In search of a 24-28mm lens with sharp edges (corners not necessary)

[dokko]

Nikon F mount, too?

the Voigtländer 28mm F2 APO is a design that will only work on short flange focal distance, so no F mount (or EF mount) unfortunately.
It's been announced for M mount and from what I read people hope for a Sony E and Nikon Z mount version too.

For F mount, the Zeiss lenses mentioned above would likely be the highest resolution option .

 

[albireo]

the Voigtländer 28mm F2 APO is a design that will only work on short flange focal distance, so no F mount (or EF mount) unfortunately.
It's been announced for M mount and from what I read people hope for a Sony E and Nikon Z mount version too.

Thanks Dokko. I've been interested in the relatively new Voigtlaender 28mm SL-II S (the one with the 'classic' Nikkor design) but I've noticed it's significantly bulkier than the previous, discontinued SL-II non S.

Do you know if there are differences between the two in terms of optical design?

 

[dokko]

Thanks Dokko. I've been interested in the relatively new Voigtlaender 28mm SL-II S (the one with the 'classic' Nikkor design) but I've noticed it's significantly bulkier than the previous, discontinued SL-II non S.

Do you know if there are differences between the two in terms of optical design?

I didn't realise there is a new version of the lens, and I have no first hand info. but a quick research seems to indicate that it's optically the same with a slightly larger housing to allow for a shorter close focus limit (so magnification 1:2.4 instead of 1:5).

here's a nice review:

Review: Voigtländer 28mm 2.8 SL IIs Color-Skopar (Nikon F) - phillipreeve.net

While Nikon stopped producing F-mount lenses, Cosina still offers new designs like this Voigtländer 28mm 2.8 SL IIs Color-Skopar, but

phillipreeve.net

corner sharpness is not that great, at least on a Sony Alpha. Might be a bit better on a film camera because of the cover glass on the Sony, but usually with adapted F mount lenses that's not a big factor, so I doubt they will be close to the top performers and more in line with the Nikon AI-S lenses.

 

[cptrios]

I think that if I wanted to make large panoramic photos I would get a 50/6.3 for my Mamiya Super 23.

If someone had brought up the project in my OP to me while ago I would have said "what's the point of that?" Then Copex Rapid in 35mm disappeared and in a state of mourning I bought 10 rolls of it in in 16mm for basically nothing. I've got to do something with it!

By the way, a tangentially-related question: with the newer CV, etc lenses that are designed to play well with sensor stacks, is there any reason they should perform worse on film than older models?

 

[dokko]

By the way, a tangentially-related question: with the newer CV, etc lenses that are designed to play well with sensor stacks, is there any reason they should perform worse on film than older models?

Voigtländer tweaks its lenses so that the M-mount version works best with film (and digital Leica M which have a thin cover glass) and the E-mount version best with the Sony cover glass thickness. This means that if you use the M version on a Sony it will perform worse than the E version. The difference will be most noticeable specially on wide angle lenses.

 

[benveniste]

Which version of the Nikon ais 28 do you have? I’ve always heard the 2.8 was the sharpest of them.

Of the prime lenses I've either tried or owned in this range, for sharpness at f/2.8 I'd rank them as follows, from best to worst:

• Zeiss 25mm f/2 ZF.2 (own)
• Nikon 28mm f/1.G (own)
• Nikon 28mm f/2 (own, when used at distance)
• Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG (owned and sold)
• Nikon 28mm f/2.8 AI-s (used but never owned)
• Nikon 28mm f/2 (own, when used close-up)
• Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AI-s (owned and sold)
• Nikon 28mm f/2.8D AF (used but never owned)
• Nikon 28mm f/2.8 AF (used by never owned)

I haven't owned any of the 24mm f/1.4 or 28mm f/1.4 lenses. If you stop down to f/5.6 or so, the difference among these lenses is significantly smaller.

 

[albireo]

I didn't realise there is a new version of the lens, and I have no first hand info. but a quick research seems to indicate that it's optically the same with a slightly larger housing to allow for a shorter close focus limit (so magnification 1:2.4 instead of 1:5).

here's a nice review:

Review: Voigtländer 28mm 2.8 SL IIs Color-Skopar (Nikon F) - phillipreeve.net

While Nikon stopped producing F-mount lenses, Cosina still offers new designs like this Voigtländer 28mm 2.8 SL IIs Color-Skopar, but

phillipreeve.net

corner sharpness is not that great, at least on a Sony Alpha. Might be a bit better on a film camera because of the cover glass on the Sony, but usually with adapted F mount lenses that's not a big factor, so I doubt they will be close to the top performers and more in line with the Nikon AI-S lenses.

Thanks. I have the 40mm pancake from Cosina in Nikon F mount and it has excellent performance - as you say, Nikon Ai-S performance (the very best Ai-S) but in a package 1/4th the size.

Also, they can also be purchased new, which is great given how many tampered, knocked about, unsharp, but visually 'near mint' used lenses I've stumbled upon over the years.

You mention 'top performers'. I don't think the point of these is to compete with the Milvus/Otus, which are huge in comparison. IME the point of these Voigtlaender pancakes is to turn your FM/EM/FG in a tiny all day carry costing less than a fashionable point and shoot but offering vastly better performance.

But again thanks for the review - I think I'll go for the 28mm too.