Pentaxian Registered: November, 2017 Location: Garden City, NY Posts: 6,349 | | Review Date: June 19, 2019 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Beautiful rendition; Film-like on digital; Makes you stop and think | | Cons: | Barrel Creep; Heavy; long MFD at 105 | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 6
Value: 9
Camera Used: Canon 450D
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I have this lens in OM Mount thus I use it on a Canon 450D.
By no means it is soft - rather sharp and crisp Some 3-D on some shots... However - this is not for the pixel peeper!!!
Bokeh is a bit odd but unique.
I like the lens and will use it, but it is just not a walk-around as it is massive and heavy. And the lens creep can get you.
I'd still recommend this lense for those of us who like to experiment and enjoy the patience of shooting vintage glass!
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Veteran Member Registered: August, 2010 Posts: 648 | | Review Date: November 17, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | flare | | Cons: | weight | | Sharpness: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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Heavy monster especially when you are on the legs for 15-20 km hike ...cheap...pictures may tell you the rest. Yes, I like how it flares...
Most of the pictures below are taken wide open.
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New Member Registered: August, 2012 Location: VA Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 14, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp Macro, great walk around FOV range 28-105 | | Cons: | no hood, badly needs hood when outdoors wide FOV | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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Surprisingly sharp for non-pentax lens. Kiron should be very familiar to folks who appreciate the first quality versions of the Vivitar Series 1 lenses. They definitely gave the name brands a run for their money back in the 80's.
I picked up my copy on Ebay with a Pentax ME super. The date on the rest of the gear was 1986, so I assume the lens was purchased new then too. My copy came with original manual and caps. Lens initially had water damage hence the great price. Total diss-assembly of the lens for a thorough cleaning resulted in a long morning and several cups of coffee. The afternoon however was filled with crisp macro shots of anything and everything in my back yard. I probably have some of the crispest/tack sharp images of weathered dog toys you have every seen.
Lens is well made, good feel, quality glass. No plastic in this one. Only cosmetic or materials negative is the marking on the lens are painted on only, as opposed to etched and painted. Will need to take care of it to keep all the zoom information/writing etc on the lens.
Lens markings are right on. When I reassembled I utilized the "infinity" and Focal length markings to align the lens. I expected to have to realign to get the focus correct at infinity and close up. I hate a lens that focuses past infinity. Glad to see that the markings on ~30 year old lens were correct. Twist the lens all the way counter clock wise, it stops turning, and you are at infinity....push or pull, to zoom in and out and you are still at infinity. Really helps out with a manual focus.
As for the images. Very sharp. With good light the F3.2 (28mm) is surprisingly sharp. A little improvement at F4, but not significant like most none * lenses. Lens has a "sweet spot" from F3.2-8 like most, but not nearly as sharp from 8-22. But who really shoots there unless you are forced to for sharper images.
Macros, very impressive. at 28mm you can focus on items as close as 4". Tack sharp with good light 80 ISO, F3.2-4.
Will definitely utilize as a walking around lens once I get a 62mm hood to block some light when wide open.
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Veteran Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 | | Review Date: June 30, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $190.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Nice handling. | | Cons: | Varifocal...needs to be re-focused after zooming, non-constant aperture. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 8
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I had the Vivitar version on a ME Super and then an LX. I used it in-conjunction with a Tokina 80-200 2.8 ATX and had a blast until I traded up to a Sigma with constant aperture.
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Junior Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 42
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 11, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | High build and image quality | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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The Kiron 28-105 is very good.
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