[thefizz]

I'm looking to get a good 28mm k-mount lens but as I'm new to Pentax equipment, I'm not sure what's a good option. I'm happy to buy used and maybe spend up to $300.

Any recommendations?

[pepperberry farm]

manual or auto focus?

28mm has become almost non-existent for k-mount, as there's nothing new on the market..

I'd take a good used FA 31 Limited over anything 28mm....

[Henrico]

For FF the old K28/3.5 is a no brainer, for APS-C a good copy of the M28/2.8 is very good also. Both are dirt cheap. I use the first on my K1 and the M on my KP. The K is good already wide open, the M is compact and very good from F4.

[thefizz]

Sorry I should have mentioned I prefer manual focus.

---------- Post added 12-15-22 at 06:36 AM ----------

It's for an MZM SLR if that makes any difference.

[ProfessorBuzz]

Try a reputable camera shop that sells used gear. You might have to be patient for one to come in that is in good condition with clean optics.
There's a pile of lens data on this site, for example: SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8 Reviews - M Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
or as Henrico mentions: SMC Pentax-M 28mm F3.5 Reviews - M Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

If you have more budget, the FA 31mm Limited is superb - harder to find used because people keep them.

[robgski]

I have had a Sigma manual 28mm f2.8 macro which I have used for decades with everything from a K1000 to a K-1.
I recommend looking at the PF marketplace first unless you find a copy at your local camera shop.

[pschlute]

I'm looking to get a good 28mm k-mount lens but as I'm new to Pentax equipment, I'm not sure what's a good option. I'm happy to buy used and maybe spend up to $300.

Any recommendations?

If you are going to use it with the MZM then I would recommend in this order:

K 28mm 3.5
M 28mm 2.0
M 28mm 2.8
M 28mm 2.0

My favourite 28mm is the K 28mm 2.0 (Hollywood). But it is about 3x your budget.

[titrisol]

Sorry I should have mentioned I prefer manual focus.

---------- Post added 12-15-22 at 06:36 AM ----------

It's for an MZM SLR if that makes any difference.

If you are using the lens in a Pentax DSLR or a Pentax camera with electronics (Mz-M) try finding a 28mm/2.8 from the A series
SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8 Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
That way you can have all exposure modes, but manual focus.
Th A series 28/2.0 might break the bank.

If you don't care about that the M 28/2.8 (I like version 2 better) is good but it works in M mode only. The 2nd version is identical to the SMC-A
SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8 Reviews - M Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

From 3rd parties, there were many available, and can be found cheap.
I used a Sears branded Rikenon for a while that was good but you have to be careful about removing the Ricoh Pin (sometimes they come attached to sears cameras cheaper than the lens by itself)
There was also a Tamron adaptall which has good rating and Vivitar Series 1 28/1.9 but that is hard to find.

[Saxtonine]

For FF the old K28/3.5 is a no brainer, for APS-C a good copy of the M28/2.8 is very good also. Both are dirt cheap. I use the first on my K1 and the M on my KP. The K is good already wide open, the M is compact and very good from F4.

I'll second the vote for the K28/3.5 ... I obtained a pristine one for under $100 recently and it is surprisingly good. Especially now that you've clarified that you prefer manual focus.

EDIT: Apparently I'm now at least "thirding" it

[kypfer]

For me, the SMC Pentax-M 28mm f/2.8 is perfectly adequate and somewhat lighter than my other favourite, the Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f/2.5 … both are often available very economically
If auto-exposure is desired, remember to get the appropriate Tamron mount (PKA) … the earlier mounts will work, but manual exposure only. Similarly, the Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8 might be preferred.
Some 28mm f/2 lenses were available, Kiron and Petri, for example, but mine aren't PKA, just PK.
Enjoy

[gifthorse]

Are you looking for Pentax only, or are third party lenses acceptable? My absolute favorite is the Vivitar 28mm f2 close focus wide angle. Vivitar (Komine 28xxxx) MC Close Focus Wide Angle 28mm F2.0 Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database They will cost about $100 and are worth every bit of it.

I bought mine for night photography but it's a very good all around lens.
















It's good for general and close up work.

























And stitched panoramas.




It's made by Komine, has a serial number that begins with the numbers 28 and say 'close focus' on the front barrel.

[JensE]

I second pepperberry farm's recommendation: If the 31mm fits your needs and you can maybe stretch your budget a bit, the (HD) FA 31mm Ltd. is the way to go, which is also nice to focus manually. At 28mm, I also learned to like the F28/2.8, which apparently shares the optical construction with the A28/2.8 already recommended above.

[house]

Fouthing the SMC Pentax (K) 28mm f3.5 . Really nice lens in about every way but max aperture.

[pres589]

To the folks suggesting the FA 31; can you get good copies of that lens for $300? That's a stated requirement in the first post of the thread.

thefizz: The Pentax M-series 28mm f2.8 mk2, the one without chrome around the trim ring, is probably one of the best lenses you could ask for on the cheap end. I think I paid $60 for mine. There are other good alternatives like the Vivitar 28mm f2.0's (there's two different ones, I think the Komine-made one is better, though my Kiron-made version is no slouch) for a bit more. There's also some Vivitar 28mm f2.8's that should be in the $50 or so range. For a large, light grabbing lens, Sigma made a 28mm EX DG f1.8 with autofocus that I quite like on my manual focus film bodies. They also sold a manual focus EX version (not DG, no autofocus) that should be, what, $150? I never looked for one. The AF version has different optics and probably can be had at the top of your budget.

If you widen your search to include 24mm options you'll have a lot more to choose from though 28 is a great focal length and there should be something out there for you.

[marcusBMG]

Hi thefizz - welcome failte.
28mm was often the first extra lens acquired by slr owners, for its general purpose wide angle. Everyone made one and there are loads out there, easily acquired for the price of a meal or less.
I have tried most of the ones that might be mentioned, without reaching a clear conclusion I'm afraid. Most are really quite good, centre frame, stopped down a bit. If you check out my review of the Hoya 28mm (rebadged tokina) the performance is pretty typical, and similar to that of eg Sigma Miniwide II, Tamron Adaptall 02B, several of the vivitars. Overall I would tend to place the pentaxes slightly ahead, technically (eg architecture): I took a bunch of shots M vs K 28-3.5's and most of the time struggled to distinguish between the two. I still have the K-28-3.5 but I have to say if I reach for a 28 it tends to be the vivitar 28 f2 - the kiron made one, not the komine mentioned above - for the convenience of the PKA mount and I like the rendering. I have the komine as well but my kiron seems to have better colours and perform a bit better.
My other usual test pic is the castle, and I have to say I am still looking for the 28 that makes my cry "gotcha". It has reached the point actually where I wonder if it is something about using these film era lenses on DSLR, a technicality that escapes me, that means that off centre performance tends to disappoint - even on apsc. The sample pics below are typical.*
Finally, don't dismiss the 18-55mm kit lens. Slower at 28mm than all the vintage 28's but you have AF, the kit lens performs well in the middle of the zoom range and the OOC rendering will be brighter and contrastier than any of the vintage ones. Horses for courses...
*perhaps field curvature is more of an issue on dslr - Dan Eurrits test pics are interesting. This is a direct link to his Sony A7R composite test pic (20MB) comparing Pentax M 28mm f3.5; vivitar (kiron) 28mm f2; Olympus 28mm, Canon FD 28,, Minolta Celtic 28mm; at f10 if my reading of the test description is right