Cheap and cheerful AF/MF 35mm lens for K-mount?

raider · 08-01-2010, 04:32 AM

Hi

I am looking to get a low cost 35mm prime lens for my k100D. Any 35mm prime will do (apart from the DA35 Ltd and the FA35). MF will also do fine (though AF would be an advantage). Could anyone please tell me which other lens fit into the description?

Many thanks
Raider

ytterbium · 08-01-2010, 05:34 AM

What price and speed youre after. Is it strictly 35mm or something from 28 to 37mm will fit.

Something around f3.5 can be had quite cheap, even with a decent quality.
If the quality is not that important even f/2.8 can be found very cheap.

If youre after a good normal lens on APS-C then youre probably looking for a quality lens at f2.8 or faster. That narrows the choice a lot.

raider · 08-01-2010, 05:46 AM

Well i suppose anything between 28mm and 37mm will also do fine. It is important that the lens will allow auto metering though...not looking for the super takumar range as that requires an adaptor. I think the SMC range will be great but i am not familiar at all with any of Pentax's older lenses, hence the question. I am prepared to bid on ebay for the lens and would like to keep cost down as low as possible.

ytterbium · 08-01-2010, 08:14 AM

Then you should be looking at A series lenses:
Pentax Lens Review Database - Pentax A Series Prime Lens Reviews and Specifications
And equivalent (Pentax A fit, A contact, aperture ring A position) third party ones if your not after Pentax only.

SMC Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8 might be good choice, but not the best one.

Since M series provide only partial exposure metering automation and it is with error as well.

So what about the requirements? Speed. At f3.5+ i think kit lens is already plenty good in this focal length. Or are you after a compact size?

Last edited by ytterbium; 08-01-2010 at 08:52 AM.

hangu · 08-01-2010, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by ytterbium

So what about the requirements?

It has to be cheerful.

RioRico · 08-01-2010, 10:52 AM

An inexpensive 28 or 35 or 37 stopped down to f/5.6-16 will give results almost indistinguishable from your kit lens. Some inexpensive 28-35/3.5's are quite sharp, and noticeably smaller than the kit lens. Lenses noticeably faster, like f/2 or better, are not now and never have been cheap. A cheerful lens has probably had too much to drink, to forget what it has seen. All my lenses are cross-eyed. But I digress. All my 35's are cheap manual M42's -- two Tokina-made f/2.8's badged as Porst and Vivitar; an Isco Westron f/2.8; a Super-Takumar f/3.5; and a Mir-1 37/2.8. The STak may be slightly sharper, but I like the Isco best, for the roundness of its images. Sure, I'd like a K or M 35/2, but they're beyond my budget now. Bother.

raider · 08-01-2010, 04:07 PM

Thanks for the help. I think f3.5 is okay for me. I will go see what is the price of a SMC A 28mm in ebay.

John Poirier · 08-01-2010, 05:00 PM

Originally posted by raider

Hi

I am looking to get a low cost 35mm prime lens for my k100D. Any 35mm prime will do (apart from the DA35 Ltd and the FA35). MF will also do fine (though AF would be an advantage). Could anyone please tell me which other lens fit into the description?

Many thanks
Raider

The K 35/3.5 is cheap and, if you consider excellent equal to cheerful, meets your needs.

John

Steinback · 08-01-2010, 08:21 PM

The A 28mm f/2.8 or A 35mm f/2.8 would be good choices for less expensive lenses. The 28mm is relatively common and runs $80 to $100 or so, while the 35mm is comparatively rare but not that much more expensive.

For around $200 you may be able to find an F or FA 28mm f/2.8 with a bit of luck. I like the image quality of my copy of the A 28mm a little bit more than my FA 28mm but the FA gets more use because it will autofocus.

raider · 08-01-2010, 10:30 PM

Thanks everyone for your help. I think I know what to search for in ebay now.

Recercare · 08-02-2010, 12:17 AM

I have the K 28mm f3.5 and K 35mm F3.5.
They're both much better than my kit lens (version 1).

I sold my DA 40mm F2.8 Limited as I was more happy with the K 35mm F3.5........

It's true that K 35mm f3.5 is inexpensive, but it's also very rare. It's easier to find the K 28mm F3.5.

Kind regards
.lars

hangu · 08-02-2010, 07:11 AM

The K35 and K28 3.5 are both in the $150 range now. At that price, the S-Takumar 35 f2.0 is also available. It's not as sharp but it's considerably faster. Just another option I suppose.

paperbag846 · 08-02-2010, 08:36 AM

Might I suggest you look at local shops and or craigslist, and compare prices with what people sell for on ebay.

I've seen people pay 2X what they should on ebay!

P.S. I can vouch for the 28mm 2.8 as a good (not great) choice, but I do notice it looks nicer than my kit lens, and is a stop faster at 28mm (4 vs. 2.8).

I find my 28 prime takes beautiful shots with less distortion, slightly sharper, than my kit lens, and the colour tends to be more "film-esque" than the kit, which can be very pow-in-your-face modern. For under 100, it's worthy of consideration.

In general you get what you pay for. The kit lens is actually at it's best at 35mm, and it's pretty good there (just not the fastest).

raider · 08-02-2010, 04:32 PM

I have been looking for used copies of the A 28 and boy these lenses are not that cheap, generally around 200ish. I am now having second thoughts of getting a used MF lens.....

Marc Sabatella · 08-02-2010, 09:26 PM

The A28/2.8 lists for $100 at KEH.com in BGN condition (the equivalent of a typical Ebay "like new, near mint!!!!!!!" auction, with EX copies still in the low $100's. The "M" version goes for under $100. Sigma mini-wide's are in that same range. No need to give up on the idea of a manual 28.

The M35/2, when it shows up at KEH.com goes for around $150; slower 35's go for less.

08-01-2010, 04:32 AM	#1
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	Cheap and cheerful AF/MF 35mm lens for K-mount? Hi I am looking to get a low cost 35mm prime lens for my k100D. Any 35mm prime will do (apart from the DA35 Ltd and the FA35). MF will also do fine (though AF would be an advantage). Could anyone please tell me which other lens fit into the description? Many thanks Raider

08-02-2010, 12:17 AM	#11
Recercare Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 359	Look for K35/3.5 and K28/3.5 I have the K 28mm f3.5 and K 35mm F3.5. They're both much better than my kit lens (version 1). I sold my DA 40mm F2.8 Limited as I was more happy with the K 35mm F3.5........ It's true that K 35mm f3.5 is inexpensive, but it's also very rare. It's easier to find the K 28mm F3.5. Kind regards .lars

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08-01-2010, 05:34 AM	#2
ytterbium Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,076	What price and speed youre after. Is it strictly 35mm or something from 28 to 37mm will fit. Something around f3.5 can be had quite cheap, even with a decent quality. If the quality is not that important even f/2.8 can be found very cheap. If youre after a good normal lens on APS-C then youre probably looking for a quality lens at f2.8 or faster. That narrows the choice a lot.

08-01-2010, 05:46 AM	#3
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989 Original Poster	Well i suppose anything between 28mm and 37mm will also do fine. It is important that the lens will allow auto metering though...not looking for the super takumar range as that requires an adaptor. I think the SMC range will be great but i am not familiar at all with any of Pentax's older lenses, hence the question. I am prepared to bid on ebay for the lens and would like to keep cost down as low as possible.

08-01-2010, 08:14 AM	#4
ytterbium Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,076	Then you should be looking at A series lenses: Pentax Lens Review Database - Pentax A Series Prime Lens Reviews and Specifications And equivalent (Pentax A fit, A contact, aperture ring A position) third party ones if your not after Pentax only. SMC Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8 might be good choice, but not the best one. Since M series provide only partial exposure metering automation and it is with error as well. So what about the requirements? Speed. At f3.5+ i think kit lens is already plenty good in this focal length. Or are you after a compact size? Last edited by ytterbium; 08-01-2010 at 08:52 AM.

08-01-2010, 09:44 AM	#5
hangu Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	Originally posted by ytterbium So what about the requirements? It has to be cheerful.

08-01-2010, 10:52 AM	#6
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	An inexpensive 28 or 35 or 37 stopped down to f/5.6-16 will give results almost indistinguishable from your kit lens. Some inexpensive 28-35/3.5's are quite sharp, and noticeably smaller than the kit lens. Lenses noticeably faster, like f/2 or better, are not now and never have been cheap. A cheerful lens has probably had too much to drink, to forget what it has seen. All my lenses are cross-eyed. But I digress. All my 35's are cheap manual M42's -- two Tokina-made f/2.8's badged as Porst and Vivitar; an Isco Westron f/2.8; a Super-Takumar f/3.5; and a Mir-1 37/2.8. The STak may be slightly sharper, but I like the Isco best, for the roundness of its images. Sure, I'd like a K or M 35/2, but they're beyond my budget now. Bother.

08-01-2010, 04:07 PM	#7
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989 Original Poster	Thanks for the help. I think f3.5 is okay for me. I will go see what is the price of a SMC A 28mm in ebay.

08-01-2010, 05:00 PM	#8
John Poirier Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gabriola Island Posts: 619	Originally posted by raider Hi I am looking to get a low cost 35mm prime lens for my k100D. Any 35mm prime will do (apart from the DA35 Ltd and the FA35). MF will also do fine (though AF would be an advantage). Could anyone please tell me which other lens fit into the description? Many thanks Raider The K 35/3.5 is cheap and, if you consider excellent equal to cheerful, meets your needs. John

08-01-2010, 08:21 PM	#9
Steinback Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,673	The A 28mm f/2.8 or A 35mm f/2.8 would be good choices for less expensive lenses. The 28mm is relatively common and runs $80 to $100 or so, while the 35mm is comparatively rare but not that much more expensive. For around $200 you may be able to find an F or FA 28mm f/2.8 with a bit of luck. I like the image quality of my copy of the A 28mm a little bit more than my FA 28mm but the FA gets more use because it will autofocus.

08-01-2010, 10:30 PM	#10
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for your help. I think I know what to search for in ebay now.

08-02-2010, 07:11 AM	#12
hangu Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	The K35 and K28 3.5 are both in the $150 range now. At that price, the S-Takumar 35 f2.0 is also available. It's not as sharp but it's considerably faster. Just another option I suppose.

08-02-2010, 08:36 AM	#13
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	Might I suggest you look at local shops and or craigslist, and compare prices with what people sell for on ebay. I've seen people pay 2X what they should on ebay! P.S. I can vouch for the 28mm 2.8 as a good (not great) choice, but I do notice it looks nicer than my kit lens, and is a stop faster at 28mm (4 vs. 2.8). I find my 28 prime takes beautiful shots with less distortion, slightly sharper, than my kit lens, and the colour tends to be more "film-esque" than the kit, which can be very pow-in-your-face modern. For under 100, it's worthy of consideration. In general you get what you pay for. The kit lens is actually at it's best at 35mm, and it's pretty good there (just not the fastest).

08-02-2010, 04:32 PM	#14
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989 Original Poster	I have been looking for used copies of the A 28 and boy these lenses are not that cheap, generally around 200ish. I am now having second thoughts of getting a used MF lens.....

08-02-2010, 09:26 PM	#15
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	The A28/2.8 lists for $100 at KEH.com in BGN condition (the equivalent of a typical Ebay "like new, near mint!!!!!!!" auction, with EX copies still in the low $100's. The "M" version goes for under $100. Sigma mini-wide's are in that same range. No need to give up on the idea of a manual 28. The M35/2, when it shows up at KEH.com goes for around $150; slower 35's go for less.