| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 24 | | Lens Review Date: September 18, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $75.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, well build, very sharp stopped down, almost no CA | | Cons: | Despite looking new mine suffered balsam separation | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K2 to K1ii
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This is a bit strange review because mine has a serious fault. It badly suffers balsam separation. So I score it for IQ like my A24 that I also own (and reviewed) wich has the same optics but a different housing and A-setting.
I bought this lens six years ago looking unused and brand new in the original box but later discovered it was a bad bargain. In bright light it flares like hell, in fact it's now a special effect lens for me and a "presse papier". I tried to separate the faulty two lens elements apart and repair it but I didn't manage that. Several solvants, putting it in hot oil, nothing worked, the two elements remained Siamese twins  .
For build quality, estethics and color of the coatings I find the K-version more attractive than the A-version. It's a beautiful looking lens that was sold as a K-lens but in fact is a 100% M-era-lens. The K3.5/24 is the real K24 to mine opinion. If you can find a prestine K2.8/24 I can recommend it.
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2016 Location: lake constance Posts: 1 | | Lens Review Date: September 17, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | average performance, extremely high mechanical quality | | Cons: | out of production | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax MX, ME super, Sony A7
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This lens is not as sharp as I hoped and I expected a bit more optical quality from a K lens. The crispy sharpness can never be reached - independent which stop youŽll take. But I think, the former SMC 3.5 24mm made a better performance in this point - however it wasnŽt such a compact lens.
But this is only in comparison with really top lenses of the K System. There isnŽt any significant difference between my Nikkor 2.8 24mm AIS and this lens here.
But the focus and aperture ring of the SMC is a class of its own. Silky and smooth moving of the mechanical components. I bought the Nikkor new in 1988. No 25 years later it had a dry focus ring inside. I bought the SMC used, when it was already 40 years old and it is a joy to work with it. The Super Multi Coating is a dream for digital shooting too.
The focal length of a 24mm lens is a joy for landscape photography. In comparison with my M 4 20mm and my M 3.5 28mm it is golden in the most cases! | | | | | amateur dirt farmer / mod Registered: December, 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Posts: 15,657
5 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: March 31, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | handling, color rendition, clarity | | Cons: | older lens coatings | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-3, K-50
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my month with the SMC 24mm f2.8 (Ariane) was quite the surprise for me, as I thought it would more of a struggle to come to grips with this older, fully-manual lens.
I was wrong - this lens is a joy to work with...
the K24/2.8 was a lens I traded for, giving away a Vivitar (Cosina) 24mm f2.8, and a SMC M 50mm f4 Macro for it...
of course, as film-era Pentax, the build quality and feel of the lens are stellar - my copy seems nearly-unused, except for some cleaning marks on the front element and missing the white mount-nub..
the worst thing about the lens is the fact that it is a manual lens - no 'A' on the aperture ring, no auto-focus, none of that - and that makes me think so much more about what I'm shooting; I have to fully think about the exposure and lighting and shutter speed and ISO....and makes me practice the craft of photography...
I love the color rendition of the lens, especially blues - this lens does amazing things with landscapes and blue skies; bokeh is only 'ok' with this lens, but not as harsh or busy as other wide-angle lenses; focus is better at center than edges, but not horribly so...
it is very versatile - with a MFD of less that a foot, I could bring subjects in quite close for detail and texture; and with the 24mm of width to work with, it's easy to use for street photography or landscapes...
some of my favorites from the month:
 crepe myrtle by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 Remy Jane by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 wild rose hips by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 tall grass at sunset by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
and the rest of the album for this lens:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pepperberryfarm/albums/72157673786059476
I entered the month with the idea that I would be listing this lens for sale in March - I'm glad that I did the diligent thing and shot the K24/2.8 for February, because it's a keeper....
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2011 Location: Niagara Posts: 3,022
6 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: May 31, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | FoV, f2.8 - Its a K! <-- great build quality. | | Cons: | Infinity sharpness | |
I shot this lens on APS-C, and on Film (Ektar 100 and Pan F+ 50). I found fantastic sharpness within 15' but as the distance increased a general softness appeared - particularly on the incredible detail rendering K5 IIs sensor. Is this a sharp landscape lens? No. Can you shoot wonderful creative exposures? Yes. Does it render usable images? Absolutely.
A note on use of filters: Yes, they will vignette on film, this is a very wide lens.
great colour rendering - 4.0 @ 1/125 Ektar 100
 Sakura in the park by Matt, on Flickr
I think this one is 8.0 @ 1/500
 April 14: Master Plan by Matt, on Flickr
Plenty sharp within 15' - an arms length portrait - K5 IIs
 April 9: deep consideration by Matt, on Flickr
Smooth bokeh - again K5 IIs
 Catkin by Matt, on Flickr
Some examples of Landscape on film.
 Whitesands River by Matt, on Flickr
 West Harbour GO by Matt, on Flickr
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2013 Location: Jakarta Posts: 2 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 138
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: January 23, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | little to no flare, size, manual focusing feel | | Cons: | f/2.8 not that sharp, soft in corners | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-50
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I have used this lens for about 1 year now - it was time to contribute with a review. I use this lens as a landscape lens only. It would work well for street shooting as well given that it's relatively fast but probably an A 24 would do better on street because of its automation.
- Sharpness is not that great at f2.8 - the max aperture is usable but it's probably the weak point of this lens. On top of that the sharpness in the corners is problematic on 35mm format. Given that I use this for landscape where the aperture stays between f5.6-f16, the sharpness is really not an issue for me. As a matter of fact, I have printed some of my best shots at 30x45cm and I feel I could print 60x90cm without reaching the sharpness limit of the lens. If I had to rate sharpness starting from f5.6 it would get a 10 but otherwise just an 8 from me.
- Bokeh is nice and rather smooth than nervous
- Color rendition seems very natural to me - something very good for landscape
- Flare is amazingly well controlled. I was very surprised seeing how well it controls flare for its age. Either you don't see any or if you see it just looks good - well at least it looks good to me. There is a photo below showing a flare that I produced on purpose.
- Purple fringing level on digital is low
- Built is typical SMC K therefore very good and focusing feel is again, typical and very good
Here are some of my best landscapes, done with this lens:
Links removed
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,080
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: September 20, 2014 | I can recommend this lens: No |
Price: $120.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | xlnt handling, good contrast | | Cons: | blurry sides on ff, doesn't completely go away on crop sensor camera | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 4
Camera Used: Sony a7R 36mp full frame
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i've shot this lens on both the k10d and the sony a7r.
i liked the sigma 24mm f/2.8 better on the k10d, and just about everything else over this, on the sony a7r.
the problem with this lens on a 36mp full frame camera is blurry sides, which could be caused by excessive field curvature... here is a large comparison picture showing the problems:
smc Pentax 24mm f/2.8 lens test, Sony a7R
blurry sides can be caused by a tilted element inside the lens, but since the Yoshihiko Takinami lens test shows incredibly low corner resolution, it's probably a poor lens design:
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/lenses/resolution.html
if you are looking at this lens for your crop sensor pentax, don't plan on using it for critical landscape shooting... but it would be great for centered objects, since the contrast and sharpness are xlnt in the center.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 426
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: January 23, 2014 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $140.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Wide on FF | | Cons: | Slight vignette depending on filter used | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: LX, K-01
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Overall my favorite wide angle lens that I have used. 95% used on film. Never use it on digital for pictures, it is a good focal length for video however in aps-c. No A ring means you do a bit more work on digital.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: October, 2009 Location: North Posts: 4,277
4 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: January 21, 2014 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small; f2.8; center sharp wide open; overall sharp enough stopped down | | Cons: | corners can be a bit sharper stopped down on FF | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K5; K30; Sony A7 (FF)
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This is a review of the lens on FF (Sony A7)
I have left full sized samples on flickr.
DSC0080120140110ILCE-7-11-1 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f8
DSC0124020140113ILCE-7 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2.8
DSC0122420140113ILCE-7 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f5.6
Not much to complain about this lens for me, one of the smaller slr 24/2.8 out there typical of Pentax, flare resistant smc coating, wide enough for quite a bit of things on FF.
Sharp (very) in the center wide open and overall sharp stopped down to f5.6 and above.
I gave the sharpness score as 8, but its more like a '9' where it matters (usually in the center at f2.8) and '8' in the corners stopped down at f8 on FF.
So on average more 8.5 if there was a selection for this score.
Very portable as its so small, it is not something every camera brand can offer nowadays for a FF 24mm at f2.8 on FF.
I can't emphasize it enough.
Bokeh is generally ok too, which is already very good compared to may wide angles of the 24-28mm focal length.
This was a favourite for me on aps-c, on FF, I do think its even better.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2013 Location: Naples Posts: 10 | | Lens Review Date: November 1, 2013 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $90.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Bult, colours (like Zeiss), center sharpness, micro contrast | | Cons: | border sharpness, contrast (but may be pleasant), expensive quotation because rare | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 7
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I like too much the colour and micro contrast rendition of this lens...
it's like a "Zeiss" but with some of "smc" by pentax... tone to tone colour transition is very good and soft, it has some of the 43 limited wide opened.
On film it's a bit too soft in the corner until f 5.6, but on digital it's better (taking only the center) from f4, but it never becomes razor sharp. On the dslr the focal is good, but the "stop down" exposition makes it very unconfortable to use as a street and general lens as it should be on apsc. Very good the "A" version for the automatic exoposition. On film it's a good alternative to mant low quality but not cheap 28mm 2.8. This is wider and ha a his own "character" and Zeiss rendition.
Good on black and white.
Built as a tank and a pleasure to use, as all Ks.
A little bit hight priced, maybe becaouse it's a "K" and not so commo.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: July 13, 2013 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $160.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | build, color | | Cons: | sharpness at corner | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-5
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Got this lens half a year ago on ebay, surprised by nice color and the excellent build, sharpness at the center is fine but you can't expect that for the whole range. overall, considering the money, this is a nice wide-angle lens to keep.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2010 Location: Wiltshire/Hampshire Posts: 1,760 | | Lens Review Date: May 28, 2013 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Sharp in the centre from f/4 | | Cons: | Corners never get really sharp | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 7
Value: 7
Camera Used: LX, ME, K5
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Another lens that is much better on film than it is on digital.
Very sharp in the centre from one stop down, but the corners never really catch up even on a crop sensor.
See https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-sample-photo-archive/162116-pentax-k...ml#post2401122 for a full test.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2012 Location: Berlin Posts: 9 | | Lens Review Date: March 6, 2013 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $125.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | build, size, great colours | | Cons: | could be sharper | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: Canon 5d mkIII
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I used this lens for a while on a crop sensor camera, then on my Canon 5D MkIII (It hits the mirror so I use it in Live View mode). On a full frame body it has a great field of view, very wide indeed. The build quality is superb, beautiful focus action although I wish the throw was a bit longer.The SMC does a good job of flare resistance. I've used it a bit for video and it has a rich, saturated look, quite classically cinematic with a lovely falloff and background blur. Basically it has a great character and takes lovely rich pictures.
It's not blazing sharp: My K28 and Takumar 35/3.5 are both quite a bit crisper, but this one is pretty good.
I give it a 7.5/10, so rounded down to 7 : )
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2011 Posts: 4,021
3 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: June 14, 2012 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $245.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, light, well-built, renders nicely, useful field of view on APS-C | | Cons: | Some aberrations, somewhat less sharp at the edge of the APS-C field | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-x, K-01
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This lens was a contemporary of the M lenses (1977-84), sharing
their robust and compact build, and was usually listed together
with them in Pentax literature. Indeed, its 52mm filter
diameter, rather than the 49mm standard of the majority of the
M lenses, seems to be the only reason for any distinction
(although the M200/4 also has a 52mm filter diameter).
My copy of this lens came second-hand from KEH (rated EX+) in
early 2011, to be mounted on a K-x. After using a Summicron
35/2 for many years on film with a Leica, I was looking for a
lens around 24mm to give an equivalent field of view on APS-C.
Unfortunately, Pentax has not produced a K-mount prime in this
range since the FA 24/2, so the only options are third-party or
legacy. Although I have also acquired a Zeiss ZK 25/2.8
Distagon in the meantime, my K24/2.8 still sees plenty of use.
The Zeiss is sharper, but the K24/2.8 is lighter, cheaper, and
more compact, making it more convenient for casual use, more
discreet for street shooting, and more suitable for use in
situations where the lens might be at risk of damage or loss.
Looking at it another way, the K24/2.8 on the K-x (or
equivalent compact body) makes a cheaper and more versatile
substitute for cameras like the Leica X1 or Fuji X100.
The K24/2.8 has very good central sharpness, and acceptable
edges, stopped down to f/5.6 - f/8. Fully open, it makes nice
portraits, and the central sharpness is good enough for
moderately easy manual focusing, on occasions when you don't
just want to go hyperfocal on the distance scale. The color
rendering is very pleasing, better than most standard zooms,
and the lens is quite resistant to flare. There is some barrel
distortion, mild and simple enough to be corrected easily in
cases where it might be critical.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2012 Location: France Posts: 7
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: April 27, 2012 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $145.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness in the center-contrast color balance-class build quality, light and pleasant | | Cons: | Short focus throw-edge sharpness | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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 lens, perfect for use every day.
exellent build quality.
Focusing delicate between 2.2 m and infinity (requires a little practice).
the colors of my copies are excellent in natural light, and slightly yellow in tungsten light (I think it's better to shoot in RAW especially with older lenses).
the contrast is very good especially with a lens cap.
there are two sharpness.
the center is a good 2.8, excellent f4 to f11, diffraction has some f16 but usable.
the sharpness of the edges is very average for prime lens.
yet not wanting in overall sharpness.
The bokeh (when present) is silky and pleasant.
I have a lot of fun with this lens, it is always on my K-5 or in my bag if I need.
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