28mm Lens for SF10

quondam32346 · 08-27-2014, 09:28 PM

Hello. I am a long-time Pentax user. (I bought my first SLR Pentax Spotmatic back in 1969.) I currently have a SF10 and would like to find a 28mm lens for it. (NOT a zoom lens.) Specifically what should I be looking for? In addition to Pentax, what other lenses of equal quality from other companies would work with my SF10? Any help or information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

jadedrakerider · 08-27-2014, 10:45 PM

I've never been able to get my hands on a genuine Pentax 28mm, buuut my Vivitar 28mm by Komine is a lot of fun and works great. Manual focus, though.

I would say it depends on the features you want.

Arjay Bee · 08-28-2014, 04:53 AM

28mms you say, Have a look here: Great Vivitar 28mm Bestiary

**southlander** · 08-28-2014, 04:57 AM

First question if you want a Pentax lens is: older manual focus lens or newer(but still not new) autofocus lens?

There are no current 28mm prime lens offered for sale by Pentax. The only new for sale 28mm Pentax mount autofocus lens I am aware of that covers the full 35mm frame for film is from Sigma.

If you're happy with a manual lens, I like the Pentax M series 28mm F3.5. Not quite as common as the M 28mm F2.8 but both can be found for something in the order of US60-80 dollars. The M 28mm F2.8 came in two versions. The later version is the same optically as the A series 28mm F2.8. I have the later version of the M 28 F2.8 so my comments probably apply to the A 28mm F2.8 as well. Of the two, I prefer the M28/3.5 colours (really good blues in particular) and it is sharper in my opinion. But I have some nice sunsets and autumn scenes with the M 28 F2.8 as well so i can't really complain too much about this lens either. The A version will allow you to use aperture priority on the SF10 while you will need to use manual exposure metering on the M series. The older K series F3.5 is highly regarded and like the M series, you will need to use manual exposure metering. Any of the 28mm F2.0 (K, M or A series) lenses are scarce and expensive, so you can probably disregard those from a practical perspective.

While you don't stated you don't want a zoom, I have been using my father's M series 28-50mm zoom which is in pristine condition. Stunning colour saturation and contrast (must have lashings of SMC coating applied??), and at F5.6-8 darn close in sharpness as the equivalent M primes. More pronounced barrel distortion at the 28mm end than the 28mm primes is the trade-off. Not overly common but can occasionally be found for sale here and on Ebay. I know of a couple for sale in a camera shop here in Adelaide.

I'm not familiar with the SF10's autofocus compatibilities and whether the F or FA series of lenses would work well. Of the autofocus lenses I believe the FA28 F2.8 is quite good but there's not a lot of them about and are quite pricey. The F 28mm F2.8 I believe is optically similar to the M (version 2) and A series F2.8 lenses. I umm'd and err'd about buying a FA28mm F2.8 (or an FA 20mm or FA 24mm) but ended up with a secondhand FA 20-35 mm F4 zoom which I rather like (and resolved the which focal length question - have them all), and has become my current walkabout lens. Great Pentax colours and sharpness at F5.6 to F8 is really quite good.

quondam32346 · 08-28-2014, 08:52 AM

Many thanks for this information. It is most useful.

08-27-2014, 09:28 PM	#1
quondam32346 New Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2	28mm Lens for SF10 Hello. I am a long-time Pentax user. (I bought my first SLR Pentax Spotmatic back in 1969.) I currently have a SF10 and would like to find a 28mm lens for it. (NOT a zoom lens.) Specifically what should I be looking for? In addition to Pentax, what other lenses of equal quality from other companies would work with my SF10? Any help or information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

08-28-2014, 08:52 AM	#5
quondam32346 New Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Thank you Many thanks for this information. It is most useful.

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08-27-2014, 10:45 PM	#2
jadedrakerider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mohave Valley, AZ Photos: Gallery Posts: 214	I've never been able to get my hands on a genuine Pentax 28mm, buuut my Vivitar 28mm by Komine is a lot of fun and works great. Manual focus, though. I would say it depends on the features you want.

08-28-2014, 04:53 AM	#3
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	28mms you say, Have a look here: Great Vivitar 28mm Bestiary

08-28-2014, 04:57 AM	#4
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	First question if you want a Pentax lens is: older manual focus lens or newer(but still not new) autofocus lens? There are no current 28mm prime lens offered for sale by Pentax. The only new for sale 28mm Pentax mount autofocus lens I am aware of that covers the full 35mm frame for film is from Sigma. If you're happy with a manual lens, I like the Pentax M series 28mm F3.5. Not quite as common as the M 28mm F2.8 but both can be found for something in the order of US60-80 dollars. The M 28mm F2.8 came in two versions. The later version is the same optically as the A series 28mm F2.8. I have the later version of the M 28 F2.8 so my comments probably apply to the A 28mm F2.8 as well. Of the two, I prefer the M28/3.5 colours (really good blues in particular) and it is sharper in my opinion. But I have some nice sunsets and autumn scenes with the M 28 F2.8 as well so i can't really complain too much about this lens either. The A version will allow you to use aperture priority on the SF10 while you will need to use manual exposure metering on the M series. The older K series F3.5 is highly regarded and like the M series, you will need to use manual exposure metering. Any of the 28mm F2.0 (K, M or A series) lenses are scarce and expensive, so you can probably disregard those from a practical perspective. While you don't stated you don't want a zoom, I have been using my father's M series 28-50mm zoom which is in pristine condition. Stunning colour saturation and contrast (must have lashings of SMC coating applied??), and at F5.6-8 darn close in sharpness as the equivalent M primes. More pronounced barrel distortion at the 28mm end than the 28mm primes is the trade-off. Not overly common but can occasionally be found for sale here and on Ebay. I know of a couple for sale in a camera shop here in Adelaide. I'm not familiar with the SF10's autofocus compatibilities and whether the F or FA series of lenses would work well. Of the autofocus lenses I believe the FA28 F2.8 is quite good but there's not a lot of them about and are quite pricey. The F 28mm F2.8 I believe is optically similar to the M (version 2) and A series F2.8 lenses. I umm'd and err'd about buying a FA28mm F2.8 (or an FA 20mm or FA 24mm) but ended up with a secondhand FA 20-35 mm F4 zoom which I rather like (and resolved the which focal length question - have them all), and has become my current walkabout lens. Great Pentax colours and sharpness at F5.6 to F8 is really quite good.