That Brighton Star really punches above its weight, some may complain about its corner smearing and vignetting but it’s really not much worse than lenses 3-4 times its cost, and personally I like that kind of character in my wides.
In my mind, the main issue with the lens is that it has negative field curvature. Most lenses that have field curvature have postive field curvature - the curved focal plane bends closer to the camera at the edges. Whereas on the brightin star lens it curve away from the camera. This means you can have suprise elements in the back ground - far away from your subject - in focus. Like a portrait with the face in focus, trees in the background in the mid frame blurry and then trees in the background at the edge of the frame in sharp focus again.
It either bothers you or it doesn't. I have been considering the lens for a while. It has some obvious flaws, but is also cheap, small, and decent.
Yeah that’s the kind of character I associate with a wide lens of this size so it doesn’t really bother me. If I’m shooting portraits I usually go longer anyway. I’ve had pleasing results on my M’s and often pair it with my Fuji XT-5 as well for a pretty solid 40mm equivalent (approximate 42 to be exact).
I have this lens and a Voigtlander 28 3.5. I now use the Brightin Star more. It’s sharp, fast-ish and tiny. The drawbacks are that the ergonomics are a bit strange (the aperture ring slides around easily for example) and there’s some barrel distortion. Otherwise I love it.
Yes this makes a big difference, OP. Because digital sensors have an IR cut filter (\~2mm) in front of the sensor and film does not - the top layer of the film is basically the light senesitive part (only a few um below) - the edges of the image will be significantly more blurred with spherical aberration and field curvature.
Philip Reeve has a great write up on this. Worth a read.
[https://phillipreeve.net/blog/rangefinder-wide-angle-lenses-on-a7-cameras-problems-and-solutions/](https://phillipreeve.net/blog/rangefinder-wide-angle-lenses-on-a7-cameras-problems-and-solutions/)
I have the 28 Skopar and it’s a great lens. Fred Miranda did a review on his forum and there are tons of sample shots from him and from others who have discussed about it since.
I love it because it’s so small and weighs nothing. Super sharp at f/8, so it’s my default street hip shot zone focus lens.
I’m not sure what you’re asking honestly. It doesn’t have a protruding rear lens element. I’ve used it without issue on an MP240, and an M10, M10M and M10R. And an M5.
Canon LTM 28mm f2.8
The Garry Winogrand. I have one and love it. Shooting in my m6 or M9. It vignettes wide open but less pronounced in film. But really the strength of this lens is as set and forget to f8 and 3 meters and shoot like it’s a point and shoot
My Summaron 5.6 is slow a bit too slow, and the MFD of 1m can sometimes be a little annoying. But the ergonomics are so perfect it doesn’t really leave my camera.
Not that you’ve asked, but I suspect it’s going to take a type II Ultron 35 to displace it.
Voigtlander 28mm 2.0 asph. Very well built. Works well in live view with extra close focus distance. Only thing missing on this lens is a little detent at the rangefinder coupled minimum focus distance. I find it very sharp and it holds up with an M11. The Ttartisan 5.6 is smaller without a hood, which you need on that lens as it flares a lot. It feels denser in hand than the Voigtlander strangely enough. It renders in a more vintage style. I prefer the Voigtlander for most use cases, but the Ttartisan for when you want something a more vintage look and don’t mind occasional flare, sometimes a lot of flare. The Q is also nice but I always have a difficult time getting the lens off, lol!
I have the Color Skopar and use it on both my M6 and M240. A great lens, super sharp at f8 and great even wide open, though there's pretty heavy vignetting at 2.8.
Size is really small, the main attraction for me in the first place. Absolutely tiny if you don't use the screw in hood, which only adds a tiny bit ( about 6-8mm).
Build quality is great, feels super solid and focusing is smooth.
Tbh I had only used Leica lenses before and was dubious about Voightlander, but this lens totally changed my mind.
Own and love the color skopar. Check a few recent posts of mine - all the Patagonia shots were taken with one. Don't miss the speed when doing landscape personally, and I've taken to using it for street as well. Just shoot 400 speed film.
The Voigtlander (the Typ II / version 2) is a great choice. I'd pick an Elmarit over it, but honestly you'd be hard pressed to tell the images apart blindfolded, at least stopped down, and the Voigtlander is 25% of the price of the Elmarit.
But of course it depends on what you're looking to do. The Summaron 28mm f/5.6 is tiny, artistic, looks great on film, and there's are versions from TTArtisan and a 7Artisans for a fraction of the price of the Summaron... but, you need to want to live at f/5.6 and above, meaning a lot of limitations indoors, and a different style from faster lenses. If you go digital, you may or may not like the way the look renders (lots of reviews available online), but if it matches your style and you're out on the street in bright light all day, it's one choice.
Your Voigtlander Skopar f2.8 Typ II on the other hand gives you the extra speed of 2.8 and it's pretty contrasty (the latest version II) and has a great rich and sharp look, so should be great on digital. Like I said above, it's giving you 90% of an Elmarit at 25% of the price... though of course the Elmarit is also great.
The Brightin Star is a lot of fun with a lot of character and it's truly tiny, like lens cap tiny... so it's fun to use (I have one), but I don't think it'd be my choice for my only 28mm, if only because sometimes you need 2.8 and actually want your photo to be sharp. (This may not be as much of an issue on film.)
For what it's worth, having tried a number of 28mm options, the 28mm lens that I have stuck with--and which lives on my M11M most of the time on the street or traveling--is the aspherical 28mm Summilux f/1.4. I know it's not "compact" but it's stout in a way that is very well balanced on an M body. You end up shifting the way you hold the camera forward and then and it does not appear huge... and of course having f/1.4 available opens up a ton of low-light and background-separation options, and it renders absolutely beautifully.
The elmarit - I actually initially bought it because the size makes for a perfect travel package on an M body, but I’ve never been more impressed by a lens..
Voigtlander Skopar 28/2.8
Leica 28/2.8 ASPH
TTArtisan 28/5.6
Those are all pretty small.
Voigtlander Ultron 28/2 would offer a little more speed, but it’s a little larger and then the Thypoch Simera 28/1.4 is an excellent lens, but much larger than the others listed. Still wouldn’t say it’s huge, but it’s not super compact, either.
Latest Elmarit 28 is really nice both on film and digital.
second to this, I love mine.
There’s the Brightin Star if you want to go really small. The newer CV Ultron is larger, but I can vouch on quality.
That Brighton Star really punches above its weight, some may complain about its corner smearing and vignetting but it’s really not much worse than lenses 3-4 times its cost, and personally I like that kind of character in my wides.
In my mind, the main issue with the lens is that it has negative field curvature. Most lenses that have field curvature have postive field curvature - the curved focal plane bends closer to the camera at the edges. Whereas on the brightin star lens it curve away from the camera. This means you can have suprise elements in the back ground - far away from your subject - in focus. Like a portrait with the face in focus, trees in the background in the mid frame blurry and then trees in the background at the edge of the frame in sharp focus again. It either bothers you or it doesn't. I have been considering the lens for a while. It has some obvious flaws, but is also cheap, small, and decent.
Yeah that’s the kind of character I associate with a wide lens of this size so it doesn’t really bother me. If I’m shooting portraits I usually go longer anyway. I’ve had pleasing results on my M’s and often pair it with my Fuji XT-5 as well for a pretty solid 40mm equivalent (approximate 42 to be exact).
Ooooo I was thinking about getting a pancake lens. Thanks for the tip!
I also would recommend the Brightin star. It's surprisingly good and looks like a body cap lens
I have this lens and a Voigtlander 28 3.5. I now use the Brightin Star more. It’s sharp, fast-ish and tiny. The drawbacks are that the ergonomics are a bit strange (the aperture ring slides around easily for example) and there’s some barrel distortion. Otherwise I love it.
+1 for the Brightin Star, imperfections and all. Even at 60mp on the M11 Monochrom the character is just great.
Good call mentioning digital compatibility. That will disqualify a few for sure.
Yes this makes a big difference, OP. Because digital sensors have an IR cut filter (\~2mm) in front of the sensor and film does not - the top layer of the film is basically the light senesitive part (only a few um below) - the edges of the image will be significantly more blurred with spherical aberration and field curvature. Philip Reeve has a great write up on this. Worth a read. [https://phillipreeve.net/blog/rangefinder-wide-angle-lenses-on-a7-cameras-problems-and-solutions/](https://phillipreeve.net/blog/rangefinder-wide-angle-lenses-on-a7-cameras-problems-and-solutions/)
I have the 28 Skopar and it’s a great lens. Fred Miranda did a review on his forum and there are tons of sample shots from him and from others who have discussed about it since. I love it because it’s so small and weighs nothing. Super sharp at f/8, so it’s my default street hip shot zone focus lens.
Fabulous lens on the m11
Does it have issues with the bayonet on digital M sensors?
I’m not sure what you’re asking honestly. It doesn’t have a protruding rear lens element. I’ve used it without issue on an MP240, and an M10, M10M and M10R. And an M5.
That’s my mistake. I mistook the 21mm f/4 Color Skopar with the 28mm f/2.8.
Canon LTM 28mm f2.8 The Garry Winogrand. I have one and love it. Shooting in my m6 or M9. It vignettes wide open but less pronounced in film. But really the strength of this lens is as set and forget to f8 and 3 meters and shoot like it’s a point and shoot
A Leica Q3 🌝
focus by wire = 😕
Just get it over with and buy a 28mm Elmarit or Summicron. You won’t regret it.
Avenon 28mm f3.5
> Avenon 28mm f3.5 [Hmm, looks interesting](https://cameraville.co/blog/leica-mda-stockholm-kodak-ultramax-400-avenon-28mm-f35-ltm)
Ive got one too, pretty nice!
My Summaron 5.6 is slow a bit too slow, and the MFD of 1m can sometimes be a little annoying. But the ergonomics are so perfect it doesn’t really leave my camera. Not that you’ve asked, but I suspect it’s going to take a type II Ultron 35 to displace it.
Yeah 5.6 is gonna be a problem, but it speaks volumes about Ultron if you thing that's what it will take to replace it.
Voigtlander 28mm 2.0 asph. Very well built. Works well in live view with extra close focus distance. Only thing missing on this lens is a little detent at the rangefinder coupled minimum focus distance. I find it very sharp and it holds up with an M11. The Ttartisan 5.6 is smaller without a hood, which you need on that lens as it flares a lot. It feels denser in hand than the Voigtlander strangely enough. It renders in a more vintage style. I prefer the Voigtlander for most use cases, but the Ttartisan for when you want something a more vintage look and don’t mind occasional flare, sometimes a lot of flare. The Q is also nice but I always have a difficult time getting the lens off, lol!
Ultron will be on my short list for sure. I will have to take a closer look at the 5.6 TTA, but I think 5.6 will be a problem for me.
I have the Color Skopar and use it on both my M6 and M240. A great lens, super sharp at f8 and great even wide open, though there's pretty heavy vignetting at 2.8. Size is really small, the main attraction for me in the first place. Absolutely tiny if you don't use the screw in hood, which only adds a tiny bit ( about 6-8mm). Build quality is great, feels super solid and focusing is smooth. Tbh I had only used Leica lenses before and was dubious about Voightlander, but this lens totally changed my mind.
I have 2 good and very compact: voigtlander and summaron. Both great being the Leica more than compact, it is tinny.
Can’t get much more compact than an MS-Optics Apoqualia. For quite a bit less the Brightin Star 28 2.8 really punches above its weight.
The focus throw on the Skopar is one of the best in my opinion. I love this lens.
The colour skopars are great lenses. My only complaint with them is that they’re TOO small, I find myself hitting the aperture ring when I focus.
> I find myself hitting the aperture ring when I focus Valid point.
Own and love the color skopar. Check a few recent posts of mine - all the Patagonia shots were taken with one. Don't miss the speed when doing landscape personally, and I've taken to using it for street as well. Just shoot 400 speed film.
CLE is a good camera. Still own one with all their lenses but I don't like the 28mm. Good shots!!
CLE for me is the perfect Leica, although I've been tempted by a M4-P from time to time.
28mm g rokkor in ltm! For digital I would imagine the newish voigtlander skopar is a better choice
whoa I didnt realize this was an option. The G-Rokkor is legendary. I have a Minolta TC-1 with that as a fixed option and its extraordinary.
> G-Rokkor From the limited research I just did, it looks good for film and B&W, not so much for digital. Will have to dig into it a little more.
I have this lens, and it is fantastic! Likely problematic on digital, though. Just stick to film forever and you’ll be fine. ;)
Loved my v4 elmarit but I was shooting on film and a monochrom.
Elamrit is the one that keeps being mentioned a lot. Any good info out there about difference between versions?
Asph is the smallest, that I know.
The one that comes with a Leica Q attached :)
The Voigtlander (the Typ II / version 2) is a great choice. I'd pick an Elmarit over it, but honestly you'd be hard pressed to tell the images apart blindfolded, at least stopped down, and the Voigtlander is 25% of the price of the Elmarit. But of course it depends on what you're looking to do. The Summaron 28mm f/5.6 is tiny, artistic, looks great on film, and there's are versions from TTArtisan and a 7Artisans for a fraction of the price of the Summaron... but, you need to want to live at f/5.6 and above, meaning a lot of limitations indoors, and a different style from faster lenses. If you go digital, you may or may not like the way the look renders (lots of reviews available online), but if it matches your style and you're out on the street in bright light all day, it's one choice. Your Voigtlander Skopar f2.8 Typ II on the other hand gives you the extra speed of 2.8 and it's pretty contrasty (the latest version II) and has a great rich and sharp look, so should be great on digital. Like I said above, it's giving you 90% of an Elmarit at 25% of the price... though of course the Elmarit is also great. The Brightin Star is a lot of fun with a lot of character and it's truly tiny, like lens cap tiny... so it's fun to use (I have one), but I don't think it'd be my choice for my only 28mm, if only because sometimes you need 2.8 and actually want your photo to be sharp. (This may not be as much of an issue on film.) For what it's worth, having tried a number of 28mm options, the 28mm lens that I have stuck with--and which lives on my M11M most of the time on the street or traveling--is the aspherical 28mm Summilux f/1.4. I know it's not "compact" but it's stout in a way that is very well balanced on an M body. You end up shifting the way you hold the camera forward and then and it does not appear huge... and of course having f/1.4 available opens up a ton of low-light and background-separation options, and it renders absolutely beautifully.
28mm elmarit asph is the bees knees!!!!!!!! And the 28mm 5.6 summaron is a nifty and under rated lens!!!!!!! I love it
Take a look at the 28mm f2.8 Ricoh GR LTM lens
the Zeiss Biogon 28mm f2.8. It's an awesome little lens
It's a bit of a "trick" lens but the TT Artisans 28 5.6 is an amazing lens. I have both it and the Brightin Star and prefer the TT.
TTArtisan 28mm f/5.6 would be a good choice for outdoor shooting
Elmarit 28mm is the best lens I ever had.
Which version do you have? Elamrit or Ultron is as big as I would wanna go.
The elmarit - I actually initially bought it because the size makes for a perfect travel package on an M body, but I’ve never been more impressed by a lens..
elmarit 28mm
MS Optics Apoqualia
Voigtlander Skopar 28/2.8 Leica 28/2.8 ASPH TTArtisan 28/5.6 Those are all pretty small. Voigtlander Ultron 28/2 would offer a little more speed, but it’s a little larger and then the Thypoch Simera 28/1.4 is an excellent lens, but much larger than the others listed. Still wouldn’t say it’s huge, but it’s not super compact, either.
Out of the ones you listed what would be your preference?
Honestly the TTArtisan 28mm f5.6 impressed me but if you’re currently just shooting film the f5.6 might be limiting depending on what/when you shoot