What about Kobalux Bower Pasoptik 28mm f2.8 lens

[fernando_mcsoto]

A dealer in the UK is selling at an excellent price the last brand

new Kobalux 28mm f2.8 leica thread mount lens it has. Aparently this

lenses were called Bower in the US and Pasoptik in the UK and Kobalux

does not make them anymore. I have read that Adorama sold them with

it own name. I'm surpised about how small it is and I'm and

considering buying it for my Leica IIIc. I did not know about this

lens and I would like to ask for opinions from people who own or have

used this lens. The lens is sold with an adapter for Leica M's.

[andy_aitken]

If I recall they were considered good but not outstanding lenses. Unless the price is very good the CV 28mm f3.5 is probably a much better option.

[aric_rothman]

I used to own the last version of this lens. I was very happy with it, but sold it due to misplaced gearlust and have regretted it. If it's a really good deal over the Cosina Voigtlander 28/3.5, I'd say go for it. If not, the VC is a current production lens, and should be at least as good as the Kobalux, probably slightly better. Examine the Kobalux lens's element retaining ring up front. The first piece I received had damaged spanner wrench slots.

 

I have the 21/2.8 brother to this Kobalux lens. It is a true jewel, albeit a rather large one.

[peter_n1664876959]

I too have the 21/2.8, an awesome lens! Build quality of the Kobalux is better than most of the Voigtlander lenses, but the 28 received mixed reviews for optical quality.

[derek_stanton2]

Here's cameraquest's writeup on the 28mm.

http://www.cameraquest.com/koba28.htm

 

And, a couple of things on the 21:

http://www.kobalux.com/k21-3.html

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/koba21.htm

[aric_rothman]

The write up CV 28/3.5 on Steve Gandy's site is not for the last version of the 28/3.5. The last version was supposed to have improved optical performance compared to the previous version. The last version has a focusing chevron, not a round tab.

[peter_evans4]

Here in Japan both the 28mm and the 21mm lenses were marketed as "Avenon", and it's believed that the designer, manufacturer or both is in some way the successor to Komura. Just a couple more keywords for your googling pleasure.

[shambrick007]

"The write up CV 28/3.5 on Steve Gandy's site is not for the last version of the 28/3.5."<p> Since when have there been two versions???

[andrew_c2]

I had the Kobalux 21/2.8, not the 28. So I can only speak for that. The build

quality was really really good, and the optics were fine after a stop or two--

really, how many lenses are best wide open? That's the only 21 I've ever had.

I'll admit that one of the reasons why I took it over the CV was the fondler

value. It cost around $200 more.

 

With that in mind, if there's, say, a $100 difference in price between the quasi-

Kobalux and the CV, go for the former; if there's a $200 difference, go with the

CV. How often are you going to use a wide angle lens wide open? And if

something goes wrong, Gandy or others will give you a warranty; will you get

one with the Kobalux?

[aric_rothman]

Sheldon, there were at least two versions, as the lens I owned was different in construction to the lens featured at cameraquest.com.

[joel_matherson]

Aric, you are mistaken or are confusing the 28mm f3.5 with the 2 pancake 35mm 2.5's. There has only ever been one 28mm f3.5. It would be ther better lens to go for than the Kobalux. It has the better optics of the 2 and its one of the higher build standard Voigtlander lenses. In chrome its a perfect match on a Leica screw mount

[aric_rothman]

I don't know why I wrote CV when refering to two version of 28/3.5. I meant there were two version of the <b>Kobalux</b> 28/3.5, and I owned a copy of the last version. The picture on Steve Gandy's site is of the earlier version Kobalux 28/3.5.

 

On <a href="http://www.kobalux.com/k28-2.html">this page</a>, one can barely see the focusing chevron on the last version of the 28/3.5.

[fernando_mcsoto]

Thank you. The lens is so small that I decided to buy it and if I don't like the results I guess I can sell it not loosing much money. The price is quite low anyway. In any case I'm sure that it is better than a Leitz Hektor 28mm screw mount.

[fernando_mcsoto]

Funny. The last Kobalux lenses were only M-Mount... Not even the seller Goodwin Photo Inc. knew when it sold it to me.

 

I cannot use it with my Leica IIIc (screw mount) so I have decided to put it on sale the famous auction website. FYI:

 

<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3811984110&category=15234&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT&rd=1>