View Full Version : Recommend me a good 28-35 manual focus Pentax prime
For the Pentax users here... what's a good choice for a 28-35mm lens? I want something with a close to 'normal' view on the cropped sensor. The 35/2 is supposed to be great, as is the 35/3.5 (though a bit slow). How about 28mm, any gems there? I'd like an A lens so I can just stick it in aperture priority....
The relatively new 31 Limited gets rave reviews wherever I've seen it posted but it's pricey. There's a much older 28 3.5 that's reportedly the sharpest lens Pentax ever produced...seems it's an M lens, though. Everyone seems quite happy with the 31 and also the 43, though that one's a bit long for the K10D.
dc3
I love the Vivitar 35/1.9. It's made by Tamron or some other vendor, but very well built, meters great on the newer pentaxes, but of course is MF only, flare free.
If you would settle for manual focus and aperture, the Soligor 35mm f/2 C/D lens is great. The C/D indicates that it is a computer designed lens, and it focuses down to .3 meters or 1 foot.
Jim N.
Kim Coxon
12-22-2007, 09:20
Generally speaking the "best" Pentax lenses are the SMC Pentax's introduced with the K series cameras. They are quite often referred to as K series. Pentax conpromised slightly with the optical quality when they redused the size of some of them for the M series. Most of the A series follow the formula of the M's. In 28, the 28/2.8 M, A and F were all mediocre by Pentax standards and built to a budget though still not bad compared to other brands. The 28/2's were very good lenses but are difficult to get hold of. The 35/2A is very good but not startling. The 35/2FA has a strong following because it is very good value for money but is easily eclipsed by the 31 Ltd but at about twice the price.
If it s of any interest, I will shortly be selling my 24/2.8A, 28/2A and 31 Ltd. However with the $/£ exchange rate and the tax situation, you may not like the prices. A near mint 31Ltd like mine tends to sell for the same price in Europe as a new one in the US.
Kim
I'm selling a 35mm f/2.0 lens, SMCP-A. I suppose I haven't been trying too hard given that it works on my Canon SLR, but it is still for sale, although like Kim you may find the price expensive in dollars.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=7937
Kim Coxon
12-22-2007, 09:50
If you think that lens is nice, try the 28/2 SMC Pentax. :D
Kim
I agree with kim's comments about the quality dropping with the later A lenses, and I find the 35mm a little long for general use (on dslr). I'm currently using my 30 year old 28mm f2.8 K, which I've had from new, bought with a KM.
mackigator
12-22-2007, 10:10
I too am looking for information about the "good" ones to own for a K10D, particularly primes and zooms within the (35mm equiv) 25mm -75mm range. No opinions of my own so far, but here are a few links.
I'm particular interested in older glass that might approximate or surpass the performance of the new DA* and limited lenses. Manual focus is fine by me.
http://stans-photography.info/
http://www.robertstech.com/compat.htm
http://ca.geocities.com/spirope/pentlens.html
I see where both the FA 24 f2.0 and the 28/2 SMC Pentax get high praise.
@kim: What are you replacing all that nice Pentax stuff with?
Mackigator
The relatively new 31 Limited gets rave reviews wherever I've seen it posted but it's pricey. There's a much older 28 3.5 that's reportedly the sharpest lens Pentax ever produced...seems it's an M lens, though. Everyone seems quite happy with the 31 and also the 43, though that one's a bit long for the K10D.
dc3
I bought a Pentax 28mm/3.5 from KEH for $6. If it is "the sharpest lens", then I certainly have done well here.
I have the SMC 35mm/2, 50mm/1.4 and 85mm/1.8 for the Spotmatic F.
These may be among the best lenses made by Pentax.
Shameless plug, adding a few links to images taken with a K10D and the 35mm lens I'm selling...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/1407876815/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1129/847236534_3a09e3c7c5.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/964692101/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/964692631/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/1006359152_d48956bc19.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/1006359056_3f5408f0ed.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/846203079/
charjohncarter
12-22-2007, 11:15
I have two 28mm Pentax lenses. The screw mount is probably the best, but I don't like fussing with the adapter. The 28mm f2.8 SMC-Pentax-F is very nice and in practical use you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It can be used manually, which I did for twenty years, or you can use it as AF. I took this last Summer in my daughters yard:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1120/1195478135_e10838b625.jpg?v=0
I also have the f2.0 35mm Pentax new AF lens. It is really great and can be used manually. I never take it off my K10d, I don't like dust on sensors.
Kim Coxon
12-22-2007, 11:18
A minor point. I suspect the lenses you have are either the Super Multi Coated Takumars or the SMC Takumars. The SMC pentaxs were all bayonet mount for the K series cameras. There were nearly all K mount versions of the SMC Takumars with a different grip as well as different mount. A couple were changed slightly and there were some additions with the larger mount. These included the 50/1.2, 30/2.8, 15/3.5 and a couple of others. ;)
Kim
I bought a Pentax 28mm/3.5 from KEH for $6. If it is "the sharpest lens", then I certainly have done well here.
I have the SMC 35mm/2, 50mm/1.4 and 85mm/1.8 for the Spotmatic F.
These may be among the best lenses made by Pentax.
A minor point. I suspect the lemses you have are either the Super Multi Coated Takumars or the SMC Takumars. The SMC pentaxs were all bayonet mount for the K series cameras. There were nearly all K mount versions of the SMC Takumars with a different grip as well as different mount. A couple were changed slightly and there were some additions with the larger mount. These included the 50/1.2, 30/2.8, 15/3.5 and a couple of others. ;)
Kim
Kim,
Your suspicion is correct; my lenses are SMC Takumar or Super Multi Coated Takumars.
They perform quite well. I especially like the 50mm/1.4 SMC Takumar.
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