Playing With Lenses: Playing Poker: SMC Pentax-M 1:3.5 28mm

Wednesday, 1 August 2018

Playing Poker: SMC Pentax-M 1:3.5 28mm

Cost: 25$ (average market price $62.79)

Rumour goes that this lens was not just built as a cheaper version of faster 28mm lenses, but was designed to be a better landscape lens. And the results are there... sharp across the whole picture once you go higher then f8, amazing colors (the usual excellent colors of Pentac lenses of this era). I fond several reviews of full-frame users raving about this lens (although the "k" version, it's predecessor was deemed even better).

Construction is a nice all-metal, in a very compact design. If it wasn't for the adapter, this would be sleek setup. It just looks like how a lens should look like. This older manual lenses just have a better look then todays bulky motorised lenses.

Focus is butter smooth, and aperture is nice but a little hesitant but that might just be the age of this particular lens. It was a pleasure to handle with easy focus and a light weight. The slow aperture did require high ISO when shooting indoor, so the best side of this lens is indeed outdoors, as a landscape lens. I should try it on a tripod one day for maximum sharpness.

And looking at what others are achieving with this lens, I would state it's highly recommended, especially on full frame camera's where higher ISO are less of an issue. Conclusion: if you find one in good shape, buy it. There is no poker risk here. Win guaranteed.

To combat partial reflection, Pentax developed chemical coatings for the lens surfaces with minimum light loss. SMC is "a remarkable seven-layer lens coating process that cuts the reflection ratio down to just 0.2% per lens surface. The result is a dramatic improvement in both color fidelity and brightness and the elimination of flare and ghost images."
SMC was patented and first applied in 1971, when Pentax was still making screw mount equipment. The multi-coated lens lines changed from Takumar and Super-Takumar to Super-Multi-Coated Takumar and later on to SMC Takumar. SMC Pentax was used for the newly introduced K-mount lenses. Pentax's SMC is still today considered as one of the best lens coatings on the market.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 28mm
Maximum Aperture: F3.5
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: PK
Optics: 6 elements, 6 groups
Blades: 5
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 30cm
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 180g
Length: 31.5mm
Production: 1977 to 1985
Serial Number: 6461196
Made in: Japan

More information on Pentax

Samples:

Pictures taken with the Lens Turbo II adapter