| Author: | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2011 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: September 21, 2011 | Not Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 1 |
| Pros: | Build quality | | Cons: | Soft, unsharp, lack of contrast | | Sharpness: 1
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 7
Value: 1
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I thought this lens would be a bargain but I'm very disappointed. It looked like a perfect copy. But the image quality is really bad. Soft, unsharp and complete lack of contrast. It is difficult to find focus wide open even when I use a split screen viewfinder. This must be a bad copy. Completly useless.
Watch out for bad copies. Take some test shots before buying.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2019 Location: Suffolk Posts: 10 | | Review Date: September 22, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, neat macro ring, great feel | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: k-1
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I have the Hanimex, K-mount version of this lens.
Bought for £6 off ebay, I didn't have very high hopes for this lens. I initially saw it, thought it looked good and the macro close focusing ring was interesting. For the money it was a no-brainer, it was a fair bet for a tenner.
It feels great and handles really well, with a good long focus throw, but the closest focus point is almost laughable, being close to two metres. With extension tubes, however, you get pretty good results. The eight aperture blades also give nice bokeh.
Well worth a punt
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-common-darter-57971/ | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2017 Posts: 15 | | Review Date: July 8, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $12.00
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | like a Sigma "Scalematic" at a fraction of he price | | Cons: | heavy, 55mm filter | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: P30 nad Lumix M4/3
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I have the Hanimex version. It is just very different to the usual f2.8 135mm lenses which usually manage small size and 52mm filter thread.
The winning feature is the second focus ring that moves the front elements forewards. This can be used to "defocus" the edges in portraits.
It takes a lot of trying out to get the best effect - but since these often sell for low cost I think it is a good creative buy - look at the cost of say a Nikon defocus control portrait lens!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2015 Location: Hampshire Posts: 892 | | Review Date: March 1, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cheap | | Cons: | Auto-Manual switch a bit awkward | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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I picked up a M42 mount version with A-M switch as I had forgotten that I already had one in K mount.
Not too much of a problem, just means I have double the chance of picking one up to use....or lending one to a Canon user friend.
This lens is well made if a little heavy compared to the F3.5 versions of 135mm lenses I have and the A-M switch is sometimes awkward to use without moving the aperture ring.
It has 8 blades and a separate ring to bring up the "macro" which is more of a close focus option providing 1:4.5.
The lens seems quite sharp at F2.8 and gets better stopping down.
An image taken a couple of years ago when the sun was out!
 Not a great image, taken at 1/125th second, quick snap in JPEG while stood up (and rocking a bit as usual) with no processing apart from size reduction of pixels.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: June 12, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Cheap, very nice image quality, sharp, very good dof and bokeh. | | Cons: | none to my knowledge | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: k30
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 | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2013 Location: California Posts: 3 | | Review Date: October 7, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | build quality, compact size | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K1000, K-30, KR-5super, K-5IIs
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I took a chance on this cheap lens and it has paid off. It can be very soft, as other users have noted, but I believe this to be a feature of the lens more than a defect as I find it very useful for many things, yet also pretty adjustable allowing you to go from reasonably sharp, to completely soft and foggy, or anywhere in between. If you know what the lens is capable of in your hands it can become a mainstay in any kit.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2008 Location: Milano, Italy Posts: 11 | | Review Date: July 20, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | A wonderful and easy focus, dof and bokeh, excellent with indoor light | | Cons: | As for almost all mf lenses, you need quite a distance from your subject | |
I've got this lens on eBay a few years ago (it didn't cost much) and have used it with Pentax K10D and Pentax K20D..it makes absolutely wonderful portraits that is my priority..I have been using it also for shooting school in events of my kids, like on stage activities (dancing, singing) with colourful and bright lights, from the last row, where we got our seats..it has been always a perfect distance to frame the kids on stage. And the best result I was getting using a CP filter to control the stage lights.
The following links direct to my Flickr stream for a few examples..
The portrait of my youngest daughter, a max distance allowed was by the room was about 3 metres and this is the max framing part possible..the light was a night light in kids room: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2968674181_cf8d4a3a09_o.jpg
Another examples are from a concert of kids:
A set in Flickr, Pentax K20D, the last row seat: http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalgal/sets/72157624221472160/with/4678149602/
A set in Flickr, Pentax K10D, the seat was closer to stage, almost too close: http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalgal/sets/72157620687383958/with/3668543525/
CP filter has been of big help for an exposure for bright contrast due to bright lights and contrasting cloth colors. I have been quite happy with a result..
I have no examples for outdoor shots on Flickr, they are somewhere in archive. Great value for the money is my conclusion, since I cannot afford a quality AF lenses.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2010 Posts: 11 | | Review Date: June 28, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cheap, very nice image quality | | Cons: | | |
I acquired this lens recently just because it was so cheap. I couldn't resist. But after testing I was very pleased with image quality also. Pictures are very sharp even with wide open aperture. I compared it with similar Sears, JCPenny and Pentax Takumar lenses. It holds against them very well.
| | | | | | | | Review Date: May 28, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cheap , sharp, fantastic bokeh. | | Cons: | none to my knowledge | |
This lens is razor sharp , and has a unique creamy bokeh, in my opinion it is on the same level as the TAK 135 f2.5 but for a tenth of the price. here is a link to my flickr gallery with some pictures with this lens. For the price paid on k mount seriously it is a bargain.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46315660@N06/4647271183/ | | |
