Bargain Wide Angles! Four Fantastic 28mm Lenses - For Cheap!

Get into wide angle photography with these affordable, top quality 28mm lenses from Pentax, Canon, Olympus and Cosina!

[michaelbailey]

Many years ago I asked an old camera trader to set me up with an inexpensive, yet reliable SLR system. He got me a Nikon EM with a 28mm f2.8 Cosina and a 135mm f2.8 Osawa, along with a Nikon 50mm lenses. That kit got me started as a photojournalist. When I retired 35 years later, I was using an F5 with AF lenses, including a 300mm f2.8 Nikon, and while I was certainly capable of working more quickly, any improvement in my photography over the years came from experience, not better gear. Thanks for this video.

[MarkOakleyComics]

The Canon 28mm is easily my favorite lens! -I'm fairly new to photography/video, and I was simply blown away when I graduated to this old prime from the Sony kit lens on my a6500.

I bought a handful of 30 year-old lenses on eBay, and was so happy with the affordability and the feel of getting away from all the high-tech. It may sound silly, but I suddenly understood, "Oooooh! So THIS is what photographers feel!" Out of all my several lenses, the 28mm is hands down the most rewarding and satisfying. It takes my humdrum eye and sees something beautiful every time. The lens is smarter than me!

[chrispatmore]

Olympus also made a 28mm f/2.8, still with the 49mm filter thread that was common to most of their lens range. I've been an Olympus OM shooter since the 1970s and still use an OM1 with a range of Zuiko lenses from 24mm f/2.8 (my favourite) up to a beautiful 180mm f/2.8. Still one of the best SLR system cameras made.

[Magnetron]

Hello Nigel, thank you! 28 mm is a really nice focal length. Recently I purchased a Minolta MD Rokkor 3.5/28 mm in top mint condition. Also highly recommended! Best wishes, Ralf

[michaelfieser]

I love your videos, because, on a daily basis, I get to play with just about every lens you mention. Though I've only added a few of them to my kit, a lot are on my "to get" list.

[johnwest]

relaxing and informative, the perfect way to wind down Sunday night-

[Narsuitus]

Over the years, I have used several 28mm lenses.

Here are three inexpensive ones I have used:
Vivitar 28mm f/2.8 lens with TX mount (58mm filter) (produced high quality images)
Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 lens with M42 mount (67mm)
Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 lens with TX mount (58mm) (produced the lowest quality images)

Each used Vivitar lens cost less than $60.
The Vivitar that produced high quality images produced images that were equal in quality to my higher priced Nikon, Zeiss, and Takumar 28mm lenses.
The Vivitar that produced the lowest quality images was still usable.
I used these Vivitars in situations when the lens could be lost, damaged, or stolen.

[ohjajohh]

Bought the Pentax 28mm today, and now waiting for it to arrive. In the mean time I'm watching this video and can't wait for it to arrive :)

[peter]

Very informative. I got the 28mm Zuiko awhile back at a flea market $10 US, picked up the M43 adapter and use it on my Olympus EM1 Mark ii. For a total of around $25. What a nice cheap addition. Also went for the M39 to M43 and use some Russian lens you recommended on the Olympus. Always fun to switch around and see happens.

[certs]

I really love my FD 28mm F 2.8 The old FD lenses have such beautiful colour rendition. With the EF mount Canon really changed some of their lenses to be much flatter almost pastel colours. My guess is because they figured that would be more desirable for digital shooters who play around with colour in post. I also have a Vivitar 28mm F 2.5 which I think was actually made by Kiron which is rather nice and has a very large front element.

[rlbzs]

I own the Canon 28mm f/2.8 reviewed here, and also the 28mm FD f/3.5 non-silver-nose, which is consistently excellent, and I actually prefer to the f/2.8. It's on my EOS RP 90% of the time, only because I like it so much, despite its f/3.5 aperture. Give it a try if you come across one!

[aerialfilm]

Thank you for producing and sharing your knowledge with a such a peaceful cadence and tone. You are really helping to free my mind and return me to the enjoyment that was once my favorite aspect of photography, the experimentation.

[sonomoha]

There is a Vivitar 28mm MC. I was a lucky user of the nikon iteration of that lens. Damn damn dang. Mindblowing in black and white.

[MB-orjs]

Exakta 28/2.8 MC macro lens in M42 mount! I like the Canon 28/2.8 FD, too. Don't forget that all kind of SLR lenses work quite well on Sony FF MLC cameras due to the (D)SLR-like adjusted sensor stack thickness. So most SLR lenses will actually look good on Sony FF MLCs. It gets tricky when evaluating 28 mm rangefinder lenses on the same kind of MLC.

[ldstirling]

Another really nice 28mm lens option that's less expensive is the Nikon 28mm f/3.5 AI. It's less costly than other, namely f/2.8, versions offered by Nikon. I have this lens and really love the images it produces on both my FE2 and Nikkormat FT2. Sold listings on Ebay show most of these lenses sell for less than $40 USD, sometimes less than $30 USD.


Additionally, I also own one of the Canon FD 28mm f/2.8 lenses. I have been very happy with this lens also. You can find the best bargain if you search for the slightly older S.C. breech-lock variants.

[randysouse-git]

There is a lot of great vintage glass in 28mm. Thanks for sharing some of yours with us. I believe in horses for courses and am trying to perfect my stable. I'm super keen on my Sigma Mini-Wide 28mm f/2.8. I have it in M42 and use a Helicoid M42 > NEX adapter to mount it. It's a closeup object macro monster. Great sharpness/contrast/color: reviews-wise it may be the highest rated bit of glass I own currently.

[markbeadle]

Glad you posted this, I just realised I have my father in law’s old 28/3.5 Olympus lens here. I was thinking of buying an adapter to try it on my Fuji. Should make a lovely street photo lens.

[hiresmusic]

Great video, I like Canon the most.It also available as FD SSC lens with more modern coating.

[fabiofonseca_music]

Hi and thank you very much for this lovely video. Very nice images indeed! I would be curious to know which camera you used with these lenses assuming that you would need an adapter. Cheers!

[philhodgkinson]

Certainly relaxing and enjoyable.... With super images... have learnt that at some point in time Cosina acquired Voightlander confirm or adjust thank you again for a very informed and entertaining channel.. see you next time....