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09-15-2006, 05:42 PM   #1
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Review: smc Pentax-F 17-28mm/3.5-4.5

Fisheye zooms are a Pentax specialty. No other manufacturer has anything like it.

The smc Pentax-F 17-28mm was designed for film cameras where it at 17 mm covers 180 degrees diagonally. On the Pentax digital SLRs the coverage is much less, actually just a little bit more than a rectilinear 15mm lens, which still is respectable. Being a fish eye zoom it naturally exhibits heavy barrel distortion in particular at the wide end. It has a built-in lens hood and it does not take any filters.

It is fun to use although it isn't the sharpest lens around and being this compact you tend to carry it with you at all times. At least I did that until I acquired the DA fisheye zoom.

The lens barrel is made of polycarbonate but the lens is nevertheless built very well.

Max. aperture: 3.5 at 17mm, 4.5 at 28mm
Min. aperture: 22 at 17mm, 28 at 28mm
No. of aperture blades: 6
Closest focusing distance: 30 cm
Max. magnification: 0.07
Filter size: No filter ring
Weight: 255 g




Last edited by Ole; 09-15-2006 at 05:52 PM.
09-15-2006, 05:47 PM   #2
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This photo from the area along the Semmering Railway in Austria illustrates the field of view. Focal length: 17mm, 1/500 f/8, *istD.

http://www.pbase.com/ooest/image/36815936
09-15-2006, 05:50 PM   #3
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There wasn't much space in the locomotive shed at the Deutsche Dampflok Museum in Germany, so the 17-28mm came in handy since I wanted a picure of all of the proud BR10 locomotive.

http://www.pbase.com/ooest/image/36815940
09-19-2006, 07:43 AM   #4
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Comparison Photos?

Hey, Ole! You mention that you now have the 10-17 FE Zoom, any chance of getting a comparison between the two at 17mm? Also perhaps showing the difference in width/distortion along the focal range? (It might also be nice to see how much wider the 10-17 is at 10mm compared to the 17-28 at 17...as with rating wines it is always easier to compare two than to simply describe one...)

--Sean

09-19-2006, 04:08 PM   #5
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Sure, I'll get to work on it!
01-05-2010, 12:33 PM   #6
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This is a Really Fun lens, even on a crop camera (I have a K200D). I'm a bit surprised at how few people talk about it and it goes for very reasonable money, currently. A few shots I recently took with mine can be found in this thread.

I think I'm going to have to try some subjects for it on a film body, as well.
03-16-2013, 01:10 PM   #7
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Hello, just got this lens and I'm hoping someone can help me out. I just have a couple of questions:

1) Mine did not come with a lens cap, does anyone know where I can get one for it?
2) Also, I'm assuming you don't need a hood for it because of the built in hood?

Thank you.

03-18-2013, 12:17 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by reivax Quote
Hello, just got this lens and I'm hoping someone can help me out. I just have a couple of questions:

1) Mine did not come with a lens cap, does anyone know where I can get one for it?
2) Also, I'm assuming you don't need a hood for it because of the built in hood?

Thank you.
1) Look for a 51mm slip-on lens cap on eBay.

2) You might be able to put on a 49mm wide angle lens hood if it can be mounted at all, it may or may not cause vignetting on an APS-C camera.
05-24-2013, 01:56 PM   #9
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Point of interest, you can thread a 49mm filter on this lens.
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