| Author: | | New Member Registered: December, 2020 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: December 23, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness | | Cons: | Half stop | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony A7 Pentax super A Ricoh kr5super
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I have used this lens several times, compared with the Pentax A in a practical test on Sony A7 it surpassed it in the extreme edges (at 20-21mm) it gives its best between 5.6 and 16. I prefer it to the various Pentaxes, similar performance to the vivitar 28 komine
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2018 Location: Tokyo Posts: 44 | | Review Date: January 5, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Light, compact, sharp | | Cons: | Slight brrel distortion | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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Another lens I rescued for peanuts from the auction junkyard almost by chance. It turned out to be a relatively rare early version.
Its genealogical tree is not yet fully clear, because back then there were multiple models with more or less evident differences of components or makers (Cosina, Tomioka, etc.), or even of general design that not always had reflection in the names (ex. “Auto P Rikenon”, “XR Rikenon” “MACRO”, etc.). However in the case of this “Rikenon P 28mm f2.8” it seems there were three main production variats that can generally be identified as follows.
- Early model: lens barrel and distance ring made of metal; value ring and aperture ring made of plastic; green circle on aperture stoppping button; counterclockwise helicoid direction (infinity mark on the right); "P" in lens name plate is white; shortest shooting distance of 30 cm.
- Model-I: all of plastic; clockwise helicoid direction (infinity mark on the left); "P" in lens name plate is green; shortest shooting distance of 25 cm.
- Model-II: all of plastic; clockwise helicoid direction (infinity mark on the left); "MACRO" and "P" in lens name plate is green; macro function; shortest shooting distance is 25 cm.
The lens reviewed here is the first of them, which among all is the only one that was made by Tomioka. It was introduced in 1984, when Tomioka Optics had already been absorbed by Yashica (1968), which in turn became a subsidiary of Kyocera (1983) after its bankruptcy. Sources suggest that this lens could have been one of the last jobs of Tomioka Optics.
It is very compact and light, but with a good feel and easy handling: the helicoid is quite sensitive and with a short run, therefore focusing requires some attention. Relatively solid despite the plastic-oriented production standards starting in those years. Reliable and relatively good for any situation as an all-arounder tool. I am using it on K1 and despite having its age, it produces very appealing and up-to-today standard-needs images. Its short min. focus distance makes it ideal for small objects and details shots, as well as for environmental and street snaps.
It has some vignette wide open, but nothing much noticeable. It is quite sharp, with good definition, an interesting mae-bokeh and a background bokeh which I do not find bad as other reviewers described. It does not have a specific color cast, even if I'd say it displays the typical Rikenon 'gray' tone of those year productions (I noticed it on the 45mm f2.8, the 50mm f2, the 50mm f1.7). Shadows tend to achieve a cyano-violet tone in unsuitable contrast situations, with suppression of yelllows (I guess as result of the coating). The only negative thing I can find in it is visible barrel distortion, when you use it on straight architectural lines. Nothing tragic, but keep in mind it will show up.
The lens does not seem to have cemented elements inside, so if you find one with fog or mold, chances are you will be able to clean it up and bring it back to use.
Samples:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liveactionhero/51800881896/in/dateposted-family/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liveactionhero/51801617960/in/dateposted-family/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liveactionhero/51801252359/in/dateposted-family/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liveactionhero/51801253359/in/dateposted-family/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liveactionhero/51792166979/in/album-72177720295631073/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liveactionhero/51790246493/in/album-72177720295631073/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liveactionhero/51790839875/in/album-72177720295631073/ | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: July, 2017 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,585
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 26, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small , Light weight , Inexpensive | | Cons: | None for a Manual lens | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K30 , K-1 , K3II , KP
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There's not really anything negative to say about this very common little lens for what it is.
I have several iterations (and copies) of the 28mm Rikenon P , and also the XR version.
This is just about equal in every respect to the others , and I cant really tell the difference other than possibly a bit warmer colors than the XR version.
Sharpness is really good providing your copy doesn't stop a hair shy of the OO stop.
I prefer my copies to focus a hair past infinity , as my landscape images need to be sharp In LV.
Bokeh is so-so , but for a 2.8 lens it can be annoyingly busy at times.
Sharpness is very good stopped down a bit , but a hood is also highly recommended.
I wont sit here and pick apart this lens with what it isn't , as any film era lens has some short falls.
I would rate this a solid 8.75 , but I cant do this here.
Simply put.....If You need a small landscape lens that does a nice job , and costs less than a meal at Denny's.....consider this one.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Posts: 3,897
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 1, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | small, light, sharp, focus to 11 inches | | Cons: | only full clicks on aperture, older coatings | |
Found this for a good price and it's easily worth more. I like that it goes from infinity to 11 inches with only a 90° lens turn. Images are very good at f/2.8 and excellent by f/5.6. Veiling flare is not as bad as expected, but modern coatings put most old models to shame. I like this lens a lot, until I can fund a DA21  it will stay with me.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2011 Posts: 1
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 26, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | nice color and bokeh, small, wide angle, f2.8 is somewhat fast | | Cons: | poor contrast, not very sharp, focusing ring is slow and difficult to move | |
If you want a very affordable wide angle lens, this will do. It gets very nice color and bokeh I've found, though the images are somewhat softer than would be preferable and the contrast is rather poor. It's small and seems to be of solid build, though the focusing ring is long and hard to move.
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