[Albino_BlacMan]

Sorry for the outrageously long title,

I'm looking for something between the 24mm and 35mm range (I know a big range, ideally I'd like a 28mm). I have a K50/1.4 thats fantastic, just want something wider to push myself. I shoot alot of low light so I need something that I can use at f2 (or faster) on my Pentax MX (so I don't need AF or anything). I don't want it to be ridiculously priced so the K28/2 is probably out. Around $300 would be fine. Anything more expensive and its pushing my limits. Any recommendations?

Also not really concerned about bokeh (I think this is very over rated especially in B+W). As long as distortion isn't horrible I don't do any architecture with it (probably mostly used for shooting people) but corner to corner sharpness is fairly important. I like to be able to put things in the corner of the frame.

Thanks,
Chris

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Last edited by Albino_BlacMan; 03-05-2012 at 05:52 PM.

[baro-nite]

35 or wider, f/2 or faster, and high quality wide open -- not an easy combination to find on a budget. The M 35/2 can be had for as little as US$200 and might fit the bill. The K 35/2 is a different formula and also much rarer.

[monochrome]

I think your essential conflict is the desire for a wide aperture, no need for bokeh performance and $300 price limit - IF - you want an SMC Pentax lens. Otherwise I'd suggest the K28/3.5. It is highly rated for sharpness and costs between $129 and $169 depending on who is selling. Some say the K35/3.5 is the sharpest MF lens Pentax ever made - I know I like it. The K24/2.8 is contrasty and sharp. But f/2.8 and f/3.5 won't do.

The M35/2 might be an answer but they're not especially common.

There's always the whole series of Vivitar Wide Angles, especially the 24/2 and 28/2. Pay attention to the Close Focus versions and look for Kiron and Komine as underlying manufacturers. When you see them they are generally under your price limit. sometimes by a lot. In K-mount alone there must be 25 or more variants of the 28. Somewhere around here there's a thousand-Post thread on them. I'll try to find it and come back and edit this post.

[EDIT:]
Here's a link to a Search I did that returns three threads from 2008 and 2009 on the Vivitars.

Good Hunting!

Vivitar 28"s

The "FA31 replacement" thread done by Robin Parmar resulted in an actual classification system for the Close Focus Vivitars. For a time here they were cult lenses.

Stevebrot's thread is a detailed analysis of the K02 variant.

I suggest you may find your solution in the Kiron/Komine Vivitar 28's!!

[interested_observer]

Good Evening,

This may be at the top of your price range, however it is something to consider. Carl Zeiss back in the mid 70's started the Contax line of professional SLRs. There is a entire story behind this (they helped Pentax develop the K mount and the K28/f2 lens which is a duplicate of the famous Carl Zeiss 28mm f2 Distagon T* lens).

• https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/60011-super-mu...-distagon.html

They also have a f2.8 version which is also wonderful. These lenses (Contax CZ 28mm f2.8 Distagon T*) are still available used in good condition for between about $275 and $350 (evilbay and craigslist). Leitax.com has a K mount replacement available for about $100 that you can swap yourself. Anyway, here is a review of the lens.

• https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/contax-carl-zeiss-28mm-f2-8-distagon-t.html

Another poster - les3487 here on the Forums, did a shootout between this lens and the FA 31 Limited, and here is the link...

• https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/154533-shootou...teds-peer.html

It may not be fast enough for your needs, but I find its ambient low light capabilities, especially up on a tripod with longer shutter times to produce some wonderful images.

---- edit -----

Also, you should take a look at the Pentax lens reviews here on the Forum. The K, M, A, FA lenses as well as the third party reviews. There is quite a bit of information there...

• Pentax Reviews - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

I think you can spend as much or as little as you desire, and get very good quality for the funds. There are lots of options from which to choose.

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Last edited by interested_observer; 03-05-2012 at 07:31 PM.

[arpaagent]

You could look for an M28/2 or A28/2. Probably about in that price range, and quite sharp wide open. However, you may get some purple/blue fringing if you miss the focus slightly. The bokeh isn't as nice as a 31 Ltd wide open, it can be quite distracting if there are lots of specular highlights out of focus. Anyways, just wanted to throw that one out there as a good possibility!

[monochrome]

Good Evening,

This may be at the top of your price range, however it is something to consider. Carl Zeiss back in the mid 70's started the Contax line of professional SLRs. There is a entire story behind this (they helped Pentax develop the K mount and the K28/f2 lens which is a duplicate of the famous Carl Zeiss 28mm f2 Distagon T* lens).

• https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/60011-super-mu...-distagon.html

They also have a f2.8 version which is also wonderful. These lenses (Contax CZ 28mm f2.8 Distagon T*) are still available used in good condition for between about $275 and $350 (evilbay and craigslist). Leitax.com has a K mount replacement available for about $100 that you can swap yourself. Anyway, here is a review of the lens.

• https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/contax-carl-zeiss-28mm-f2-8-distagon-t.html

Another poster - les3487 here on the Forums, did a shootout between this lens and the FA 31 Limited, and here is the link...

• https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/154533-shootou...teds-peer.html

It may not be fast enough for your needs, but I find its ambient low light capabilities, especially up on a tripod with longer shutter times to produce some wonderful images.

This is very good advice !!

[pinholecam]

The Vivitar 28mm are mostly pretty decent.
If size is a concern, you won't go wrong with a M28/2.8

The K24/2.8 is excellent. Contrasty and sharp.
I've had a Cosina 24/2.8 'Macro' that was pretty good too. It focused closer than the K24 and was as sharp stopped down. It only lost out in flare resistance. I think they are just rebadged Vivitar 24mms.

Otherwise, I'd suggest just getting the DA35/2.4.
FA35/2 like performance (and a bit better bokeh) at a very cheap price.

[redpigeons]

well I had the sigma 24mm 2.8 super wide ii , it is an auto focus lens. I shot with it wide open all the time and liked it on digital .
so on film it should be even more fantastic and you can buy one for less then $200

these are just few snap shots I did with the lens when I first got it one of them is wide open so you can judge for your self

sigma 24mm AF - a set on Flickr

eventually I sold it to someone here on the forum to get the Pentax FA 20mm but that's a much more expensive lens and it wider then you want any way

[Turtle]

I can vouch for the M28/2 (on digital), it's a stellar lense, very nice to use, sharp and great contrast.
I got mine for less than 300 (and may want to move it to someone else soon...).

[RioRico]

My faster lenses in the neighborhood, all of which I can vouch for and none of which were very expensive (except the 24/2) and my costs:

* Vivitar-Kiron 24/2 (PK-M) US$130
* Vivitar-Komine 28/2 CFWA, US$18
* Vivitar-Kiron 28/2.5 (M42) US$20
* Tamron BBAR 28/2.5 (I got lucky) US$4
* Nikkor-O 35/2 (modded for PK) US$48
* W-Komura 35/2.5 preset (M42) US$24

Those first two in f/2 are my favorites, especially the 28/2 CFWA.

[Lowell Goudge]

I have 4 lenses in that class, vivitar(Kiron) 28/2 and 28/2, plus SMC-M and S-M-C Tak 35/2

I am patial to the tak at present, but I also like the FOV of the 24mm. Most can be had relatively cheaply


BTW Rio, if I allow 2.5 and 2.8 lenses my list gets longer too, the Tamron 24/2.5 is quite good actually as are the Vivitar 28/2.5 lenses

[RioRico]

I'm going to stop recommending the Vivitar-Kiron 24/2. My second one has just succumbed to iris-stuck-open syndrome (ISOS). The Viv-Komine 28/2 CFWA and Viv-Kiron 28/2.5 are both good, although I've seen reports that all the wide Kirons tend towards this problem. What a pickle.

[monochrome]

I'm going to stop recommending the Vivitar-Kiron 24/2. My second one has just succumbed to iris-stuck-open syndrome (ISOS). The Viv-Komine 28/2 CFWA and Viv-Kiron 28/2.5 are both good, although I've seen reports that all the wide Kirons tend towards this problem. What a pickle.

My only bad experience on eBay involved a pristine Viv 24/2 with sticky blades. That was in 2004. I've yet to have a 24 that I could keep (when my list list has to shrink the 24 is always the first to go).

[paperbag846]

I've looked long and hard in this range and have pretty much given up. The FA 31 is the only lens that does it (although it's actually a little too narrow on digital for what I actually want) and it is crazy expensive for my uses. The suggestions for old vivitar 24/2 lenses are good, but they won't be dirt cheap.Same with 28/2s (although they are cheaper). These are very popular vintage pentax primes because there really is no alternative for them.

I like the 28/2.8s, vivitar makes good ones, pretty cheap.

[crewl1]

Look for an FA 35 F2 or it's Samsung equivalent. Amazingly sharp wide open. It's AF so there must be a MF equivalent but I don't have that info.