No 28mm lens... WTF?

[xaviergut]

I'd like to see some 40mm lenses as well.

Exactly, a 40mm PANCAKE would be very good.

 

[robin0112358]

Even MFT has only the Panasonic 14 f2.5 with the rattly aperture (unless you go slightly longer for the 15 f1.7).

The Panasonic 14/2.5 is in my bag every time with MFT. Took perfectly decent pictures and is so small!

 

[fuji_phil_e]

The Sigma 28 Art is maybe old in terms of AF (HSM version for DSLR), but not in terms of optical quality. Yes, it is build as a tank, but it can be compared to the Zeiss Otus without loosing this fight! And the Otus provides no AF at all…
so if you look for the best 28mm you can get for l-mount, check the Sigma. But I fully understand if you don‘t want to carry it around

Hello, do you have any photos from your 28mm anywhere? Would be keen to see some. Thank you.

 

[PhotoPete]

I totally agree. I now have Lumix 20-60 and the 50mm plus 100mm. The 20-60 is a good general purpose lens but what I am missing is a nice wide lens for those evening walks in the city and restaurant events. 28mm would be optimum. So now I have to select a 35mm which is bit too much and 24mm that is little too wide. What a pity.

 

[Markuswelder]

I'd prefer a 28mm f/2.8 to keep it tiny. But it seems that everyday carry is not a priority of manufacturers.

In the meantime I have a small Vivitar F2 Close Focusing K-mount model that is compact. And the unparalleled smc Pentax F2 that is larger... but still smaller than today's monstrosities. Would prefer auto-aperture and auto-focus but not willing to double the size and weight of a lens for that.

I've got a Canon EF 28 f2.8 IS USM that I use on a Viltrox adapter. On my S5. Works pretty well, although since I got my Sigma 28-70mm f2.8, I haven't really used it. I used to shoot with it a lot on my old 6D, that & the EF40mm f2.8 pancake. I actually prefer 28 than 24mm, which is why the Sigma 28-70mm appeals to me. If I want to go wide, I go wiiiiide. Like 16-18mm wide.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

An adapter plus EF 28/2.8 could be a good solution. It's not ideal but when a native 28mm prime finally comes along you shouldn't lose out much financially if you sell the EF lens on, unless you buy new. I use the Commlite adapter which has performed pretty well, especially on newer lenses.

On usedlens.co.uk (excluding ebay) I see Canon 28/2.8s from £169.00 and f/1.8s from £229.

 

[Markuswelder]

Exactly, a 40mm PANCAKE would be very good.

My EF 40mm f2.8 goes really really well on my S5. Unfortunately, once you add an adapter, it's no longer a pancake

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• LUMIX S 50/F1.8
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/20 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 100

It makes really nice photos though

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• 40.0 mm
• ƒ/3.2
• 1/500 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• -0.3
• ISO 100

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• 40.0 mm
• ƒ/3.2
• 1/1000 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• -0.3
• ISO 100

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• EF40mm f/2.8 STM
• 40.0 mm
• ƒ/3.2
• 1/2500 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• -0.7
• ISO 100

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• 40.0 mm
• ƒ/3.2
• 1/640 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 100

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• EF40mm f/2.8 STM
• 40.0 mm
• ƒ/3.2
• 1/1600 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• -0.3
• ISO 100

 

[CMS]

I also hope to see a compact 28mm prime soon. I'm still pinning my hopes on Sigma. Maybe Samyang will fill the gap as a new member of the L-mount alliance.

 

[RuleOfThirds]

I also would love to see affordable L-Mount versions of 28/2.0, and 135/2.8. My favorite lenses on Fuji were XF18/1.4 and XF90/2
Had a 14/2.8, 23/2 and 33/1.4 to complement them.

My Ricoh GR3 is now my 28mm prime. And only 257gr battery included. But only 2.8 and on aps-c … sometimes I go on a hike with only S5ii + Lumix 70-300 and the GR3 in my jacket or pants.

But do miss the magic of the XF18/1.4 which has impact on how I value the output of the GR3. But on the brighter side, love the S 35/1.8 output. So that is now it’s spiritual replacement .

 

[Oíche]

I also hope to see a compact 28mm prime soon. I'm still pinning my hopes on Sigma. Maybe Samyang will fill the gap as a new member of the L-mount alliance.

Compact probably means optical compromises wide open away from centre.

I had the tiny Pentax 40mm Ltd pancake, it was an APSC lens so it was less compromised. I loved the size but hated the 60mm equivalent view, I'd love it on FF as I liked 28mm on APSC. I suppose we have the Sigma 45mm but it's too close to 50mm and it's not a true tiny pancake like the Pentax. Maybe you can't do this with the short flange distance on mirrorless FF, maybe the Sigma Contemporary 45 is as small as you can go without the optical compromise being too much and branded as a soft rubbish lens?

 

[CMS]

Maybe you can't do this with the short flange distance on mirrorless FF, maybe the Sigma Contemporary 45 is as small as you can go without the optical compromise being too much and branded as a soft rubbish lens?

I own the Sigma 45mm from the I-series and like it. I am perfectly happy with the compromise in size and quality.
If there was a 28mm version, I would go for it.

You're right, we can't expect too much from a physical point of view. Maybe I would also go for a larger art version. (The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 is impressive).

 

[huwm]

But there is, the SL APO 28/2 has been around for a while and is by all accounts rather good

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

But there is, the SL APO 28/2 has been around for a while and is by all accounts rather good

...And a bargain t just $5,195.00...

Sigma made a 17mm f/4 lens pretty small and excellent even wide open so I find it hard to believe that they couldn't make a 28/2.8 at the same size, or a 28mm f/2 a bit bigger.

 

[huwm]

....it was a tongue in cheek remark, 2nd hand they are a bit more reasonable though
I'm happy with the S Pro 16-35 f4 or Q3 for my 28mm shots
The m 28mm f2.8 ASPH is considerably cheaper if manual ok and a dedicated 28mm prime is required

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Yep, I have 28mm covered by all three zooms that I own and 24mm and 35mm on either side in primes, so i doubt I'd buy a 28mm but I still feel there should be one (that's reasonably priced ie not Leica).

 

[dirk]

But there is, the SL APO 28/2 has been around for a while and is by all accounts rather good

That lens is huge, heavy and very expensive.

 

[CMS]

I just prefer primes.
The Leica Q3 has a lot of appeal for me. But it's also expensive.
Maybe I have to buy a Ricoh GR III one day.

 

[Travis Butler]

Compact probably means optical compromises wide open away from centre.

I had the tiny Pentax 40mm Ltd pancake, it was an APSC lens so it was less compromised. I loved the size but hated the 60mm equivalent view, I'd love it on FF as I liked 28mm on APSC. I suppose we have the Sigma 45mm but it's too close to 50mm and it's not a true tiny pancake like the Pentax. Maybe you can't do this with the short flange distance on mirrorless FF, maybe the Sigma Contemporary 45 is as small as you can go without the optical compromise being too much and branded as a soft rubbish lens?

The 40mm Ltd actually covers full frame; it was an evolution of the Pentax-M 40 pancake prime. Although the Ltd seems to get better reviews than the -M, quite possibly because being used at APS-C framing cropped out the edges.

Here's a pic or two from the -M, on the Sigma fp; not as nice as the -M 50/1.4, but not bad.

• Pentax-M 40/2.8
• 40.0 mm
• 1/640 sec
• Pattern
• ISO 100

• 1/250 sec
• Pattern
• -1
• ISO 100

• 1/500 sec
• Pattern
• ISO 100

Back to the original topic... for 28mm, again, I like adapted lenses; it's not small, but my current favorite is the Vivitar (Kiron) 28/2.5 with the 67mm filter thread, which I've posted about here before.

• NO-LENS
• 1/1000 sec
• Pattern
• ISO 100

• 1/60 sec
• Pattern
• ISO 500

• 1/60 sec
• Pattern
• ISO 320

 

[Oíche]

The 40mm Ltd actually covers full frame

• A: Full coverage
• B: Full coverage, but with slightly soft corners
• C: With reservations. Heavy vignetting and/or soft corners
• D: With reservations. Very soft corners and vignetting

For adaptation to S5ii this was never ideal, without AF and aperture control (although you can get a clickless K-L adapter.

I'm glad I traded it in along with the rest of digital gear. Maybe Lumix will produce 28mm and 40mm pancake types but that Pentax DA 40 Ltd only had 5 elements in it, Lumix are great at making the smallest zooms but probably don't want to make an optically compromised uber compact prime as pixel peepers will slaughter them.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Well Nikon have one and I've read nothing but positive reviews of it. They've even done it at a reasonable price - I think that's where Panasonic might struggle more...