Pentax SMCP-FA 28mm f/2.8 AL Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Mark Roberts
(Expert)

Review Date
December 5, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 1 of 6

Price Paid: $80.00 from used

Summary:

This is a real sleeper of a lens. It''s not really fast and it isn''t big and impressive looking (like a fast lens would be); it''s just very, very good and a real bargain. There''s a little light fall-off in the corners when wide open but it''s gone by f4. very little distortion. Really sharp. Even though it''s an autofocus lens, I often keep it on my MX when I''m travelling light. It''s a gem.

Strengths:

Compact, lightweight, sharp, inexpensive.

Weaknesses:

Won''t impress the ignorant masses. Oh yes, and the thin focusing ring isn''t the greatest when using manual focus.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax SMC-M 28/3.5

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Rating
Reviewed by: PM
(Expert)

Review Date
November 9, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 2 of 6

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

A very sharp, very light, very high-contrast lens, which I used exclusively for my last exhibition, BUT it suffers from severe barrel distortion. I thought I''d submit this review, as this draw-back has not been mentioned elsewhere. It is a super lens, if you avoid vertical and horizontal lines!

Strengths:

Very sharp, contrasty, low flare, light-weight.

Weaknesses:

Quite severe barrel distortion. Quality: one of the gears inside (for the AF) has lost a tooth.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus 28mm f2.8

Customer Service:

Not used

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Rating
Reviewed by: Michele P
(Professional)

Review Date
October 31, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 3 of 6

Price Paid: $230.00

Summary:

Fantastic lens, sharp, light and incredible value for money. This lens has always delivered

Strengths:

see review summary and add close focusing distance

Weaknesses:

No lens hood, small focusing ring

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 28mm long time back....ouch

Customer Service:

Not needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Don Sivori
(Professional)

Review Date
August 17, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 4 of 6

Price Paid: $175.00 from used @ Chuck Rubin's Louisville

Summary:

Incredibly sharp lens. Used on assignment to do environmental portrait of doctor's office. Used fill flash indoors with mix light of doctor standing in front of desk. I was about 5-6 feet away. When I got slides back and louped them I could read his business card plainly which was laying on his desk behind him.

Strengths:

AL aspheric lens element for sharpness,light weight, exhibits low levels of flare

Weaknesses:

I don't like cheap plastic lens barrels.

Similar Products Used:

none

Customer Service:

Never had to use with this lens.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Amy Hughes
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 16, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 5 of 6

Price Paid: $240.00 from B&H

Summary:

A great lens for the money, but I wish Pentax made a faster 28mm. I use this primarily for shooting in tight places (the interior of large architectural models). Manual focus may be secondary for an inexpensive AF lens, but I wish the focus ring on all the SMCP lenses was more substantial. This lens has the tightest, smoothest MF ring of the three inexpensive SMCP-FA's that I have, though. That may be by design or manufacturing variability.

Strengths:

sharp, light-weight, good value

Weaknesses:

Focus ring is a bit slim, but is tight and smooth. Optional lens hood is screw-in.

Similar Products Used:

None

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