Lens review: Promaster Spectrum 7 MC 28mm f2.8
This week I will be reviewing the Promaster Spectrum 7 MC 28mm 1:2.8 lens. This particular lens is a Pentax k-mount, so you will need to either be using an adapter for your body or using a Pentax body.
The Promaster 28mm is both a wide-angle lens and a macro for some close-up photography. I’ve been using it for landscape photography, botanical and prop work.
This Promaster lens build was pretty light-weight, lacking the solid metal feel of some older m42 lenses like the Hanimex I reviewed recently. There was a fair amount of plastic in the body, which made me feel a little paranoid sometimes when using it.
More lens reviews
- Lens review: Promaster Spectrum 7 MC 28mm f2.8
- Lens review - SMC Pentax-M Asahi 50mm 2.8 1:2
- Review of Hanimex 135mm F2.8 m42 mounted lens.
What really makes this lens shine though was the quality of its macro images. The bokeh was smooth and detail sharp and clear. Like I said earlier, it really shines in close in work. I also recently used it in a series of photographs of espresso cups. The shots taken with the Promaster actually turned out better than the tripod-mounted shots I was taking with my Asahi lens.
As far as landscape photography, it does an adequate job. Its nothing amazing but, if you need a wider lens and don’t like using zooms, this lens will do the job. Its really great for this when you consider the price.
Because the Promaster seems to be a mish-mash of various lens manufactures the quality can vary widely. But, the price of buying one of these used off of a site like eBay can be a really good deal. I won the bid for this little lens for 18.00 U.S. dollars. Thats really cheap considering the versatility it offers.
Now, there is a word of caution for this lens. You’re going to need to make a minor modification to get it to mount to your Pentax body. See, there is an extra pin that really serves no purpose on dSLR cameras. What happens is the extra pin gets stuck in the mount on modern Pentax cameras.
Instead of explaining this myself, I’m going to direct you to theaterofnoise for a detailed answer on how to fix this problem.
Here are some tips from my own experience doing this, in case it might help:
- Have plenty of light
- Mark how each part comes off or, take pictures of each step
- Have a set of jewelers screw drivers
- Tweezers
- A lot of patience
I think for the price this can be a great lens to add to your collection. It can work great for a macro lens with some nice bokeh for botanical shots or prop shots.
Some shots from gallery taken with the Promaster 28mm
