Recommend me a good 28-35 manual focus Pentax prime

[cmedin]

For the Pentax users here... what's a good choice for a 28-35mm lens? I want something with a close to 'normal' view on the cropped sensor. The 35/2 is supposed to be great, as is the 35/3.5 (though a bit slow). How about 28mm, any gems there? I'd like an A lens so I can just stick it in aperture priority....

 

[DeeCee3]

The relatively new 31 Limited gets rave reviews wherever I've seen it posted but it's pricey. There's a much older 28 3.5 that's reportedly the sharpest lens Pentax ever produced...seems it's an M lens, though. Everyone seems quite happy with the 31 and also the 43, though that one's a bit long for the K10D.

dc3

 

[ampguy]

I love the Vivitar 35/1.9. It's made by Tamron or some other vendor, but very well built, meters great on the newer pentaxes, but of course is MF only, flare free.

 

[OldNick]

If you would settle for manual focus and aperture, the Soligor 35mm f/2 C/D lens is great. The C/D indicates that it is a computer designed lens, and it focuses down to .3 meters or 1 foot.

Jim N.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Generally speaking the "best" Pentax lenses are the SMC Pentax's introduced with the K series cameras. They are quite often referred to as K series. Pentax conpromised slightly with the optical quality when they redused the size of some of them for the M series. Most of the A series follow the formula of the M's. In 28, the 28/2.8 M, A and F were all mediocre by Pentax standards and built to a budget though still not bad compared to other brands. The 28/2's were very good lenses but are difficult to get hold of. The 35/2A is very good but not startling. The 35/2FA has a strong following because it is very good value for money but is easily eclipsed by the 31 Ltd but at about twice the price.

If it s of any interest, I will shortly be selling my 24/2.8A, 28/2A and 31 Ltd. However with the $/£ exchange rate and the tax situation, you may not like the prices. A near mint 31Ltd like mine tends to sell for the same price in Europe as a new one in the US.

Kim

 

[wintoid]

I'm selling a 35mm f/2.0 lens, SMCP-A. I suppose I haven't been trying too hard given that it works on my Canon SLR, but it is still for sale, although like Kim you may find the price expensive in dollars.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=7937

 

[Kim Coxon]

If you think that lens is nice, try the 28/2 SMC Pentax. 😀

Kim

I agree with kim's comments about the quality dropping with the later A lenses, and I find the 35mm a little long for general use (on dslr). I'm currently using my 30 year old 28mm f2.8 K, which I've had from new, bought with a KM.

 

[mackigator]

I too am looking for information about the "good" ones to own for a K10D, particularly primes and zooms within the (35mm equiv) 25mm -75mm range. No opinions of my own so far, but here are a few links.

I'm particular interested in older glass that might approximate or surpass the performance of the new DA* and limited lenses. Manual focus is fine by me.

http://stans-photography.info/
http://www.robertstech.com/compat.htm
http://ca.geocities.com/spirope/pentlens.html

I see where both the FA 24 f2.0 and the 28/2 SMC Pentax get high praise.

@kim: What are you replacing all that nice Pentax stuff with?

Mackigator

 

[raid]

The relatively new 31 Limited gets rave reviews wherever I've seen it posted but it's pricey. There's a much older 28 3.5 that's reportedly the sharpest lens Pentax ever produced...seems it's an M lens, though. Everyone seems quite happy with the 31 and also the 43, though that one's a bit long for the K10D.

dc3

I bought a Pentax 28mm/3.5 from KEH for $6. If it is "the sharpest lens", then I certainly have done well here.

I have the SMC 35mm/2, 50mm/1.4 and 85mm/1.8 for the Spotmatic F.
These may be among the best lenses made by Pentax.

 

[wintoid]

Shameless plug, adding a few links to images taken with a K10D and the 35mm lens I'm selling...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/1407876815/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1129/847236534_3a09e3c7c5.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/964692101/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/964692631/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/1006359152_d48956bc19.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/1006359056_3f5408f0ed.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/846203079/

 

[charjohncarter]

I have two 28mm Pentax lenses. The screw mount is probably the best, but I don't like fussing with the adapter. The 28mm f2.8 SMC-Pentax-F is very nice and in practical use you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It can be used manually, which I did for twenty years, or you can use it as AF. I took this last Summer in my daughters yard:

I also have the f2.0 35mm Pentax new AF lens. It is really great and can be used manually. I never take it off my K10d, I don't like dust on sensors.

 

[Kim Coxon]

A minor point. I suspect the lenses you have are either the Super Multi Coated Takumars or the SMC Takumars. The SMC pentaxs were all bayonet mount for the K series cameras. There were nearly all K mount versions of the SMC Takumars with a different grip as well as different mount. A couple were changed slightly and there were some additions with the larger mount. These included the 50/1.2, 30/2.8, 15/3.5 and a couple of others. 😉

Kim

I bought a Pentax 28mm/3.5 from KEH for $6. If it is "the sharpest lens", then I certainly have done well here.

I have the SMC 35mm/2, 50mm/1.4 and 85mm/1.8 for the Spotmatic F.
These may be among the best lenses made by Pentax.

 

[raid]

A minor point. I suspect the lemses you have are either the Super Multi Coated Takumars or the SMC Takumars. The SMC pentaxs were all bayonet mount for the K series cameras. There were nearly all K mount versions of the SMC Takumars with a different grip as well as different mount. A couple were changed slightly and there were some additions with the larger mount. These included the 50/1.2, 30/2.8, 15/3.5 and a couple of others. 😉

Kim

Kim,

Your suspicion is correct; my lenses are SMC Takumar or Super Multi Coated Takumars.

They perform quite well. I especially like the 50mm/1.4 SMC Takumar.