New Member Registered: October, 2019 Posts: 7 | | Review Date: November 17, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $2.94
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, cheap | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: olympus e-m5
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I bought this to get a KEH order up to the $49 free shipping point. I'm adding only full-frame lenses to my collection. This one is incredible. It's extremely light, and doesn't have any f/stop marks, so I had to set my camera to A, and double the shutter speed for successive shots. The bokeh is beautiful, and for sharpness, it'll do! Here's a pic of about 3/16 x 1/4 inch of an oil painting, with the lens in front of 49mm of extension rings. I did fringe & chromatic aberration correct, but there was hardly any of either to begin with:  | |
Senior Member Registered: May, 2013 Location: BC Posts: 138
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 14, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Decent IQ. Cost won't break the bank | | Cons: | Slow and Noisy AF | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K200D
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Very similar to the Tamron 28-80 model, however this Promaster is made in China.
IQ is decent, sharp at f8 and just gets sharper.
AF is slow and noisy but shouldn't be a deterrent in getting one of these lenses.
I'd say an excellent beginner walk-around lens.
 f83siso10080m by faceless_5, on Flickr
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Junior Member Registered: February, 2011 Location: California Posts: 32
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 9, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $32.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Price, | | Cons: | Apperance | |
This lens is nearly identical to the Tamron lens of the same spec. I have both and the only difference I see is the rubber grip on the zoom ring. Even the glare shield is interchangeable. I will post more as I get to check it out better.
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New Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: United Arab Emirates Posts: 13
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 2, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $13.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | cheap as in inexpensive, a bit more reach than kit, decent IQ | | Cons: | cheap as in cheap - zoom and focus rings feel cheap and rough | |
The 8/10 ranking reflects the value in the lens considering its going price used. Image quality is better than one could expect at this price - daylight photos are sharp and the colors are good. It's best used as an AF lens - in MF the focus ring feels rough and sandpaper-y. It's very kit-like, but so long as expectations aren't unreasonably high, it won't disappoint.
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Site Supporter Registered: April, 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 17,296
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 9, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Seems well built | | Cons: | | |
Since there aren't any reviews of this lens, I'll do a brief review. I had this lens only for a short time, I bought it as part of a lot. The IQ and performance of this lens is very similar to SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm F3.5-5.6, but it is a little shorter, and seems to have a little better build, a more solid feel. I did a few controlled test shots on the Promaster, the Pentax, and a Sigma and the results were nearly identical.
I've been told the Promasters are rebadged Tamrons, the EXIF data reads that it is an smc Pentax-FA 28-80mm F3.5-5.6 AL. I don't know who made it, but at $30 it was a good deal. A nice kit style lens.
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