| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 35mm F2 by jakeblues on Sun November 23, 2014 | Rating: 5 | View more reviews | |
Views: 170153
Reviews: 21
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I find this lens to be overall a pretty big disappointment.
It's relatively inexpensive, fast, light, and has the same company's name on it as many other lenses I love: PENTAX. I bought it for low-light video and general indoor and outdoor film photography.
Its biggest flaw is its contrast and handling of flare. I bought a hood for it, which helps a little (but not nearly enough).
It's also not terribly sharp at any aperture. At f/2, it's just not very good. At smaller apertures, it has lost its advantage, and is distinctively worse than, for example, the K35/3.5.
But the biggest complaint is contrast and flare. Prepare for flat, lifeless images that post-processing can only do so much to rescue.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 40mm F2.8 by jakeblues on Sun November 23, 2014 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 218239
Reviews: 42
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I don't understand people who dislike this lens.
Mine is sharp. Very sharp. I shoot mostly film with a little digital on my K01. I've also owned the DA40XS, which I sold because I didn't like it any better than this lens. I've owned this one for maybe two years now, and ran tons of film through it.
The M40 has a lot of "mojo" or "vibe." Maybe the vignetting is part of its unique look. The focal length is nearly perfect; 40mm is such a natural FL. The amazingly smooth bokeh is definitely part of this lens's personality.
I should say that I have owned Super Tak 50/1.4 and 105/2.8, M 50/1.4, /1.7, and /2, K 35/3.5, M 20, M28/3.5, M28/2.8, and the M35/2. I also own a Minolta system with a bunch of glass. I would sooner stick this lens on my camera and go shoot than almost any of the above (except maybe the K 35).
Its handling is quirky, but soon becomes transparent. As a lens that you can use every day, it is a very good value.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 50mm F2 by jakeblues on Thu November 22, 2012 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 367586
Reviews: 101
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with this lens.
Don't think that going and buying a 50/1.7 or 50/1.4 will get you better photos. If you're not a professional (and I suspect that anyone reading this review probably isn't a pro), then this lens will give you fantastic results at all apertures.
Here's a shot wide open: (film - Kodak BW400CN)
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 20mm F4 by jakeblues on Fri April 27, 2012 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 172733
Reviews: 32
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I shoot film exclusively, so this is a review of the entire lens. Caveat: I'm a total sucker for small lenses. I like to be able to stick a lens in my jacket pocket, another on my camera, and go shoot. If you feel the same, you'll love this lens too.
The bokeh of the M20/4 is really pleasing. I end up taking a fair amount of "impressionistic" photos that are intentionally out of focus or overexposed. These shots end up being pretty good bokeh "test shots":
It's plenty sharp wide open.
 
My only gripes are that with a maximum aperture of f/4, it's a little dark in the viewfinder, and that it's not a 24mm lens. But how stupid is it to criticize a lens for being the wrong focal length.
Hope this helps.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7 by jakeblues on Tue November 29, 2011 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 942054
Reviews: 246
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I only shoot film on a Pentax ME Super. I like this lens a lot. I don't like the bokeh as much as my Super Tak 50/1.4.
Actually I just looked at a bunch of pics I took with this lens, and the bokeh is actually pretty magical sometimes. But i think color and contrast are the things I come to this lens for.
It seems to me that all normal lenses are sharp stopped down to f/8, and I really like this lens stopped down. I like it a lot wide open too, though.
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