| Author: | | New Member Registered: August, 2009 Location: targu-jiu Posts: 4 | | Review Date: August 27, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $125.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small ,sharp,even at f2,8 | | Cons: | | |
I find this lens just perfect for street shooting,it's s poor man's 43 ltd  | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2006 Location: NJ USA Posts: 13,072
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 29, 2008 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | film perspective, quick to use | | Cons: | colors not as concentrated as with some | |
This lens doesn't get enough respect. It has very good resolution, though contrast and color concentration aren't typical Pentax.
But really it is a judgement call - sometimes I feel the modern Pentax color rendition is a bit TOO concentrated, a bit too there. The more restrained picture this 28 gives can be seen as more naturalistic.
This restraint may be seen as lack of contrast or resolution, yet when I've tested the lens directly, I find what difference there is is very minor. Versus the 16-45, the 28 has the ultimate edge in resolution and micro gradations, while the zoom concentrates the color and gradation more. It is a bit of a paradox, the zoom on its own seems better, yet on closer inspection the 28 shines. Resolution wise this lens is fully equivalent with the Takumar 50's and 35.
I love this as a walk around lens - especially on film. My sample works beautifully, with a good focus feel.
Aug '08 update: I now have 4 other 28's plus the above mentioned 16-45. The SMC-A reproduces noticeably more detail and sharpness at every aperture than either Super / S-M-C 3.5 Taks, and beats all the others as well. The Jpeg sizes straight out of the camera are very much higher. I found the color and contrast similar to the Taks, which was a bit of a surprise given the overall impression of the lens. The Vivitar TX 2.5 has a bit more contrast and color saturation, and stopped down gets close to the Takumars in resolution. The more I use this lens the more I'm impressed.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2007 Location: North Brunswick, NJ Posts: 473 | | Review Date: January 25, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $85.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good optics, sharp picture quality | | Cons: | Cheap build quality | |
This is actually a very good lens. It renders images beautifully with accurate, warm colors. For the focal length, the bokeh is actually quite smooth and buttery. It also has the A setting on the aperture ring, which allows you to adjust the aperture straight from the camera body, instead of having to do it with the ring as you would on a K or M lens. The focus is also very precise and smooth.
My only gripe with this lens is the cheap build quality. I bought mine second-hand. It's in great condition, but I've gotten used to the build quality of my M 50/1.7. So, it doesn't really par up. Pentax used some combination of metal and plastic, which didn't work right. Also, on my copy, the aperture ring is a little stiff.
Despite the one negative, this lens is a gem. I recommend it completely.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 273 | | Review Date: December 20, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small, light, sharp, fairly low distortions | | Cons: | Slightly loose focusing ring | |
I got this lens as a loaner from my grandfather along with a Super Program. It is very sharp once you stop down past f5.6. Faster than that, it is still reasonably sharp.
The sample I had had a slightly loose focusing ring.
| | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2007 Location: Toronto/Victoria Posts: 460 | | Review Date: April 21, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Smooth focusing, size, very high optical quality | | Cons: | Manual focus lens, slight purple fringing at large apertures, "only" F/2.8 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K100D
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My father gave me this lens when I started a high school photography course. He still had the box and manual from roughly 1983.
I will use it at every aperture with confidence. It is a bit better than my FA version at F/2.8-4, and then they're even from there.
Wide open there are no halos on bright areas nor is there a significant loss of sharpness to the edges. No perceptible loss in contrast either. Backlit objects do have some purple fringing, but remain sharp. About the only thing stopping down does is reduce PF and increase DOF.
2021 update: on a K1 II, the lens is still a good performer, but for landscapes requiring good sharpness across the frame, you really need to stop down to F8-11. The K28/3.5 is definitely better suited to this application, but the A28/2.8 is by no means a bad lens - it simply has tradeoffs depending on the application.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Posts: 1,853
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 4, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, color rendition, auto-diaphragm | | Cons: | construction - CA | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: MZ7 - K5IIs
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I got a "faulty" version of this lens. The diaphragm ring is stuck in A; which seems to be a common fault.
That is not a problem with the MZ or the Digital cameras but is a problem in manual cameras.
Works great in every mode in the DSLR
Lens is well built, with the colorful distance scale and the hyperfocal marked in orange.
Focusing is silky smooth and precise
Image quality is similar to the M-28mm/2.8
Pictures are sharp, especially at F/5.6 - 11, with some difraction after F/16
Colors are nicely rendered. Bokeh is neutral.
There is some coma wide open, and corners can be soft in 35mm but not on APS-C
Not much purple fringing even wide open.
PS in the K3-III the purple and red fringing is very noticeable, I changed the rate of the lens based on that
Excellent lens!
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,910
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 2, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small, good build quality, sharp from f/4, excellent (very modern) rendering | | Cons: | Soft wide open, over-exposes | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K3, 35mm film SLRs
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I got this lens as part of a bundle that I bought mostly for the A 50mm f/2.8 macro and didn't expect much of it, as I've read that the M series 28mm f/2.8 mark II has the same optics and I was never really impressed with that lens, despite reviews.
However, I gave it a chance and have been pleasantly surprised by the photos it's capable of producing. I like lenses that are f/2.8 max aperture to be sharp at that setting as it's not that fast in the scheme of things, and that's really the only major disappointing aspect of this lens. Wide open it's pretty soft so I never use it there. However, stop down just one to f/4 and it's very sharp indeed, so I regard it as an f/4 lens and use it as such.
Ignoring the wide open softness this lens has superb IQ characterised by great sharpness and a very modern rendering, by which I mean very strong contrast and bold, saturated colours, and produces results which look like those from the best modern glass (such as DA limiteds).
Bokeh is quite poor, but 28mm f/2.8 lenses usually are.
The lens is well constructed (much better than the more common A 50mm f/1.7) with smooth aperture and focus rings and is pleasant to use. In the A setting it tends to over-expose (by about 2/3 of a stop) and I suspect it's doing so also on the film cameras I've used it with (mainly an MX). Easy to compensate for once you're aware of it.
This is very good lens which is handy to have around, especially when travelling as it makes a good small, normal-ish prime on an APS-C DSLR and a good wide-angle on film, and I've had it with for my last couple of major trips. It's let down by it's performance wide open and little else.
Some sample images.
Florence by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP9580a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP3737a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP0270a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Osaka by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP0074a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP3754a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2017 Posts: 2
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 22, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Size, weight, A setting for aperture | | Cons: | Not super sharp. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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I've owned this lens since the mid 80's. Although I don't consider it to be particularly sharp I used it regularly in the film era and since it's my favourite focal length for aps-c, I use it even more now.
It has good contrast and pleasant colour and if I don't go overboard cropping images the sharpness is acceptable.
I've adjusted infinity focus on it and I'm satisfied with the results I'm getting. Quite often there are Pentax-M, Tokina and Rikenon versions available on CL from $20 to $70C but I'm not tempted because I don't feel there's a chance of much improvement.
I've included four sample images in the review.
The first is of an through-arch bridge over the Fraser River. Even though it's taken through a window it shows infinity sharpness at f5.6.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135991508@N02/30713312553/
The second is of an elderly gentleman standing at a community bookshare station. It shows sharpness at f2.8.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135991508@N02/31402699105/
The third is an overhead shot at an ocean pier showing some people in the process of leaving after a public baptism ceremony while others are still engaged in conversation. The person of focus is a young man on the left side of the frame looking across the gathering to the horizon. It's shot at f6.3 and has good sharpness edge to edge.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135991508@N02/30162970264/
The fourth illustrates its close focus and bokeh capability. Here the subject is of a small figure in an display case outside a local toy store.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135991508@N02/32311652305/ | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: December, 2016 Location: Silverstone Posts: 331
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 26, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, cheap to buy, lightweight | | Cons: | Low saturation, low contrast, flare | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-S2
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My copy of this lens was found on eBay for £45. It has turned out to be quite a good performer, well worth the modest outlay, but it needs more "work" in PP than my modern lenses..
Sharpness is good at f/4, very good after f/5.6. It's a bit soft wide open, as others have commented.
It cannot handle flare like a modern lens, so never leaves the bag without a hood. I use the hood for a 50mm FF lens, reflecting the standard FOV that this lens has on APS-C.
This lens naturally delivers RAW files with lowish contrast and saturation, by modern standards.
I find that the easiest way to overcome this is to switch to one of the reversal film profiles in Silkypix. I generally use Film Colour V1 or V2, tweak up the saturation a little and enhance the contrast one notch.
Here's a sample shot, processed as above, without any distortion correction but with Silkypix's default sharpening, etc. The location is Stowe House, near Buckingham in the UK. Go visit...
It is very light, coming from the days when Pentax strove to be the smallest and lightest. I really like that in a lens.
I may keep it, I may not. It's chief rival in my hiking bag is an A24/2.8...
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092
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)
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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: 57,835
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... 
 | | | | | 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
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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
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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: 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
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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 | | | | | 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
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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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