternatives/?do=findComment&comment=248920'>More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted May 8, 2007 Those look wonderful. Now if I can just find one of those lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted May 8, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 8, 2007 I do love the Canon 28/2.8. It's very soft off center at wide apertures and its quite low contrast. By most current ideals, it's a "terrible" lens. Yet, it isn't terrible at all. <G> Try Kevin Camera. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted May 9, 2007 Share #6 Posted May 9, 2007 Sounds like a lens that would be usefull here in oz with the harsh sunlight...... What's it proper name for a search.............so one feels that the 35 is worth a look Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted May 9, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Imants, Unlike the Leica, Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses, many of the Canon lenses didn't get names beyond focal length/max aperture. So the Canon we're discussing was simply called the Canon 28/2.8 and its a screw mount (so can use John's adapter for the M8). You can find pictures of it in the Canon RF section at KevinCameras It must be a Flash site or something because I can't do a direct link. This is not a lens that will wow anyone with its technical proficiency. Rather, it has a way of drawing that some of us really like. Here's one: eBay: ....... Canon Rangefinder RF 28/2.8 .........Minty (item 7569926829 end time May-29-07 15:17:36 PDT) Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted May 9, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 9, 2007 Thanks for that Sean it is something to keep an eye out for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pklein Posted May 9, 2007 Share #9 Posted May 9, 2007 If you don't find it too slow, you might consider the Voigtlander/Cosina 28/3.5. I don't have any personal experience with the lens. But I have sat next to Tom Abrahamsson while he rhapsodized about this lens, and talked about it having a drawing quality similar to the classic pre-aspheric Leica lenses. That's high praise. --Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted May 9, 2007 Share #10 Posted May 9, 2007 If it is annything like the 25 then its fairly high contrast.....maybe it is the 28/1,9 Ultron..... worthwhile checking though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 9, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 9, 2007 The 1979 vintage 3d version Elmarit is no slouch. I would gladly have kept it if I had still been shooting film. Now however, it being equivalent to a 35 mm lens, I went directly to the Summicron. An amazing lens of course. My new '28' is of course a 21 ... The old man from the Age of Roll Film Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinb Posted May 9, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 9, 2007 I would get the CV 28mm ultron. It's the fastest 28mm around and has more of that old look compared to the 28mm summicron. It's not as low contrast and unsharp as my Canon 50mm f/1.4 screw mount but I love the look of the 28mm ultron and it's probably the biggest bargain in rangefinder lenses there is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankg Posted May 9, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 9, 2007 For the 35 you can go with the 3rd or 4th version summicron or the current Zeiss Biogon. The new Zeiss ZM provide modern levels of edge to edge resolution and flare control with old school smooth transitions to very smooth OOF areas. The big drawback of the Zeiss ZM's for me is that they are to contrasty for digital. It really cuts back your dynamic range. I have a 50 Summilux pre-ASPH which has a very nice fingerprint. I would be curious how the rigid summicron would perform on the M8. I think for digital you want a very high resolving lens with less macro contrast. That is supposedly the profile of the rigid summicron. It is the iconic old school lens. It's easy to boost contrast in post but impossible to bring back blown highlights and shadows. Among the modern Leica ASPH the 28/2 and 50/1.4 have a less harsh rendering then some of the other ASPH lenses. A slight application of lens blur in post to OOF areas will take the edge off. Again it's easy to loose detail but impoossible to create it. As has been mentioned the Canons are good candidates for the old school look without breaking the bank. You can also pick up some Russian lenses for very little money if you get a good copy they can be very nice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 9, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 9, 2007 The fourth version (1979–94) 35 mm Summicron is amazingly good on the M8. And its compacness and low weight are wonderful for a 'walkabout lens'. The old man from the Golden Age of the M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted May 9, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 9, 2007 If you don't find it too slow, you might consider the Voigtlander/Cosina 28/3.5. I don't have any personal experience with the lens. But I have sat next to Tom Abrahamsson while he rhapsodized about this lens, and talked about it having a drawing quality similar to the classic pre-aspheric Leica lenses. That's high praise. --Peter Hi Peter, That 28 Skopar is an excellent lens but its very sharp and quite high contrast. See my 28s review. That said, for those who like the modern look, consider that this LTM lens has flown under the radar for years and now is being discontinued. It does superbly on the M8 and is tiny. I bought one. Several years from now, I predict that people will be searching for these on E-Bay, etc. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted May 9, 2007 Share #16 Posted May 9, 2007 If it is annything like the 25 then its fairly high contrast.....maybe it is the 28/1,9 Ultron..... worthwhile checking though Right about the 28 Skopar. The Ultron is a lower contrast lens but resolution is still very high. Its closer to the look of the old lenses but not quite. The 28s review I did (which includes the Canon 28) might be worth looking at. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted May 9, 2007 Share #17 Posted May 9, 2007 For the 35 you can go with the 3rd or 4th version summicron or the current Zeiss Biogon. The ZM Biogons are almost the opposite of the 1950s - 60s era lenses.They tend to have, as you mentioned, the highest contrast of *any* rangefinder lenses and resolution is very high as well. They're usually technical superstars. Among the current production lenses, the 28 Ultron gets closest but, again, resolution is very high. The old Leica lenses, the Canon 28/2.8, etc. - they're of a different family. For a "28" with this look, consider the Kobalux 21. In many ways, the look is similar to that of the Canon 28/2.8 although it's not nearly as soft off-center wide open. Some like that softness off-axis. I've been making this point for several years now but the look some are after can only come from lenses that are quite imperfect technically. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. borger Posted May 9, 2007 Share #18 Posted May 9, 2007 For 35mm "old school look" .... there is only one real Leica alternative imho... the 35 summicron type 1 .. but that's a collecter and very expensive ....... around Euro 2000 for mint copies is not unusual. For a similar "fingerprint" as the summicron type I........ i would suggest the 35 /3,5 summaron in screwmount ... that is a very remarkable little lens ... just a bit difficult to find a mint copy (without haze etc..) .... i was lucky to find a like new, hazefree copy for Euro 350 .... it's a real gem ... You realy need to look for lenses from 1950-1960 for the old school look ..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted May 9, 2007 Share #19 Posted May 9, 2007 I heard that there is a Serenar Canon 28mm lens, is this a very different lens, if it is soft I see it as a bonus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted May 9, 2007 Share #20 Posted May 9, 2007 I'm not an expert on the old Canon lenses but the "Serenar" name may have been used on the 28/3.5 as well as some 35s. The Canon RF forum at RFF would probably know or cruise through the Kevin Camera site. The 28/2.8 starts as soft and then reaches a medium to medium high res at mid apertures. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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