Pentaxian Registered: May, 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Posts: 3,897 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: September 14, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $155.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | small, very close focus, 'A' aperture contact, filter slot in rear | Cons: | old-school flare | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3ii
| | It's the best $155 f/2.8 fisheye ever!! OK not saying much with that.
I found this online for an irresistible price but I could fine very little data for it; the modern EX/DG model (which I owned previously) gets all the press. My copy is in VG condition but optically and mechanically are fine. Images are great for detail and color but I've found it is challenged to get the sky right at times. If necessary I could bracket and make that work, and it's a common exposure problem for ultrawide lenses.
Flare is quite visible but not a major deal; mostly I find blue-violet blobs but no veiling flare doing great damage.
On APSc cameras the fisheye effect is visible but definitely minimized. The round 2nd hood can be used with no vignetting that I've noticed.
Closeup images are surreal, it's my best use for a lens like this!
I give this an 8 and close to 8½ rating but note the individual ratings are spread out. Bokeh should not be held against such a lens, and it's easy to work with & gives great results. I slightly prefer the Pentax SMC 17 Fish-Eye but this one is a stop faster and quite a bit cheaper.
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