This lens is far better than expected! - Cosina 28mm f2.8 - lens test and review

[@1kwords]

Wow! This is indeed really sharp. Nice, warm colors, too. On the subject of lenses that shouldn't be as good as they are, I have to shamelessly plug my upcoming video. I am currently working on a review of exactly such a lens - the Sigma Super Wide II 2.8/24 and spoiler alert, it's crazy sharp.

[@MarcoAries]

Can't wait to check it out! Sigmas can be hit or miss, but when they hit, oh boy! 😁

[@acecreates]

I'll check out your video when it comes out!

[@robertwlittlejohn]

Thanks for making this test and review Marco, hard to find very much about this lens online and you helped me pull the trigger on one which I now feel like I've got a great bargain. I was looking for a small lens to go on my Contax 139Q film camera...which is C/Y mount....the Zeiss lenses are all very expensive as all the video/cinema shooters love them...and the lower quality Yashica lenses are also going up in price as everyone snaps up the Zeiss lenses...and then I found this lens but with a C/Y mount!...(Contax/Yashica). Looks identical to yours except the Aperture ring is reversed...no one seems to even know this lens exists (it's not on any of the C/Y mount lens lists)...i just stumbled over it on Ebay...almost mint and $50. I just assumed it was probably not great as there was little mention of it anywhere...but i found your review (yeah different mount but same lens) but i did search as Cosina has made some great lenses. Perfect small size for my 139Q...and I like 28mm for street photography. Thank you....and yes i've added a lot of info here...just in case someone else comes across the same lens as mine and looks at your review...

[@MarcoAries]

Glad it was useful! There are a ton of small variations, especially on third party lenses, so yeah, it gets confusing quickly! And don't worry of writing a long comment, we're here to share information with each other!

[@SlavianoRus]

У меня такой. Vivitar ms 28/2.8 (cosina). C/Y. Bokeh на любителя, а так, да, резкий с открытой.

[@miguelmonforte]

I think mine is the one you describe, the aperture numbers are reversed, plus is written MC Macro, is for C/Y.. i will tell if the quality is in accordance

[@acecreates]

Another great video mate! Stunning shots!!

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you!

[@corinagul612]

Thank you for this thoughtful review.

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you for watching!

[@damiendehorn6350]

Nice one, Marco. Cosina made some nice glass for other brands, the early Voightlanders are some of my favourites.

[@MarcoAries]

Yeah, I didn't know they had acquired Voigtlander, it was a bit of a surprise to learn that. I've always thought of Cosina as just another third party manufacturer, but, well, I was clearly wrong! 😅

[@damiendehorn6350]

@@MarcoAries If you ever find a Cosina 19-35 manual zoom, get it fantastic zoom. keep up the vintage lens reviews, just love them.

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out for it 😉

[@KimHojbergJensen]

It looks very good. I have 5 Voigtlander lenses, made by Cosina, 2 for Leica M and 3 for Nikon F. They are all great lenses

[@MarcoAries]

I'm quite curious about Voigtlander lenses, one day I'll find one to try 😅

[@ianharper6015]

Thank you for an interesting video. I've taken a few images with this lens and also found that it performs better than expected. Using Topaz sharpen AI it produces almost edge to edge sharpness at full aperture.

[@MarcoAries]

Indeed!

[@Mr.Monta77]

Thanks for the video, well done. I'm quite surprised at the quality of this lens, but of course Cosina did make Zeiss lenses so perhaps it should be no surprise.

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you! Yes, I think Cosina is often underrated and discarded as "just a cheap third party brand", while it produced lenses that can compete with major brands

[@Mr.Monta77]

@@MarcoAries Yes you are right. Often people are far to easily led by the power of a brand to see the reality of a lens. In fact this is a buddhist teaching also :). And if you think about it, the prestige german Zeiss company would never choose Cosina if they did not have the competence and capacity to manufacture high class lenses. Your video have opened my eyes and I will certainly look more at Cosina in the future. Again thanks.

[@michelemarcolin2548]

The Cosina 28mm is a great lens for its age. All those wides are quite good.

[@MarcoAries]

Indeed!

[@SimeonKolev]

This lens looks so much like the Pentax SMC :) I even wonder is this the Pentax lens itself. The bokeh looks very similar, color, sharpness it looks like the Pentax. I only wonder is this the M or the A version of the 28 2.8 :)

[@MarcoAries]

It does! It matches quite well with my Pentax M lenses, but I don't own any A series so I can't be sure.

[@olivierbizard1148]

great review! thanks a lot

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you for watching, glad you liked it!

[@olivierbizard1148]

@@MarcoAries ;-) just one question, on which camera did you test the lens? FF or APSC? thanks a lot!

[@MarcoAries]

Sony a6500, APS-C, still trying to save up for a full frame 😅

[@alvarojazz1819]

Hi Marco, nice video! Just a question, is the pentax K' mount lens or the minolta' one? Thank u in advance ❤️❤️❤️

[@MarcoAries]

The one I had was Pentax K, but it came in a number of different mounts, probably Minolta as well

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Waiting for mine to be delivered think it will need a good internal clean.. cos of sparkly dust inside.....

[@MarcoAries]

A bit of cleaning never hurts 😉 Keep me updated!

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Only used mine once need some color film to test it.....

[@MarcoAries]

Let us know once you've taken it out for a spin!

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Six aperture blades not 5 I think.......

[@MarcoAries]

Just double checked, it has five ;) Also, at 2:04 you can see them

[@zatoichiable]

Is the lens have long throw focus?

[@MarcoAries]

As I said at 2:11 focus throw is 120 degrees ;)

[@UncleeDaddyy]

How much is this running for? 🤔more or less

[@MarcoAries]

Depends on where you are in the world. Here in Italy anywhere in between 5 and 50 euros