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11-18-2016, 10:00 PM - 1 Like   #1
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24mm vs 28mm Pentax Lens

Hello everyone, I have been wanting to buy a wider angle prime for landscape and finally was able to get me a K 24mm 3.5 for my K20d.

What are your thoughts on this vs a Pentax 2.8 28mm lens. I plan to take shots of street/people with my new lens as well. Thanks

11-18-2016, 11:07 PM - 1 Like   #2
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The 24mm has a little distortion but is superior in IQ in every way. I would be happier shooting the 24mm than shooting the 28mm at half the ISO (i,e, one stop).
11-18-2016, 11:50 PM   #3
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I have a used 24mm Pentax lens I picked up at a flea market. It flares badly in light, but it may just be this example. I am happy with my M28mm.
11-19-2016, 01:04 AM   #4
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The more common older Pentax 28mm lenses are generally not very good (M 28/2.8, both versions). The K 28mm f/3.5 is superb but not that common. The M 28mm f/3.5 is not bad but not great.

The 24mm lenses have good reputations but I have never owned one myself.

11-19-2016, 01:27 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by arnold Quote
I have a used 24mm Pentax lens I picked up at a flea market. It flares badly in light, but it may just be this example. I am happy with my M28mm.
My initial test indoors. I took a pic at my stainless steel stove and it was very brightly reflecting back like a flare. Maybe its weakness is a bright shiny objects.

---------- Post added 11-19-16 at 12:33 AM ----------

The k 28mm 3.5 may be out of my price range. Would a M42 takumar perform just as well?
11-19-2016, 01:44 AM - 1 Like   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by camerasup Quote
The k 28mm 3.5 may be out of my price range. Would a M42 takumar perform just as well?
Short answer is no. The K28/3.5 is pricey for a reason (improved optical formulae). The best 28mm lenses for lowish $$$$ are the K28/3.5 and F28/2.8. The f2 models (K, M and A) are very expensive.

But you could look out for Kiron 28mm f2 (it has one weakness, oily blades, so beware of this problem). It is often priced less than the K28/3.5 and is arguably its equal.

---------- Post added 11-19-16 at 07:47 PM ----------

Kiron 28mm F2 MC Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
11-19-2016, 04:04 AM - 1 Like   #7
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I've had the whole range of SMC K wide angles for quite some time and like many users I find somewhat of a defining difference between the 24 and 28 focal lengths. The 28 still feels like a moderate wide angle for the most part but 24 is the gateway to ultra wide and is a different look especially for landscapes. I never felt there was noticeable distortion in the 24 as mentioned but it can seem to have a more exaggerated perspective. The 28 is probably more suited to a street photography style than 24, especially when people are included but I usually find even 35mm focal length to suit my preference more for this. If you don't have many lenses the 28mm has always been the compromise answer for most wide angle needs.
My own solution to the dilemma was to relegate 28 (had both f/3.5 K and f/2.8M) to times when I only carried one wide angle and when there was room for more gear I chose K24 f/2.8 and K30 f/2.8 so I had a more pronounced choice of field of view. The unique 30mm is often available used now but can get pricey. When I can handle the weight I'll bring along anything from K15mm f3.5 on up but that's a whole different story and lot of money to outfit for these days.

11-19-2016, 04:09 AM - 1 Like   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by From1980 Quote
The unique 30mm is often available used now but can get pricey.
Apart from the price, that lens is a really good recommendation. It is so small yet gives unbelievable results. The poor mans FA31 (but good in its own right)

11-19-2016, 04:21 AM - 1 Like   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wild Mark Quote
It is so small yet gives unbelievable results
Agreed. I only had the chance to acquire mine because I was floating in LBA heaven so to speak. Still had an association with an old camera store I had previously worked at, had just started a new well paying job, still single, and had almost no responsibilities beyond rent and food. Disaster or opportunity - depending how you look at it. Pentax was launching the new "A" series cameras and lenses then and good clearance prices were available on almost everything left in the K and M lenses (1984 to 85). The happy beginning of LBA for me.
11-19-2016, 04:32 AM   #10
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That shot I took was in very low light hand held (and the air stank so I was rather distracted too). I blew the highlights but putting that aside I was very happy with the sharpness and bokeh. Lens deserves much more attention than it gets.
11-19-2016, 06:09 AM - 1 Like   #11
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I have M 28mm f2.8 (first version), which is supposedly one of the worst Pentax-brand 28mm lenses. But I find it to be acceptably sharp and fun to use. So I doubt any of the other 28mm Pentax primes would be terribly bad. To explain, my M 28mm is not as sharp as the DA 35mm f2.4, but it is sharper than the 18-55mm. With digital PP, it is sharp enough.

I was thinking of getting a 24mm, but there are no current AF 24mm primes on the market for Pentax (or 28mm!). The legacy ones are all fairly expensive (except for the Sigma, which you might find?). With the help of a nice Pentaxian I got a DA 21mm a a reasonable price, and am enjoying it so far. So, for APSC camera, that is another decent choice. It is not brutally sharp, but it is decently sharp, and it has a very nice style of rendering. The DA 21mm is a bit sharper than the M 28mm, maybe not quite as sharp as the DA 35mm, but it has a much nicer rendering. The DA 21mm has that Pentax limited magic

According to all the research I did, in an ideal world, I would get an F 28mm and DA 21mm, then maybe a manual 24mm (The FA 24mm seems to have some flaws on digital, and it is expensive). Samyang makes an interesting 24mm f1.4, but it is not as affordable as some other Samyang primes. It would complement the lenses I mentioned well, though. Anyway, my budget is depleted, so I will stick to my old manual 28mm and have fun with the new 21mm. Together with the Samyang 14mm I have, these cover the wide angle range very well.

Honestly, many Pentaxians are waiting for Pentax or at least some other lens maker to produce AF primes in 24mm and 28mm focal length.

Edit: Oh, one more thing. There is a thread titled "Fun with any 28mm lens" (here). It contains nothing but photos with 28mm primes. You might want to check it out to help decide what to get

Last edited by Na Horuk; 11-19-2016 at 09:36 AM.
11-19-2016, 07:36 AM - 1 Like   #12
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I have a K24/2.8 that I picked up in a trade with another member here on PF, and find it a spectacular lens... some quick examples:







but 28mm lenses may be trickier, if only because of how many there are out there - my favorite is the Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f2.5...
11-19-2016, 07:59 AM   #13
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For street You would want a faster aperture like F2.0 and for it not to be soft at that faster aperture. That's probably unattainable with older glass. The Kiron Vivitar 28mm 2.0 is certainly very glowy soft wide open. Maybe the Konime is better but I don't have that one. This one is big but very good and as expensive as a new lens: SMC Pentax 28mm F2 Reviews - K Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

The SMC Pentax-m 35mm F3.5 is actually almost as good as the K version and cheaper. Just not fast.
11-19-2016, 08:22 AM   #14
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I have both the K 24/3.5 and K 28/3.5, they are both top lenses. The 28/2.8 is not suposed to be that good. Once I had the M28/2 : that was very good too. The 30/2.8 is also thought to be perfect. I also have the two Kirons 24/2 and 28/2 but apart from being soft, they colorize the image quite a lot away from natural colors.
11-19-2016, 09:01 AM   #15
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I've never tried any of the Pentax 28s or 24s, but I have tried a bunch of other cheaper 28s: Vivitars, Sigma MiniWide, Chinon, Sears, Albinar, ...
I've only kept two.
The Sigma MiniWide II which I mainly like for closeups and its pseudo-macro (1:4.5) ability.
My favorite is an old Aetna Rokunar MC Auto f2.8 M42 lens. Just has character to it...

Last edited by mgvh; 11-19-2016 at 12:59 PM.
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