This popular lens came in two nearly-identical variations, depending on the year of production. The second version had the optical formula of the smc PENTAX-A version and it also looks like an early A lens (no silver decorative ring).
The first image depicts the second version, while the second depicts the first and earlier version.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Sharp images
Cons:
none
I have this lens for the past 12 years. Has good color correction and always gave me sharp images. It works well so far on my K10D giving me 42mm. More testing required before I can pronounce judgment in a DSLR.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $75.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Reasonably priced on the used market, compact and lightweight, excellent image quality, only a wee bit soft at f/2.8.
Cons:
Some vignetting but not dramtically so.
A good performing lens wide open becoming outstanding at f/4 and smaller apertures. If you have a choice between the 28/2.8 or the 28/3.5, if the price difference is reasonable then go for the f/2.8. If there is a big gap in the price go for the 28 f/3.5 because it too is an excellent performing lens if you don't need the additional speed.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $28.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Sharp image good little wide angle prime
Cons:
Can be a little soft wide open
I picked this lens up as a used lens. The glass was clear and the lens was in mint condition. It was one of the first Manual lenses I bought for my DL. I like the way it preforms. In shadowed light of fading light this lens can be a little soft wide open. Other then that most of my shots with this lens have been crystal clear, and Spot on for focus. This lens works well with any Pentax DSLR.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 8
Pros:
sharp, light weight, small design
Cons:
can't think of any
never had a bad pic from this lens. i'ts very sharp and with Excellent contrast. easily fits in a large pocket. that's usually where i stow it. i've had this lens for 29 years..
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $50.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Small size, good build quality
Cons:
Better on film, no A setting
This was my favourite lens on film (on my Super A) but on my DS I'm not so fond of it. I've had some quite bad CA and images don't have the same feel as my 50mm f1.7 A (admittedly a very good lens) and 21mm limited.
That said, its still a very sharp lens and nice and pocketable. I won't sell mine yet, but it doesn't get as much use as it used (mainly because of the different angle of view on digital). If on a budget its a nice lens and still preferable to a plasticky zoom in my opinion but if I had some money I might be tempted by an A or FA version.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $30.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Cons:
I bought this lens about a month ago along with a K28/3.5. I don't know why I let go of this lens (gave it to a friend) and kept the K instead but I think it was because I liked handling the K. Both lenses are very good in terms of IQ, in fact I can't tell the difference between the two yet.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $100.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Sharp, contrasty, light
Cons:
Fully manual
Pentax must have made a million of these lenses and they are easily found on EBAY. I bought mine new in the early 1980s for use with my Pentax MX. It cost a bit over $100 at that time but can be had for much less now. It came in two incarnations - a version 1 and 2. Boz Dimtirov provides insights to the production history of this optic:
"This lens is extremely interesting. Its lens mount is of the "original K-mount" type, and its name associates it undoubtedly with the M-series of K-mount lenses. On the other hand, the lens shares its most important characteristics with the later SMC-A lens: the linear aperture mechanism and the updated optical formula. Even the focusing ring is of the A-style.
Guesses can be made that in 1982 Pentax was already hard at work developing the A-series bodies and lenses, and when parts for the "original" M 28/2.8 lens were depleted, it was decided to switch to production of the new lens, but without exposing the externally visible A-series features — electrical contacts on the lens mount and "A" position on the aperture ring. Still, this lens with its low production numbers is a rather unique piece of K-mount history."
I have the "extremely interesting" version 2 Boz Dimitrov describes above. With film it was great for small group shots and landscapes. All in all a very competent performer. The lens is reasonably fast at 2.8 and is very light like most M-series glass. In terms of build quality it resembles the A-series 28mm f 2.8 and has some plastic bits where the M-series has metal. The distinctive M-series chrome banding around the top of the focusing ring is missing. As a result it looks a little "cheaper" and less "substantial" than my other M-series optics. This is not a knock on this particular lens - I feel the same way about most A-series lenses. I just prefer the look of the M-series lenses. On a performance level I doubt there is a noticeable difference between the two series. This prejudice aside, the lens performed quite well on my MX and K2 film cameras. On the K10 it requires the usual adjustments that have to be made to permit a 25-year-old lens to function on a modern camera. There will be no AF, metering will be stop down with no f stop information in the viewfinder. If you are used to twisting dials and setting aperture it will be no problem. The lens will serve you well. Those who were weaned on auto everything point and shoot cameras might not want the added effort. Here is a recent sample from this lens:
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $80.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
compact (while not compact as the da 40mm), really good performance, great built
Cons:
practically none if its limitations are understood
Have recently purchased it and I have found it to be more handy than the A 50mm f1.7 (and better built)
Quite fast, very compact (smaller than the flash socket at the k100d) and a total satisfactory optical performance both at film and at the k100d
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $15.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
plenty sharp, nice contrast & color, great solid feel in a small package for a nice price
Cons:
flare is more common than with some lenses
I use this lens as a "wide normal" on APS-C, to complement my "long normal", the DA40. The M28/2.8 (I have the more common version 1) performs very well and is surprisingly (to me) sharp at f/2.8. Indoors, 28mm is a great focal length for capturing people in their environments, and f/2.8 is a big improvement over the kit lens for low light use. Outdoors, 28mm is great for a lot of landscape uses, and while the kit lens is fine at f/8 (which is where I shoot a lot outdoors), the M28/2.8 is enough better and more fun for me (at all apertures) that I'll often choose it even though landscape is the situation where I'm most likely to consider a zoom instead of a prime. I do have to watch out for flare on sunny days, though. I tried a collapsible rubber hood, but the one I have does not appear sized well for this lens. I actually get better results just using my hand to shield the lens from the sun.
Considering that this lens usually sells for $50 or less, and is a more generally useful focal length on APS-C than 50mm, one could make a case for this as the best inexpensive introduction to the world of prime lenses.
Here's a shot at f/2.8 showing that sharpness is pretty good and DOF can actually be interestingly thin even for 28mm at f/2.8. Click on the picture below for a larger version:
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $50.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
great contrast, 42mm on dslr
Cons:
CA, softness
I bought my copy over the internet from a second hand camera store in Adelaide, which i noticed was one of the very few stores in Australia that keep a record of their second hand inventory on the net.
Anyway, back to the lens. First off i really like the fact that it converts to 42mm on my k20d which on occasion makes it more useful than smc 50mm 1.4 which converts to 75mm on the digital (IMHO a bit long for everyday photos). In saying that this lens has nothing on the depth of field and bokeh of the 50mm prime. From reviewing the photos i have taken with the 28mm i think the contrast and colours are actually better - it exceeded my expectations completely. I did notice however, in a few shots purple fringing on light coloured objects taken in bright sunlight.
Compared with the sigma 18-50 3.5-5.6 kit style lens that came with my k20d the 28mm prime is just leaps and bounds ahead in terms of contrast, sharpness and overall photo quality. If i had a choice of the 28mm or the sigma there is no way i would choose the sigma!!!
For the price i thinks this lens is a bargain and I would definitely recommend it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $10.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
its luminous for a widish angle
Cons:
none really except manual is a pain
I just picked this up 2nd hand for nothing and its worth several times more. What I liked over my wider angle zooms is that I can use it in low light due to the wider aperture. I recently shot some pictures on the metro and they were adequately lit and open.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp, compact, well built
Cons:
No automatic metering for Digital
I'm rating this as a film lens, because I have never used it on a digital body. When I bought my LX in the 80s, I replaced this lens with a Kiron f/2 to get the auto aperture, and then it left with my former wife. I took more photos with this lens than any lens other than the 50mm/1.4. It is sharp, small, well buit and easy to use. I don't know what its quirks might be on a digital body, but it was a super performer in the days of manual film.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 7
Pros:
FOV on film is really wide, on digital is nice normal
Cons:
inferior rep to the f3.5, may or may not be valid
I have had some great landscape shots on B&W film with this, and do not notice anything missing in terms of image quality. I find the FOV very striking on 35mm film, and images which include clouds make me feel good about my photography skills. However, this is the effect of the focal length.
I've just picked up a M 28mm f3.5, with larger front element and fewer elements which is allegedly better for IQ. Certainly, its heftier, and I will be selling one of them and reporting back shortly. My initial feeling though is that there is little in it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $65.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Cons:
I bought my copy off of the f/s forum nearly 2 years ago. Only got into it recently (keeping it on my K10d for walkaround). The more I use it, the more I like it. On "M" mode it's a simple matter of metering (green button) at the selected f-stop. There are a bunch of these on the f/s listings at really great prices. It's a lens thats readily available and should be in every bag.
I didn't think much of it before because it doesn't have the sharpness of the m/a 50, but the slightly wide (42mm) lens is so much more versatile than a 50.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $30.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp, Low C.A., Color
Cons:
none
Camera Used: K10d
Type of photographer: Landscape
I think this lens should have more of an avg rating of 9. When reading reviews I don't just pay attention to the rating #, but to the description. There are quite a few reviews here that have nothing but good things to say about the lens, but give it a 7??? I guess we all have our own idea of how to rate. There are some that would not give a 10 to any lens, no matter what.
I tested this lens against 3 other non-pentax lens and this one won hands down. I mostly focus on sharpness, c.a., and to a lesser extent color. Bokeh is very subjective, so I dont touch that. This focal length (and under) are getting harder to find at a reasonable price. I suggest picking one of these up.
I shoot landscape shots, typically at infinity. At f/11 this is the sharpest lens I have seen at this focal length. C.A. is present in some cases, but very little. I would give it a ten if C.A. was non-existant. Color is excellent.
I have a Ricoh 28mm 2.8 on the way, so if that fares any better than this one, I will update this. I do have 2 other Ricoh prime lenses and they tend to be sharp and the lowest C.A. (if any) I have experienced, but the color seems to be lacking a bit.
Take this for what it is worth, the fact I use it on digital, and the fact I use it at mid apertures, typically.
UPDATE: The Ricoh 28mm fared very well, sharpness just as good as this lens and same with the C.A.. I would have a hard time telling the difference between pics, except that this lens tends to be 'cool' and the Ricoh tends to be 'warm.' The Ricoh had a little less contrast/color compared to this one. I now have the m42 version of the Ricoh, so I will see if that performs any different.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $40.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Inexpensive, sharp, fast medium wide prime. Solid build.
Cons:
You've really got to hand it to Pentax and how well their primes hold up, even to this day.
This lens has good color rendition, if a tendency to PF wideopen. It's a good way to try out medium wide fast glass. It's light, fairly compact, and has has the well dampened focus of the M 50/1.4.
It's also quite sharp for a wide angle, as long as you have the depth of field where it needs to be.
I got this lens as part of a package deal. Mine is version 2, which probably makes it more of a collectors item. All in all, this is a solid lens.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $25.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Cons:
I got this lens to compare it to the Sigma MiniWide II. After shooting with both, I like the images out of the Sigma better. The Pentax lens just didn't seem to have the same contrast and general "pop." Maybe I just got a bad copy. In any event, I got rid of it in short order and held onto the Sigma.
;)
;)
