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07-12-2012, 05:02 PM   #1
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Best price/performance legacy 28mm prime?

It seems like there have been 500 28mm lenses made for the K mount. I'm wondering which ones are the best, factoring in price/rarity. I have a shot at picking up a Pentax-A 28 2.8 for around $75 in nearly perfect condition but I'm not sure if I'd be better off with another version of the 28mm.

What are the pros and cons of all the various types of 28mm, and how much do they typically go for?

07-12-2012, 05:10 PM   #2
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My Rikenon-P 28 cost $29 Canadian, and optically it's exquisite. Sure the coatings are old, but in most situations that is not a factor. It has the less-dreaded Ricoh pin, more like a small lump. I take my share of poor images, but this lens has never been part of the problem. As I've said in other posts I believe my best ratio of keepers comes from this one.

It would be nice to have the A-setting but I am ok without it.
07-12-2012, 05:59 PM   #3
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28mm lenses EH

Ok

I have in order of speed

Kiron / vivitar 28mm F2 ($5 but stuck aperture blades that I fixed)
Tamron Adaptall II 28mm F2.5 ($13)
Vivitar 28 mmF2.5 ($30)
Sigma Mini wide II 28 mmF2.8 ($30, KA mount)
SMC-M 28mm F2.8 ($40)

I also have a vivitar 28mm F2.5 M42 Mount ($9)

Out of all of them, the one to avoid is the sigma, I bought it for the KA mount but the amount of lateral CA IN THE FOCUS PLANE is rediculous. It can be fixed to produce reasonably sharp images with CA correction routines that rescale the color layers but it is a ton of work to get to what all my other lenses can do with no work.

Lately the M28 gets the most use of the K mounts, and I also really like the vivitar F2.5 in M42 mount. although the coatings are not up to the M lens.

The kiron 28 F2 can be a little soft wide open,
07-12-2012, 06:41 PM   #4
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The only lens I have that is 28mm is my Auto Sears f/2.8 macro, but it does a pretty fine job for the ~$15 I paid for the thing.

It does have some pretty crazy bokeh at times though.

















Last edited by Sagitta; 07-12-2012 at 06:54 PM.
07-12-2012, 06:41 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote
28mm lenses EH

Out of all of them, the one to avoid is the sigma, I bought it for the KA mount but the amount of lateral CA IN THE FOCUS PLANE is rediculous. It can be fixed to produce reasonably sharp images with CA correction routines that rescale the color layers but it is a ton of work to get to what all my other lenses can do with no work.
I wonder if you got a bad one, or I got a good one. My Sigma 28 mini-wide is my goto manual 28. Mine is very sharp with little to no CA. But Sigma quality control can be flaky. I've had very good Sigma lenses (some of my favorites), but also some bad ones.
07-12-2012, 07:40 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by SenorBeef Quote
I have a shot at picking up a Pentax-A 28 2.8 for around $75 in nearly perfect condition
That is a fair price assuming the condition is as described. The A contacts are always nice if you do not have to pay too much for them over all manual. You can argue forever over which 28mm because as you say there are a lot of them. But you won't go wrong with that one if it is in good shape.
07-12-2012, 08:13 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by post_eos Quote
I wonder if you got a bad one, or I got a good one. My Sigma 28 mini-wide is my goto manual 28. Mine is very sharp with little to no CA. But Sigma quality control can be flaky. I've had very good Sigma lenses (some of my favorites), but also some bad ones.
Is it a mini wide or mini wide II? I ran a thread on evaluating lateral ca correction software with shots from the mini wide II!

07-12-2012, 08:21 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote
Is it a mini wide or mini wide II? I ran a thread on evaluating lateral ca correction software with shots from the mini wide II!
It's a mini wide II in K-A mount. I use it on a K10D.
07-12-2012, 08:27 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by post_eos Quote
It's a mini wide II in K-A mount. I use it on a K10D.
That's it!

See this link. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/digital-processing-software-printing/1464...-software.html
07-12-2012, 08:29 PM   #10
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Your question is far too broad--priorities as regards performance and price is relative.

Anyway as regards older pentax glass (K thru FA) the following may be of interest. Stan's Pentax Photography

BTW for me super takumar 28mm f/3.5, used on a K20d in AV mode. is great--so long as light is not low, but it is the first and only 28mm non-zoom I have used! And for me construction/handling/ease of zone focusing is of major import.
07-12-2012, 08:44 PM   #11
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Highly recommend the Pentax K 28mm f/3.5 a high resolution lens, average price $150.

07-12-2012, 10:37 PM   #12
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Is the 28 3.5 bette than the 28 2.8?
07-12-2012, 11:19 PM   #13
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I recently sold my Kiron 28mm f2.0. It was a lovely lens though....
07-13-2012, 12:22 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by SenorBeef Quote
Is the 28 3.5 bette than the 28 2.8?
Have a look here for comparison of the various Pentax 28/3.5s and 28/2.8s:

Stan's Pentax Photography

http://www.takinami.com/yoshihiko/photo/lens_test/pentax_28-30.html

You'll see that they rate the K28/3.5 over the M28/3.5 over the various 28/2.8s.

Personally, if you want cheap but good, I think it's hard to beat a Komine Vivitar (i.e. serial number 28.....) 28/2.8. I have a very ordinary example, and it slightly outperforms my Pentax M28/2.8.
07-13-2012, 03:56 AM   #15
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Vivitar 28mm 1:2.0 MC Close focus Wide Angle
Versatile on aspc and M43 and sharp, and stable to hold with its metal body, longer snout and larger focus rung.
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