|
|
|
|
Review Date
June 10, 2009
Overall Rating
 5 of 5
Value Rating
 5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2 votes
Battery Finder >>
|
|
|
Reviewed by
RamRay
, Intermediate
Price Paid
$200.00
at ebay
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
A 28 is fairly easy to make: most are very good and rarely get poor reviews. I have owed 28's by the following manufacturers: Canon, Vivitar, Soligor, Nikon, Minolta, Olympus Leitz and Zeiss. Without question the best results I have seen has been with the Leitz Elmarit and the Zeiss (Biogon for the G, Distagon for the RX SLR). Given I no longer use an M and the Elmarit was so expensive, I have to say hands down the Zeiss Biogon is the best 28 I have ever used and a bargan to boot! Sharp across the board (as are many 28's), good correction, little distortion (again, as are many 28's), what makes this stand out is the great color, the crisp clarity of what is in focus and the soft okeh of what is out. I am sure many will argue that their 28 made by (fill in the blank) is as good or better. Fine and good, but for me NO ONE makes a better 28 and only Leitz can match it.
Strengths
Small, solid, well made
Sharp, perfect color, no visible distortion (it's a Zeiss for Pete's sake!)
Outstanding stopped down AND wide open
Sold very cheaply now on the used market-beyond a bargain!
Weaknesses
No longer supported
That's it!
Similar Products Used
28's by the following manufacturers: Canon, Vivitar, Soligor, Nikon, Minolta, Olympus Leitz and Zeiss.
Customer Service
no longer available-but never needed
|
|
|
|
Review Date
August 13, 2003
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4 votes
Battery Finder >>
|
|
|
Reviewed by
Johann B
, Expert
, from Concord, Cow Hampshire, USA
Price Paid
$325.00
at eBay auction
Photography Experience
11-20 years
, Outdoor
Summary
Easily the sharpest 28mm lens I've used, the Biogon also has a pleasing, three-dimensional image rendition that can't be measured by LPPM resolution tests. Obviously it's an incredible value, particularly when you figure how cheaply you can pick up a G1 body. It's a wonderful lens.
Strengths
sharp, small, light, pleasing rendition, cheap!
Weaknesses
none noted
Similar Products Used
Elmarit 28/2.8, Takumar 28/2.8, Canon FD 28/2.8, many others...
Customer Service
none needed
|
|
|
|
Review Date
June 23, 2003
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3 votes
Battery Finder >>
|
|
|
Reviewed by
Clive Hickman
, Intermediate
, from San Diego, CA
Price Paid
$289.00
at eBay
Photography Experience
11-20 years
, Outdoor
Summary
This must be the world's premier 28mm f2.8 lens. The results are dazzling, vibrant color rendition, almost non-existent distortion even wide open, wonderful build quality and hardly any weight. It is amazing that you can pick these CZ gems up on eBay for under $300 (often brand new in the box)whereas the optically inferior Elmarit Leica offering will set you back $1500+ (see Swedish test site www.photodo.com). That is 5 times as much folks!
Strengths
Quality in every respect
Weaknesses
None
Similar Products Used
Nikkor 28mm f2, various CZ N series and G2 lenses
Customer Service
Not tried
|
|
|
|
Review Date
February 26, 2003
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
3 Months to 1 year
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 4 votes
Battery Finder >>
|
|
|
Reviewed by
Yamanomichi
, Expert
, from Berlin, Germany
Price Paid
$280.00
at Ebay
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
This is a real gem! Although I don´t like the small viewfinder of the Contax G2, this lens makes me sticking to the Contax equipment. Even wide open, this lens delivers exceptional sharpness over more than 60% of the image area. This quality further increases gradually at f4; and maximal sharpness is seen at f5.6. Both contrast and flare resistance are amazing. Conventional prints from the "around the corner" lab look simply overcontrasted since they have adapted to customers having cheaper optics (personal interpretation). Even on chromes the color saturation and the contrast are breathtaking. What a difference to the keyhole-like finder of the G2. No ghost images even in critically lit situations. Flare simply doesn´t not exist with this lens. A true highlight - may be due to a very simple lens design (Gauss type) which is only possible with the rangefinder camera system allowing an indruding back element.
Strengths
excellent sharpness, contrast, color rendition
relatively affordable
Weaknesses
"in lens" bajonet handles a bit tricky
poor viewfinder coverage as compared to the real image
fast but loud autofocus
shade (GG-1) is vignetting the viewfinder image
Similar Products Used
Planar 45/2.0
Sonnar 90/2.8
Canon EF 28/2.8
Canon EF 28-80/2.8-4.0 L USM
Sigma 21/2.8 (Canon FD mount)
Leica 19/2.8 1st version
Customer Service
not needed (yet)
|
|
|
|
Review Date
March 18, 2002
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 4 votes
Battery Finder >>
|
|
|
Reviewed by
Meryl Arbing
, Intermediate
, from Toronto, ON, Canada
Price Paid
$540.00
at Henry''s (Toronto)
Photography Experience
2-5 years
, Outdoor
Summary
When you buy Zeiss you know what you are going to get and this lens doesn't let you down. It is my favourite "walking around" lens and is as good or better than my Zeiss 28/f2.8 for my SLR
Strengths
Tack sharp, incredible build quality, takes fantastic pictures!!
Weaknesses
NONE!!
Similar Products Used
Zeiss 28/f2.8 SLR
Customer Service
efficient, professional helpful
|
|
|
| |
|
