Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 MF

I'm reviewing Phoenix MF 24/2.8, it's the same lens. I shot 3 rolls Superia 100 and 200 with it so far, only for testing. I scan the negs with Epson3200 at 1600dpi. I'll skip everything you can find in the specs: Build quality is surpisingly good for such a cheap lens (it's made in Japan though). Tight metal mount, smooth and tight focusing ring (way better than any AF lens), a little loose apreture ring. No half stops, DOF scale a little over-optimistic. Overall, mechanically lens is OK+ Optical - at 2.8 lens is soft overall with much comma in the outer part of the image and severe light falloff in the corners. Lens is hardly usefull at f/2.8, but that kind of lens is seldom shot at it's lowest apreture. At f/4 lens gets a bit better, and falloff is hardly visible. At f/5.6 faloff is gone, lens is good except in the corners. At f/8-11, which I consider best apretures, shrapnes is good and fair in the corners. Bear in mind, at f/11 DOF runs from 1m to inifinity. Surpisingly, I saw no CA, and very slight distortion (it's a prime). Close focuing is pleasing, foreground objects are usually very good in detail. Flare is no issue for me, besides I use wide-angle hood all of the time, but when pointing at the sun there's one flare low right (which is normal). Overall, colors are fairly dull, and sharpness is worse than any normal 50/1.7, or (to be fair) with Nikkor 24/2.8D (270$ new, 180-200$ ebay). At f/2.8 lens is really bad in any respect, but at f/8-11 lens is OK, and with some USM things are getting almost nice. However, it's resonably satisfining for the price. It's my first real wide angle lens, and it serves me well the purpose to get a grip on wide-angle composition/object presentation. I'm up to try it as a "street/urban" lens - load the camera with ISO 400 Ilford, set 1/125s and have fun.

-build quality -price -no CA or annoying distortion -6 yr warranty

-overall soft, with dullish colors -bad at f/2.8

Nikkor 24/2.8D

Never used

(for Nikon AI mount version, though they're all identical) I would have bought the 19mm f/3.5, but the extra stop was more important to me than the extra width. I'm very happy with this lens; 24mm is a good perspective, and it's pretty sharp for its cost. Not in the same league as the posh stuff from Nikon et al., but since it's a fraction of the price, it can be forgiven. The glass seems an awful lot better than the build quality, which is all-plastic and not very satisfying feeling; that said, it's held up very well (it was my standard lens for a while, so it's seen a fair bit of use) and not taken any scratches or anything, so maybe it's tougher than it looks. A good way to try out a wider angle without breaking the bank. I've not had the problems with colour saturation that others report. Not the best, but not at all bad. Then again, I don't generally shoot high saturation films.

Value for money. Small and light. Pretty good glass. Despite the cheap build, focus moves nicely.

Lightly built; feels a bit cheap. Slight, rarely problematic vignetting wide open. Needs care to avoid flare.

Voigtlander/Cosina 15mm f/4.5 (on rangefinder), '70s vintage Vivitar 28mm (M42 mount)

Not needed it.

This is not the best 24 mm lens on the market,it is certainly not as good as the famed Vivitar 19 mm.But if you find a good exemplary,and have no alternative economically, then buy it,you cant find any other more economic alternative,even if you buy used lenses from Nikon and Canon(you have to pay three times more),so if youre a beginner and go into the art of making wide angle-photographs,there is only one other alternative(talking of best buy); and that is either the 19mm or the best;the 17-28 mm manualzoom from Vivitar which i still use!

Normally fairly good (and if youre lucky to find a good sample,you can buy a gem.) The wide area of 24 mm is great under all circumstances!try it out! learn it -do it! You need a good lens hood anyway and filter

Colour could be better Sharpness and some small vignetting Flares a lot(as all wide angles)

Nikon and Canon 20 mm Vivitar 19 mm Nikon 24 mm ais

Its good in DK.

very cheap, but the quality isn't as good as the vivitar 19mm/3.5. quite dull in color.

cheap
rigid built

color contrast

nikkor AFD20mm/2.8
vivitar MF19mm/3.5

nil