[Ronald Oakes]

Thanks

---------- Post added 07-28-2018 at 12:44 AM ----------



was this finding on film, crop digital, or full frame digital?

FF....on my Pentax K-1

[kiwi_jono]

I don't have the 18mm but FWIW I do have the SMC K 17mm f4 fisheye and I'm pretty happy with it. While perhaps not quite tack sharp, its still pretty sharp and the fisheye distortion is fairly moderate - even on the K-1. I really like it and always goes with me when I'm travelling light.

[Adam]

That looks pretty bad. Was it shot wide open or what? While obviously not as wide, my copy looks much better at f8 on a crop sensor.

You definitely get the sweet spot on crop, since all of the softness is closer to the edges on FF. Not sure about the aperture, but if I were to guess it would be between 5.6 and 8.

[pid]

I prefer the RMC Tokina 3.5/17mm. It is small, build like a tank, ways sharper and works great on the K1. My A 2.8/20mm is better too.

[jco]

I prefer the RMC Tokina 3.5/17mm. It is small, build like a tank, ways sharper and works great on the K1. My A 2.8/20mm is better too.

I once owned both the RMC tokina 17mm F3.5 and the smcA 20 f2.8. Never used them of full frame digital, but on crop sensors at least neither one was as sharp or

contrasty as the SMCK 18mm or the SMCK 20mm/4 lenses, they both had superior resistance to flare than the tokina too.

---------- Post added 07-28-2018 at 05:34 AM ----------

I prefer the RMC Tokina 3.5/17mm. It is small, build like a tank, ways sharper and works great on the K1. My A 2.8/20mm is better too.

and when it comes to build quality, you don't want to compare anything to a K series lens, forgetaboutit.

---------- Post added 07-28-2018 at 05:47 AM ----------

I don't have the 18mm but FWIW I do have the SMC K 17mm f4 fisheye and I'm pretty happy with it. While perhaps not quite tack sharp, its still pretty sharp and the fisheye distortion is fairly moderate - even on the K-1. I really like it and always goes with me when I'm travelling light.

I also have the smcK 17mm/f4 fisheye but rarely use it because on a crop camera, it just looks like a bad distortion wide angle. I much prefer using my 15mm or18mm non fisheye lenses.
Now if I were using a K-1. it might be a different story.

[pid]

I once owned both the RMC tokina 17mm F3.5 and the smcA 20 f2.8. Never used them of full frame digital, but on crop sensors at least neither one was as sharp or

contrasty as the SMCK 18mm or the SMCK 20mm/4 lenses, they both had superior resistance to flare than the tokina too.

---------- Post added 07-28-2018 at 05:34 AM ----------

I have them all and the Tokina and the A2.8/20 are both sharper as my M 4/20 and the 3.5/18. The Tokina clearly is the sharpest in corners ... but maybe that is different with your lenses.

By the way I mean the RMC II Tokina 3.5/17 (middle), which is better than the version RMC one (left side)
http://digicamclub.de/dunkelnetz.de/images/objektivvergleiche/17er_tokina_vivitar/3_17mm.jpg

[jco]

I have them all and the Tokina and the A2.8/20 are both sharper as my M 4/20 and the 3.5/18. The Tokina clearly is the sharpest in corners ... but maybe that is different with your lenses.

Note - I have and mentioned the K20/4 which is generally accepted as superior optically to both the M20/4 and the K18/3.5, but then again
its not as wide, slower, and doesn't have filters built in.

[torashi]

I have them all and the Tokina and the A2.8/20 are both sharper as my M 4/20 and the 3.5/18. The Tokina clearly is the sharpest in corners ... but maybe that is different with your lenses.

By the way I mean the RMC II Tokina 3.5/17 (middle), which is better than the version RMC one (left side)
http://digicamclub.de/dunkelnetz.de/images/objektivvergleiche/17er_tokina_vivitar/3_17mm.jpg

Are the Tokina II and Vivitar the same lens, just with different coatings and exterior?

[monochrome]

@jco - see PM.

[monochrome]

K-1 K18/3.5 UV filter




Getting Flickr to actually transfer the images I uploaded, as uploaded, was a real bear. Clicking these links to the full size images.

[monochrome]

K-1 K18/3.5 UV Filter




Getting Flickr to actually transfer the images I uploaded, as uploaded, was a real bear. This exposure is not as shot.

Clicking these links to the full size images.

[monochrome]

Getting Flickr to actually transfer the images I uploaded, as uploaded, was a real bear. Clicking these links to the full size images.

On this image in particular* you can see how soft the edges are. Scroll to the left edge and look at the Daylilly seed pods and the grill cover. IMO the lens is quite sharp in the center, though f/8 could be hinging mis-focus (focusing manual lenses on the K-1 is the operational part of my hobby). I believe the colors are good - the flag in the one shot is accurate to the real colors. i did not boost any vibrance or color channels in PSE. All around, pretty nice I think if you don’t care about the edges.

FWIW, the only editing done to these images (aside from default PSE and flickr editing) was to reduce highlights by -15. Since matrix metering is not enabled in M Mode it’s pretty hard not to blow a high sky such as I had for these images. I used the hood labeled for the K20/4 which Phil (gofour3) says is also specified for the K18/3.5.

* Actually,I think I missed the focus on this one. I’ll see if other files are better and repost if I can find a better one.

[Ronald Oakes]

Clicking these links to the full size images.
On this image in particular you can see how soft the edges are/
FWIW, the only editing done to these images (aside from default PSE and flickr editing) was to reduce highlights by -15. These are all shot at f/8 and either 640 ISO or 400 ISO.

Your copy is MUCH better than mine. I wonder if I had a bad copy ? If they were even close to this good I would have kept it.

[monochrome]

Your copy is MUCH better than mine. I wonder if I had a bad copy ? If they were even close to this good I would have kept it.

Sorry to hear that. I have always paid up for my K lenses trying tp get good copies. A few I have sent to Eric for CLA - most of them have pretty dry grease in the helicoid and they’re still pleasant to use.

[gofour3]

I used the hood labeled for the K20/4 which Phil (gofour3) says is also specified for the K18/3.5.

Yep there were two versions of this 58mm ultra wide hood, as the K18/3.5 was released later on than the K20/4 & K24/3.5.

The first version of the hood has the K20/4 & K24/3.5 listed on it and the second version also includes the K18/3.5.

I like the K18/3.5 a lot, though I only use it on film, so that would be a different story than on a K1.

Phil.