6 Best 28mm Lens in Review – Find out Which One of Them Is the Best Overall

There are two classical focal lengths – the 28mm and 35mm variants. And while each one of them has their strengths and weaknesses, it is the 28mm that remains popular due to its wider field of view.

So, if you are into landscape photography, this might just be the game-changer focal length you need to be banking on.

28mm lens 2023 – Comparison

You don’t have to go through the trouble of reading this entire article. Below is a shortened Chart of the top 28mm lens reviewed.

1. Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM lens

This wide-angle lens has so many impressive features that we could easily say that it is the best 28mm lens for its price range.

First, it has top-notch construction from sturdy plastic and this combined with the gold accent around the filter ring gives it a stunning appearance.

This material also makes it light and very compact.

Then, it utilizes the Ultrasonic motor to ensure that it has a fast autofocus operation. If you want to minimize the effects of spherical aberrations, you will have to stop the lens down to f/2.8.

Pros

• Affordable
• High-quality build
• Fast autofocus

Cons

• Prone to flares

2. Sony FE 28mm f/2 Lens

This affordable prime lens is designed to be used on Sony’s full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras, and we shall explain to you why it is a must-have tool for photo-enthusiasts.

To start with, it measures 2.52 by 2.36 inches and weighs only 7 ounces, making it extremely light and portable, besides being thoroughly dust and moisture resistant.

It utilizes a linear motor to give you smooth and silent autofocus while the bokeh performance is equally impressive for a lens in its price range.

The vignetting, flares and distortion are well controlled while the sharpness is as impressive as it can ever be.

The lens performs well in low light while the fixed focal length of 28mm makes it very suitable for street and landscape photography.

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Good performance in low light
• Affordable

Cons

• Not weather-sealed

Check out our another related article: 10 Best Lenses for Sony a7iii Reviewed – Our Honest Thoughts & Analysis

3. Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G Prime lens

This lens designed for full-frame and cropped sensors will serve you best in low light conditions. It uses the Silent-Wave focus motor (SWM) to ensure that it has a fast, silent and accurate autofocus operation.

It measures 2.9 by 3.2 inches and weighs just 330g, making it very small, light and compact. Its optical construction consists of 9 elements in 11 groups, two of which being aspherical elements which will minimize aberrations and Maximize sharpness.

Further, the elements are coated with Nikon’s Nano Crystal Coat and Super Integrated Coating to give it a fantastic ghost and flare resistance. You will also be impressed with its fantastic background blur.

The exterior of the lens is mainly made of plastic and has a metal mount, giving it a decently solid build.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Fast and silent autofocus
• Solid build

Cons

• Prone to fuzzy images

4. Meike MK 28mm f/2.8 Lens

The Meike lens manufacturing firm has a reputation for producing cheap and unique lenses, and we are going to review what this model has to offer.

From the very beginning, the lens comes in a classy box which includes a cleaning cloth and a soft pouch. Then, it weighs a measly 102g, making it one of the lightest lenses you will ever find.

It has a maximum magnification of 0.11x, and the focus distances are marked out on the lens barrel. It also has a smooth and accurate focus action.

The optical design consists of 6 elements in 5 groups, and they (elements) utilize Nanotechnology multi-coating to increase its flare resistance. It also has a fantastic bokeh due to the curved diaphragm blades.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Smooth focus action
• Lightweight

Cons

• Can be confusing for amateurs

5. Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 28mm f/2.8D lens

This is a compact and versatile lens which is designed to be used on Nikon F-Mount cameras. You can use it for a variety of purposes including shooting documentaries and landscapes

The lens has a maximum f/2.8 aperture which makes it suitable for use in different lighting situations. It also has a rounded seven-blade diaphragm which gives it a fantastic background blur.

The optical elements utilize the Super Integrated Coating to give it a fantastic flare and ghost resistance, as well as enhances the contrast and color accuracy in intense light situations.

Pros

• Versatile
• Impressive bokeh
• Good low-light performance

Cons

• A bit too soft

6. Olympus Zuiko Auto-W 28mm F/2.8 lens

Once you acquire this lens, it will offer you a range of features which are unique in comparison to other lenses in its category.

First, it measures 32mm long and weighs only 170g, a combination which makes it portable and capable of comfortably fitting in the jeans pocket.

Then we go to the look. The barrel has a satin black-chrome finish while the mounting ring has a contrasting satin silver, a combination which makes the lens ooze with class and elegance.

The focus ring feels great in the hands and has an amazing grip made possible by the diamond knurling. It has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 meters and an angle of view of 75 degrees. The combination of all these aspects leads to a fast and accurate focus operation.

The optical construction consists of 6 elements in 6 groups, and they aid in producing sharp images with incredible contrast.

The lens has a decent bokeh while the vignetting is barely noticeable and can be easily corrected. It comes with a lens hood to minimize the effects of flares and ghosting.

Pros

• Light and portable
• Very affordable
• Amazing focus ring grip

Cons

• Prone to flares and ghosting

Also Read: 7 Best Lens for Music Videos Reviewed, Compared & Rated

The Buying Guide For 28mm lens

The first thing you want to ensure is that the lens you settle for is compatible with your camera model. Luckily, for you, Amazon already has a feature that you can use for that.

The next factor to consider is the aperture range. The larger this range is, the more control you have over the kind of exposure you can achieve with your lens.

Lastly, you want to make sure that your lens is well-made and durable. Ideally, it should also come with built-in image stabilization features.

Which One Is The Best?

The Canon EF 28mm Wide Angle Lens f/1.8 lens would in our view a really good lens to settle for. Of course, everyone has their favorite but we really like this one due to its wide aperture. We also like it because of its great focusing abilities.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – a comprehensive list of the most popular 28mm lens. We hope that you’ll be in a position to make a step forward in finding a lens that redefines your progress as a photographer.