An interesting site but the link is wrong, it points to a Distagon 35mm lens in K mount (how rare is that?). The link to the 28 is below, I can't read Japanese and my computer won't display it properly anyway so don't know what it says.
http://members28.cool.ne.jp/~khmhk/camera/smcp28.html Paul sent me a load of info that might be of interest: Anton, I saw your posts about the SMC 28/2K. What a deal you got! I paid $275 for mine in December 2000 and sold it this year for about $300. I preferred the color of my Vivitar 28/!.9K, but the Pentax is probably a better overall lens with better geometric and color accuracy. My collected comments follow: Looks similar to the 35/2. Preceded the M; Much longer and heavier than M and A. Floating rear element has a movement of its own. Detlef Lannert: "The picture quality seems quite good; it has no noticeable distortion which may be due to the unusual construction. "There were two kinds of f/2s: one had a FREE (fixed rear element), in the other, the barrel with all elements and groups moves back and forth during focusing." Which is better? Dario Bonazza: "The Zeiss Distagon 2/28 and the SMC Pentax 2/28 had identical optical layout and floating system (joint design)." Yoshi: "My personal ranking for Pentax 28m lenses are follows; K28/3.5, K28/2, M28/3.5 >, FA28/2.8AL, M28/2.8 (old), M28/2.8 (later), A28/2.8, F28/2.8. Go for K28/2 or FA28/2.8AL when the extra speed is needed. Keep away from M/A/F series 28mm lenses because of their relatively poor performances, IMHO." Yoshi: "Hama's rectangular hood (52mm) is the best hood I have ever seen for K28/3.5, K24/2.8, K28/2, K30/2.8, K35/2, and K35/3.5 in my experience." . According to Yoshihiko Takinamii's tests (www.phred.org/pentax/k/lenses/), the best aperture is f/8-f/11; avg. center res 83 lpm, avg. corner res. 65 lpm. Yoshi, Sept 2000: I still like the two old K lenses, K28/2 and K28/3.5,among all the Pentax 28mm lenses old and new." Danny Gonzolez: "There was a collaboration between Zeiss and Pentax and that collaboration shows evidence of having produced more than the K2, the K mount and SMC multicoating. The 15/3.5, 28/2, 135/1.8 and some other lenses are roundly thought of as being a product of the relationship. The 15 and the 28 are both optically identical to later produced Contax products and, it would seem to me that Zeiss would not compromise their pride by releasing 'copies' of Pentax designed lenses." Danny Gonzolez: "Finally, I am not aware of a 2/28 or 1.8/135 lens for the Contax SLR system. The Zeiss 28/2 has gone the way of the 70-210/3.5, 40-80/3.5, 85/2.8, 100/3.5, 200/3.5 and the 135/2 lenses; a sample I played with was terrible wide open, so I don't feel it was a great loss. There are many people who have high praise for the lens and since they've put it through more of its paces, I'll defer to their opinions." Bob Walkden: Hi, The primes I liked best were the SMC-K 28/2, SMC-M 35/2, the SMC A* 85/1.4 and the SMC-A 400/5.6. This does not necessarily mean that these provided the best optical or technical quality, but rather that I enjoyed using them, got a high percentage of good photos from them, and found their handling to be excellent." 1979 German review (via Arnold Stark): "This fast wide angle lens has floating elements, meaning that at close focusing a correcting lens group moves. Thus the picture quality at close focus is improved.)" I very much doubt that there is a second version of the K28/f2 - the M28/f2 was introduced only four years after the K28/f2 had been introduced." Bob Walkden: "From: Bob Walkden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Where did you get this information about 2 versions? I have a lenses & accessories catalogue (06771) which features only one version of the K lens, which is the one I used to have, and has this to say: "SMC Pentax 28mm f/2 This lens utilizes a deluxe lens construction of 9 elements in 8 groups, including a floating group of elements to completely eliminate aberrations. Thus, both outstanding performance and high speed are characteristics of this lens." _______________________________________________________________________ Freeserve AnyTime, only �13.99 per month with one month's FREE trial! For more information visit http://www.freeserve.com/time/ or call free on 0800 970 8890
