I respectfully disagree, and you know my valid reasons, based in fact from actually using the Sony 28mm f2 lens on both 24mp and 42mp cameras, without pixel peeping ,LOL .

Let' see what the OP decides, ok.

Whatever choice the OP makes is fine with me. I have given my reasoned opinions from actual use of the lens in question.

Cheers

I studied all the science and physics of photography for many years, for both film and digital in many courses. And I teach at the state university level , in both the 35mm film and digital photography courses that I also write, constantly keeping them up to date with the latest knowledge and advances in photography .

This really isn't about you or me ,or our educational backgrounds, or articles or courses we have written, LOL, it is about the best choice of lens between these two.

I wont further respond to you, unless you are talking about the comparison of the two lenses here.

Moving on.

Cheers and best to you.

selmslie, but you dont get the digital photography physics at all. You are still in the film science.

I also studied in Rochester, at the preeminent photography university, R.I.T. (Rochester Institute of Photography) where I got my B.F.A degree, with high honors, with loads of photo science courses.

My Master's Degree, summa cum laude, in Digital Photography from SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) honed my knowledge of the science of digital imaging, and there are many differences in the physics of digital image sensors.

It would seem many here are much better versed, and better understand and can grasp the physics and the relationship of pixels, pixel quality, pixel density, digital sensors size, and resolving abilities of different quality lenses, and how all that affects your images' ultimate final resolution and detail than it seems you do, sorry.

Cheers and best to you.

Yes, he just doesn't get it.

Why do you think I dont know as much or even more than you for your arguments of comparing them at same and different magnifications and viewing distances of prints.LOL

I teach this stuff and had to know it in detail for my Master's Degree in Digital Photography. And I have shot with the best medium format Hasselblads, Mamiya RB's, Bronica's, Fuji's and view cameras from 4X5 Plaubel, Sinar and others ,up to 11X14 inch Deardorf. So I know all that.

But the reality that you cant accept is that YES there is a difference in ultimate resolution and detail from using a 24mp sensor digital camera, and a 50mp sensor camera, and a 61mp sensor camera and a 100+mp camera, just physics . And yes I have shot with all of the above, have you ?

You will never be convinced of the physics.

This discussion is about the OP choosing between one Sony lens or the other Viltrox lens. And the facts remain that the Viltrox is sharper in this case, has more features, more modern focus motors, and IMHO is the better overall choice for now and for the future for the OP.

No other discussion really matters to the lens comparison question asked by the OP.

Cheers and best to you.

I have 50mp A1 and 61mp A7RV when I need to capture greater resolution and detail than 24mp.

I chose the 24mp A9III for its fast global shutter and what no other fullframe camera can do, like 120fps raw with pre-capture, 1/80,000 second shutter speed, flash sync at any speed including 1/80,000sec., no rolling shutter in either stills or video and lots more. I will use all these advanced features for my professional and personal work, shooting all subjects around the world.

I dont "blow" my money on gear, LOL. I buy the best gear I can afford to do my varied work, like buying any tool that is best suited to doing the job.

But it is just fake news and fake theory to say it makes no difference in ultimate resolution and detail to use any camera above 24mp, LOL.

With Five decades of International Award Winning photography, shooting all film and sensor sizes, and with my Master's Degree in Digital Photography, I fully know and practice the science. And I have taught it to my hundreds of photo students as a longtime Professor of Photography at a state university.

24mp may be the sweet spot for all you shoot and for many others also, but as sensor pixel quality and density increased along with modern lens resolution increasing, so has the resulting ultimate digital photography resolution and detail increased, just a fact. Not everyone wants or needs that, but my clients and I make good use of the best, when appropriate.

Maybe you eyes cant tell the difference, but these eyes of 50 years as a pro, shooting all size sensors, can easily see the differences in resolution and detail.

It is fine if you are happy using the lower resolving Sony 28mm f2 lens, help yourself, new or used. But the reality is that the Viltrox 28mm f1.8 is the one with the better image quality, the experts and testers agree with me on that, and is at a reasonable price. Viltrox lenses are incredible quality/performance/price values, just a fact.

I wont be going back to using the "decent but average" Sony 28mm f2 new or used, on any of my Sony bodies, thank you.

And IMHO the Viltrox is the one for the 33mp A7CII of the OP, and the lens to keep if the OP ever upgrades to any higher megapixel camera in the future, just a fact.

Use what you like ,what you need, what fits your photo budget, and be happy. I am not a pixel snob, but I have always made the most of all the great advances in photography, and I will continue to do so.

My solid and reasoned advice to the OP stands on the science and the facts, and also makes good financial sense going forward.

Cheers and best to you.

These micro 4/3 sensors could open up 8K recording for micro 4/3 users. Exciting possibilities .

Cheers

Four new Four Thirds sensor for smartphones...that might be used on MFT cameras too? Micro 4/3 users, which ones would you possibly want in a micro 4/3 camera ?

1) Samsung 108MP Full-Pixel DPAF;
2) Sony 80MP Full-Pixel 2X2 OCL AF;
3) Omnivision 50MP Full-Pixel 2X2 OCL AF;
4) Sony 44MP Mask-PDAF VDGS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdzeznUkWY

Cheers, and best to all micro 4/3 users.

Four new Four Thirds sensor for smartphones...that might be used on MFT cameras too? Micro 4/3 users, which ones would you possibly want in a micro 4/3 camera ?

1) Samsung 108MP Full-Pixel DPAF;
2) Sony 80MP Full-Pixel 2X2 OCL AF;
3) Omnivision 50MP Full-Pixel 2X2 OCL AF;
4) Sony 44MP Mask-PDAF VDGS.

Cheers

Nice shots

1

SAB says that if you read the article. But 33mp of the A7CII is higher than the 24mp where you would be hard pressed to see the resolution and sharpness difference. And if the OP ever upgrades to even higher than 33mp, the OP wont have to sell and buy other lenses to resolve those sensors.

SAB's does more Sony E-mount lens (OEM and third-party) testing than any other testers, and its lens testing and sharpness ratings are widely regarded as the most comprehensive. Top Pros and hobbyists alike take them with "more than a grain of salt" , LOL

With the price actually favoring the sharper Viltrox, why would anyone buy the lesser lens, not me. And BTW, the Viltrox has an aperture ring that you can adjust manually or leave in auto mode for the camera to adjust. This is a feature on more expensive, newer lenses, but you get it for a price less than the new price of the Sony.

Remember I owned the Sony 28mm f2, and its shortcomings became evident when I moved beyond 24mp sensor cameras. I sold it and bought better resolving glass, the right move IMHO.

I know there may be some inherent reluctance on buying anything but OEM Sony glass. But this longtime pro has learned you buy the best gear you can afford. And nowadays that includes excellent and affordable glass from third-party lens makers.

As I said, I own excellent glass from Sony, Sigma Art, Tamron, Viltrox, Laowa for my A1, A9III, A7RV. And the glass I have chosen will resolve sensors on my 50mp A1, my 61mp A7RV as well as my 24.6mp A9III.

Cheers and best to you.

Look at this review by SAB for your inquiries: https://sonyalpha.blog/2023/10/16/viltrox-28mm-f1-8/

And with their price being almost the same, why would anyone choose the lesser image quality lens, not me, ever.

Cheers and best to you.