Pentax FA-28mm f2.8 AL

Novocain · 12-24-2009, 04:26 PM

I went to the local camera shop in my parents' town looking for a fast 50 and walked out with this. It's not as fast and a bit wider than what I was looking for in a 50mm, but it was a good deal for $100 and it has received generally positive reviews here.

Just wondering if anyone has any specific hands-on experience with it. I'm also interested in how it performs in the evening & low light situation. I'll probably end up taking some photos around town tonight and I'll post them here.

Happy holidays

dugrant153 · 12-24-2009, 07:32 PM

it's a very nice lens! Had one a while ago but sold it to a fellow member. i have the A-28mm F2.8 (two generations before it) and it's similar but without auto focus.

great lens! definite keeper, unless you replace it with an FA limited

Pentaxor · 12-25-2009, 01:02 AM

for 100 bucks, it's a good deal. considering that it is also an AF lens.

freewheeler · 12-25-2009, 03:45 AM

Nice deal!
I sold mine for $200 to buy a new Samsung 35/2.0 for $300.
In the filmdays The FA28 was my walk-around/landscape lens.
Reasonably sharp and nice contrast, ligth fall off in corners till F5,6 though.
This effect will be less pronounced in Dslr's, but the angle of view is not wide either anymore.
As a general walk around lens I still appriciated it highly but I "needed" the money
to fund the FA35 after I allready bought a 16-45 for landscapes.
Not an available light lens since the IQ is not impressive at 2,8-F4,
but a good walk around for general photography I'd say.

axl · 12-25-2009, 06:21 AM

For $100 it's a good deal
28mm is actually VERY useful on APS-C. It represents almost normal length. And FA28 has quite good reputation.
Enjoy it

Novocain · 12-25-2009, 04:05 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

Quote:

Not an available light lens since the IQ is not impressive at 2,8-F4,

This is the kind of information I was looking for. So it sounds like I should continue my quest for a 50mm 1.7 or 1.4. But as of right now, it is the fastest lens I have so I'm gonna make the best of it

For what it's worth I took some photos around town in the late evening/night and here are some of my results -

Tiger @ f/2.8, 1/60, ISO400 -

Tiger at night @ f/2.8, 1/4, ISO3200 -

Novocain · 12-25-2009, 04:11 PM

Three building shots. All done in fairly low light situation.

Rear Entrance @ f/2.8, 1/13, ISO 800 -

Building @ f/2.8, 1/6, ISO 1600 -

Front Entrance @ f/5.0. 1/10. ISO1600 -

axl · 12-26-2009, 02:57 AM

these look good indeed.
combined with IQ of K100D.... man, it looks like you have a great combo there.
Enjoy!

blende8 · 12-26-2009, 03:26 AM

We had a similar discussion recently:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/83564-f-28mm-2...8mm-2-8-a.html

timo · 12-27-2009, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by freewheeler

Nice deal!
I sold mine for $200 to buy a new Samsung 35/2.0 for $300.
In the filmdays The FA28 was my walk-around/landscape lens.
Reasonably sharp and nice contrast, ligth fall off in corners till F5,6 though.
This effect will be less pronounced in Dslr's, but the angle of view is not wide either anymore.
...
Not an available light lens since the IQ is not impressive at 2,8-F4,
but a good walk around for general photography I'd say.

I think this wide open softness thing can be a bit exaggerated - it's true that edges lose a bit of contrast at 2.8, but it's easily counteracted by a touch of USM, and the resolution is still there. I use the DA21 more than the FA28 these days but the 28 is perfectly viable, a nice near-'normal' frame, light, compact and AF. From f4 on I don't think it is markedly any worse than any other prime I have (or have had).

My FA50 1.4 always seemed softer at f2 than the 28 at f2.8 - and the 28 can be hand-held at slower speeds.

max889 · 12-27-2009, 06:41 PM

Timo, that's exactly my experience with both the A28/2.8 and the M50/1.7 wide open. You have a soft look but it's like a layer, the picture is still very sharp, pretty much like a soft filter effect, quite delicate. It can be "cured" by USM and also in short space/portrait/night shots it can be a pleasant effect.

legacyb4 · 12-27-2009, 07:15 PM

That's almost exactly how I would describe the image quality of the lens. Unlike the DA lenses which have almost a blindingly sharp effect, the FA 28 gives pictures a really nice smooth, anti-aliased effect.

Originally posted by max889

You have a soft look but it's like a layer, the picture is still very sharp, pretty much like a soft filter effect, quite delicate. It can be "cured" by USM and also in short space/portrait/night shots it can be a pleasant effect.

12-24-2009, 04:26 PM	#1
Novocain New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 21	Pentax FA-28mm f2.8 AL I went to the local camera shop in my parents' town looking for a fast 50 and walked out with this. It's not as fast and a bit wider than what I was looking for in a 50mm, but it was a good deal for $100 and it has received generally positive reviews here. Just wondering if anyone has any specific hands-on experience with it. I'm also interested in how it performs in the evening & low light situation. I'll probably end up taking some photos around town tonight and I'll post them here. Happy holidays

12-25-2009, 04:05 PM	#6
Novocain New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 21 Original Poster	Thanks for all the replies. Quote: Not an available light lens since the IQ is not impressive at 2,8-F4, This is the kind of information I was looking for. So it sounds like I should continue my quest for a 50mm 1.7 or 1.4. But as of right now, it is the fastest lens I have so I'm gonna make the best of it For what it's worth I took some photos around town in the late evening/night and here are some of my results - Tiger @ f/2.8, 1/60, ISO400 - Tiger at night @ f/2.8, 1/4, ISO3200 - Last edited by Novocain; 12-25-2009 at 04:12 PM.

12-27-2009, 05:50 AM	#10
timo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: former Arsenal football stadium Photos: Gallery Posts: 431	FA28 wide open Originally posted by freewheeler Nice deal! I sold mine for $200 to buy a new Samsung 35/2.0 for $300. In the filmdays The FA28 was my walk-around/landscape lens. Reasonably sharp and nice contrast, ligth fall off in corners till F5,6 though. This effect will be less pronounced in Dslr's, but the angle of view is not wide either anymore. ... Not an available light lens since the IQ is not impressive at 2,8-F4, but a good walk around for general photography I'd say. I think this wide open softness thing can be a bit exaggerated - it's true that edges lose a bit of contrast at 2.8, but it's easily counteracted by a touch of USM, and the resolution is still there. I use the DA21 more than the FA28 these days but the 28 is perfectly viable, a nice near-'normal' frame, light, compact and AF. From f4 on I don't think it is markedly any worse than any other prime I have (or have had). My FA50 1.4 always seemed softer at f2 than the 28 at f2.8 - and the 28 can be hand-held at slower speeds.

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12-24-2009, 07:32 PM	#2
dugrant153 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,059	it's a very nice lens! Had one a while ago but sold it to a fellow member. i have the A-28mm F2.8 (two generations before it) and it's similar but without auto focus. great lens! definite keeper, unless you replace it with an FA limited

12-25-2009, 01:02 AM	#3
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	for 100 bucks, it's a good deal. considering that it is also an AF lens.

12-25-2009, 03:45 AM	#4
freewheeler Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: amsterdam Posts: 130	Nice deal! I sold mine for $200 to buy a new Samsung 35/2.0 for $300. In the filmdays The FA28 was my walk-around/landscape lens. Reasonably sharp and nice contrast, ligth fall off in corners till F5,6 though. This effect will be less pronounced in Dslr's, but the angle of view is not wide either anymore. As a general walk around lens I still appriciated it highly but I "needed" the money to fund the FA35 after I allready bought a 16-45 for landscapes. Not an available light lens since the IQ is not impressive at 2,8-F4, but a good walk around for general photography I'd say.

12-25-2009, 06:21 AM	#5
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	For $100 it's a good deal 28mm is actually VERY useful on APS-C. It represents almost normal length. And FA28 has quite good reputation. Enjoy it

12-25-2009, 04:11 PM	#7
Novocain New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 21 Original Poster	Three building shots. All done in fairly low light situation. Rear Entrance @ f/2.8, 1/13, ISO 800 - Building @ f/2.8, 1/6, ISO 1600 - Front Entrance @ f/5.0. 1/10. ISO1600 -

12-26-2009, 02:57 AM	#8
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	these look good indeed. combined with IQ of K100D.... man, it looks like you have a great combo there. Enjoy!

12-26-2009, 03:26 AM	#9
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	We had a similar discussion recently: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/83564-f-28mm-2...8mm-2-8-a.html

12-27-2009, 06:41 PM	#11
max889 Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 35	Timo, that's exactly my experience with both the A28/2.8 and the M50/1.7 wide open. You have a soft look but it's like a layer, the picture is still very sharp, pretty much like a soft filter effect, quite delicate. It can be "cured" by USM and also in short space/portrait/night shots it can be a pleasant effect.

12-27-2009, 07:15 PM	#12
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	That's almost exactly how I would describe the image quality of the lens. Unlike the DA lenses which have almost a blindingly sharp effect, the FA 28 gives pictures a really nice smooth, anti-aliased effect. Originally posted by max889 You have a soft look but it's like a layer, the picture is still very sharp, pretty much like a soft filter effect, quite delicate. It can be "cured" by USM and also in short space/portrait/night shots it can be a pleasant effect.