Pentax K-m, Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 10/02/26

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Pentax K-m, Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC

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Pentax K-m, Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 09/30/26

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Pentax K-m, Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 09/29/26

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Pentax K-m, Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC

CCD Resurgence: Images with a legacy Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC, a vintage manual-focus wide-angle prime recognized as a compact, sharp, and budget-friendly alternative to its faster sibling, the Kiron 28mm f/2, a sweet-spot 42mm full-frame equivalent on the Pentax K-m.

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The Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC is a vintage, manual-focus wide-angle prime lens made by Kino Precision, a respected Japanese OEM known for producing many of Vivitar's legendary Series 1 lenses, during the 1980s. Although the lens is often overshadowed by its faster and more popular sibling, the Kiron 28mm f/2, the f/2.8 is more of a hidden gem, appreciated for its sturdy all-metal construction and classic vintage rendering.

The lens is a 7-element, 7-group construction, featuring 6 aperture blades and an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/22. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.30 meters, measures 64 × 57mm, accepts 55mm filters, and weighs approximately 284 grams. It was made available with M42, Pentax K, Minolta MD, Canon FD, Nikon F, Olympus OM, and Yashica C/Y mounts.

The lens was also marketed under different badges across the region, with the most notable being the Vivitar MC Wide Angle 28mm f/2.8, with serial numbers starting with "22" to denote its Kino Precision parentage.

On the Pentax-Km, the Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC is equivalent to a 40mm lens on a full-frame camera. The focal length, often referred to as the "sweet spot lens for photography," provides a field of view that is more like a natural “normal” lens than a very wide one.

The focal length mimics human vision with minimal distortion, making it a very versatile option for capturing realistic scenes without feeling too wide or too tight, excellent for travel, street, and documentary photography, as well as for close-ups, architecture, and casual portraits.

In street photography, for example, the focal length helps capture the scene's atmosphere while enabling detailed compositions and framing. For environmental portraits, the lens offers enough field of view for context, along with gentle subject isolation and slight background compression.

With a closest focusing distance of 0.30 meters, crops and close-up shots with the lens are equally exemplary.

Images, as processed, are uniquely warm and vintage, sharp when stopped down, with minimal vignetting, flaring, or chromatic aberration. While not as razor-sharp when shot wide-open, the lens does evoke artistic qualities that legacy lenses have when compared to the clarity and sharpness favored by digital enthusiasts in modern glass.

Pentax K-m, Kiron 28mm f/2.8 MC

The Pentax K-m (K2000 in some regions), an entry-level digital SLR camera fitted with a 10.2MP APS-C-sized CCD sensor, was introduced in 2008, with features that include a KAF2 lens mount system, has a built-in Shake Reduction (image stabilization) and dust removal system, an optical viewfinder with approximately 96% field of view and 0.85x magnification, a 230,000 dot 2.7-inch LCD screen, ISO sensitivity range from 100 to 3200, Auto Picture modes with scene recognition for portrait, landscape, macro, and night scenes, and is powered by 4 AA batteries (Lithium, Ni-MH rechargeable, or alkaline).

Pentax K-m, Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 09/11/26

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Pentax K-m, Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 09/10/26

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Pentax K-m, Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 09/09/26

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Pentax K-m, Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 09/08/26

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Pentax K-m, Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8

CCD Resurgence: Images with a legacy Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8, high praise for its dreamy vintage glow, exceptionally close minimum focus distance, and unique, characterful bokeh, a 75mm short-tele equivalent on the Pentax K-m.

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I had an earlier session with the Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8, a highly regarded vintage lens, mounted on a 6MP CMOS APS-C Canon EOS 300D a while back. I am back with the lens again, which was manufactured in East Germany during the 1960s and 1970s, this time mounted on a 10.2MP CCD APS-C Pentax K-m.

The Oreston 50mm f/1.8, normally available with an M42 or Exakta mount, is popular for its "zebra" or all-black styling, manual focus, and distinctive rendering.

The all-metal and glass single-coat 6-element construction in 4 groups is robustly built, comes with 6 straight aperture blades, has a minimum focusing distance of 0.33 meters, measures 52mm x 48mm, takes 49mm filters, and weighs approximately 220 grams.

It has a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, which sets it apart as being ideal for portraits, low-light, and shallow depth-of-field images. Images, which sharpen up significantly from f/2.8 onward, are known for their creamy bokeh, subtle swirls, and a soft, dreamy character when shot wide open.

The lens also has the potential to perform well in low-light situations, especially for indoor events or night photography. Its increased reach, when used on a digital SLR with a crop sensor, allows for a non-intrusive stance while maintaining proper social distancing etiquette.

While the lens was initially manufactured by VEB Feinoptisches Werk Görlitz (formerly Hugo Meyer & Co) in East Germany, it was later rebranded as the Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 when Meyer-Optik merged with VEB Pentacon.

On the Pentax K-m, the Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8 is equivalent to a 75mm short-telephoto lens, a very versatile focal length for portraiture, as it isolates subjects and compresses perspective, providing a flattering compression of facial features and a tighter field of view than the human eye.

Pentax K-m, Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8

The Pentax K‑m (K2000 in the US), launched in 2008, is a 10MP CCD entry-level APS-C digital SLR camera with Pentax KAF2 bayonet mount, an optical viewfinder, a shutter speed range from 30 seconds to 1/4000 seconds, a 5‑point AF system, a 230,00 dot 2.7-inch LCD, ISO sensitivity from 100 to 3200, and in‑body image (sensor‑shift) stabilization. The camera runs on 4 AA batteries. Images are praised for color and depth, suitable for both portrait and landscape photography.

Pentax K-m, Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 07/24/26

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Pentax K-m, Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 07/23/26

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Pentax K-m, Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 07/22/26

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Pentax K-m, Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 07/21/26

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Pentax K-m, Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5

CCD Resurgence: Images with a vintage legacy Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5, acclaimed for its exceptional sharpness, 12-blade circular bokeh, and rugged all-metal build, a 202.5mm full-frame telephoto equivalent on the Pentax K-m.

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The Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5, one of the highlights of the film photography era, is a highly regarded pre-set prime known for extreme sharpness, 12-blade creamy bokeh, and robust metal construction. The lens, originally based on a Zeiss Sonnar design, is a Soviet-era swappable T-mount (produced mainly by KMZ / Zenit) which typically comes with a M42 screw mount.

The lens, a long-time favorite with vintage enthusiasts for its compact size, metallic build, and pleasing rendering, especially for portraits and controlled telephoto work, was introduced in 1974.

The solid all-metal and glass compact (multi-coated if it comes with an MC designation) is a 4-element in 3 groups construction, has a minimum focusing distance of 0.12 meters, takes 52mm filters, weighs 410 grams, and enjoys a rating of Sharpness at 9.0, Aberrations at 8.7, Bokeh at 8.7, Handling at 8.1, and Value at 9.5 on PentaxForums.

The lens also carries the designation "-A" to denote that the lens has a removable shank and can be installed in other camera lens mount systems. Variants of the lens include a multi-coated "MC" version and a "K" version with a PK mount.

On the Pentax K-m, the Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5 is equivalent to a 202.5mm lens on a full-frame camera. The focal length, categorized as a medium telephoto, offers a balance between magnification and perspective compression, with a narrower field of view ideal for portraiture, street photography, and isolating subjects.

In use, pre-setting the lens to its designated aperture opening, and closing the aperture to the setting before taking the shot, whilst framing and focusing is done at full aperture, is the way forward.

To set, first turn the aperture ring to its smallest opening (f/22), press the aperture ring down towards the body of the camera, and turn it to the required aperture setting. Release the ring and turn it slightly to the right to click the lock into place, and you are ready to go.

Pentax K-m, Jupiter 37-A 135mm f/3.5

In manual mode on the Pentax, you still have the advantage of using the green button (the Exposure Compensation button on the K-m) to quickly set the shutter speed and aperture for proper exposure. Do this by pressing the button before releasing the shutter.

Pentax K-m, Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 06/19/26

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Pentax K-m, Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 06/18/26

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Pentax K-m, Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 06/17/26

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Pentax K-m, Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8

The Galleria: Photo of the Day, 06/16/26

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Pentax K-m, Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8

CCD Resurgence: Images with a 10.2MP CCD Pentax K-m, with a Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8, an ideal 42mm full-frame equivalent manual-focus setup that mimics the natural perspective of the human eye.

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A very bright sunny day session with a legacy Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8, from a series of budget-friendly manual focus lenses manufactured for Pentax K-mount SLR cameras between 1984 and 1988, mounted on an equally vintage Pentax APS-C digital SLR camera, Pentax K-m (K2000 in the US), released in 2008.

Takumar-A lenses, acknowledged with excellent build quality, sharp image rendering, and unique 'character', are a simplified version of older Takumar lenses with lighter build quality and less elaborate coatings, and carry the 'A' designation to indicate that they can be used in full aperture- and shutter-priority, program, and manual exposure modes on compatible cameras.

The 7-element in 7 group lens, featuring a 5-blade automatic diaphragm, shares the same optical formula as the SMC Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, except without the Super-Multi-Coating (SMC) option. The lens has a 49 mm filter thread, a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m, measures 63 × 37 mm, and weighs 180 grams.

On the Pentax K-m, the Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8 is equivalent to a 42mm prime on a 35mm full-frame camera, a focal length still considered as the "sweet-spot lens for photography," with images that offer natural perspective, minimal distortion, and high versatility for street, portrait, and travel. The lens enjoys a Sharpness rating of 8.5, an Aberrations rating of 8.8, a Bokeh rating of 7.8, a Handling rating of 8.8, and a Value rating of 9.8 on PentaxForums.

Despite lacking SMC, the Takumar‑A 28 mm f/2.8 controls flare and ghosting better than many older designs, with contrast holding up reasonably well even when shooting into the sun. Saturation and color are typically described as neutral‑to‑slightly warm, with a pleasant vintage look that doesn’t turn gaudy on modern sensors.

Though considered a budget option series, Takumar-A lenses are still comparable in performance to the others and should do well for manual focus users and enthusiasts who work both in manual and auto exposure modes. These lenses are compatible with modern digital Pentax DSLRs as well, and as they are often listed at lower prices, they are the non-SMC alternative with similar performance. The lenses were also sold as Cosmicar and Takumar Bayonet in some markets.

The Pentax K-m (K2000), on which the Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8 was mounted for this bright sunny day run, is a compact, entry-level 10.2-megapixel APS-C DSLR designed for beginners, and comes with features including an in-body Shake Reduction system, a 2.7-inch LCD, and a 3.5 fps continuous shooting rate. The camera is lauded for its small size, user-friendliness, and compatibility with numerous K-mount lenses, and runs on 4x AA batteries.

Pentax K-m/K2000, Takumar-A 28mm f/2.8

Compared to the K200D (2008), the camera on which the K-m (K2000) was based, the K-m is a smaller, lighter, and is the faster-shooting successor. While both share the same 10.2MP CCD sensor, the K-m (K2000) is not weather sealed, has no top LCD panel, and has no dedicated RAW button.