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SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8

Sharpness 
 8.6
Aberrations 
 8.1
Bokeh 
 7.6
Handling 
 9.2
Value 
 9.3
Reviews Views Date of last review
63 317,626 Sat October 29, 2022
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
97% of reviewers $80.69 8.41
SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8

SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8
supersize
SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8
supersize

Description:
This lens is similar to the second version of the smc Pentax-M 28mm F2.8 lens.

SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 5 blades
Optics
7 elements, 7 groups
Mount Variant
KA
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F2.8
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
30 cm
Max. Magnification
0.13x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 55 ° / 46 °
Full frame: 75 ° / 65 °
Hood
PH-S49 (28/35mm)
Case
Hard case HA-90B
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
63 x 36.5 mm
Weight
170 g
Production Years
1984 to 1988
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-A 1:2.8 28mm
Product Code
22997
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Lens hood was not included with lens
Features:
Manual FocusAperture RingAutomatic ApertureFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-A 28mm F2.8
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 16-30 of 63
Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,085

9 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 21, 2016 Recommended | Price: $68.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Decent build, speed, optics and handling.
Cons: Not as good as any “K” Series 28mm to 30mm lens.
Camera Used: Pentax film bodies (K1000, KM, KX, K2, K2DMD, MX, LX, Super A, P50)   

The A28/2.8 was released in 1984 and remained in production until 1988. It was a direct replacement for the M28/2.8 V2. The similar Auto focus F28/2.8 was available alongside the A28/2.8 from 1987 onwards. All three lenses have the same optical design.

Optics:
Decent optics and the A28/2.8 is the sharpest from f/8 to f/11. The A28/2.8 is a bit soft wide open and in the corners, there is also noticeable distortion which is typical of a wide angle lens with no “AL” element.

Focal Length:
Back in the film days this was the most popular wide angle focal length for anyone starting photography. Very useful for landscape/street shooting. On APS-C you get the FOV of what the FA43/1.9 is like on FF, more of a “normal” lens.

Build:
Better built than my newer FA series lenses, but not as good as any K/M Series lens I own. There are no issues with the aperture ring on this “A” Series lens, like there is with the 50/1.7.

Usage/Handling:
The A28/2.8 is a nicely sized well balanced lens that is easy to handle. I have no issues manually focusing the A28/2.8 or using the aperture ring. The A28/2.8 also has an excellent distance scale for hyper focal focusing and size wise is a great lens to travel with.

The A28/2.8 has a 49mm filter ring, which is common for any “M” or ”A” Series lens in the wide to short telephoto focal range.

The A28/2.8 uses the 49mm square plastic clip-on lens hood that also works with any “M” or “A” Series wide angle 28mm or 35mm lens. This hood also comes with a leather case. The A28/2.8 uses the HA-90B hard or the S70-70 soft lens case.

Speed:
F/2.8 is average for a wide angle lens, so no issues here. There were also faster f2.0 28mm lenses and slower f3.5, so f2.8 is a good compromise at a reasonable price.

The A28/2.8 vs my other similar FL wide angle primes:
I also own the K28/2.0, K28/3.5 and the K30/2.8.

- The K28/2.0 is better than the A28/2.8 in all aspects, other than if you want a smaller 28mm lens at a cheaper price.

- The K28/3.5 has slightly better overall optics and is better built, with a nicer “meaty” feel to it. (Though some may find the K28/3.5 too big) The A28/2.8 however is 2/3 of a stop faster, so it’s better for lower light shooting.

- The K30/2.8 has better optics and is better built compared to the A28/2.8. Both are about the same size, with the K30/2.8 being a bit heavier.


I would rank/rate them in this order: 1) K28/2.0 - 10, 2) K30/2.8 – 9.5, 3) K28/3.5 - 9 and 4) A28/2.8 – 8.5.

Summary:
I bought the A28/2.8 as I’m building a 49mm filter thread lens kit for travelling and was missing a wide angle. (I now have a wide angle companion for my FA43/1.9 & FA77/1.8) This cuts down on the number of filters I need to carry when I shoot both colour and b+w film on the same trip.

Even though I rank the A28/2.8 last amongst my 28mm to 30mm lenses, it’s still a good small wide angle lens for travelling that you can find at a reasonable price.

Overall I rate the A28/2.8 an 8.5 out of 10.

Price:
I bought my A28/2.8 from a local camera stores used section and paid $90 CDN. It was in excellent + condition.

Sample shots taken with the A28/2.8. Photos are medium resolution scans from original negatives and slides. The first shot was taken in Vancouver and the second in Brooklyn, NY.


Camera: ME Film: Ilford FP4+ ISO: 125




Camera: K2DMD Film: Fuji Provia 100F ISO: 100

   
PEG Moderator

Registered: August, 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Posts: 57,760

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 23, 2016 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Ideal "Street Photography" length lens on FF
Cons: Perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box, but good enough when stopped down a bit

The FF K1 made me buy it, ideal focal length for "Street" work".

A wee example taken recently...

   
Forum Member

Registered: February, 2014
Location: Warsaw
Posts: 76

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 24, 2014 Recommended | Price: $80.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Good image quality, build quality, A - setting, Price to FOV ratio :)
Cons: Not super sharp
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-500   

Quite soft wide open, starts to be sharp after f3.5, very sharp after f5.0.
Unsurprisingly sharper then kit lens but not as sharp as expected from prime lens, don’t get me wrong it is sharp but unfortunately not as sharp as Pentax A 50/1.7.
Thanks to A setting easy to use.
As for its price it is a great lens, sharp and reasonably fast. Very useful in indoors shooting when 50mm is too long.
For less than 80$ it is worth buying.


   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2014
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 890

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: June 19, 2014 Recommended | Price: $85.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Compact. Pretty Sharp. Relatively fast. A setting
Cons: Focus ring is a tiny bit loose feeling
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K500   

Needed a little bit wider FOV than my 35 or 50 could give me and I didn't want to reach for my DA 18-55 zoom. This lens certainly fits the bill. Over-all very nice contrast and good sharpness across almost all stops. Provides a nice and aesthetic softness but it is not at the expense of color, contrast or sharpness. Contradictory, I know, but it is something you have to see to understand. It's a good thing. Color rendition is like most Pentax -- excellent. The Focus ring seems a tiny bit loosey/goosey but it still instills the feeling of a well built lens. There are some pretty good 28/2.8 lenses out there from Sigma and Vivitar, etc.; however, the Pentax-A 28/2.8 should be on your list if you are looking for a a quality lens to give you a bit more FOV.

IMGP0726 by Ripper2860, on Flickr
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2012
Posts: 2

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 25, 2014 Recommended | Price: $82.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: IQ, size, built quality
Cons:
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K5   

A great standard lens for APS-C – if you can cope without autofocus.
   
Forum Member

Registered: September, 2013
Posts: 62

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 26, 2013 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: solid body, clear image. just good lens
Cons: not detected
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: LX, K-30   

wide angle at FF, slightly wide (EFL 42mm) at crop (K-30)
has an A-setting of aperture dial ring, so fully compatible with DSLR.

using it for indoor or open-space outdoor.

overall not complaints. images has very good quality, sharpness and nice-enough bokeh.
i think from K-KA manual 28mm lens it is one of the best.

using it often, with no doubt.
   
New Member

Registered: May, 2013
Posts: 2

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 3, 2013 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: well built, compact size, A mode
Cons: sharpness
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-r   

This lens is compact, lightweight and well built. It produces accurate images with good contrast and nice colours from wide open. Bokeh can be pretty nice for close portraits shots. Not very good sharpness for landscape work.
Can be used as an inexpensive standard walk around lens on aps-c.
   
Senior Member

Registered: May, 2013
Location: Lima-Peru
Posts: 118

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 29, 2013 Recommended | Price: $90.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Inexpensive, Good IQ
Cons: non for the proce
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: pentax k.30   

This is a great lense for the price, i just try it today, and well an image is worth a thousand words.
   
New Member

Registered: September, 2013
Posts: 4
Review Date: September 27, 2013 Recommended | Price: $36.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Nice built , nice sharpness, very cheap in my country
Cons: Not yet fou d
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K5   

Just bought and surely this lens is good
Mine is not really smooth in the body, looks like it wasnt kept in the right place before.. But still nothing is wrong with the shot taken


I think i am in love in this lense
   
Junior Member

Registered: December, 2012
Location: Cirebon
Posts: 29
Review Date: August 30, 2013 Recommended | Price: $55.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Lightweight, Good enough build, Sharpness
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-01   

[+]
  • Small and lightweight.
  • Natural color rendering.
  • Sharp enough at wide open but TOO SHARP for portrait.
[-]
  • Not yet
   
Forum Member

Registered: August, 2013
Posts: 83

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 2, 2013 Recommended | Price: $90.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Not very expensive, well built, small, A mode
Cons: Not as sharp as expected
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 8   

A few shots

Pentax K-5 - 1/80sec - F4.0 - ISO 100 - Auto white balance - spot meter - tripod

Now a few pics with 1, 2, 3 extension tubes with different settings. The lens was not reverse mounted. The quality may not be the best since I have not a macro rail to fine focus . The full size pics are on flickr.
















In the next pic the lens was reverse mounted on 2 extension tubes. The subject it's a Dionaea Muscipula sensor more or less the size of a Human hair.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/xz1pics/sets/72157634903950036/

Enjoy
   
New Member

Registered: July, 2013
Posts: 2

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 23, 2013 Recommended | Price: $125.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small, sharp, easy focus, controlled flare
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 9    Camera Used: Pentax 35mm   

I really liked this lens - lost it on a mountainside in the Canadian Rockies in the late '80s. As I recall, it handled really well, easy to focus, good sharpness. Good scenic lens in the film era. It seemed to handle flare really well - winter skiing shots pointed into the sun produced nice results. Very disappointed when I lost it - should have bought another one.

The only real drawback I remember is that f2.8 was slow for indoor use, and I ended up using my 50mm 1.7 more often for that. Oh, the limitations of film....
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2012
Posts: 1

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 16, 2013 Recommended | Price: $150.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: small, build quality, A
Cons:
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-5   

An inexpensive wide lens. Applicable Terms of use for regular lighting with very good results. Someone might not mind the lack of AF, but no problem for me. The lens is very sharp from f4 to f22 are visible defects in the form of image aberrations. This lens I would recommend it to everyone that does not require professional results in low light conditions

Some pictures:

Lagoon
Water Slide
Butterfly
   
Junior Member

Registered: August, 2012
Posts: 33
Review Date: March 9, 2013 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharpness, A-mode, colours, resolution, "normal lens" on APS-C
Cons: Slightly wobbly barrell compared to M-version
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax K-30   

My favourite lens by far! So versatile, so sharp and very enjoyable to use, and all of this for peanuts (60-100 USD)! I've also owned the 28mm f3.5 M-version which is known for it's crazy colours and, in comparison, this A-version is miles sharper and has much better resolution, especially at infinity and far away objects.

I have no problem using this wide open, but I usually shoot between f4 and 5.6. Honestly, I haven't seen much difference in corner sharpness but then again I don't really pixel peep. Focusing with lens is extremely easy and on bright sunny day you can always just place it to f8 and snap away ("f8 and be there"). But even wide open it's very easy to spot the focus point.

Some claim this lens is boring to which I must retort that it's hardly the lens' fault if your pictures turn out boring.
It has some aberrations and fringing when shot against high-contrast light, but this is easily fixed with PS or LR (literally one button) so it doesn't really bother me, but film users should probably take note.

I would rate this a strong 9. It's not a ten - no lens is perfect - but it is my favourite and the one I'd recommend to every Pentaxian, especially DSLR users looking for a good, cheap "normal lens" (43mm FF equivalent).

Below a couple of shots I have taken with this lens:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apaasi/8538327117/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apaasi/8533684761/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apaasi/8533685029/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apaasi/8534792814/in/photostream
   
Forum Member

Registered: September, 2012
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 72

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 25, 2012 Recommended | Price: $110.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: build quality, longevity, feel, size, optics
Cons: a bit ... boring ?
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 6    Handling: 10    Value: 9    Camera Used: K7   

A very popular lens judging by how many reviews this one has here. Is it worth adding another ?

I picked this one up for 9000 yen, about $110 at time of writing ( Sep 2012 ), at a dealer in Tokyo. You can get them for less, or indeed pay more. There are plenty about. It works perfectly with aperture set to A on my K7. Optically it is all fine, nothing to note. Build is exemplary. This lens will last.

There is no rating for "drama" or "atmosphere" or "feeling", but if there was, I'd rate it a 3. That's the only problem with this lens in my opinion. It does nothing wrong, it's just a bit boring. On a full-frame, I'd expect that comment to be less valid. But on a crop sensor, the field of view combined with neutral colours, slightly slow aperture, and unremarkable bokeh, just give me relatively dull, flat pictures.

It's small and easy to carry. I just much prefer the older Takumars for their bit of drama.

Paul
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