$20 or less Vintage 28mm Lenses compared to Nikkor AIS Champ

Here’s a new set of 28mm lenses. If you caught my previous episode, you know that the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS was the clear winner: superb for landscapes and close-up work alike. It’s sharp corner to corner and is amazing even wide open.

The other lenses in that challenge did pretty well though. And I feel like it proved for $50, you could get a pretty decent shooting experience.
Here’s a new batch I picked up for less than $20. Can they compare to the Nikkor? Would you notice the difference in real-world usage? Could a cheap lens you grab for $10 or $20 from a garage sale cut it?

We look at a Vivitar, made by Komine. It’s small, well-built and solid. 49mm filter thread. This is not the close focus variety – just the plain version. Reviews online say it’s average to good. Is it?
Next up is the JC Penny 28mm f/2.8. Mine is in Canon FD mount, and is bigger than the Komine Vivitar, with a 55mm filter thread. It’s multicoated which is nice but I don’t know the original manufacturer. Do you?
Then there’s an M42 mount Hanimex Multicoated. Honestly, this could be a twin of the JC Penny and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were both made by the same manufacturer. It could be a Tokina perhaps based on the build quality.

Finally, we have an Auto Aragon 28mm F/2.8. It’s silver and feels a bit more flimsy. It’s in M42 mount.

So how did these lenses pan out? Well, no surprise, none of these cheapies dethroned the Nikkor. But some took amazing photos regardless. This one shot with the JCPenny at F/8? I printed it out 13x19 and it’s on my wall, and it looks great.

Before I give my final thoughts . . . let me put in a plug for my next review of 28mm lenses, I’d like to compare a few better-known varieties against each other – The Konica 28mm f/3.5; the Pentax Super Takumar 28mm f/3.5, the Yashica 28mm F/2.8 and maybe a couple more!

So back to today’s lenses. Hey, they’re all “good enough” if you’re looking for a little lens to throw in your bag to take some landscape shots on a full frame camera. I’m sure they would be great if you’re looking for a 42mm lens equivalent on your crop sensor camera as well. Discreet street photography with focus markings on the barrel? Absolutely.
Watch the review for all the details! Until then, go out into the world, and start taking some great, cheap shots!

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