| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2020 Posts: 82
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 13, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $115.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Very nice sharpness - | | Cons: | Handling sharpness from 5 m and beyond at f 2.8 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 8
Camera Used: Pentax KP
| |
At f 2.8, up to 2m handling sharpness is no issue at all. Slightly beyond 2 m it's still okay but from 5 m to ∞ it can become tricky.
Depending on where you lay your focus in e.g. a landscape, you might want to consider a bit higher apenture.
For close range it is indeed a very nice lens. For indoor use, close range groups of people, nature.
Used it for astrophotography (first attempts in this area) - very nice angle to use straight up to the sky.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2017 Posts: 469
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 6, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $125.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Excellent built quality, nice optics. | | Cons: | getting more expensive due to K1 bodies! | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K20d
| |
Not so easy to find but well worth the trouble.
Handling is like all older Pentax lenses very very good.
Images are excellent, colour rendering and sharpness are better that the Tokina 24 mm I had before. The Pentax 24 mm justifies the extra money.
Wide angles need a good shade for good results. When using a body with APS sensor it allows you to use a 35 mm hood. These easier to find,
Nikon shades are in good supply.
The 35 mm shade is all right because of the smaller sensor, no problem with vignetting.
Paul
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 255
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 15, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, well build, very sharp stopped down, almost no CA | | Cons: | A bit flat rendering on distance | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K1ii and K-01
| |
Nice wide angel on full frame and APS-C. The smaller sensor avoids the weaker outer aereas of this lens. You have to stop down a little bit to get the best results in the corners on full frame. CA and fringing are well controlled and center sharpness is good (wide open) to excellent (F8). Beautifull build, aperture ring works fine too. A-setting is not good calibrated, it results in some over exposure. In M-mode this works fine. I previously had the K-version of this lens, it looked untouched brand new but suffered balsem separation (low contrast, lots of flare). This A-version has none and is fine.
 | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: December, 2016 Location: Silverstone Posts: 331
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 7, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $185.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small, light, A setting | | Cons: | Price, prone to flare | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-S2
| |
I have both the A24/2.8 and the A28/2.8, and use them on APS-C.
I find the A24 more useful, in terms of focal length, but not markedly superior, in terms of IQ, than the much cheaper A28. Both are prone to flare, and lack the contrast of a digital-era lens.
I often take the A24 out for point and shoot. It's a third of the weight of my DA16-85.
A hood is essential. I have tried a few and find that a 52mm screw-in petal-shaped hood works best for the A24.
To my eye, reversal film colour profiles (such as V1 in Silkypix DS) produce the best results in PP.
 | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2012 Location: Gloucester Posts: 1,199
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 19, 2016 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small, sharp and light. | | Cons: | Not autofocus; only f2.8 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax k-1
| |
This was my favourite landscape lens back in the days of film, even on auto-focus bodies, such as my Z-1p. Stopped down, it is very sharp: I rarely used it wide open because I usually wanted to maximise depth of field, but wide open, it is completely acceptable. When I moved on to digital, I didn't use the lens as its equivalent focal length of 36 mm on APS-C is not one that interests me very much. I was, however, pleased to find that it performs very well on the K-1 and because it is so small and light, it will find a permanent place in my camera bag (until Pentax bring out a D-FA 24mm, that is). On the accompanying picture, every blade of grass can be seen on the full sized original. The colour rendition is also pleasing to my eye.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 328
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 30, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $171.48
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, solid build, great bokeh, great color, | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| |
I had been considering a DA 20mm lens for my K-3, but it is just too close to my DA 15. I jumped on this SMC-A 24 and was lucky to get this rather rare lens at a very nice price in quite excellent condition. It lands perfectly between the DA 15 and my FA 43 being equivalent to a 35mm on FF (my favorite focal length on 35mm film camera like my KX).
Lack of auto-focus is no concern, mainly because it becomes less and less important as focal length decreases and if you really need it, focus peaking works great on my K-3. Even wide-open at 2.8, the depth of field is very good and the color and contrast is great (not to mention the bokeh). I find it a wonderful lens for flowers and other landscapes, street photography. I need to test it at night with light sources in the frame to see if C/A is significant. I suspect there will be occasional purple fringing...easily fixed.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 19
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 2, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $275.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Price Sharp Build Look | | Cons: | Distortion | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony A7R
| |
Quick review of a vintage Pentax-A 24mm F2.8 shot on a Sony A7R.
Plenty sharp. Some distortion but easy to fix in post.
Here are images with out correction.
Here is one sample then a link to set of images.
Link to images HERE | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: California Posts: 2,223
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 2, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $320.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small, easy to use, A setting, Pentax, sharp, street shooting marks (hyper focal distance markings) | | Cons: | None so far | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
| |
Yammy Seaweed by Palenquero, on Flickr
Sailing Boat by Palenquero, on Flickr
Sheriff Patrolling Too by Palenquero, on Flickr
Downtown by Palenquero, on Flickr
SMC-Pentax-A-24mmf2.8-Xing-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr
SMC-Pentax-A-24mmf2.8-Iglesia1-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr
Saddleback Mountains by Palenquero, on Flickr
Train Station by Palenquero, on Flickr
Jose El Pastor by Palenquero, on Flickr
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 128
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $298.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | compact, street shooting markings | | Cons: | 5-blade aperture, wish it were ƒ/2 | | Sharpness: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax MX
| |
I dig this lens.
It is, of course, yet another A-series lens: excellent build quality, useful DOF markers, and the cool 'A' mode for auto exposure on later cameras.
This lens is pretty compact—I expected a heavier/larger lens for the focal length, but it's a lightweight. It's also pretty sharp: noticeably sharper than my A50mmƒ/1.4 but not as sharp as the A100mmƒ/2.8. The bokeh is good enough for rock and roll, but it's a wide angle so it'll be harder to get out of focus areas in the first place.
But my favorite thing about this lens is how it's made for street shooting. The ƒ/8, its hyperfocal distance, and
the indicator marker are all colored orange: just line up all of the orange things and you're ready to shoot! ƒ/8 and be there. 
Okay! So here's a picture I've taken with the lens.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 14
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 17, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $180.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Compact and lightweight | | Cons: | over rated | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 7
Camera Used: K-5
| |
The A 24mm 2.8 is a good lens. Can't really match a more actual lens such as the DA 16-45mm but color rendition and contrast is excellent, a bit yellowish to my taste. For APS-C use I prefer the A28mm 2.8, less expensive and better performer.
Some examples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cvicente1932/8307669441/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cvicente1932/8308727504/ | | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 32
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 9, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $260.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Weight, size, smooth focusing | | Cons: | Sharpness, no shade, no AF | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: Pentax K30
| |
Nice lense, compact, light, well built.
Sharpness / contrast at full aperture are disappointing, even at the center, but improve markedly at smaller apertures.
Distortion and vignetting (in APS-C) well contained. Colors slightly yellowish.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2013 Location: Central Florida Posts: 39
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $125.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Solid build, low light use, 'A' aperature | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K200D
| |
I find myself using this lens more than any other of the 7 lenses I own. Small compact, easy to focus and can can be used in aperture mode in low light. Sharpness is excellent. I have both kit lenses as well 35mm 1:2.8, 50mm 1:2 and 135mm 1:3.5 in addition to a 300mm, but find I use this lens 80% of the time.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Posts: 3,897
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | solid build, sharp, close focus, 'A' aperture | | Cons: | nothing so far | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5, K-01
| |
I had been using a really good Rikenon 28mm with excellent results, and I had used a Vivitar 24mm f/2 a couple years ago that was too heavy for comfort. When I found a copy of this in the Ugly bin online I took a chance, as it was commonly about $100 more than their asking price. This one has shown me flaws in the Rikenon that I had not noticed, most notably in its tendency to miss on White Balance; this 24mm is far more faithful with its color cast. It also focuses closer and is equally sharp as far as I can tell. I never thought the 28mm would be left behind on trips, but this lens did it.
A picasa collage with the K-01:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EoSbb4mWUdc/ULVoyPmLEVI/AAAAAAAALcI/iOQ2G.../s800/K-01.jpg
I discovered why it was deemed Ugly: tiny short scratches in the front element, the effect of which I cannot perceive in any images. Other than the front element it's in great shape - it lacked a lens cap, which I now understand. | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2011 Location: Yogyakarta Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 7, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | lightweight, easy focusing | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-x, Pentax ZX-5N
| |
I really enjoy using this lens on my camera, both digital and film. It is a pleasure to use it with my pentax zx-5n. Maybe all of you wanna ask "is it easy focusing with this lens?" I with no doubt, will say yes because normally wide angle have a pretty large depth of field, and this lens is not an exception. Use Av and you will be good to go.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 813
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 20, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | A lens colour, contrast and IQ, solid build, compact size, close focus! | | Cons: | Soft edges wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
| |
Very nearly as good as the FA* 24mm, for 1/3 the price.
Wonderful central sharpness even from wide open, great colour and contrast.
Edge sharpness is very good from f4 onwards.
| | |
;)
;)
;)
