Makinon 28mm f/2.8 MC Auto (Contax-Yashica Mount)

Makinon 28mm f/2.8 MC Auto

2016.09.30 - Published

2021.08.18 - Re-written, re-edit video

This Makinon 28mm f/2.8 MC Auto came in Contax-Yashica mount. I only had a Nikon DSLR at the time, it only worked the metal mounting plate was removed and shot freelensing. This technique would have introduced flare, light leaks and distortion.

This lens already had some coating deterioration which may have affected the output (soft even stopped down to f/16), but overall I was satisfied with the dreamy look. Either like a built-in mild soft filter, or shooting videos give the impression it was shot on tape/VHS. Strangely, closeup images appear sharper and more vivid colors at f/2.8, than when focused to infinity. The lens had a decent contrast and I like the color rendering, as if like watercolor.

Makina Optical was founded in 1967 and originally sold their lenses under third party names like Vivitar (serial starts with '#32xxx'), Soligor, Hanimex, Promaster etc. They began selling under their own name 'Makinon' from 1975, with a complete range of primes and zooms. Their 28mm f/2.8 was well regarded. Makinon user community suspect that the company later contracted others to make their lenses (eg. Sigma or Samyang). They disappeared around 1985 when AF lenses were introduced to the market.

The Contax-Yashica (C/Y) mount was introduced in 1975. Kyocera, who was founded as a ceramics company in 1959, had acquired Yashica in 1983 and began making photographic equipment until 2005.