| Author: | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Dundas, Ontario Posts: 28
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 2, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very compact, proper build and sturdy. | | Cons: | Maybe to some degree it's M lens, green button for exposure. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-1II
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It's a great lens. Compact and handles well, feels good on K-1II. Amazing sharpness stopped down. Amazing contrast. Amazing colors. B/W conversions looks like film stock. Beautiful lens. I would buy one because the prices will be climbing up from now on, it's a collectible. This outperforms a lot of 28mm lenses. Of course, there is the Hollywood, that's another story! One day I will update this with pictures from K-1II. Cheers.
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: August, 2022 Posts: 43
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 21, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Perfect. | | Cons: | Uh... No AF? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: MX, K3, Ricoh XR7
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This is the best 28mm lens I have ever owned.
As a wide aperture 28mm HOARDER, thusfar I have compared it to these:
SMC Pentax 28mm f3.5
Pentax-M 28mm f2.8
Pentax-A 28mm f2.8 (refurbished)
Vivitar Series 1 28mm f1.9
Sony 28mm f2
The Early K SMC Pentax 28/3.5 and the Vivitar Series 1 will be close in the sharpness department, but overall IQ and handling go to the M/28/2. Not by much with either. The Vivitar has a floating element and is much larger, not a bad lens either. It was tough, but the Pentax-M 28mm f2.0 is one of the best 28s you can buy for less than $2500 – this was the lens that taught me that Pentax did make fantastic consumer glass, but their pro glass is always in another universe. I would take this over an equivalent Leica lens for the handling and the IQ, forgetting the glaringly obvious price difference.
If you find one, stop looking at this thread and buy it immediately. Get into your car, get on your bicycle, bust out that Ebay – do whatever you have to do. Whatever you do, be gentle with it.
If you want to continue to pretend that the M/28/2.8 is in the same stratosphere, that is your decision...
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2020 Location: Wrocław Posts: 33
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 25, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, sharpness, rendering | | Cons: | Very minor chromatic abberations | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: KP, K50, Super A
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I have bought this lens as a bargain from a friend who sold-out most of his collection.
I find that lens very useful on APS-C. Still wide angle. I like close-up action in order to obtain that fabolous vintage bokeh look. I compared that lens to The Hollywood SMC-K 28/2.0 and it is different animal. The Hollywood has unique color punch and out-of-this-world contrast. But M series is also very sharp and is more compact, much handsome and really nice to play with. I noticed a hint lf CA but it is marginal. I still didnt make whole film on Super A with it, but when I develop that 35mm film, I will update the review.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2008 Posts: 2,361
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 29, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $280.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, speed, image quality, build quality | | Cons: | Coma | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: MX, LX
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I'm also compelled to leave a review following the 'input' from Mr Crumpler. It baffles me that folk find it necessary to leave an unconstructive rant as a review because they don't like the price of something...
Anyway... here goes.
I have been using the SMC Pentax-M 28/f2 since 2016. Mostly on 35mm with an MX and LX. Occasionally adapted on digital, but not enough to form a useful opinion.
I am a 28mm tragic. I love the focal length, shoot it a lot, and have been lucky enough to use some of the best 28mm examples around. I currently own the SMC Pentax (K) 28/f2 'Hollywood', Nikkor 28/f2.8 AI-s CRC and Voigtlander VM 28/f2 Ultron.
Sharpness: Excellent. Very sharp stopped down (sharper than my scanners ability to resolve Tmax100 anyway) and very useable wide open.
Distortion: None noticeable. I don't shoot test charts, but I've never seen any distortion in regular use.
Aberrations: Generally very good, but a lot of noticeable coma towards the corners when shot an f2 and close to infinity focus. This is pretty standard performance for the fast 28mm's I've used, but something to be wary of if you plan to use it for stuff like astro that requires infinity focus at max aperture.
Bokeh: By the standards of comparable fast 28's? It's pretty good (hence the 9). By the standards of a fast normal? Not great... I'm yet to find a fast 28mm that produces great bokeh wide open. Note that I'm talking about the quality of OOF rendition, not the amount of blur produced.
Handling: Excellent. Ergonomics are fantastic (to be expected from most SMC K and M lenses). Build quality is exceptional (slightly better than the other M's I've used, and very close to the best K's. Aperture is smooth and firmly clicky. Focus is devine, and the focus throw is more user friendly that the very short K28/f2.
Value: Hard to answer. Compared to the other SMC-M 28's (f2.8 and f3.5) it's expensive. Compared to the K28/f2 its a positive bargain. Compared to directly comparable lenses from other systems (eg. OM Zuiko 28/f2) - it's about ballpark. Whether it's good value to you is up to you.
Overall: a proud 10  No, it's not as good as the K28/f2, but it's half the size, less than half the price, and has less noticeable distortion.
f2, MX + Portra400
f2, MX + Pancro400
f2, MX + Pancro400
f11, LX + Portra400
f2, LX + Portra400
f11, LX + Portra400
f11, MX + Tmax400
f11, MX + Tmax400
f11, MX + Tmax400
f2, MX + Tmax400
f8, MX + Tmax400
f8, MX + Tmax400
Note coma top right. f2, MX + Tmax400
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Posts: 3,343 | | Review Date: November 27, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, Lightweight, 3D rendering, Fast, Subject Separation, Build-Quality | | Cons: | none worth mention | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: MX, K-3, MZ-S, LX (and others briefly)
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I felt compelled to post a review in response to a more recent addition here that I just find... rather ignorant.
This is one of my newest (in the last year and a half roughly) favorite lenses. I wasn't aware of the very compact Pentax-M 28mm f/2.0 for a very, very long time somehow. It is the closest approximation to one of the all-time favs of many (and mine) which is the FA 31mm f/1.8. It's roughly half the size of that lens, and 1/3 the cost, and the performance is ... well, often so close as to be negligible. Just a fantastic piece of glass.
It excels in subject separation and has that quality many seek, a somewhat 3D rendering. The defocused area rendering it creates is smooth and buttery in most lights, similar to that more famous lens once again. It is fast and it is small and it is a joy to manually focus. Really the build of the M series across the board, as most know, is simply fantastic given the size of the range in comparison to the K series glass. While it cannot reach the level of pop and refinement that the equivalent K (the "Hollywood", affectionately) achieves, it is not uncomfortable in that company. What's more, you can toss this one in a pocket or pack and not really know its there which simply can't be said for Hollywood, which fills the room as it were.
I digress. When comparing the rendering of this lens with its slower f/2.8 cousin, there is simply no comparison; everything is improved. The contrast, the speed (yes a full-stop of additional light is significant despite some claims), the microcontrast and detail, the color transitions... all of it. Quite sharp when wide-open, and remarkably so when opened up.
Some digital examples on the K-3.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AhlxJ0gqr9IKg9sLLmMmdvSbulD7DQ?e=Zdyegs
Some additional samples available in the Lens Sample Archive thread here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/130-lens-sample-photo-archive/156847-pen...ml#post4829249 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2019 Posts: 15 | | Review Date: September 2, 2019 | Not Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Same as f2.8 version | | Cons: | Costs heaps more because people need to think it's better than f2.8 version | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 1
Camera Used: K2
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C'mon people! For the sake of having 0.8 less "f" on your lens, you think it's worth paying five times as much? This is a great little lens but if you are into buying old lenses to take superb photographs, then you really don't need to spend so much. Instead, have confidence in your own abilities and realise that simply having 0.8 less on your aperture ring does not make you a better photographer.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: July, 2016 Location: Alps Posts: 35 | | Review Date: April 18, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $280.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Handling, small, fast, IQ | | Cons: | price | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: K3II
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A bit pricey for what it is, but it's a lightweight, small, fast manual lens with great image and build quality.
Surprisingly sharp at F/2 and perfect at F/2.8.
Bokey is good.
Handling is awesome on M lenses.
A great option when you consider the actual offer around ~28-35mm fast lenses... if you value compactness and build quality over autofocusing.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2017 Posts: 8 | | Review Date: April 10, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fast, Sharp, Great for street photography. | | Cons: | A bit over priced | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 8
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I got this lens about 9 months ago and I shot different films with it. It gives overly good performance, nice bokeh at 28mm, and soft transition from focus to edges. Also the color of this lens is warm and contrasted, which is nice for building tone. The reason I sold this is that I moved to rolleiflex, a better street photography camera.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2015 Location: Boston,MA Posts: 258
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 6, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $370.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small, fast and sharp! | | Cons: | Bokeh is not so great | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: MX,K1, sony a7
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This lens is hard to find, but if you can find one in good shape, get it!!
The only reason I still have my FA31 is auto focus. This lens is sharp even at f2, my 31mm needs to step down to 2.5-2.8 to get really sharp.
This one was shot on my Pentax MX with Kodak extar 100
 72040023 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2015 Location: Lower Saxony Posts: 181
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 17, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness and contrast wide open, color rendering, size, built quality | | Cons: | - | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-5 IIs, K-1
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Very compact for this focal length and f/2.0; sharp and rich contrast open; sweet spot seems to be around f/4.0 to 5.6; beyond f/8 or more tight appertures tends to become softer.
Some examples, down scaled out of camera jpgs, K-5 IIs:
f/2.0:
(click into this first to enlarge original out of camera jpg)
28mm is wide on 35mm - down scaled out of camera jpg, K-1, f/2.0
(click into to enlarge original out of camera jpg)
f/2.8:
f/4.0:
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 3 | | Review Date: May 11, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $372.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very Sharpness, Attractive colors, Excellent portability, good Definition | | Cons: | none for me | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-7, ME super
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this is cool stuff!!
I bought it two months ago. it's nice appearance & performance excelled!!.
In particular, excellent sharpness are the best.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 3 | | Review Date: October 23, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Versitile wide angle | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K100 K2000 K-50 K3-II
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Purchased a Pentax MX including the 28mm f2 in 1982 from Competitive Camera, NY, for $377.45.
One of the characteristics of this lens (and many lenses of this focal length) is slight field curvature, which appears to be somewhat more evident when mounted on my small sensor digital camera than I remember from images obtained from full frame cameras - careful composition usually will subordinate the effect when it becomes obvious or distracting. This effect is not overwhelming, but does become apparent at certain distances from a subject. As a last resort, a purist for straight line can always hammer an image in some software.
My primary experience with the lens includes: landscape, candid street work, portraiture of individuals & groups, in educational settings and as a journalist. The lens is versatile & results are satisfying. It is fast in low light and sharp at wide apertures - I have used it with good effect wide open. The lens also has some close focus abilities -
Collectors like this lens because it is fairly rare, shooters might do better with modern lenses, however, it remains useful, consider the lens if given an opportunity to obtain it.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: February, 2011 Location: Nacogdoches Posts: 3 | | Review Date: May 4, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
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I've never used any Pentax* or Limited series lenses and am hesitant to give any lens a 10 without that experience. With that being said, I do have ten or so Pentax MF primes, and this is my favorite, it blows my 2.8/28 M (a solid lens I've taken some of my favorite photos with) out of the water. I would get an FA 31 if I had the money, and I probably should have waited a bit longer and purchased one of the Sigmas (1.8/28 or 1.4/30), but this lens is wonderful, a clear 9.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: May, 2008 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 322 | | Review Date: May 6, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $379.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fast (and bright finder image), sharp, good flare resistance, build quality | | Cons: | tad more barrel distorition than the other SMC-M 28mm's | |
Bought in 'Demo' condition from Adorama, sight unseen. After shooting some colour and B&W with it, I'm pretty happy; the f/2 makes focusing on the matte screen easier, and it's decently sharp wide open at relevant working distances. As this lens seems to be pretty rare, there's not as much info, but one Italian site documents the 'minimizing' of the K-series 28mm f/2 formula that was bases on a Ziess lens. The M series is very capable, sharp, and has good rendering and bokeh for a wide angle. My only bugbear is some occasionally noticeable barrel distortion, but compared to previous 28mm's and zooms I've used in the past, it doesn't matter. I'm definitely happy.
On the subject of flare, I took a test shot where I deliberately had the sun in the top corner of the image, producing visible flare in the viewfinder. The negative, when scanned, showed some loss in saturation, but none ghosting or red 'wings' that were visible through the LX's finder. Pretty impressive.
Here are some samples to give you a feel.
Pretty sharp at f/5.6. HP5+ scan.
(Non working link removed)
Good close range rendering, handling of high key bokeh & distortion. Uncorrected Provia 100F scan.
(Non working link removed)
Here's one probably wide open, focused on left edge of yellow graffiti. Handheld @ 1/30th and minimal PP sharpening, but shows rendering of distant out of focus backgrounds and highlights. Uncorrected Kodak Portra 400VC scan.
(Non working link removed)
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2008 Location: left coast Posts: 73
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 13, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $71.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very fast, very sharp, excellent build, just slightly larger than the f2.8 version | | Cons: | all manual, 6 blade aperture | |
I got this lens used, but in new condition. The difference between this lens and my M series f2.8 is dramatic. Although the 2.8 is a typically well built Asahi SMC lens and produces excellent results, this f2 is not only faster, but sharper with better contrast and color rendition.
My f2.8 renders "flat" images. That is to say landscape photos appear more 2 dimensional than 3. So do my 28mm lenses from Tamron, Beston, Takumar, and Sigma. Some are better than others. In fact the Sigma (mini-wide PK) and the Takumar both render excellent results, but still flatten out images more than I'd like. My SMC 18mm renders lively 3 dimensional images as does my 17mm fisheye, and it's a little disappointing to see the results from the host of 28's.
That being said, the f2 is lively and 3 dimensional. Granted at f2, closely focused images, such as flowers render extreme on axis sharpness, but very soft focus at the outer edges of the flower. This can be a plus in my book, although maybe not for others. When photographing images such as landscape or architecture, even wide open this softness isn't quite as evident as in close focus situations. Stopped down a bit, it renders nice clean IQ with great DOF.
Physically, it's about 3/16" of an inch longer than the 2.8. Otherwise, it handles nearly identically with the f2.8 requiring 1/4 turn for the full focal range, and the f2 requiring slightly more....something on the order of 12 o'clock to 4 o'clock.
It's a great complement to my M 50mm f1.4, A 50mm f1.7, A 35mm f2.8, M 200mm f4, Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 300mm f4, my DA's & FA's, as well as non Pentax or Asahi branded optics.
I'm very pleased with the build and performance of this lens, and should've purchased one years ago. If you can find one of these rare beauties, I highly recommend it!
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