Originally posted by paperbag846 I'm not even sure what you are arguing anymore.... but you are beginning to make little sense.
The 28 isn't the best in the world, but it's very good and a very practical alternative to many other options. Its a workhorse lens.
I actually have no idea what the argument is about either. I will say that I've tried quite a few lenses in that range, including both the F28/2.8 and FA28/2.8, and I found I had a slight preference for the F28/2.8 over the FA28/2.8. Both were nice lenses, but in the end neither was as good nor as fast as the 31 (as you would expect).
That said, for one-fourth the cost and less than half the size and weight (of the 31), either of the F/FA 28/2.8 options make a decent alternative to the 31 is budget and/or size is a major consideration.