• RichA
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Topic: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

It's not bad.  I have the f2.8 and I think this is better.  I'd have to compare them though.

http://www.pbase.com/andersonrm/image/112384985/original.jpg

CAMERAS: Panasonic G1-Olympus OM-4T-Pentax MX-Konica AR-TCx2-Olympus 35 RC Nikon N65. 
LENSES: Minolta-Konica-Takumar-Leica-Vivitar-Olympus-Voigtlander-Kiron-Tokina-Tamron-Yashica-Pentax-Nikon-Bushnell-Albinar-Rexatar-Sigma-Fujinon-Panasonic-Kinegon-Soligor, Promatic-William Optics-Underground-Hanimex.
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  • robertro
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

I have one of these that I almost sold, until I started using it. Its nice bokeh and decent sharpness at f2.0 make it a superb "normal" lens on 4/3.

I have a Tamron 28/2.5 that is sharper at f2.5, but obviously not at f2.0! The extra 1/2 stop or so makes a big difference in bokeh and in night-time shots. Also, the 28/2 is a lot more forgiving than a fast 50mm lens.

.                                                too many MF lenses, too little time___________
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  • RichA
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

I'm going to run a comparison between it, the f2.8 Kiron, the 24mm f2.8 AI.S Nikon and a Soligor 28mm f2.8 I got for $5.00 and seems to be a decent lens, an a 24mm f1.4 CCTV lens I can use on the G1.  I agree about the 50mm's being less forgiving.

Last edited by RichA (2009-05-11 03:33:17)

CAMERAS: Panasonic G1-Olympus OM-4T-Pentax MX-Konica AR-TCx2-Olympus 35 RC Nikon N65. 
LENSES: Minolta-Konica-Takumar-Leica-Vivitar-Olympus-Voigtlander-Kiron-Tokina-Tamron-Yashica-Pentax-Nikon-Bushnell-Albinar-Rexatar-Sigma-Fujinon-Panasonic-Kinegon-Soligor, Promatic-William Optics-Underground-Hanimex.
http://www.pbase.com/andersonrm
  • From: USA
  • Registered: 2007-10-21
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

RichA wrote:

I'm going to run a comparison between it, the f2.8 Kiron, the 24mm f2.8 AI.S Nikon and a Soligor 28mm f2.8 I got for $5.00 and seems to be a decent lens, an a 24mm f1.4 CCTV lens I can use on the G1.  I agree about the 50mm's being less forgiving.

Just for completeness sake, here's a shot from Vivitar Series 1 28mm 1:1.9 wide open:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2739463260_9eb799eb8f_o.jpg

Notice the patterned bokeh in the background, I don't like it.  I like the bokeh in your picture up above.  Is that also wide open using the Kiron?

Last edited by shadowfox (2009-05-11 16:17:37)

Cheers, Will.

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  • RichA
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Yes, that's wide open with the Kiron.  I kind of like the bokeh in your shot, it looks "dynamic."

CAMERAS: Panasonic G1-Olympus OM-4T-Pentax MX-Konica AR-TCx2-Olympus 35 RC Nikon N65. 
LENSES: Minolta-Konica-Takumar-Leica-Vivitar-Olympus-Voigtlander-Kiron-Tokina-Tamron-Yashica-Pentax-Nikon-Bushnell-Albinar-Rexatar-Sigma-Fujinon-Panasonic-Kinegon-Soligor, Promatic-William Optics-Underground-Hanimex.
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  • Obi-Wan
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  • Registered: 2007-09-13
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

I'm with shadowfox about the bokeh.  The sharp, patterned bokeh that I see from some lenses disgusts me.  I prefer the out of focus areas to melt away into a Gaussian blur.

Thanks for these comparisons.  I'm shopping for a 24/2 or 28/2 myself right now.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi/400D, AF lenses from Canon & Sigma, MF lenses including Takumars, Nikkors, Olympuses, Vivitars, Tamron, Tokina, Yashica, Opteka, etc.  See complete list
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  • Registered: 2007-06-15
  • Posts: 114

Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Shadowfox
That OOF is very distracting - not just busy


patrickh

Nikon user with some russian and german lenses.
  • Registered: 2009-04-22
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Anyone interested in a 28/2 with bokeh in mind might want to consider the Komine-made Vivitar 28/2 Close Focus. I know that's the one I want to find.

Here's a sample I found from it:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/3506261508_079e0084cd_o.jpg

  • Registered: 2007-06-15
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Now that is extraordinary

patrickh

Last edited by patrickh (2009-05-12 15:47:18)

Nikon user with some russian and german lenses.
  • Xpres
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  • Registered: 2007-07-20
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

This is from a soligor c/d 28/2 at f2.  Smooth but not super sharp at f2

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XC5yATFiGno/SgmWAnxpTwI/AAAAAAAADsw/de6bZ2RPfQM/s800/P5120882.jpg

and f2.8

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XC5yATFiGno/SgmWBnSdWrI/AAAAAAAADs0/RBGCCnzLvWc/s800/P5120885.jpg

And what if reality dissolved before our very eyes?
  • From: USA
  • Registered: 2007-10-21
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

patrickh wrote:

Shadowfox
That OOF is very distracting - not just busy


patrickh

Correct.  This is one picture that I show when people argued that bokeh doesn't matter.

The fact is, for a lot of pictures, it can make or break it.

That Komine-made Vivitar lens is quite good.

Cheers, Will.

shadowfox's Website

  • Registered: 2009-04-22
  • Posts: 48

Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

shadowfox wrote:

That Komine-made Vivitar lens is quite good.

Trouble is; *finding one*.

  • From: Hessen; Kent ('95-'96)
  • Registered: 2006-11-11
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

h_rearden wrote:
shadowfox wrote:

That Komine-made Vivitar lens is quite good.

Trouble is; *finding one*.

This is a great lens. I have got one. I got for very little money and without knowing it, I took it just because of the bargain price.
After having used it for the first time, it quickly became my fav 28mm lens.
Only keeping the Komine-Viv 2/28, the Kiron-Viv 2.5/28 (M42, for my Spotmatic SPII) and the Oly Zuiko 3.5/28 (because it's such a compact beauty), I actually sold all my other 28mm lenses: Kiron 2/28, Pentax-M SMC 2.8/28, Yashica ML 2.8/28, Petri 2.8/28 Macro, Raynox 2.8/28 and Canon EF 2.8/28. As you can see I gave up on some really nice lenses, because the Komine-Viv 2/28 was more than just a replacement of the Kiron, Pentax, Yashica and Canon models.
The only lens that could ever replace the Viv 2/28 and make me sell that one is the Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/28, but have you seen the prices of the Elmarit? wink

Last edited by LucisPictor (2009-06-01 17:56:39)

Carsten | 5D, 40D, 50e, 300, SPII, Nikon F etc.; Fed 3b, Electro 35 GS, Minox, Kodak...
http://tinyurl.com/35x4vve // AF: 1.8/24;1.8/50;15-30;18-125;24-200;28-70;28-105  3.5/8;2.8/16;4/20;2.8/24;2/28;2.5/28;2.8/28;1.9/35;2/35;2.8/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;1.8/50;2/50;2.8/50;1.2/55;1.9/58;1.8/85;2/85;2.8/85;2.8/105;2.5/135;3.5/135;4/135;4/180;8/500 # 28-85;28-105;35-200;60-300;70-220

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  • Makten
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

shadowfox wrote:

Notice the patterned bokeh in the background, I don't like it.  I like the bokeh in your picture up above.  Is that also wide open using the Kiron?

Remember that most WA lenses gives that sort of "pattern" towards the edges only. Something you won't notice very much on a crop camera. And yours is taken with film, right?
Bokeh often shifts character with distance, which makes it hard to compare lenses when you don't have pictures of the exact same scene with both.

Last edited by Makten (2009-06-01 18:02:52)

  • Xpres
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

LucisPictor wrote:

The only lens that could ever replace the Viv 2/28 and make me sell that one is the Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/28, but have you seen the prices of the Elmarit? wink

I have both and still prefer the Komine Viv...  well, most of the time.

And what if reality dissolved before our very eyes?
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Xpres wrote:
LucisPictor wrote:

The only lens that could ever replace the Viv 2/28 and make me sell that one is the Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/28, but have you seen the prices of the Elmarit? wink

I have both and still prefer the Komine Viv...  well, most of the time.

Good to read! This will slow down my need to buy the Leica. Thanks wink

Carsten | 5D, 40D, 50e, 300, SPII, Nikon F etc.; Fed 3b, Electro 35 GS, Minox, Kodak...
http://tinyurl.com/35x4vve // AF: 1.8/24;1.8/50;15-30;18-125;24-200;28-70;28-105  3.5/8;2.8/16;4/20;2.8/24;2/28;2.5/28;2.8/28;1.9/35;2/35;2.8/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;1.8/50;2/50;2.8/50;1.2/55;1.9/58;1.8/85;2/85;2.8/85;2.8/105;2.5/135;3.5/135;4/135;4/180;8/500 # 28-85;28-105;35-200;60-300;70-220

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  • From: Baaarkshire, UK
  • Registered: 2007-12-09
  • Posts: 42

Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Xpres wrote:
LucisPictor wrote:

The only lens that could ever replace the Viv 2/28 and make me sell that one is the Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/28, but have you seen the prices of the Elmarit? wink

I have both and still prefer the Komine Viv...  well, most of the time.

Sigh!

I had one of these.. used it on my 4/3 setup.. but I sold all my mf lenses last year and started again.
Idiot.

http://www.snaar.co.uk/lenses/viv28a.jpg

Pete

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  • RichA
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

I stupidly did that when I got into digital. Sold all my Oly OM gear, then paid $1200 for a 3.3 megapixel P&S in 2001.  Ended up buying back the lenses and an OM-4T.

CAMERAS: Panasonic G1-Olympus OM-4T-Pentax MX-Konica AR-TCx2-Olympus 35 RC Nikon N65. 
LENSES: Minolta-Konica-Takumar-Leica-Vivitar-Olympus-Voigtlander-Kiron-Tokina-Tamron-Yashica-Pentax-Nikon-Bushnell-Albinar-Rexatar-Sigma-Fujinon-Panasonic-Kinegon-Soligor, Promatic-William Optics-Underground-Hanimex.
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  • robertro
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Reviewing this and actually looking at my lens rather than through my lens, I realized that I have the Vivitar 28/2 not the Kiron 28/2. I almost sold it a while ago, until I pulled it off the shelf a while ago and realized how much I like it.

I was curious about whether there is a Vivitar CF version and non-CF version. If someone knows how close the CF version focuses. I can compare it with mine....or should I just check the serial number?

.                                                too many MF lenses, too little time___________
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  • Registered: 2009-04-22
  • Posts: 48

Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

robertro wrote:

Reviewing this and actually looking at my lens rather than through my lens, I realized that I have the Vivitar 28/2 not the Kiron 28/2. I almost sold it a while ago, until I pulled it off the shelf a while ago and realized how much I like it.

I was curious about whether there is a Vivitar CF version and non-CF version. If someone knows how close the CF version focuses. I can compare it with mine....or should I just check the serial number?

The Close Focus version begins with 28 (Komine) and it says "Close Focus" right on the name ring.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3481339787_32e9bee806.jpg

Last edited by h_rearden (2009-06-04 20:09:35)

  • ElanR
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Rich, I hate to tell you this, but I think an ebay seller stole your image and is using it in his auction. Take a look.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi … 0326063462

Elan
  • RichA
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

Hey thanks!  I wonder if it's someone here or they just came across the image?

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  • ElanR
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Re: Kiron 28mm f2.0 at f2.0

I'm guessing the seller ran a search and ended up here. If you google his title, this thread is the 4th result.

I'm not familiar with pbase. Since he's linking directly to your image, I wonder if you can replace the image with some crappy, blurry shot that'll make his lens look bad. Otherwise, you can simply remove it and he'll have a broken link.

Elan