Vintage Lens Quick Review | Pentacon 29mm f2.8

A concise first impression, after shooting street photography in Prague (sample images provided)

READ ME: Discover why I highly recommend these vintage lenses for your collection! This review series focuses not on technical specs, but on the lens’ unique character, quirks, and my personal experiences with each.

Logic behind purchase: I got it in a bundle with a Zeiss 20mm F4 and a Industar 50mm F3.5 this week at a vintage/retro store in Prague. I really wanted the Zeiss more than the Pentacon or Industar. I essentially got that Zeiss lens for half of what I would pay in America and these were just a bonus.

Impressions: Mine has a few scuffs and small scratches on the front element. I haven’t found any major issues from those marks but the lens isn’t terribly sharp. I miss focus A LOT, even when stopped down to f5.6+. This strikes me as sorta odd for a 29mm focal length. Also the bokeh is sometimes very busy and spectacular, and sometimes it disappears and isn’t noteworthy at all under much of the same conditions. The lens is in its spirit, it seems, inconsistent, yet charming.

Size/Weight: A bit large compared to the M42 range of Takumars, but comparable to a Canon “nifty fifty”. Easily Pocketable.