Phenix manual 50mm/f1.7 40bucks!

joshmalory · 02-17-2011, 12:30 AM

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anyone knows this cheap lens? Pentax k-mount.

Attached Images

Last edited by joshmalory; 02-17-2011 at 08:12 PM.

aurele · 02-17-2011, 01:38 AM

I've never heard of Phenix lenses, but as far as the 2 pictures shows its not bad at all

Wombat · 02-17-2011, 01:38 AM

It's the lens that comes with the Phenix SLR, a Chinese film camera which emerged about 2005, I think and sold for around $100. It was designed for beginners but appeared to have a reasonable array of features. It has a K mount, so obviously the kit lens will fit any Pentax, but at that price for the whole camera and, with respect, being Chinese manufactured and cheap, I wouldn't expect too much.

EyeSpy · 02-17-2011, 05:25 AM

Nice shots, dslr?

joshmalory · 02-17-2011, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by EyeSpy

Nice shots, dslr?

Yup, K20D

**nater** · 02-17-2011, 09:06 AM

It's sold under a few different names, including HorusBennu, and there's been some threads here on the forums about it, and some user reviews:

HorusBennu 50mm F1.7 MC (PK) Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database

joshmalory · 02-17-2011, 09:26 AM

Originally posted by nater

It's sold under a few different names, including HorusBennu, and there's been some threads here on the forums about it, and some user reviews:

HorusBennu 50mm F1.7 MC (PK) Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database

Thanks mate!

lguckert79 · 02-17-2011, 09:30 AM

here is something that looks the same but with a different namebrand

HorusBennu 50mm f/1.7 Lens for Pentax Smasung NEW - eBay (item 280549918190 end time Mar-14-11 20:58:48 PDT)

Ira · 02-17-2011, 10:49 AM

They didn't even spell it right.

I wouldn't get my hopes up either.

sewebster · 02-17-2011, 11:18 AM

There is a lot of cheap yet good glass out there... enjoy!

Ira · 02-17-2011, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by sewebster

There is a lot of cheap yet good glass out there... enjoy!

There is SOME yet cheap good glass out there.

sewebster · 02-17-2011, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by Ira

There is SOME yet cheap good glass out there.

I'd say there are quite a lot, perhaps even most, primes out there that are good. Sure maybe not wide open at the corners etc etc etc, but you can still take great photos.

dahniu · 11-20-2011, 10:41 PM

Originally posted by Wombat

It's the lens that comes with the Phenix SLR, a Chinese film camera which emerged about 2005, I think and sold for around $100. It was designed for beginners but appeared to have a reasonable array of features. It has a K mount, so obviously the kit lens will fit any Pentax, but at that price for the whole camera and, with respect, being Chinese manufactured and cheap, I wouldn't expect too much.

I think It premiered in 1980s or even earlier and It's still in production. no more than 50$ in Taobao(a Chinese online shopping website).

Frogfish · 11-25-2011, 11:28 PM

It's a Chinese lens, I think from the venerable Seagull brand. They have a cult following over here. I saw that lens brand new for 300 RMB (about $50) a couple of days ago in a camera mall and often wondered how it performed.

Asp Explorer · 01-06-2012, 04:58 PM

Hi there,

I've bought the Horusbennu 50 f/1.7 and shot some sample pictures visible on my blog (text in french, pictures speak by themselves)

My conclusion is that at 1.7 and 2.0, the HB should be considered as a toy lens, and buyers shouldn't expect Zeiss-like performances from a $40 chinese piece of glass. However, this lens improves well when stopped down, from "decent" at 2.8 to "nice" at 8.0, the image quality being remarquably homogeneous across the frame.

Pics here

02-17-2011, 12:30 AM	#1
joshmalory Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: LA Posts: 4	Phenix manual 50mm/f1.7 40bucks! Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. anyone knows this cheap lens? Pentax k-mount. Attached Images Last edited by joshmalory; 02-17-2011 at 08:12 PM.

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02-17-2011, 01:38 AM	#2
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	I've never heard of Phenix lenses, but as far as the 2 pictures shows its not bad at all

02-17-2011, 01:38 AM	#3
Wombat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 901	It's the lens that comes with the Phenix SLR, a Chinese film camera which emerged about 2005, I think and sold for around $100. It was designed for beginners but appeared to have a reasonable array of features. It has a K mount, so obviously the kit lens will fit any Pentax, but at that price for the whole camera and, with respect, being Chinese manufactured and cheap, I wouldn't expect too much.

02-17-2011, 05:25 AM	#4
EyeSpy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arizona Photos: Albums Posts: 663	Nice shots, dslr?

02-17-2011, 05:53 AM	#5
joshmalory Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: LA Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by EyeSpy Nice shots, dslr? Yup, K20D

02-17-2011, 09:06 AM	#6
nater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New England Photos: Albums Posts: 706	It's sold under a few different names, including HorusBennu, and there's been some threads here on the forums about it, and some user reviews: HorusBennu 50mm F1.7 MC (PK) Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database

02-17-2011, 09:26 AM	#7
joshmalory Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: LA Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by nater It's sold under a few different names, including HorusBennu, and there's been some threads here on the forums about it, and some user reviews: HorusBennu 50mm F1.7 MC (PK) Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database Thanks mate!

02-17-2011, 09:30 AM	#8
lguckert79 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 601	here is something that looks the same but with a different namebrand HorusBennu 50mm f/1.7 Lens for Pentax Smasung NEW - eBay (item 280549918190 end time Mar-14-11 20:58:48 PDT)

02-17-2011, 10:49 AM	#9
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	They didn't even spell it right. I wouldn't get my hopes up either.

02-17-2011, 11:18 AM	#10
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	There is a lot of cheap yet good glass out there... enjoy!

02-17-2011, 12:56 PM	#11
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by sewebster There is a lot of cheap yet good glass out there... enjoy! There is SOME yet cheap good glass out there.

02-17-2011, 05:16 PM	#12
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	Originally posted by Ira There is SOME yet cheap good glass out there. I'd say there are quite a lot, perhaps even most, primes out there that are good. Sure maybe not wide open at the corners etc etc etc, but you can still take great photos.

11-20-2011, 10:41 PM	#13
dahniu New Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 1	Originally posted by Wombat It's the lens that comes with the Phenix SLR, a Chinese film camera which emerged about 2005, I think and sold for around $100. It was designed for beginners but appeared to have a reasonable array of features. It has a K mount, so obviously the kit lens will fit any Pentax, but at that price for the whole camera and, with respect, being Chinese manufactured and cheap, I wouldn't expect too much. I think It premiered in 1980s or even earlier and It's still in production. no more than 50$ in Taobao(a Chinese online shopping website).

11-25-2011, 11:28 PM	#14
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	It's a Chinese lens, I think from the venerable Seagull brand. They have a cult following over here. I saw that lens brand new for 300 RMB (about $50) a couple of days ago in a camera mall and often wondered how it performed.

01-06-2012, 04:58 PM	#15
Asp Explorer New Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: France Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21	Hi there, I've bought the Horusbennu 50 f/1.7 and shot some sample pictures visible on my blog (text in french, pictures speak by themselves) My conclusion is that at 1.7 and 2.0, the HB should be considered as a toy lens, and buyers shouldn't expect Zeiss-like performances from a $40 chinese piece of glass. However, this lens improves well when stopped down, from "decent" at 2.8 to "nice" at 8.0, the image quality being remarquably homogeneous across the frame. Pics here