| Author: | | New Member Registered: February, 2019 Posts: 12 | | Lens Review Date: November 2, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Just like a 135mm M Series | | Cons: | Too expensive | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: Film
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If you need a short telephoto (what many people convince themselves they need for portrait work) then this is a good one, but it is exactly the same image quality as an M series 135mm but costs four or five times as much. Slightly smaller and lighter, though. And don't think all it's useful for is portrait work, as it's as versatile as any 85mm, 105mm or 135mm lens. Alternatively, use a 50mm lens and just walk a bit closer.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2020 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: July 27, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $120.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Crazy sharp from F5.6, excellent contrast | | Cons: | Nervous bokeh sometimes, weak at F2.8 | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: EOS 60D
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Above F5.6 this is crazy sharp lens, high contrast and great resolution.
Using it for close up (macro tubes) it destroys Tair 11A, Jupiter 37A, CZJ Sonnar and Pentax-K 135/2.5.
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 7,207 | | Lens Review Date: July 21, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $130.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Compact, very well built, reasonably sharp | | Cons: | Not too sharp wide open, images lack a bit of punch | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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I bought this in lieu of a faster 85mm lens, though not too long after I got the M 85mm f/2 and then the 100mm didn't get much use as the 85mm is a really superb lens.
The lens is very well built but not too heavy, exactly what you would expect of an M. Focusing is very smooth and the aperture ring clicks nicely. The aperture goes straight from f/2.8 to f/4, a whole stop, one of the little annoyances common with older lenses.
Wide open this lens is just sharp enough to use on digital. At f/4 it's considerably better and it improves as expected after that. The biggest problem with this lens is that images from it tend to be a bit low contrast and lacking in punch, though I feel that this contributes a bit to a subtlety of rendering that you don't often get with newer optics. Contrast can be increased in post processing but it's not the same as getting contrastier results straight away.
Compared to it's nearest neighbours in the M line, the 85mm f/2 is superior in every way except for the blue fringing it produces, and the 120mm f/2.8 is just superior in every way, though it's a different focal length so may not be suitable for the same photos. Compared to the Takumar 105mm f/2.8 the M is much sharper at wider apertures, though the Takumar is really, really silky smooth to operate (at least my copy is) so it's a pleasure to use. I also have a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro and that's optically far better than the M - sharper and with better contrast, rendering and bokeh.
The strength of this lens lies in the aforementioned subtlety of rendering and the soft colours that it brings.
If you're looking for a manual lens in this focal length then this one is adequate but there are slightly better options if you don't need it to be exactly 100mm and you want a modern (bright and contrasty) look. If you like a more "vintage" rendering then this might be just the lens for you.
Some sample images:
Waiting by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP6349a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Segovia by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP1039a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP3924a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2019 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: July 21, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | size, build quality, IQ | | Cons: | None to sepak of | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony a6000, Pentax me super
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This is a lovely lens. Typical of all m lenses, it is very small and light for the focal length. In fact, it is barely any longer than my Pentax m 50mm f1.7 lens. Sharpness and IQ wide open are decent enough although not up to the incredible standards set by the Nikkor 105 2.5. Sharpness at infinity when using this as a telephoto rather than portrait lens is ok but not outstanding.
The bokeh is lovely and smooth, colours typically Pentax quality and the build quality outstanding. It feels built to last. This is such an easy lens to use because it is small and light. Great for street photography as people don't realise you have a short telephoto lens on the camera with great reach. Definitely recommended.
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: July, 2017 Posts: 41 | | Lens Review Date: May 14, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $25.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive, very sharp, low CA | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-3II
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I have been using this lens strictly for astrophotography. For that purpose it is one of the best lenses I have. When it is stopped down to f/4, it is very sharp and the CA is low. Here is an astrophoto taken with it (tracking by Astrotracer):
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2018 Posts: 133
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 3, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: N/A |
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 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 58
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: September 9, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light, compact, sharp and contrasty, super sharp stopped down | | Cons: | Some purple fringing, easy removable | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1ii, K-01 and film
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I bought this long time ago for fl 100,- ( no euro's that time) and it was my most used short tele / portrait on film. This lens also shines on digital. Always use a hood to avoid flaire. This lens is well build, light weight, decent sharp already wide open (though little contrast), has superb color reproduction and at from F4 - F8 nice contrast. I compared this with the DFA 100 macro 2.8, you can find it here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/392245-my-...dern-dfas.html
The DFA is sharper wide open, frings less and produces more contrast. But the difference is minor.
If you can grab it for little, you won't be disappointed. It's not a macro b.t.w.. If you own it for portraits, you can save the money buying a DFA for that purpose.
Digital on K-01:
Scanned older color negative:
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: May, 2018 Location: NYC Posts: 79
4 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: November 11, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | colors, bokeh, focal length, rendering | | Cons: | none for the price | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony A7III
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I did not list the price as I picked this up at a yard sale for $20 and that would skew the prices.
I got this a few years back not knowing what it was - I did not have a camera at the time to use it on.
I thought it looked like a good lens and it had the original case and caps so I picked it up with the idea of using it some time in the future.
I was finally able to try it this year when I got the Sony A7III.
I used the K&F Concepts PK-NEX adapter and was amazed at the results of this lens right away.
In fact this was the lens that got me into seriously considering other vintage manual lenses to use with the A7III (now I have mild LBA).
The 100mmm length is actually quite handy once you figure out where you need to be to get an effective shot.
Not surprisingly, its like having a slightly longer 85mm and shorter 135mm with a combination of what those two focal lengths offer - the DOF of the 85mm for portraits and the reach of the 135mm.
Colors are rendered very nicely, images are sharp and low light images are good (at least they are with the A7III which is an excellent low light camera).
Bokeh is pretty easy too - it is smooth and pleasing.
Great lens!
Here are a couple of shots I first took with this lens:
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2013 Location: Montreal Posts: 495
3 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 23, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ in general, Sharpness, colors, small and light | | Cons: | Can cause LBA? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: MX, K10D, K20D, K-5II, K-1
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Ok, so this lens kind of changed everything for me. Found at a garage sale, and not putting in my price here because it was unrealistically low. I knew nothing about this lens, but for less than the price of a pint, hard to resist.
I have used this lens mainly with digital, though excellent with film too. On digital it seemed a world above my M50/1.7 and M28/2.8. Not sure what the magic of this lens might be - great combo of sharpness and color? Compact easy handling? Someone had mentioned using all auto-focus lenses other than this - because somehow this particular lens seems to focus automatically anyway?!? Ok, not quite, but....
Ok, who knows what it is, but if I'm unhappy with photos I'm taking, I put on the M100/2.8 and my day gets better. Not sure why.
Yes there's some PF, and sometimes colors seem too bright and too strong? But...
And then I think this caused a bit of LBA... Could other lenses change my day the way this one can?
Yikes, hadn't meant to write a new-agey review! Will add more sometime...
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2017 Posts: 3 | | Lens Review Date: June 16, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Nice bokeh and usability | | Cons: | none really | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Samsung NX1
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I'm using this on a Samsung NX1 with the official NX to PK adapter. Fully manual, but works great. Great lens for outdoor portraits and landscapes. Photos come out sharp enough and very adjustable in lightroom. I also have the 135mm, but prefer using this 100mm more. Photos edited to taste in Lightroom.
  | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 7,034
3 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: February 18, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $134.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Well built and good handling. | | Cons: | Could be sharper, minimum aperture of f/22 | | Camera Used: Pentax film bodies (K1000, KM, KX, K2, K2DMD, ME, MX, LX, Super A, P50)
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The M100/2.8 was released in 1977 and was a direct “miniaturized” replacement for the K105/2.8. The M100/2.8 was in production until 1984, when it was replaced by the A100/2.8.
Optics:
Typical “M” series optics compared to the “K “series lens it replaced. Pretty good, but nothing outstanding at any aperture.
Focal Range:
100mm is a nice focal length on FF for portrait or short telephoto work. Though it’s sad with the release of the M100/2.8 Pentax stopped producing a 105mm option for the first time since the late 1950’s.
Build:
Excellent all metal build in a smaller size & weight than its K Series predecessor.
Usage/Handling:
Excellent handling for an “M” series lens, mostly due to it being a short telephoto. The M100/2.8 also has a great distance scale and is easy to manual focus or adjust the aperture. Very nice compact telephoto lens to travel with.
The M100/2.8 uses a 49mm round plastic clip-on hood labelled: “SMC PENTAX 1:2 85mm 1:2.8-4 100mm”. This detachable lens hood will offer better protection than the smaller built-in hood on the A100/2.8. The M100/2.8 also had a dedicated hard lens case which also held the hood or you can use the shorter Pentax soft lens case from that period.
Speed:
F2.8 is an average speed for a telephoto lens in the 100mm to 135mm focal range. The 85mm lenses tended to be faster and of course more expensive. The 100mm/105mm lenses were the slower more affordable portrait option.
The M100/2.8 vs my other similar FL short telephoto primes:
I also own the K105/2.8 which is sharper at every aperture compared to the M100/2.8. The M100/2.8 is as well built & handles the same as the K105/2.8 and has a slightly better minimum focusing distance of 1 meter compared to 1.2 meters for the K105/2.8. The K105/2.8 has a better minimum aperture of f/32 than the M100/2.8’s f/22. I rated my K105/2.8 a 9.5 and the M100/2.8 gets an 8.5.
Summary:
Overall the M100/2.8 is an excellent short telephoto/portrait lens that is perfect for travelling due to its smaller size. But it’s not in the same league as its older brother the K105/2.8
Price:
I bought the M100/2.8 off eBay. It was in excellent + condition and came with the lens hood.
Sample shots taken with the M100/2.8. Photos are medium resolution scans from original slides.
Camera: KM Film: Fuji Velvia 50 ISO: 50
Camera: ME Film: Fuji Provia 100F ISO: 100
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2015 Posts: 71 | | Lens Review Date: February 9, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp wide open, small & light, nice bokeh | | Cons: | Mega PF | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5, K-50
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I bought my copy at a bargain price because it is stuck wide open and has a scratch on the front element but otherwise clean and good mechanically (hence no price listed to throw off the average). I used to own the "A" version and can confirm that sharpness improves as you stop down, but the real draw here is that IQ is very very good wide open at f/2.8. I have some pixel peeping tendencies and while f/8 is certainly sharper, I cannot in good faith knock the wide open IQ at all. This is especially true if you consider the diminutive size, ease of MF, buttery bokeh and price/value.
I use this M lens exclusively in Av mode on the K-5/K-50 since it won't stop down anyway.
Purple fringing.....if you shoot a tree against a bright sky at f/2.8 you may find that entire branches turn purple. It is borderline comical in some situations, but still easy to remove in PP. You can spend a bunch more and get a modern lens with similar specs that doesn't exhibit PF, but personally I'll suffer through a few mouse clicks on my keepers to get where I need to be.
I recently took some test shots comparing this lens to the Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro (mint copy). At portrait distances this SMC-M 100mm f/2.8 is noticeably sharper, easier to focus, and has smoother bokeh. Interestingly, the Kiron seemed to have a shallower DOF at the subject yet did not blur the background as smoothly. All comparisons were made wide open at f/2.8.
This lens can produce pro-quality (or close, at least) portraits and won't break the bank.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2016 Posts: 3
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 30, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Quality through and through | | Cons: | Can't think of any | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30
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Metering and auto white balance is spot on with my K-30, which isn't to take for granted with legacy lenses. No need to dial in any + or - EV.
So much fun to shoot with this lens, so small for this focal length, yet so well constructed. Focuses like a dream and focus throw is not too long which makes for fast shooting even though it is a manual lens. Focuses close enough that it's even usable indoors in spite of the long focal length.
Still sharp enough wide open but with some very slight PF in harshly lit areas. Immaculate image quality stopped down from F4 onwards. Great contrast and rendering. Very nice out of focus areas. Faultless prime. Price I paid for an excellent copy is laughable. Some lenses you know you will never get rid of, and this is one of those for sure.
Downscaled original sample + 100% crop, shot at F5.6 if I remember correctly. Impressed with the sharpness which can be seen in the rendering of the window frame, where the finely corrugated stone border is resolved without any issues.
  | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2013 Posts: 18
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 6, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great image quality in small package | | Cons: | I wish it has more aperture blades. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony a7
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This is my main portrait lens on my a7. My copy is in great condition, like new, the glass was incredibly clean and cosmetically in perfect condition. The focus grease was a bit dry, so I relubed it and now it really is a joy to use. The lens is very small, with is a big plus.
I was astonished when I saw the first portraits. I didn't expect such a great image quality. At f2.8 is very sharp, but not excessively sharp, and contrast was a bit flat. But microcontrast is at a very good level at this point. It vignettes a bit. Very good for portraits. At f2.8 it has a bit of purple fringing, but not so much! When stopped down it becomes great. At f5.6 sharpness in incredibly high, and focusing at infinity gives excellent sharpness across the frame on a FF camera. Very impressive. Bokeh is very beautiful and smooth at all apertures and seems to resist flare very well.
The six aperture blades make a smi-circular shape until f5.6, but I really wish it had more of them. 8 blades would be perfect.
I recommend this lens!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2014 Location: Nagoya Posts: 577
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: July 31, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $180.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness/clarity, size, build, handling | | Cons: | None worth mentioning | |
Sharp and contrasty pictures from f2.8, compact, classic M series quality, ideal for portraits, flowers and longer street shooting (I use it for street with black and white film a lot, and it really shines).
Even for £100 in Exc+ condition I think it's a bargain. Definitely recommended. Get a cheap 49mm tele hood for best results.
K1000, Fomapan 100, f4:
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