Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 
Log in or register to remove ads.

Pentax Lens Review Database » Pentax Q-Mount Lenses » Q-Mount Prime Lenses
SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1

Sharpness 
 8.0
Aberrations 
 5.0
Bokeh 
 9.0
Handling 
 6.0
Value 
 10.0
Reviews Views Date of last review
2 22,810 Wed April 2, 2014
spacer
Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
50% of reviewers $75.00 7.50
SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1
supersize


Description:
This lens, designed for use with the Pentax Q System compact interchangeable lens cameras, delivers wide-angle distorted photos similar to those produced by toy cameras or the Holga.

This lens is part of the Pentax-Q "Unique" lens series ( as opposed to "High Performance" ). No hood or filters are available. The lens mount is made of plastic.

If this lens is mounted on a Q7/Q-S1, the camera will switch to a mode where it utilizes a smaller part of the sensor.

04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Q (1/2.3")
Lens Mount
Pentax Q
Aperture Ring
No
Diaphragm
None
Optics
4 elements, 3 groups
Max. Aperture
F7.1
Min. Aperture
F7.1
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
7 cm
Max. Magnification
0.15x
Filter Size (mm)
No filter thread
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

1/2.3" (Q/Q10): 64 °
1/1.7" (Q7/Q-S1): 67 °
Hood
None available
Lens Cap
Lens Front-cover 33.7
Coating
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Fixed Aperture
Diam x Length
40.6 x 25 mm (1.6 x 0.98 in.)
Weight
21 g (0.74 oz.)
Production Years
2011 to present (in production)
Pricing
$150 USD current price
Notes
Engraved name: 04 TOY LENS WIDE
User reviews

Purchase: Buy the SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price: $79.95
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1 Buy the SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-2 of 2
Senior Member

Registered: November, 2006
Location: Germany
Posts: 127

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: April 2, 2014 Recommended | Price: $90.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Very close focusing distance
Cons: Strong barrel distortion
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 5    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 6    Value: 10   

The 04 is anything but a toy lens - it's very sharp considering its f7.1 aperture, and sharpens up very nicely with some capture sharpening to give even better results. It shows considerable barrel distortion and some CA at the corners and edges, but both can be dealt with using some lens correction tools; with e.g. Lightroom 5 removal of CA is just one click away.

The barrel distortion can also be dealt with easily, but of course one sacrifices some border regions because of the necessary crop after the distortion correction.

Where the 04 really shines is its close focusing capability. It has a maximum magnification of 0,15 or 1:7; combined with the tiny sensor of the Q/Q7 that offers really macro capabilities: an object only 32 millimeters wide will fill the frame of the Q7's sensor - and that's even closer than you'll get with a 1:1 macro lens on a full frame body, where an object has to be 36 mm wide to fill the frame. And the f7.1 helps to achieve a good DOF for macro work.

There are some downsides of course. The short focal length commands you to get really close to the subject for macro work, and the manual focusing makes this lens definitely a "slow lens" - you have to check focus carefully in magnified view.

If one is prepared to work slowly, this is a very nice lens to have and to use - not only for macro work, but also for more general photography. It's one of the tiniest lenses of the Q system (only the 05 and the 07 are smaller), so it doesn't need to much space to have it with you. All in all an IMO undervalued and surprisingly versatile lens.

Some macro shots - all done with Q7 and 04:









   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: March, 2009
Location: Cotati, California USA
Posts: 4,460

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 31, 2012 Not Recommended | Price: $60.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: field of view
Cons: not really toy like, 03 lens makes this sort of redundant

If this seems like a bad review it's not really intended to be. I took the hook on buying this lens before doing enough research. The 'toy' aspect gave me hope for a Holga or Lensbaby like performance lens but what I have found is that this is a manual focus wide angle lens of limited usefulness. Other than it's modest cost, if you have the 02 or 03 lens I see no purpose for this lens in your camera bag. Once I figured out how to use the focus assist magnifier and focus peaking on the Q, I was able to get decently focused images and evaluate this lens a bit. Simply put, it's reasonably sharp and that's the problem, I wanted a Holga performance and I got something ok but not really that interesting.

So who is this lens for? Not sure but if you just had the 01 Prime lens, this lens would give you some range on the wide end over the 01.

Advice, forget the 'toy' lens designation, it's just a wide angle lens.
Add Review of SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1 Buy the SMC Pentax-Q 04 Toy Lens Wide 6.3mm F7.1



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:47 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top