[Blue]

for that price, might as well buy a Distagon.

That was more for folks wanting to track down an vintage glass.

[Pentaxor]

I just have several bags. I have a FA Limited bag, with all of the FA Limiteds (in chrome). I also have a MF bag with several manual focus Pentax lenses (usually, but not always, with my Canon 5D MkI in there too). So it largely depends on my mood, and weight I want to carry that day.

Having said that: here are the first comparison shots. Not too good, but at least the light was even

I shot them from a tripod, in RAW, with the FA31 at f/2 instead of f/1.8. In the RAW converter I manually adjusted the white balance on the same spot in the picture, repaired the highlights and crushed blacks. Then resized and sharpened with Absolute Sharpening.

My own verdict: at moderate distances the K28/2 shows the typical "harsh" Zeiss bokeh. But I must admit that the last picture IMHO shows more depth than the FA31 shot. Probably the K28/2 has a better microcontrast than the FA31.

I prefer the K28/2 better.

[SteveM]

I prefer the K28/2 better.

I prefer mine as well. I ended up selling my 31 and much prefer the contrast from the 28/2. Personal preference plays large here....

[oldframe]

Oei, thanks for these pictures. And it ain't easy. Your 2/28mm is very good, but the bokeh in the still life is smoother in the 31mm, although the 28mm cannot be called worse, it's very different. The rendering of the fruit is just awesome in the 28mm. Looks sharper but then it's also wider. Obviously, both are very good.

I would not want both, generally, as I cannot justify the costs but even if I could, it would confuse me too much.

If you have any more examples, keep them coming! And many thanks for this!

[oldframe]

The K28/2 is my favorite lens that I own and it’s still the best MF prime that Pentax ever made. The only other MF prime that would have come close would have been the prototype M35/1.4, which also had the same floating lens elements.

Phil.

I remember seeing ads for the M 1.4/35mm, when I was in my teens, and could never justify the expense. Do not remember the price, nor was I aware that, apparently, none was ever brought to market. I know that is received knowledge, but I'm still surprised not a single copy came to fruition, if honest

[zackspeed]

@Asahiflex,the SMC is also a child of the Partnership.
By the way,there is still a partnership between Pentax and Zeiss Oberkochen.
Glasses are incorporate production.And other things.
Best regards,Andy

[Asahiflex]

Thanks for the info, Andy! I knew that the SMC coating was a joint venture, but I did not know that the cooperation still lasts. Interesting!

I decided to go out with the lens today, here are a few of my shots...

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.

[feverbeaver]

some flower power

[Smolk]

All very very nice indeed, Asahiflex (did I see Deventer there?)
It strikes me that the K 2/28 compares to the FA 31mm as the DA 70 to the FA 77mm - sharper, more microcontrast, but harsher too. In the last series, the second picture has all these diafragmas in the tree which I think the 31mm would represent slightly nicer. But I do not have one, what's your experience?

As they say with the 70 and 77mm, it seems to have value to have both....

[whojammyflip]

I really like photo 4.

[paperbag846]

This lens looks phenomenal and if I can ever find one at non-ebay prices I think I will have to buy it.

This is beginning to feel like the DA 15 controls my mind thread .

[Blue]

This lens looks phenomenal and if I can ever find one at non-ebay prices I think I will have to buy it.

This is beginning to feel like the DA 15 controls my mind thread .

Kevin's no longer has any.

[Pentaxor]

This lens looks phenomenal and if I can ever find one at non-ebay prices I think I will have to buy it.

someone locally sold his copy of the thing for $300. it's just too bad that I lost in it a couple of months later due to my need of something with AF. it's a marvelous lens but I just wished it was AF. there are plenty of lenses that I skipped buying recently due to financial priorities and saving up for something else and avoid breaking the bank due to LBA. such lenses would be the DA15 for $500, DA21 for $350, DA70 for $400, FA43 (MIJ) for $400, and FA31 (MIJ) for $800 and another copy of the Sigma 70 macro fro $350. I know that those were amazing deals for the money and could had gone to buy either the FA43 or FA31. but unfortunately I'm considering getting a different camera system, a fast AF 85 for it, an AF 30/2 and a Sigma 150. to finance this venture, I have to save for the rest of the year and sell some of the lenses which I really liked. the ones on the chopping block would possibly be 2 of my beloved macros (70 and 90), the M85, FA35, and the FA135. I wish I could find a way to keep these lenses, but I have to get another job to do so.

[gofour3]

I remember seeing ads for the M 1.4/35mm, when I was in my teens, and could never justify the expense. Do not remember the price, nor was I aware that, apparently, none was ever brought to market. I know that is received knowledge, but I'm still surprised not a single copy came to fruition, if honest

Rumor has it that around 5 copies of the M35/1.4 were sold. I’ve never seen any pictures of a M35/1.4, other than a prototype shot. I’m not sure why Pentax would develop a lens like this, put it on sale and halt production/sale of the lens immediately.

Doesn’t make much sense and I’ll believe it when I see one for sale somewhere. If that ever happened I’m sure the price would be astronomical.

Phil.

[jopenmx]

Very interesting thread and opinions. As a proud owner of a K 28 f/2 , attached a very good information ( sorry , in italian language ) about the cooperation between Asahi and Zeiss and optical formulae of 28 f/2 lenses.
SMC* PENTAX* 28mm f