Hi,

i am thinking of buying a 28 mm lens for my hexar. What would be the best value for money (can't afford the leica 28/2 Asph.) How do the 28/2.8 hexanon, 28/2.8 Leica and 28/1.9 Ultron compaire? I am very happy with the 50 and 90 mm hexanons. However, the Ultron is cheaper and faster!

Thanks, Joop

-- Joop Mes (mes@nat.vu.nl), March 04, 2002

Answers

I don't know the price for the Hexanon, but if you look for the best value for money, take the Voigtlander Ultron. It's an excellent lens.

-- Richard (richard.srienz@swissonline.ch), March 04, 2002.

I use the 28mm Hexanon, itīs an excellent lens IMO. Didnīt compare it to the Elmarit or the Ultron.Lens Speed? Well, read Santa Puts review of the new R 4,0/21-35 and you will learn that speed is not an issue any longer ;-)

cu Alex

-- A.Magedler (ajm-photo@gmx.at), March 04, 2002.

Dear Joop,

As an inadvertant 28mm lens collector, I would strongly recommend the lens I wish I had bought: The Hexar 28/2.8. (Yes, I know I still can, but no more, no more!) Chasseur d'Images gives it five stars in terms of performance and in in the area of appriciation (cote de amour). The Leica 28/2.8 only got four stars. I have the Ultron 28/ 1.9 and I like the speed. The performance wide open is, by commeon lens testers' consent only middling. (I found its overall effect quite pleasant--very Leica-like in fact!). Stopped down past f2.8 it beats earlier Leica lens according to Erwin Putts. The build quality of the Ultron is probably not up to that of the Hexar. The thing that I like about the Hexar M lens is their feel. I nearly bought a Summicron 35/ 2 ASPH and didn't (to the relief of my wife!) because I didn't like the feel of the controls--too cramped. The Hexar 35/2 has great feel, though it isn't up to the 'cron 35/2 ASPH's performance. Well, the Hexar is up there with Leica, at least according to Chasseur d'Images. I personally have played with it and liked the feel very much. I like the Hexar 28/2.8's 1980's vintage hood. Leitz makes these awful things that block too much of the finder and I think are bloody weak. Price-wise consider this: Hexanon: 905 E. Leica: 2,080 E, Ultron: 610 E. The Ultron is a bargin for the money. The build quality is not bad but not outstanding. The black paint wears quickly. I see a lot of dust inside (Erwin Putts's complaint) and it does suffer from slight play (another Putts complaint). It also blocks a lot of viewfinder space in the Hexar. I love my Ultron, as I love my Minolta 28/3.5 and my old Elmarit 28/2.8. But if I did not have these lenses, collected over the years, I'd get the Hexar. The 28/2 is a beautiful lens, absolutely one of the best lenses made for 35mm cameras, but it is not only dear but its hood blocks a good third of the viewfinder. It is , interestingly, not that much more expensive than the current Elmarit 28/2.8 (about 500 E) more.

But to tell the whole truth, you cannot lose which ever lens you get. If only the rest of life was like that.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), March 04, 2002.

I love "what to get" dilemmas! Here's the price spread of some common alternatives: $1,980 Leica Summicron 28/2.0 (new) $1,280

-- Paul Brodek (pcb@skyweb.net), March 04, 2002.

I would go with version III Leitz Canada 28/2.8 Elmarit-M (E49 filter size). It's a little more expensive than the Ulron but it has M bayonet mount and it's a terrific lens (I know from personal experience). Beautifully made, high contrast, great performer. Version IV is hardly better.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 04, 2002.

Sorry---this first went through unfinished, unchecked....

"What to get" lens dilemmas have gotten much more interesting thanks to Cosina and Konica. Here's the price spread of some common 28mm alternatives, US$ and US market:

$1,995---Leica Summicron-M 28/2.0 (new-B&H) $1,695---Leica Elmarit-M 28/2.8 (new-B&H) $1,000-$1,200---Leica Elmarit-M 28/2.8 (current version-used) $850-$1,000---Leica Elmarit/-M 28/2.8 (previous versions-used) $800---Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8 (new-B&H) $600-$700---Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8 (used---guess, haven't seen many) $600-$700---Minolta Rokkor-M 28/2.8 (used) $510---Cosina Ultron 28/1.9 (new-B&H) $300---Kobalux-Avenon 28/3.5 (new-Adorama)

I haven't listed any older Japanese LTM lenses, newer Japanese limited edition lenses, or any of the Soviet/East European alternatives---there's a lot of 28mm glass out there. Choice depends on juggling budget/speed/performance/new-used/handling issues, and you've already narrowed things a bit by looking for best value.

For the lenses you asked about, if you need/want speed faster than 2.8, the Ultron is the only choice. If you shoot mostly at 8.0-16, the Ultron still probably wins since performance differences matter most nearer maximum aperture. If you shoot at 2.8 frequently and make big enlargements, you may want to look harder at the Hexanon and Elmarit, which should outperform the Ultron at 2.8.

If the Hexanon is not a huge budget stretch and you don't mind buying used, a current used Elmarit-M is about $200+ more. But if you don't mind buying used you might be able to find a used Hexanon for $100-$150+ less than new. I haven't seen any detailed comparisons between the Elmarit and Hexanon, but what I've seen does suggest that the Hexanon is very good indeed.

I included the Minolta Rokkor-M and Kobalux/Avenon as smaller, lighter alternatives. The Rokkor is kind of pricey considering its age, it can be hard to find a clean, unspotted one, and I think it would bring up the wrong frameline in your Hexar, but it performs nicely and handles well. I've heard/read decent things about the Kobalux, which is very compact.

If you don't shoot near wide-open or make big enlargements, it looks hard to beat the Ultron in terms of price/value. If you can find dealers who have demo stock, maybe you could shoot a roll using all three and decide for yourself whether there's enough visible performance differences to warrant the higher Konica/Leica prices. Shoot at the apertures that matter to you, include some light sources to check for flare resistance, brick walls if linear distortion is important, and enlarge or magnify to a size that makes sense for you.

I've used a Rokkor-M, 3rd-generation Elmarit-M and current Elmarit-M. I found I didn't shoot wide-open enough or enlarge enough to see much difference between them. All three are gone now and I'm saving for a Tri-Elmar. I'm leaning towards flexibility and less size/weight instead of lens speed and ultimate wide-aperture performance.

Good luck, and let us know what you wind up with.

PB

-- Paul Brodek (pcb@skyweb.net), March 04, 2002.

Thanks everybody, for all the answers, I'll think about everything mentioned! I found on photodo.com, the hexanon actually outerperforms the elamarit at 2.8!

In fact, first I was thinking of buying a 35 mm lens, to go with my 50 and 90 and eventually the CV 21/4 to complete the set. Maybe I can just do it with only a 28 mm lens. And the Ultron looked nice. Now, I think that if I buy a 28, it will most probably be the Hexanon I found the following prices here in the Netherlands: Hex:825 Euro , Ultron inl. adapter: 580 Euro.

-- Joop Mes (mes@nat.vu.nl), March 04, 2002.