Site Supporter Registered: September, 2010 Location: MD Posts: 1,029
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| | Review Date: April 3, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Dualfocus! | | Cons: | Quite soft wide open | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-30
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I wasn't sure whether to add this under zoom or prime lenses, but the idea is that this is a dual prime lens with the quality advantages of a prime but some of the flexibility of a zoom. Of course there isn't a huge difference between 28mm and 35mm, but the concept is good. In my comparisons, this lens isn't going to win any awards for prime quality, but it is a capable lens that's fun to use.
It's bigger than the Vivitar 28mm f2.8 I have and even slightly bigger than my DA 35 f2.4. Being all metal, it is heavier and feels quite solid. Everything is manual, but it meters well w/ the green button on my K-30. There is a 180 degree turn for focus, and the band is wide enough for easy handling. That band can be pulled toward the body for 28mm and pushed out a few mm to snap into the 35mm position.
It's soft wide open and sharpens as you close down. f5.6 is okay; f8 is nicely sharp. For comparison at 28mm, it's very similar to the Vivitar 28mm f2.8. It can't compete with the DA 35mm f2.4 (which is wonderful from nearly wide open and has superior contrast), but it can deliver acceptable photos. A better comparison may be with my DA 18-135 zoom where it's in the ballpark of quality but w/ less contrast, and, of course, it requires the extra fiddling of a fully manual lens.
Bottom line: It could replace my Vivitar 28mm. It won't replace my DA 35mm f2.4. It's probably not worth the extra work to replace the DA 18-135mm. Still, if I want a smallish lens with some flexibility, this is a fun one to use! Lens quality on its own is more like a 7+, but I'll make it an 8 for value and the dual focal length.
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