Vivitar 28mm As FA31mm Replacement?

dankoBanana · 02-10-2011, 02:10 AM

does the K91 behave like an A lens?

**rparmar** · 02-10-2011, 01:22 PM

acrollet: Nice one! A bit of PP will bring out even more goodness.

dankoBanana: No. Lenses designated "K" are simple K-mount; lenses designated "A" are KA-mount. It is a lens like no other however!

SteveB · 02-10-2011, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by rparmar

£20 is a good deal for a good lens. And that cat is cute too! (Looks like a younger version of our Schweppes). Try it at f/5.6 or f/8 instead of f/16 and the clarity will be better, I'm guessing.

I know, but I'm not brilliant at MF, especially with cats as they usually run away 1 second after I lift the camera to my eye! I'm putting a fair bit of hope into that split screen working well when I get it, as I have a few old lenses that I could get more use out with better MF, and I wouldn't hanker so much after a nippy AF K-5 and be happy with my old faithful K100D.

acrollet · 02-10-2011, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by rparmar

acrollet: Nice one! A bit of PP will bring out even more goodness.

thanks much! What kind of PP would you suggest? I did tweak sharpness a bit, but that's about all - I am trying to get better at PP, but in some ways don't quite know where to start...

acrollet · 02-10-2011, 10:45 PM

Originally posted by troglodyte

how much did you pay so I have an idea of what's acceptable?
You have any other A lenses? How does it compare? I have the pentax-a 50mm f1.7. Great lens. Love the A compared to my m42.

I got the lens as part of a package deal, so really it's hard to say what I paid. Really what's acceptable is in the eye of the beholder. Pentax-A 28mm f2.8 lenses go from $115-149 on keh, so it's probably not worth more than that general range... I don't have any other manual focus A lenses, though I have the pentax-F 50mm f1.7 and absolutely love it.

**rparmar** · 02-11-2011, 07:28 AM

Originally posted by acrollet

thanks much! What kind of PP would you suggest?

Check out my Photo Processing Example -- curves are the thing! Actually, if you are shooting RAW most of what you need is there in Adobe Camera RAW. These days my straightforward shots have very little PP, but what is there is so important.

I also recommend a lens hood. This older 28mm glass really needs a hood to bump up contrast and prevent washed out images.

acrollet · 02-11-2011, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by rparmar

Check out my Photo Processing Example -- curves are the thing! Actually, if you are shooting RAW most of what you need is there in Adobe Camera RAW. These days my straightforward shots have very little PP, but what is there is so important.

cheers for that - I'm going to have to jump in with Aperture and try to work through some of these things...

Originally posted by rparmar

I also recommend a lens hood. This older 28mm glass really needs a hood to bump up contrast and prevent washed out images.

I do have one of the cheapie rubber hoods, but I guess I'll be wanting one with a bit more depth? Also, I emailed you a few more specs for the A01 - dunno if you got them or not.

**rparmar** · 02-11-2011, 11:36 AM

Originally posted by acrollet

I do have one of the cheapie rubber hoods, but I guess I'll be wanting one with a bit more depth? Also, I emailed you a few more specs for the A01 - dunno if you got them or not.

I think I did -- thanks! Sorry, I have been insanely busy lately. Only enough free time to drop small comments on the forums.

troglodyte · 02-11-2011, 11:05 PM

How does the Vivitar 28/2 A-type compare to the Pentax-A 28/2? The Vivitar is so hard to find, especially when the front doesn't show A like it does on Pentax. "Pentax-A 28mm f1:2"

audiobomber · 02-12-2011, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by acrollet

I do have one of the cheapie rubber hoods, but I guess I'll be wanting one with a bit more depth?

A cheapie rubber hood is ideal as long as it's for a standard lens (i.e. 50mm FF equivalent). I don't think you could go longer than that. Also make sure the hood has internal threads for filters.

acrollet · 02-12-2011, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by rparmar

I think I did -- thanks! Sorry, I have been insanely busy lately. Only enough free time to drop small comments on the forums.

no problem! just wanted to make sure it didn't end up in an electronic black hole

**rparmar** · 02-13-2011, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by troglodyte

How does the Vivitar 28/2 A-type compare to the Pentax-A 28/2? The Vivitar is so hard to find, especially when the front doesn't show A like it does on Pentax. "Pentax-A 28mm f1:2"

This would be good to know. I have compared only the 2.8 lenses and found (entirely subjectively) that the Pentax sat in the upper middle of the Vivitar pack. Though better than most, it has no "zing", no special quality, unlike what one can do with the smooth bokeh and close focus abilities of the Vivi.

Spock · 02-13-2011, 06:00 PM

Originally posted by troglodyte

How does the Vivitar 28/2 A-type compare to the Pentax-A 28/2? The Vivitar is so hard to find, especially when the front doesn't show A like it does on Pentax. "Pentax-A 28mm f1:2"

The Pentax-A 28/2 is also hard to find. I searched on eBay for many years to find one and since buying one I have never seen one for sale again. (The Pentax-A 28/2.8 is common though).

The Pentax-A 28/2 is a superb lens - see my review here

acrollet · 02-13-2011, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by Spock

The Pentax-A 28/2 is a superb lens - see my review here

pity you're down on the bottom of the world, or I would consider mailing my vivitar to you for a comparison. what body(s) do you have? maybe we could try a "virtual" comparo, shooting the same subjects at same settings

no way to control the light though, of course.

Spock · 02-13-2011, 09:36 PM

Originally posted by acrollet

pity you're down on the bottom of the world, or I would consider mailing my vivitar to you for a comparison. what body(s) do you have? maybe we could try a "virtual" comparo, shooting the same subjects at same settings

no way to control the light though, of course.

I have a K10D at the moment. I did have a K7 with which I took the image in the lens review.

Don't know how it would be possible to do a virtual comparison - as you say, it would be hard to duplicate the light conditions - maybe using flash?

02-12-2011, 05:50 AM	#520
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by acrollet I do have one of the cheapie rubber hoods, but I guess I'll be wanting one with a bit more depth? A cheapie rubber hood is ideal as long as it's for a standard lens (i.e. 50mm FF equivalent). I don't think you could go longer than that. Also make sure the hood has internal threads for filters. Last edited by audiobomber; 02-13-2011 at 07:55 AM.

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02-10-2011, 02:10 AM	#511
dankoBanana Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 533	does the K91 behave like an A lens?

02-10-2011, 01:22 PM	#512
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	acrollet: Nice one! A bit of PP will bring out even more goodness. dankoBanana: No. Lenses designated "K" are simple K-mount; lenses designated "A" are KA-mount. It is a lens like no other however!

02-10-2011, 01:41 PM	#513
SteveB Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 685	Originally posted by rparmar £20 is a good deal for a good lens. And that cat is cute too! (Looks like a younger version of our Schweppes). Try it at f/5.6 or f/8 instead of f/16 and the clarity will be better, I'm guessing. I know, but I'm not brilliant at MF, especially with cats as they usually run away 1 second after I lift the camera to my eye! I'm putting a fair bit of hope into that split screen working well when I get it, as I have a few old lenses that I could get more use out with better MF, and I wouldn't hanker so much after a nippy AF K-5 and be happy with my old faithful K100D.

02-10-2011, 09:54 PM	#514
acrollet Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	Originally posted by rparmar acrollet: Nice one! A bit of PP will bring out even more goodness. thanks much! What kind of PP would you suggest? I did tweak sharpness a bit, but that's about all - I am trying to get better at PP, but in some ways don't quite know where to start...

02-10-2011, 10:45 PM	#515
acrollet Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	Originally posted by troglodyte how much did you pay so I have an idea of what's acceptable? You have any other A lenses? How does it compare? I have the pentax-a 50mm f1.7. Great lens. Love the A compared to my m42. I got the lens as part of a package deal, so really it's hard to say what I paid. Really what's acceptable is in the eye of the beholder. Pentax-A 28mm f2.8 lenses go from $115-149 on keh, so it's probably not worth more than that general range... I don't have any other manual focus A lenses, though I have the pentax-F 50mm f1.7 and absolutely love it.

02-11-2011, 07:28 AM	#516
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Originally posted by acrollet thanks much! What kind of PP would you suggest? Check out my Photo Processing Example -- curves are the thing! Actually, if you are shooting RAW most of what you need is there in Adobe Camera RAW. These days my straightforward shots have very little PP, but what is there is so important. I also recommend a lens hood. This older 28mm glass really needs a hood to bump up contrast and prevent washed out images.

02-11-2011, 09:03 AM	#517
acrollet Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	Originally posted by rparmar Check out my Photo Processing Example -- curves are the thing! Actually, if you are shooting RAW most of what you need is there in Adobe Camera RAW. These days my straightforward shots have very little PP, but what is there is so important. cheers for that - I'm going to have to jump in with Aperture and try to work through some of these things... Originally posted by rparmar I also recommend a lens hood. This older 28mm glass really needs a hood to bump up contrast and prevent washed out images. I do have one of the cheapie rubber hoods, but I guess I'll be wanting one with a bit more depth? Also, I emailed you a few more specs for the A01 - dunno if you got them or not.

02-11-2011, 11:36 AM	#518
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Originally posted by acrollet I do have one of the cheapie rubber hoods, but I guess I'll be wanting one with a bit more depth? Also, I emailed you a few more specs for the A01 - dunno if you got them or not. I think I did -- thanks! Sorry, I have been insanely busy lately. Only enough free time to drop small comments on the forums.

02-11-2011, 11:05 PM	#519
troglodyte Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oz Posts: 408	How does the Vivitar 28/2 A-type compare to the Pentax-A 28/2? The Vivitar is so hard to find, especially when the front doesn't show A like it does on Pentax. "Pentax-A 28mm f1:2"

02-12-2011, 09:47 AM	#521
acrollet Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	Originally posted by rparmar I think I did -- thanks! Sorry, I have been insanely busy lately. Only enough free time to drop small comments on the forums. no problem! just wanted to make sure it didn't end up in an electronic black hole

02-13-2011, 03:42 AM	#522
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Originally posted by troglodyte How does the Vivitar 28/2 A-type compare to the Pentax-A 28/2? The Vivitar is so hard to find, especially when the front doesn't show A like it does on Pentax. "Pentax-A 28mm f1:2" This would be good to know. I have compared only the 2.8 lenses and found (entirely subjectively) that the Pentax sat in the upper middle of the Vivitar pack. Though better than most, it has no "zing", no special quality, unlike what one can do with the smooth bokeh and close focus abilities of the Vivi.

02-13-2011, 06:00 PM	#523
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by troglodyte How does the Vivitar 28/2 A-type compare to the Pentax-A 28/2? The Vivitar is so hard to find, especially when the front doesn't show A like it does on Pentax. "Pentax-A 28mm f1:2" The Pentax-A 28/2 is also hard to find. I searched on eBay for many years to find one and since buying one I have never seen one for sale again. (The Pentax-A 28/2.8 is common though). The Pentax-A 28/2 is a superb lens - see my review here

02-13-2011, 06:21 PM	#524
acrollet Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	Originally posted by Spock The Pentax-A 28/2 is a superb lens - see my review here pity you're down on the bottom of the world, or I would consider mailing my vivitar to you for a comparison. what body(s) do you have? maybe we could try a "virtual" comparo, shooting the same subjects at same settings no way to control the light though, of course.

02-13-2011, 09:36 PM	#525
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by acrollet pity you're down on the bottom of the world, or I would consider mailing my vivitar to you for a comparison. what body(s) do you have? maybe we could try a "virtual" comparo, shooting the same subjects at same settings no way to control the light though, of course. I have a K10D at the moment. I did have a K7 with which I took the image in the lens review. Don't know how it would be possible to do a virtual comparison - as you say, it would be hard to duplicate the light conditions - maybe using flash?