| Author: | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911 | | Review Date: September 30, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, well-built, excellent optics | | Cons: | Aperture ring in full stops only | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3, Lumix S5
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This review is for the first version of this lens, the one that is not a re-badged Pentax M 35mm f/2.8. The aperture goes to f/16, it has six blades, aa 52mm filter thread and minimum focus distance of 35cm.
I stumbled across this lens online for €45 and decided to take a gamble on it, after all, I like 35mm primes as they make good standard lenses on APS-C cameras. When it arrived it was in mint condition, looked like it had never been used. Build quality is very solid - the same level as the M series - the focus is silky smooth and the aperture ring clicks nicely. I popped it on my K-3 and took it out for some shots and was blown away by the quality of images it could produce.
This lens is sharp wide open - really sharp. Colours are bright and contrast is perfect. Bokeh is not super smooth but a bit swirly and with character.
My all-time favourite manual 35mm is the M series f/2, due to the image quality and pleasure of use, but this Rikenon is a very close second judging by my experience with it so far. And it's much, much cheaper than the M 35/2. It's also significantly better than the M 35/2.8: sharper, better colour and contrast.
And there's not much more to say about it - it's a really superb performer and a pleasure to use. The only negative is that the aperture click are in full stops, no halves. It's a shame this lens isn't more common so that more people could enjoy using it.
I've now used it on digital full-frame (Panasonic Lumix S5) and I'm glad to report that it performs every bit as well there as it does on APS-C.
A picture of the lens on an MX:
MX with Ricoh XR Rikenon 35mm f/2.8 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Some sample images.
Wooden figures by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Frosty leaf by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
The track by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
School graffiti 2 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Building by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2020 Posts: 6 | | Review Date: March 31, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $48.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Price, Build quality | | Cons: | Chromatic Aberration, Low contrast, no half stops like Pentax-M counterpart,Coatings inferior to Pentax-M counterpart | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony a7, MX, ME, ME Super
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This is a great small 35mm that excels at being low cost, very high in build quality, pretty sharp, and a joy to use.
I obtained my copy with a lens case in flawless condition for under 50 dollars on eBay, where as the Pentax-M 35mm f/2.8 which is said to be the same, goes for upwards of 90.
This lens is a great optical performer for a 3rd party lens, I find it quite sharp, and normally stop it down for daily use. While the optics are the same as the Pentax-M, it lacks the incredible SMC coatings, has a stiffer focusing ring, and the aperture is in half stops.
Other than that, it focuses decently close, and is glued as an everydayer to my Pentax MX.
I did a quick test between my Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 at each of their closest focusing distances, and them zoomed-in in Lightroom to compare. The Pentax is sharper, has more contrast, and much less CA.
Ricoh on the left, Pentax on the right.
Overall though, it is a great lens to use, plenty sharp, and really solved my 35mm problem for a really good price!
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2017 Location: Garden City, NY Posts: 6,349
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 16, 2019 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Ease of use, 3-D effect, bokeh, sharp | | Cons: | None to me | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-50
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I'll let the shots speak for themselves...
Awesome lens if you ge tthe first version. The second version apparently is the same as the SMC M 35/2.8
But the first version... How to know - ID the 1st version with this:
-MFD = 0.35 m
-f16 top speed
- 6 blades
1st Version lens:
Sample shots:
All shots were unhooded... Some one reviewed that the hood does well to the lens... I hve no hood for it, and I'm pleased. So a hood can only make it "better".
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: October, 2011 Location: British Columbia Posts: 377 | | Review Date: March 20, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Size, overall IQ | | Cons: | Coatings | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-2, Me Super, MX, K-5, K-1
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Very sharp wide open with a peak around f/8. Contrast deepens stopped down as well.
This lens benefits from a hood as it seems its coatings, while still very good, are not quite up to the typical SMC Pentax quality.
Bokeh is quite decent for a 35mm f/2.8 lens; overall fairly smooth, low colour fringing. Specular highlights become hexagonal around f/5.6 but not distressingly so.
Handling got a 9 from me since the lens is very well made, small, all metal, without any hint of wobble, rattle, or slop. It also takes small 52mm filters which is always a bonus. The 1 point it lost is due to the aperture clicks being in full stops only. Yes, it's easy to adjust the aperture ring in between the full stops to get correct exposure, but I prefer the solid clicking into place of half stops.
I would rank this lens' image quality in same lines as the FA 35mm f/2, which is another 35mm lens I've owned.
This Ricoh is low cost, well made, and a quality optic. Just don't expect it to be a 31mm ltd and you'll be content. 
Recommended
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2009 Location: Berlin, DE Posts: 30 | | Review Date: March 27, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp; good contrast; low price | | Cons: | Contrast and colors compared to SMC Pentax version | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-5
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I have this lens in both XR (all-metal build) and P (plastic aperture control ring, has Ricoh pin) models. Optical design of the two models as well as their actual performance appear identical, so this review covers them both.
This lens is sharp. I would say it's even sharper wide open than SMC Pentax-M 35/2.8, which I have never grown to like. Stopped down, it compares well to the SMC Pentax counterpart.
This lens has slightly lower contrast compared to SMC Pentax-M. Also, I like the colors more in the Pentax version. Overall, I'll rate this lens an 8 (if I were reviewing the SMC Pentax version, I would probably also give it an 8).
The earlier model of this (XR) lens is all metal, so build quality is impeccable. The later P version adds camera-based aperture control via the infamous Ricoh pin, and has a plastic aperture control ring. I suspect there are more plastic parts inside; the 'P' model does not feel as substantial as the XR.
To the Ricoh pin. Good news: that the Ricoh pin in this lens (the 'P' model) is of the safe type. It does not get in the way on my Pentax K-5, so the lens can be mounted and removed safely from the camera.
Considering how much I paid for mine ($35 shipped for the 'P' version), I think this lens is a deal.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2010 Posts: 47 | | Review Date: March 31, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, No CA | | Cons: | Color/Contrast a bit lacking | |
Like all my other Ricoh prime lens reviews, I give this an 8 for sharpness and CA. It does not get a 9 or a 10 due to color and contrast lacking, like their other ones. I have to hand it to Ricoh, they do seem to make a consistent prime lens.
It doesnt get used by me all that often, as I have the pentax m 28mm 2.8 and 3.5 which is very close in focal range with better color/contrast. I will just hold on to this one because it is a rarity.
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