Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

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

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

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

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

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

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

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.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

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