A bargain or a paperweight?
Jul 22, 2023 14:11:14 #
Wife & I went to a local flea-market this morning for a look around. I found a like-new f2.8 28mm Starblitz AUTO MACRO MC lens. After some hesitation and some discussion I purchased it for $15. I can't find much info about this lens so I'm looking to the hedgehog community for any available knowledge. I believe it has a PK mount so I can easily fit it to my mirrorless camera if it is worth the effort & price of an adapter. Let me know what you think.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Jul 22, 2023 14:24:41 #
Rusty Lens wrote:
Wife & I went to a local flea-market this morn... (show quote)
Shouldn't you put it on your camera and give it a try first? It may turn out to be a boat anchor OR it might give very satisfactory photos. You tell us.
Dennis
Jul 22, 2023 14:34:32 #
Don't know anything about the lens - Looked it up & found this old owner review on a Pentax Forum---
See above for the best Advice --
"My copy has an M42 mount and plastic lens cap marked 'Photax Super Paragon'.
It's a pretty good macro lens for the money. Also good as a reversed prime. Decent and sharp when focussed correctly. Isn't too bad for landscapes but does need a hood as it loves to flare. The multicoating gives lovely colours for shots.
This is one of those bargain lenses that if you can get it cheap then it's worth owning.
Build quality is decent and it's not very heavy. Feels good in the hand."
See above for the best Advice --
"My copy has an M42 mount and plastic lens cap marked 'Photax Super Paragon'.
It's a pretty good macro lens for the money. Also good as a reversed prime. Decent and sharp when focussed correctly. Isn't too bad for landscapes but does need a hood as it loves to flare. The multicoating gives lovely colours for shots.
This is one of those bargain lenses that if you can get it cheap then it's worth owning.
Build quality is decent and it's not very heavy. Feels good in the hand."
Jul 22, 2023 14:42:38 #
Rusty Lens wrote:
Wife & I went to a local flea-market this morn... (show quote)
....It is a no value purchase, but surprisingly, some of these off-brand lenses work well enough for some situations... good luck
Jul 22, 2023 15:08:23 #
alphadog wrote:
....It is a no value purchase, but surprisingly, some of these off-brand lenses work well enough for some situations... good luck
My recollection is it was a third-party brand sold in the original Kmarts ... i remember mostly as cheap flash units, I think.
Jul 22, 2023 15:22:04 #
Rusty Lens wrote:
Wife & I went to a local flea-market this morn... (show quote)
That $15 is way better spent for pizza :-(
Jul 22, 2023 15:55:48 #
To userID. Now that I think about it, I could have gotten two pizzas for the price of the lens. Story of my life; "a day late & a dollar short".
Jul 22, 2023 16:34:57 #
Rusty Lens wrote:
To userID. Now that I think about it, I could have gotten two pizzas for the price of the lens. Story of my life; "a day late & a dollar short".
Or a "day late and a pizza short".
Jul 22, 2023 18:22:49 #
Here's the link to a full report on your lens:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/focal-28mm-f28-mc-auto.html
At the end of the day, the best review will come from you. Test the lens, shoot a flower, insect, or other tiny object with a lot of detail, and SEE exactly waht the lens can do. Make shots at various apertures to find the so-called sweet spot where it performs at its best.
It's always fun to find an old lens with an odd name and find that it is extremely decent.
There are many lenses that are made in the same factory but sold under various names, trademarks, or store brands. Some of the well-known companies are strictly market businesses and do not manufacture at all.
Worse comes to worst, you'll have a heck of a nice loope!
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/focal-28mm-f28-mc-auto.html
At the end of the day, the best review will come from you. Test the lens, shoot a flower, insect, or other tiny object with a lot of detail, and SEE exactly waht the lens can do. Make shots at various apertures to find the so-called sweet spot where it performs at its best.
It's always fun to find an old lens with an odd name and find that it is extremely decent.
There are many lenses that are made in the same factory but sold under various names, trademarks, or store brands. Some of the well-known companies are strictly market businesses and do not manufacture at all.
Worse comes to worst, you'll have a heck of a nice loope!
Jul 23, 2023 05:42:52 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Rusty Lens wrote:
Wife & I went to a local flea-market this morn... (show quote)
Suggestion if it turns out you do not like the lens. Mount it on a body that does not work ( you can always find one).
Go to a photo shoot in Florida wetlands, be sure to be in a group of photographers, say something loudly about the how your feed up with poor images from your camera, when everyone is looking, toss it as far as you can into the swamp, then follow it up by saying something like this, "worst 8 thousand I ever spent", or something along that line. Yes Rusty, you will get reactions, have your wife close by videoing with her iPhone.
Jul 23, 2023 08:26:28 #
Jul 23, 2023 08:48:18 #
billnikon wrote:
Suggestion if it turns out you do not like the len... (show quote)
That works for me. 😂
Jul 23, 2023 08:58:44 #
User ID wrote:
That $15 is way better spent for pizza :-(
Yummy!
Jul 23, 2023 09:07:13 #
leftj
Loc: Texas
dennis2146 wrote:
Shouldn't you put it on your camera and give it a try first? It may turn out to be a boat anchor OR it might give very satisfactory photos. You tell us.
Dennis
Dennis
Did you not read that he would need to purchase an adaptor, thus his question before spending the money on an adapter.
Jul 23, 2023 09:07:34 #
cmc4214
Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania
User ID wrote:
That $15 is way better spent for pizza :-(
IF, you like pizza
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