Has anyone used this lens? I'm interested in it because I'm building a kit around my M6 50mm 'lux. Eventually I want to get the 90mm f/2 for telephoto and for wide, I wanted the 28mm. I want to keep my lenses as fast as possible because I shoot a lot of low light. At the same time, sharpness and contrast is really important to me. My shooting style doesn't lend itself to soft focus (at least in my opinion). Anyway, if opinions on the 28mm are that high, I might just settle for the 35mm 'lux.

Thanks in advance.

-- victor virtucio (danzphotog@yahoo.com), September 20, 2001

Answers

I mean, if opinions on the 28mm are NOT high, I might just settle for the 35 mm 'lux. Sorry, I guess I'm not quite as awake as I thought I was.

-- victor virtucio (danzphotog@yahoo.com), September 20, 2001.

Actually, it's a 28mm f/2.0. The Lecia catalog has f/1.2 but it's an error - a pretty bad error! Sorry...

-- Fergus Hammond (fhammond@adobe.com), September 20, 2001.

This lens is getting good reviews. check the link below. Also, as has been mentioned it is indeed an f/2.0 lens, not f/1.2.

28mm f/2.0 review

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), September 20, 2001.

I've used both the 28/2.0 and the 28/2.8. IMO the performance of these lenses is very similar. That means they are typical of modern Leica lenses - high contrast levels, low flare, high resolution, and very even center to corner performance. The 28 Summicron preserves these characteristics even at full aperture (which is 2.0, not 1.2 - that last number is a Leica misprint of 1:2).

Some people think this may be the sharpest lens in the current M lineup, while Erwin Puts says it's second behind the 90 AA. I can't split the hairs that fine, but I do know that it's an outstanding lens in all respects.

The choice between it and the 35 Summilux ASPH comes down to focal length and maximum aperture. Do you want the wider lens or do you want f/1.4? If you choose the 35, rest assured you won't be "settling" for anything inferior. There's a good reason that lens has become a legend in its own time.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), September 20, 2001.

I know the 35mm 'lux is a strong lens and that it would not be "settling." That was a bad choice of words on my part. But I am looking for something wider, something that does give a little bit of the exaggerated effect of a wide lens. The 35 is a little too normal for me, especially since my primary lens is the 50.

And it's a little disappointing that the 28 mm is an f/2 and not an f/1.2.

thanks for the comments so far

-- victor virtucio (danzfotog@yahoo.com), September 20, 2001.

Victor,

If brand shopping isn't an issue for you, you might check out this lens here as an alternative.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), September 20, 2001.

I am very pleased with my 28mm Summicron. But if you want to use 28- 90mm lenses on one (.58x?) body note how small the 90mm VF frame is.

-- Peter Mackay (pm@novonordisk.com), September 21, 2001.

28 sum is fantastic especially on the .x58 !!! Nice that you get a little of that "wide look" that you don't with the 35. Go for it if you want a wider "look".

-- Matt Rainey (mvrainey@att.net), September 21, 2001.