Pentax SMCP-F Fisheye Zoom 17mm-28mm f/3.5-4.5 35mm Zoom
Pentax SMCP-F Fisheye Zoom 17mm-28mm f/3.5-4.5 35mm Zoom
USER REVIEWS
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[Apr 12, 2003]
davido
Expert
Strength:
Well controlled flair. Good image quality for a fisheye. Solid construction.
Weakness:
No provision for the use of filters. Truly a unique lens among all manufacturers. Pentax still is the only manufacturer to make a fisheye zoom. Being a full-frame fisheye, with 180 degree field of view (diagonal) at 17mm, this lens will get you shots you couldn't get any other way. But it's not only a 17mm fisheye lens. It's also a fisheye lens throughout its zoom range, all the way to 28mm. At 28mm, it still appears wider than a traditional rectalinear 28mm lens. And still retains that characteristic fisheye look. Why would you want this? Because though with excessive use a fisheye can look rather cliche`, with proper use a good fisheye can give a smattering of fun to a portfolio of shots or a photo essay. And with the ability to get that fisheye look while still zooming in and out, you are able to frame your fisheye-looking shot in infinately more ways than a fixed 17mm fisheye. I've found this lens useful in situations ranging from landscape, to architecture, to people-shots, to indoor photography in tight spaces like the interior of a small sailboat. No other fisheye can do as much for you as this one. Customer Service Never needed Similar Products Used: There are no similar products. However, I've used a number of wide angle lenses including: SMC Pentax-FA 20-35mm F/4 AL SMC Pentax-FA 28mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax-FA 24mm f/2 AL |
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[Apr 02, 2003]
rnphoto
Intermediate
Strength:
Good build quality, good optical quality, incredible versatility.The lens gives images impossible to obtain with other fish eye/wide angle lenses.
Weakness:
None This is an amazing lens. No other manufacturer has a zoom of this type. The lens provides a fish eye image at 17mm and at other focals provides images with less distortion than a fish eye lens and with a much greater angle of view than other wide angle zooms with the same focals.A great lens for outdoors or architecturals. Customer Service Very good in my town Similar Products Used: Sigma 15mm fish eye |
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[Jul 04, 2000]
Rick Barry
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
SMC Pentax-F Fish-Eye Zoom 17mm-28mm
Strength:
The 17-28mm fish eye is a great lens for being creative.
Weakness:
Very fragile. I'm happy with this lens. Similar Products Used: Nikon 20mm |
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[Jun 30, 2000]
henk van rensbergen
Expert
Model Reviewed:
SMC Pentax-F Fish-Eye Zoom 17mm-28mm
Strength:
small, light and handy.
Weakness:
maybe a bit fragile (mine got a crack after a small collision with a wall). great fish eye-wide angle zoom. Customer Service pentax benelux su*** : they don't give a d*** about your problems. Similar Products Used: None |
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[Nov 26, 1999]
Roberto Burgos
Model Reviewed:
SMC Pentax-F Fish-Eye Zoom 17mm-28mm
Strength:
Great little thingie. very capable of great images. Its a compromise between a good fisheye and a usefull super wide zoom
Weakness:
None so far but I would have like the possibility to use filters. Very capable lens. Fisheye distortion is strong through all the zoom range. Great for outdoors and nature. Fancy if you want some extreme architecturals. Flare is well controlled. Sharpness is very good but a little soft near the corners. I guess this happens with any 180 fisheye. Customer Service Never needed Similar Products Used: None except for ultrawides (rectilinears) 17 mm (Tokina) and 20 mm Pentax |