CameraReview
Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 Pancake
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Brightin Star · 28 mm · f/2.8 · Leica M mount · Full Frame

Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 Pancake

From $338.99 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandBrightin Star
Announcement dateMay 2026
Released2026
Production started2026
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Exceptional compactness: only 9.9mm thick, making it a true micro-pancake lens
+Sharp center and mid-frame performance, suitable for APS-C coverage
+Quality brass construction with beautiful black lacquer finish
+Rangefinder-coupled for accurate Leica M focusing
+Variable aperture f/2.8-f/16 is wider than most comparable pancake lenses
+Affordable price point around $325-359 USD
Worth Knowing
Significant corner softness and vignetting, especially at wider apertures
Difficult aperture ring control due to compact size—impossible with gloves
Not weather-sealed; limited durability for heavy use
Mirror-equipped cameras cannot use this lens due to rear element depth

General

Brand
Brightin Star
Announcement date
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
May 2026
Released
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2026
Production started
2026
Production status
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 is an ultra-compact micro-pancake lens that pushes the boundaries of pancake lens design. In the center of the image, the lens shows considerable sharpness and detail rendition even at open aperture with pronounced micro-contrast and natural color reproduction. However, sharpness decreases significantly toward the edges, making it a niche lens for photographers who value compactness above all else and are willing to compromise on optical performance. With decent optical performance even wide open at f/2.8 and an attractive black paint over brass build, photographers will likely appreciate its well-thought-out handling.

Optics

Minimum Aperture
f/16
Optical Design
6 elements in 5 groups
Min focal length
28 mm
Max focal length
28 mm
Focal range
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
28 mm
Zoom lens
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
No
Max aperture wide
2.8
Max aperture zoom
2.8
Blades
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
10020
Autofocus mode
No

Build

Material
Brass with black lacquer finish
Construction
All metal and glass

Mount focus

Focus Mechanism
Rangefinder-coupled
Focus Rotation
~70° from 0.7m to infinity
Focus Lever
Yes

Compatibility

Leica M Models
M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9, M9P, M10, M11, M262, M240, M240P
Other Systems
Compatible with other mounts via adapters

Features

Rangefinder Coupling
Fully coupled
Metering
No 6-bit coding

Physical

Lens length
How long the lens is from front to back.
9.9 mm
Lens diameter
Width of the lens at its widest point
51.4 mm
Lens weight
125 g
Lens mount
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Leica M
Maximum format
Largest sensor size compatible with the lens.
Full Frame