| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2020 Posts: 130 | | Review Date: September 14, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | decent sharpness; solid focusing and aperture rings; solid build; f/2.8 | | Cons: | not the sharpest; some fall-off at the corners; no dedicated lens hood | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K1000, LX, PZ-1, K10D, K-3 II
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Mine seems to be another variant: "Cosmicar MC" with "A" setting for automatic aperture control (I call it "MC[-A]" in my list of lenses). I'm not sure if other lenses in the "non-SMC" list of Pentax lenses were all multi-coated or not, but this one clearly was and is advertised so on the lens. This was the standard lens on my first camera -- bought new, and my recollection is that it was part of a kit that came in the box with my K1000 camera in the early 1980s (Cosmicar was a subsidiary of Pentax). In those early days of my SLR photography, this was the only prime lens that I had for a long time (I used zoom lenses a lot), and it got a lot of use while traveling, with lots of photos taken on slide and film. What's nice is that it has the auto-aperture (A) setting, which I guess was unusual in Pentax lenses prior to the A series. I like that the rubber focusing ring is solid and has a "sure" feel to it -- offers detailed, easy focusing -- typical of Pentax lenses made in the 1980s. The aperture ring still has a solid clicking feel as you change focal lengths. Neither the focusing ring nor the aperture ring has deteriorated perceptibly in four decades, a testament to the solid build of this lens. It came with a nice-fitting rubber "slip-on" lens cover, which I wish Pentax had done for all of their lenses.
The glass size is not large, so you won't get the superb sharpness that you'll get with larger-aperture glass, but it's Pentax glass and it's good. It lacked a dedicated lens hood, and it needs one (I mainly used round rubber screw-in hoods over the years). You notice some distortions toward the corners on FF cameras, not so much on APS-C cameras. The lens was great for my "serious/avid amateur" photos for many years, and as such I rate its value as a 9 to me and its overall rating a 9; next to my other later more-superior lens acquisitions, it wouldn't be fair to call this a "9", but for a decent, light, cheap, well-made lens that gives very good photos, it's not hard for me to rate this a "9" even today.
A couple photos of this lens on my camera:
<div> | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2015 Location: Toulon, South of France Posts: 357 | | Review Date: September 9, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | build, Av able, sharp, fast, field depth | | Cons: | A contact not firm enough, aperture ring a bit hard | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K200D
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I bought mine in a vintage shop so I could test it on my K200 before spending these 50 euro, got a leather case and a metal hood for the price.
Although my copy has a few dust particles inside the body, It has no impact on photo quality.
The A contact did not work until I cleaned it hard both on lens mount and body mount, once fixed I could use it perfectly in Av mode, this is nice because you can control aperture in Av mode and switch to M mode to adjust speed if needed, less use of green button, longer diaph. life.
This lens is almost as fast as my Auto Chinon MC 50mm 1.7 and shots at max aperture (2.8) are much sharper than the Chinon at max ap.
Photos are sharp on all the APS-C surface, very tiny CA in corners. Direct sun reflections (stars effects on glasses or windows) cause absolutely no flare.
Build quality is really good, the steel ka mount is a very clean piece. Focus ring gives a perfect feeling, not too loose, not too hard. Only the aperture ring is a bit hard to move, maybe because it has almost always been used in A position.
Colours are warm and almost 100% what your eyes see.
Another very good point, this lens gives very good photos using a flash, colors saturation seem almost untouched and you may feel you did not even used a flash, even with my K200 internal flash...
Hard to find negative points with this lens, I could maybe had a cheaper one on e-bay but trying before buying is a good option, better spend 20 euro more than loose 30 euro !
Best photos atm are taken with aperture in the range 3.5 - 11, 2.8 is better for portraits or close shots. This lens is not made for macro although it gives an excellent bokeh with its 5-blade diaph.
I recommand it if you are a MF addict as I 
test photos, wo and with flash :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bpolleri/20622150824/in/datetaken-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bpolleri/21074639508/in/datetaken-public/ | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2013 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 114
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 16, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $39.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cheap, sharp, auto, good color, great focal length on crop sensor | | Cons: | could use SMC coating | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-01
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I found this on ebay the other day. Mine has the Cosmicar branding. Works great in auto mode, just like any Pentax-A should. I used a round, metal hood the whole time. It's just a killer lens, nice and sharp, very honest colors. What's not to like? Here are some shots from the past couple days with it. Using a K-01 body. All these shots are RAW and untouched. All shot in Auto "P" mode or Aperture Priority mode.
It's somewhat soft with hints of abberation at 2.8, but by f4 on up, it's really good in most all respects. A real score of a lens.
28mm is really an ideal all-around focal length on crop sensor in my opinion. I guess that's a 42mm equivalent, much like some of my favorite old rangefinders, 40mm, 45mm, etc. A nice click wider than 50mm, but not "wide", just good "normal".
B
       | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2011 Posts: 7 | | Review Date: October 24, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, very good CA control, compact, build | | Cons: | A bit over exposed at F2.8 for landscape, but easy to correct with filter and post-processing | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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Overall, it is a very good bargain for its sharpness and image quality. It is my all-around lens and stays on my camera for most of the time. I compared this lens with my friend's pentax-m 28mm f2.8. The two lens produce very similar results in most of test shots.
A problem with takumar-a is the landscape photos looks over-exposed at F2.8. but the problem can be solved by stopping down a bit or post-processing in PS.
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2009 Location: toronto Posts: 31 | | Review Date: June 19, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $58.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | sharp, nice bokeh | | Cons: | none so far | |
This was a real fight to get this lens on ebay last week, however I prevailed. I tested it out tonight with my K-x and I love it! I'm a beginner, however like the previous reviews I like the sharpness and the bokeh of this gem and I cannot go wrong with the price! I look forward to many adventures together...
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: July, 2009 Location: Isle of Skye Posts: 27 | | Review Date: December 5, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Nice sharp lens | | Cons: | None | |
A nice sharp lens, if you're careful with your angles lens flare isn't a problem. Good on a K10D giving a 42mm equivalent.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: May, 2009 Location: North Wales UK Posts: 35 | | Review Date: May 13, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Nice and sharp detail with my K20D | | Cons: | Slightly lower contrast than with SMC lenses but easy to correct with software. | |
Just received this lens so haven't really tested it yet but it seem nice and sharp compared to my 18-250 zoom at 28mm, the slight loss of contrast is easy to tweek in Elements 6, Being an A series it is great on my K20D
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