[iNicole]

What's a very sharp cheap modern lens? (All brands, not just pentax )
And what's a very sharp VINTAGE lens? (preferably m42 mount, but doesn't matter)

I'm planning to buy a lens for vacation purposes, and I won't be needing a very fast lens or a lens with shallow dof.
Preferably wide-angle, but 35mm could be okay! I already have a 50mm, so I don't want a second one.
I just need one that's very very sharp! Any recommendations?

As I'm mostly taking pictures on vacation, autofocus could be necessary, but if I can get an incredibly cheap vintage lens, then I would rather save some $$.

[Lowell Goudge]

if you want wide angle look at the vivitar 28mm beastery thread, as it covers all 31 vivitar 28mm lenses.

ALso look at the tamron adaptall 28/2.5 and the slower (f3.5) takumar and K mount 28's

[eddie1960]

The m28 3.5 is an excellent cheap lens (as are the k and tak versions for that matter)

for a modern af lens the DA 35 2.4 is astonishingly good for the price and sharp from wide open

[HenrikDK]

The Pentax DA 35mm F2.4 AL plastic wonder. Sold mine, but has to be one of the best values in the pentax line...

[ihasa]

The Pentax DA 35mm F2.4 AL plastic wonder. Sold mine, but has to be one of the best values in the pentax line...

+1. You really can't go wrong. A particularly sharp wide-ish legacy lens I would recommend is the Sigma 24mm f2.8 Superwide II.

[Docrwm]

Another vote for the DA35/2.4 being sharp and good color saturation. It gets even better with a hood too. They go on the Marketplace used in great shape for around $150-160 routinely. It has the added benefits of having AF, modern coatings, and is small and light.

[Boker]

There are several 28mm lens with Sears,Ricoh,CPC,Cosmicar,Vivitar and others that are fairly sharp

[westmill]

The pentax 35mm f2.4 nuff said

[boriscleto]

I am very fond of the A28/2.8. Probably because I got it with an A50/1.7 and A135/2.8 for less than $200. I used it to shoot a birthday party for a 2 year old last night and only had a few misses.

SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8 Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[VoiceOfReason]

Vivitar 75-205mm f3.8 Macro Focusing Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

It's cheap as can be, and you can pixel peep on it!

[civiletti]

K28/3.5, Sigma 24/2.8 [maual and autofocus], DA35/2.4

[simbon4o]

M 28 3.5 is great lens at F11! M 2.8 2.8(ver II)/A 28 2.8 is good too but at more wider apertures. But when you compare them you will see that the older M 28 3.5 is way better for landscape. Great color and contrast with almost non CA(at F11), on wider apertures the 2.8 wins with better corner performance. I like the M 28 3.5 only for this F11 aperture magic!

[Designosophy]

I owned a JC Penney 28mm f/2.8 for a while. It was dreamy soft wide open, but astoundingly sharp stopped down. I look back on some photos I took with it - landscape-type photos - and I'm amazed at the edge-to-edge detail. I "upgraded" to the Pentax-A 28 f/2.8, which turned out to be a fine lens, but not as sharp as the JC Penney. If I could buy the JC back, I would!

[stormtech]

Hate to be repetitive, but the DA 35 f2.4 is the first lens that comes to my mind also.

Here - this may help.....

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/196639-da35-f2-4-plastic-fantastic-club.html

[jwc77]

I really like the SMC Tak 28mm 3.5.