This Old(er) Lens: Pentax 100mm f/2.8 non-WR Macro Lens Review – the one I ignored.

I have written about this lens’ successor before.

Several times in fact. There is that initial review and other posts like the favorite Pentax lens post I wrote for KEH and a recent agnostic top ten lens post. In the past the moment I decided to step back into the Pentax mount this was a lens that would not be far behind it. For the why I will repurpose and update the list from the earliest post and then follow up why I think this lens is special as compared to other lens mount options I passed on.

WR or water resistant. In the first post I was speaking theoretically, but I can now say with confidence from experience that this is a stout weather sealed lens. It has been taken out and drenched in harsh conditions and has not ever failed me.
Metal construction with engraved text. My prior lenses were well built, but none went so far as to have an all metal build.
Sample images impressed.
Focal length makes for a fantastic portrait lens. I have purchased the Pentax 77mm f/1.8 in the past, but based on experience I will use this as a portrait lens this time around. At a 150mm full frame equivalent on crop bodies it also makes an especially impressive portrait lens. And since it is a macro lens you do not have the same distance restrictions most long, relatively fast primes have.

I compared this lens to many lenses in my last post.

This Old Lens: Pentax 100mm f/2.8 WR Macro Lens Review – Another Look

This time out I have another lens to compare it to. It’s predecessor.

I always passed over this lens in the past. Why? I am glad I imagined that you asked.

Non-WR.
- Which is odd because with me when the rain comes the cameras get put away., regardless of their weather resistance rating.
Non metal build.
- Makes no difference IQ wise, but the newer variant looks better and feels better in hand.

That is about it. This time out I picked up the older variant largely because it is less expensive… and to my surprise I think I like it better.

Focus limiter.

That is it. That is all it took. If there was one shortcoming of the WR variant that was it. If the lens was unsure whether or not you were focusing near or far things could get interesting. But with the focus limiter switch…

..you choose what type of lens this will be.

Portrait lens.
Macro lens.

Otherwise optically this older lens performs as well as the newer WR variant.

So to recap:

Less expensive.
Just as good optically.
Limiter switch improves usability.

And on top of that I kind of like the plastic fantastic aesthetic. Fits the MZ-5 perfectly.

There will be one major difference this time.

I have no plans on purchasing a digital camera.

At 100mm I have no desire to use it with an APS-C K body since that works out to an 150mm full frame equivalent. And as much as I love the full frame K-1, it makes no sense for me.

Welp.

That is it for now. Here are a film sample images.