Alternatives to the Pentax M 28mm f2?

tvdtvdtvd · 04-27-2017, 08:14 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Do you consider $229 for the M28/3.5 really high?

Where are you seeing the M28/3.5 for that much money? That's well above the the historical average reported on PF. There are several copies on ebay between $50-$100.

Confirming what the other's have said, if you don't need the speed both the K28/3.5 and M28/3.5 are fine lenses.

Interspieder · 04-27-2017, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Do you consider $325 for the M28/2 really high? The K28/2 is $900!

Do you consider $229 for the M28/3.5 really high? The K28/3.5 has recently been $169-ish.

What is an acceptable price? *

* I'm fairly embarrassed to admit I have all four of these lenses, plus an M28/2.8 (that's a $50 lens).

I paid 35 € for my M 28 3.5 which had slight marks of use, the K 28 3.5 cost me around 64 € + shipping, my K 35 3.5 cost me about 30 €, a true bargain

And i would never ever buy a M 28 2.8 or a pendant of those again if I had the chance to choose. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's worth it- In my opinion the M 28 3.5 is the real deal considering size, weight, sharpness (at all apertures) and costs.

Sandy Hancock · 04-27-2017, 09:48 PM

I had the Kiron 28/2.0 back in the film days. Lovely lens.

pinholecam · 04-27-2017, 10:29 PM

For FF, the best stopped down lens is the K28/3.5
For APSC, it does not matter so much and most of the 28mm options are fine.

**monochrome** · 04-28-2017, 04:29 AM

Originally posted by tvdtvdtvd

Where are you seeing the M28/3.5 for that much money? That's well above the the historical average reported on PF. There are several copies on ebay between $50-$100.

Confirming what the other's have said, if you don't need the speed both the K28/3.5 and M28/3.5 are fine lenses.

Clearly I don't have a current sense of value for the M lenses. I follow K's, and I have most of them already. I'm astonished how low these prices are now. *istd and K10D must have created strong demand that K-1 hasn't.

gifthorse · 04-28-2017, 07:43 AM - **1 Like**

One of my favorite lenses is the Vivitar 28mm f2.0 'close focusing'
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-28mm-f2-0-mc-close-focus-wide-angle-series.html

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-28-2017, 10:00 AM

i have a ton, while maybe 5 kilos worth of 28mm lenses, including a kiron F2, a sigma mini wide F2.8, both K and M versions of the vivitar 28/2.5 (m42 lens has 67 mm filter the k has 62mm filter. not all lenses are created equal.
-the sigma mini wide suffers badly from lateral CA not just in the out of focus areas but in the plane of focus, BUT, if you have a lens profile that corrects for lateral CA by scaling differently the color layers, the processed results are very sharp.unprocessed, in B&W it gives the appearance of very soft edges
- the vivitars are quite good, but big lenses i use the M42 version quite a bit on my K10
- the kiron is sharp, fast, but kiron lenses of this vintage, including my copy are prone to seized apertures
- the tamron is good, but the standard components used make it feel quite clunky

there are a lot of 28's out there, i think 30 vivitare alone (one being the kiron 28/2 rebadged)

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04-27-2017, 08:14 PM	#16
tvdtvdtvd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,665	Originally posted by monochrome Do you consider $229 for the M28/3.5 really high? Where are you seeing the M28/3.5 for that much money? That's well above the the historical average reported on PF. There are several copies on ebay between $50-$100. Confirming what the other's have said, if you don't need the speed both the K28/3.5 and M28/3.5 are fine lenses.

04-27-2017, 09:44 PM	#17
Interspieder Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 76	Originally posted by monochrome Do you consider $325 for the M28/2 really high? The K28/2 is $900! Do you consider $229 for the M28/3.5 really high? The K28/3.5 has recently been $169-ish. What is an acceptable price? * * I'm fairly embarrassed to admit I have all four of these lenses, plus an M28/2.8 (that's a $50 lens). I paid 35 € for my M 28 3.5 which had slight marks of use, the K 28 3.5 cost me around 64 € + shipping, my K 35 3.5 cost me about 30 €, a true bargain And i would never ever buy a M 28 2.8 or a pendant of those again if I had the chance to choose. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's worth it- In my opinion the M 28 3.5 is the real deal considering size, weight, sharpness (at all apertures) and costs.

04-27-2017, 09:48 PM	#18
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	I had the Kiron 28/2.0 back in the film days. Lovely lens.

04-27-2017, 10:29 PM	#19
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	For FF, the best stopped down lens is the K28/3.5 For APSC, it does not matter so much and most of the 28mm options are fine.

04-28-2017, 04:29 AM	#20
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by tvdtvdtvd Where are you seeing the M28/3.5 for that much money? That's well above the the historical average reported on PF. There are several copies on ebay between $50-$100. Confirming what the other's have said, if you don't need the speed both the K28/3.5 and M28/3.5 are fine lenses. Clearly I don't have a current sense of value for the M lenses. I follow K's, and I have most of them already. I'm astonished how low these prices are now. *istd and K10D must have created strong demand that K-1 hasn't.

04-28-2017, 07:43 AM - 1 Like	#21
gifthorse Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Nevada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,945	One of my favorite lenses is the Vivitar 28mm f2.0 'close focusing' https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-28mm-f2-0-mc-close-focus-wide-angle-series.html

04-28-2017, 10:00 AM	#22
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	i have a ton, while maybe 5 kilos worth of 28mm lenses, including a kiron F2, a sigma mini wide F2.8, both K and M versions of the vivitar 28/2.5 (m42 lens has 67 mm filter the k has 62mm filter. not all lenses are created equal. -the sigma mini wide suffers badly from lateral CA not just in the out of focus areas but in the plane of focus, BUT, if you have a lens profile that corrects for lateral CA by scaling differently the color layers, the processed results are very sharp.unprocessed, in B&W it gives the appearance of very soft edges - the vivitars are quite good, but big lenses i use the M42 version quite a bit on my K10 - the kiron is sharp, fast, but kiron lenses of this vintage, including my copy are prone to seized apertures - the tamron is good, but the standard components used make it feel quite clunky there are a lot of 28's out there, i think 30 vivitare alone (one being the kiron 28/2 rebadged)