The Spiratone 20mm/2.8 has Class!

**jeffshaddix** · 04-06-2012, 10:50 PM

I have found one heck of a fun lens: The KA mount Spiratone 20mm/2.8 (a.k.a. Soligor 20mm/2.8).

The bokeh is out of this world, and paired with closer-than-average focus distance in it's class, great IQ, and solid build quality, I must say I'm quite impressed. Here are a few samples of what this lens can do:

All shot wide open @ f/2.8:

And finally, shot @ f/8 with a 12mm extension tube:

I'm looking forward to trying it on landscapes soon. I did a quick comparison versus the kit zoom and it was significantly sharper at f/4 and moderately sharper at f/8. Good times!

elho_cid · 04-07-2012, 05:21 AM

Wow, that's one of the ugliest bokehs I ever seen. Makes the DA14 look like bokeh king.

**jeffshaddix** · 04-07-2012, 07:00 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by elho_cid

Wow, that's one of the ugliest bokehs I ever seen. Makes the DA14 look like bokeh king.

Well it certainly isn't the typical smooth bokeh that's oft desired, quite the opposite, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I like this bokeh's intentionally distracting look. Stopping down to f/4 produces the typical smooth bokeh, but that's boring!

**jeffshaddix** · 04-07-2012, 08:36 AM

Many more samples available in the Soligor version review by @fs999

Soligor 20mm f:2.8 C/D Wide-Auto Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

His work is what inspired my hunt for this lens.

Col · 04-07-2012, 08:43 AM

It has a certain Vaudeville class

**fs999** · 04-07-2012, 02:45 PM

Thank you guys ! Jeff, the third one is so wonderful ! Ahem I mean ugly

littledrawe · 04-07-2012, 07:23 PM

That one looks like tons of fun, maybe cause I'm super lean on wide angle lenses and that just looks so different from everything I have been shooting. Great shots!!

fuent104 · 04-07-2012, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by elho_cid

Wow, that's one of the ugliest bokehs I ever seen. Makes the DA14 look like bokeh king.

That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who is happy with his or her new lens.

kenafein · 04-07-2012, 07:47 PM

I like them, especially the last two, and I like an interesting bokeh.

**jeffshaddix** · 04-07-2012, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by fs999

Thank you guys ! Jeff, the third one is so wonderful ! Ahem I mean ugly

Thanks! I need to try to take more shots at f/4+, but the f/2.8 bokeh is just so addictive.

Originally posted by littledrawe

That one looks like tons of fun, maybe cause I'm super lean on wide angle lenses and that just looks so different from everything I have been shooting. Great shots!!

It is tons of fun, and a bargain at ~$200. I really like the build quality and feel of the manual focus. Also the infinity focus stop stops exactly at infinity (which as simple as it sounds, is quite nice after working with other wide-angles with a misaligned infinity stop).

Originally posted by fuent104

That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who is happy with his or her new lens.

To each their own for sure. The bokeh is the opposite of what is considered "good" by photozone and the like, but it's all about what you're going for in a shot. Bokeh like this in a portrait lens would drive me mad, but for landscape/nature shots, fantastic!

Originally posted by kenafein

I like them, especially the last two, and I like an interesting bokeh.

Thanks, the extension tube shot was a fun one.

VaSA · 04-07-2012, 09:46 PM

Like your shots, the bokeh is very cool. I've actually been interested in this lens as well after seeing that one review, but I just haven't seen it come up on eBay, may be some day I'll get my hands on it!

**jeffshaddix** · 04-07-2012, 09:51 PM

Originally posted by VaSA

Like your shots, the bokeh is very cool. I've actually been interested in this lens as well after seeing that one review, but I just haven't seen it come up on eBay, may be some day I'll get my hands on it!

Thanks VaSA! Look for Soligor, Spiratone, and Auto-Promura, they're all the same lens. The KA mount versions are infrequent, but I've seen a couple of K-mount Spiratone/Soligor copies on ebay as of late.

**fs999** · 04-08-2012, 03:14 PM

I have seen one going for 89 € in december, since then nothing...

**jeffshaddix** · 04-10-2012, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by dcshooter

Ask and ye shall receive....

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-equipment-sale/181998-sale-s...ount-lens.html

Well played

littledrawe · 04-10-2012, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by dcshooter

Ask and ye shall receive.... Spiratone Plura-Coat f/2.8 20mm K mount lens

someone buy it so I don't have to!

04-06-2012, 10:50 PM	#1
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	The Spiratone 20mm/2.8 has Class! I have found one heck of a fun lens: The KA mount Spiratone 20mm/2.8 (a.k.a. Soligor 20mm/2.8). The bokeh is out of this world, and paired with closer-than-average focus distance in it's class, great IQ, and solid build quality, I must say I'm quite impressed. Here are a few samples of what this lens can do: All shot wide open @ f/2.8: And finally, shot @ f/8 with a 12mm extension tube: I'm looking forward to trying it on landscapes soon. I did a quick comparison versus the kit zoom and it was significantly sharper at f/4 and moderately sharper at f/8. Good times!

04-07-2012, 07:00 AM - 1 Like	#3
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473 Original Poster	Originally posted by elho_cid Wow, that's one of the ugliest bokehs I ever seen. Makes the DA14 look like bokeh king. Well it certainly isn't the typical smooth bokeh that's oft desired, quite the opposite, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I like this bokeh's intentionally distracting look. Stopping down to f/4 produces the typical smooth bokeh, but that's boring! Last edited by jeffshaddix; 04-07-2012 at 08:38 AM.

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04-07-2012, 05:21 AM	#2
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Wow, that's one of the ugliest bokehs I ever seen. Makes the DA14 look like bokeh king.

04-07-2012, 08:36 AM	#4
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473 Original Poster	Many more samples available in the Soligor version review by @fs999 Soligor 20mm f:2.8 C/D Wide-Auto Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database His work is what inspired my hunt for this lens.

04-07-2012, 08:43 AM	#5
Col Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stansted Essex Photos: Gallery Posts: 614	It has a certain Vaudeville class

04-07-2012, 02:45 PM	#6
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,646	Thank you guys ! Jeff, the third one is so wonderful ! Ahem I mean ugly

04-07-2012, 07:23 PM	#7
littledrawe Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Red Rock Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,514	That one looks like tons of fun, maybe cause I'm super lean on wide angle lenses and that just looks so different from everything I have been shooting. Great shots!!

04-07-2012, 07:44 PM	#8
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	Originally posted by elho_cid Wow, that's one of the ugliest bokehs I ever seen. Makes the DA14 look like bokeh king. That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who is happy with his or her new lens.

04-07-2012, 07:47 PM	#9
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	I like them, especially the last two, and I like an interesting bokeh.

04-07-2012, 08:46 PM	#10
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473 Original Poster	Originally posted by fs999 Thank you guys ! Jeff, the third one is so wonderful ! Ahem I mean ugly Thanks! I need to try to take more shots at f/4+, but the f/2.8 bokeh is just so addictive. Originally posted by littledrawe That one looks like tons of fun, maybe cause I'm super lean on wide angle lenses and that just looks so different from everything I have been shooting. Great shots!! It is tons of fun, and a bargain at ~$200. I really like the build quality and feel of the manual focus. Also the infinity focus stop stops exactly at infinity (which as simple as it sounds, is quite nice after working with other wide-angles with a misaligned infinity stop). Originally posted by fuent104 That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who is happy with his or her new lens. To each their own for sure. The bokeh is the opposite of what is considered "good" by photozone and the like, but it's all about what you're going for in a shot. Bokeh like this in a portrait lens would drive me mad, but for landscape/nature shots, fantastic! Originally posted by kenafein I like them, especially the last two, and I like an interesting bokeh. Thanks, the extension tube shot was a fun one.

04-07-2012, 09:46 PM	#11
VaSA Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 173	Like your shots, the bokeh is very cool. I've actually been interested in this lens as well after seeing that one review, but I just haven't seen it come up on eBay, may be some day I'll get my hands on it!

04-07-2012, 09:51 PM	#12
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473 Original Poster	Originally posted by VaSA Like your shots, the bokeh is very cool. I've actually been interested in this lens as well after seeing that one review, but I just haven't seen it come up on eBay, may be some day I'll get my hands on it! Thanks VaSA! Look for Soligor, Spiratone, and Auto-Promura, they're all the same lens. The KA mount versions are infrequent, but I've seen a couple of K-mount Spiratone/Soligor copies on ebay as of late.

04-08-2012, 03:14 PM	#13
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,646	I have seen one going for 89 € in december, since then nothing...

04-10-2012, 05:20 PM	#14
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473 Original Poster	Originally posted by dcshooter Ask and ye shall receive.... https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-equipment-sale/181998-sale-s...ount-lens.html Well played

04-10-2012, 06:41 PM	#15
littledrawe Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Red Rock Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,514	Originally posted by dcshooter Ask and ye shall receive.... Spiratone Plura-Coat f/2.8 20mm K mount lens someone buy it so I don't have to!