> While the 40/2.8 isn't the sharpest lens around I'd not base my > impression on an obviously damaged specimen. This was taken with > a 40mm I think it's very sharp at f11, more than merely > acceptable.
I think that the M 40/2.8 is a decent enough lens. It's not quite the "marvel" that some eBay sellers would have you believe, but it's quite adequate. And, having tested four samples of them at one time ( http://www.cetussoft.com/pentax/50's/resolutn.htm ), I was amazed at how nearly identical the four samples tested - the level of consistency between the samples was noticeably smaller than that of any of the other lens models tested. (The page at the above link shows only the mean values for each lens.) I also have a few 40/2.8 specimen images in the Pentax Lens Gallery at http://plg.komkon.org/m40_28/m40_28.html . Fred
