| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2010 Posts: 72 | | Review Date: October 5, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Excellent IQ, lightweight, robust, very useful length on digital | | Cons: | None | |
Like most members of the F-series, the F28/2.8 is a less known and less appreciated lens - erroneously so. It achieves an image quality that is on a par with the best of manual 28mm's, it's lightweight and inobtrusive, and while it contains a bit more plastic than traditional K-series lenses or the FA limiteds, it's solidly built with a metal frame you can trust. It is not a lens that will stun you like an FA43/1.9 or a K30/2.8 might, but with its autofocus capability, it will serve very well as a basic, everyday normal prime on cropped sensors.
To bring out its qualities in a more objective way, I have compared the F28/2.8 to the K28/3.5, which is widely recognized as one of the best manual 28mm's in the Pentax repertoire. A side-by-side comparison (which was repeated for various apertures) shows that the differences between the two lenses, in terms of center performance, are negligeable. An inspection of the out-of-focus area however reveals that K28/3.5 consistently delivers slightly more out-of-focus resolution and less noise than F28/2.8.
All in all, the slightly higher out-of-focus image quality of K28/3.5 in contrast to F28/2.8 is easily counterbalanced by the practical advantages of F28/2.8, which is considerably lighter, and which has autofocus. If you don't care for autofocus in this focal length, the K28/3.5 (or a lighter member of the 28mm-range, such as K30/2.8) would be an obvious preference.
But if you don't want to forgo the benefits of autofocus, F28/2.8 is seriously recommended. In a line-up with DA primes, for instance, F28/2.8 will fit very well between DA15 on the one hand, and DA40 plus DA70 on the other hand.
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Site Supporter Registered: June, 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Posts: 17,377 | | Review Date: November 13, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | relatively compact | | Cons: | If there is one, its the f2.8 but that is typical for a 28mm | | Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I give this lens a 10 because I believe it to be the best 28mm lens Asahi Optical/Pentax ever made (excluding the K20/f2). All prior lenses were building up to this one. The FA 28 would be a 9 compared to this one but is also a nice lens. The F and FA have different optical formulae. The argument cab be made for the f2 lenses due to speed relative to IQ.
Edit: This lens gets rag on a lot around the internet. However, this is a good comparison of the F and FA 28 along with a diagram of other 28, 30 and 31mm lenses.
(Non working link deleted)
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: September, 2008 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 168 | | Review Date: November 21, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | very light, quick focus, sharp. of all my lenses, i like its lens cap best of all. | | Cons: | none | |
pretty much has been said by the previous reviewers.
i am NOT selling mine. EVER!!
Update posted on Jan 8, 2011
After using this for a while, I can say it has pleased me a lot using it on occasions with external flash, great color saturation, sharpness. Also took it on a trip to Cambodia and some photos of the temples there.
BUT I regret not having a hood for it as photos facing the sun flare too much.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: California Posts: 1,602 | | Review Date: December 20, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great IQ, very sharp, good price, quick AF | | Cons: | None | |
This is a truly amazing lens. It has quickly become one of my favorite lenses.
The image quality is second to none. I had read reviews and seen some sample images but I was still surprised by the quality and sharpness of the images. At 2.8 the images are good and only get better up to and around F8 where they are amazing.
Color rendition is also very good. I think the lens produces accurate and "true" real world colors. I do a lot of PP and I personally like very vibrant and saturated colors. The lens gives me good levels for both of those. I bump them up in PhotoShop but that is for personal preference and for most casual shooters I think the vibrant and saturation levels will be very good.
The auto focus is just as good as other Pentax lenses I have. It is just as fast as my kit lens, 16-45 and 10-17 and faster than my Tamron lenses. It rarely hunts and will usually lock on very fast, even in relatively low light. The focus ring is very smooth and distances are easy to read. The focus ring is a bit small. That might bother some but not me.
The construction feels really good to me. I have read others complain that the build feels a bit cheap but I do not see it. It has good weight to it, all of the parts have no give to them, they fit very tight to each other. Granted that a lot of plastic parts are used but that does not mean that the build is cheap. The plastic parts seem of good quality and are assembled with precision so that there is no give on any of the parts.
The lens is somewhat compact and attached to my Kx it is a very nice discrete set up. Perfect for street shooting and some family indoor shots.
I have read some people list the look of the lens as a negative. I personally do not care how the lens looks. As long as it is relatively compact and either the basic black or gray color base, that's all that matters to me.
All in all this 28mm is a really great lens. For well under $300 you will be hard pressed to find a 28mm that performs as good as this one.
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 90 | | Review Date: May 15, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, aperture, size | | Cons: | manual focus feel, aperture ring can be nudged | |
I love this lens. I needed a slightly wide normal equivalent with a reasonably wide aperture. This lens seems to fit the bill, and I happened to find one on Ebay. I'd previously used a screwmount 28 f3.5 v1.
The lens - Sharp sharp sharp, especially when stopped down a little. This lens sings around f5.6. The colors are wonderful (though not quite as pleasing to me as my M50 1.7...). This lens is the perfect length for indoor events, some landscapes, and thrives as a city walk-around.
Absolutely recommend.
Samples:
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 351 | | Review Date: May 22, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $265.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, colors, compactness | | Cons: | none in my book | |
I am a fan of the F series lenses, and have been wanting to pick up the 28mm for some time. (I also own the 50 ƒ1.7, 135 ƒ2.8 and 35-70mm) The samples I've seen from this lens on the forum were a major inducement, and inspired some serious LBA. Now that I've had the lens for a few days, I'm happy to report that it lives up to my hopes for it, and more. The colors and rendering are great, and the sharpness has really blown me away as I've looked at a few pictures.
A picture of my son:
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A 100% crop of the same picture:
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The above photo was cropped, but otherwise un-retouched. Notice how you can see the fine texture of the cloth on his jacket, and that's without sharpening applied.
I'm thrilled with this lens, and recommend it without reservation.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2011 Posts: 118 | | Review Date: May 28, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $320.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, bokeh, color | | Cons: | none | |
I use this lens mostly on digital. This has got to be one of the classics. This focal length is just right on digital as a true normal lens, in my opinion, because I really enjoyed FA 43mm Limited on film.
It's quite sharp wide-open. Stopped down to F4, it's super sharp. The color-rendering is lovely, as expected out of F-series.
It may be debatable, in my opinion the relative rareness of this lens makes it a great one to own over similar FA-counterparts, such as FA 28 or FA 35. This also works great as a wide-angle on film.
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2010 | | Review Date: June 20, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | color, sharp, quik | | Cons: | none | |
it's a nice lens. and the color of its pictures are also amazing. someone always compared this F28 with FA28, and said this one was less sharp than FA28, because of lack AL glass. Though I haven't got FA28, the F28 is very sharp even in wide open (f2.8).
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2009 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 550 | | Review Date: July 5, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | great FOV, sharp, great colors | | Cons: | plasticky build | |
I'm amazed that this little gem sells for the price it does, considering what its big brother the FA 31 goes for. I have always loved the ~40-45mm FOV on film, and this lens just feels "right" on APS-C. Do I wish it was a 1.8 instead of a 2.8? Sure, but then I couldn't afford it. I love that I can shoot it as a normal FOV lens on the K5, but switch it over to the LX without missing a beat. There is no 9.5, so 10 it is. The cost to IQ ratio alone justifies the rating.
Edit: after many years of use, I finally sold it on. I lucked into a good deal on an FA20-35/4, and after that this one just sat in the bag. Other than the f4 vs f2.8, the FA20-35/4 gives up nothing to the F28. Both are excellent.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: October, 2011 Location: British Columbia Posts: 377
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 10, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, crazy quick AF | | Cons: | None that I've come across | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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What more can be said that hasn't already?
Superb sharpness, lightning fast AF, lightweight, and portable; this lens has it all.
f2.8 has good sharpness (by my subjective measure) But around f4-f8, it's sticky-sharp.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2007 Location: North West UK Posts: 390 | | Review Date: April 21, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, even wide open, great colour rendition, good contrast, good build ( a mix of Metal and Plastic outside), Excellent Bokeh! | | Cons: | Some CA in extremis on APS-C | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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I only got this lens yesterday, but used it a lot today on various subjects.
Well, I can say, this is one excellent lens! Sharp from F2.8-F11 (not used it beyond this) contrasty, great colour rendition too.
The bokeh, in spite of "only" 5 blades is fantastic! Smooth creamy and not at all fussy.
I already love it!
Downside,
There is CA in high contrast areas which can be a problem. This is why I only put it as a 9. Everywhere else a good solid 10!
I may have paid a tad over the odds for an immaculate copy (£180). But I thought this, I have a great AF lens that works great on both my DSLR's and Film. so in some ways I get two lenses in one. Plus this lens is as rare as hens teeth on the pre owned market!
it is a great addition to my little Pentax prime family (21mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm and 55mm) and I have only had it a day.......
Edit.
I used it a lot on a trip to Estonia. I went there only using the aformentioned primes.
Boy does it hold its own against more modern lenses.
Edit (May 2016)
i have used this a few times on the K-1 and it shines and then some! Hence why I have now given it a 10
Examples are here.
 Kiek in de Kök by IHD Photography, on Flickr
 Tallinn by IHD Photography, on Flickr
 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral by IHD Photography, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2012 Posts: 11
1 user found this helpful
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: November 29, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | very good contrast an colour rendition | | Cons: | not fast enought, a little soft at 2.8 | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-20
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This is a very nice lens, reasonably sharp with a good contrast and colour rendition. The AF is fast and it's small and light to carry it with you all the time.
Now if I give it an 9 is because I don't think this lens should have the same rate as a 77mm or 31mm limited lenses.
Besides, the current price for this lens is too high. My advice, if you really need a 28mm AF get this lens, you won't be disappointed. If you are in a budget, get the A 28mm, is the same optical formula and it's 4 times cheaper. You just loose the AF.  | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2012 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,035
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 9, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | compact, good build, sharp | | Cons: | plastic focus ring | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K5 and K10D
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I have had this lens since 1989 when I bought it for my SF10 film SLR. After 24 years this lens is still going strong and was the main reason for buying Pentax K10D instead of Nikon or Canon when I went digital. The build of this lens was much better than the Canon & Nikon lenses in my budget at the time I bought my K10D, The F28 has a better build than most consumer lenses with a plastic outer barrel but metal inner barrel and lens mount. It fits very nicely in between my DA 15 mm Limited and 40 mm Limited. Optically it is almost, but not quite as sharp as those lenses. This is a great lens as a semi wide normal lens when I do not want to carry around all of my other lenses as a street lens and an indoor lens. I rate as an 8 since it does not quite have the impressive build of the limiteds or the sharpness of my 2 limiteds and does not have quick shift focus. Still, its an old favorite that I like it very much.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 2,962
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 25, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Focal Length | | Cons: | not as fast as a 31mm? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
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I have gone through a complete evolution as a photographer. Before I started I only wanted the long glass. But when I first started out I shot only with zooms... then I switched over to primes and now I shoot only primes.
With this lens...after a couple of months using it...it is by FAR my most used lens. It is a perfect lens for 'walking around'...'street shots' etc etc. If I had to leave the house with only one lens, this would be it. (I own the complete line of DA Limited lenses and this one is not 'as sharp' as those in relative terms, but the difference is negligible. Sharpness wise it would be somewhere in between the regular DA lenses and your average limited lens. I would be first in line if they released a modern version of this focal length in limited format.
I have found the more I shoot, the more I like this lens. It fills an important gap (while still being affordable) in the Pentax lens line up. The lens leaves little to complain about as far as I am concerned. After owning this lens for a while it's making want a 31mm because the focal length is close and I would like the increased speed. All that said, in absence of a 31mm, this is a must have lens as far as I am concerned.
Suggestions would be to use a good standard lens hood with this lens. I use a standard screw in metal hood because if you shoot with sunlight directly hitting the glass you will see reflections.
Overall the pros are the focal length is by far the most useful in my bag, the lens is sharper than most of the modern Pentax lenses (not necessarily the limited lenses though), also the AF works quite well with this lens.
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