Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
04-23-2014, 09:06 AM - 2 Likes   #1
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cupertino, CA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 391
SMC Pentax-F 35-70 F3.5-4.5 Cult Club

Here it is, the one you've been waiting for: the original Plastic Fantastic!

Sure, it's slow, it's loud, it flares, it distorts, the thread spins, and it feels like a squeaky plastic toy. But it's compact, the autofocus rivals Pentax's fastest, it's sharp, and it has a beautiful dimensional contrast in the right lighting.

I am starting this thread to hopefully find more of you who love this stack-o-primes as much as I do, and to show everyone what kind of images it's capable of!









04-23-2014, 11:18 AM   #2
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
k0og's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Rolla, Missouri
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 698
Crocus in Spring

This lens is good for light macro work, rendering a nice bokeh - a very convenient all-around lens. It spends a lot of time on my camera, being good for point&shoot action.


(K100DS, SMCP-F 35-70 - cross-posted from the F-club)

-Joe-
04-23-2014, 11:33 AM   #3
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Crooski's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Rozenburg , Zuid-Holland
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,664
Hello Cult Club I use this lens mostly with my K01 in the city
The lens is very sharp and contrasty
First picture from the city, the second one on an air show
Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-01  Photo 
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-01  Photo 
04-23-2014, 11:44 AM   #4
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,064
Judging from all the fine photos above the FA 35-70 is a terrific lens. Nice work, all. Freddy

04-23-2014, 01:51 PM - 3 Likes   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
c.a.m's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,172
And no self-respecting F 35-70 cult club should miss an honorable mention of its glorious, beautiful grey, black, orange, white, yellow, blue and green colouring. I'm talkin' the colouring on the lens itself - not its fantastic rendering! An appearance only a Pentaxian could love!

Yes, I have one and it rarely stays behind. I'll try to post a couple of pics soon.

- Craig
04-23-2014, 06:42 PM   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
rbefly's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Denver, Colorado
Photos: Albums
Posts: 2,030
Handoff?

Hello bsamcash,
Thanks for starting this new thread, I had an earlier one that Jean posted a link to, on 'plastic fantastic'. The old thread has pretty much run the course and I'm happy to see you carry the banner for this fine little zoom.
My copy has been idle and replaced by faster primes, but, as mentioned, I do miss the buzzy, whimsical and handy gem, surely one of the most under-rated short zooms Pentax has ever made. Craig's right about the colors, it's gaudy, but very easy to like. This lens has so many quirks it's hard to list them all. My favorite is the audible 'whack' when it nails focus. I'm laughing just thinking about it.
If used properly it delivers fine images, at least my copy and many others I've seen posted, did. I would still recommend the F 35-70 to anyone needing a short zoom, especially if they're on a budget.
Have fun, hope to see lots of F 35-70mm photos here!
Ron
04-23-2014, 07:27 PM   #7
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cupertino, CA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 391
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by c.a.m Quote
And no self-respecting F 35-70 cult club should miss an honorable mention of its glorious, beautiful grey, black, orange, white, yellow, blue and green colouring. I'm talkin' the colouring on the lens itself - not its fantastic rendering! An appearance only a Pentaxian could love!
True. It is one ugly lens by traditional standards (especially on my sleek, black, metal K-5IIs), but it has a charm.

QuoteOriginally posted by rbefly Quote
Hello bsamcash,
Thanks for starting this new thread, I had an earlier one that Jean posted a link to, on 'plastic fantastic'. The old thread has pretty much run the course and I'm happy to see you carry the banner for this fine little zoom.
My copy has been idle and replaced by faster primes, but, as mentioned, I do miss the buzzy, whimsical and handy gem, surely one of the most under-rated short zooms Pentax has ever made. Craig's right about the colors, it's gaudy, but very easy to like. This lens has so many quirks it's hard to list them all. My favorite is the audible 'whack' when it nails focus. I'm laughing just thinking about it.
If used properly it delivers fine images, at least my copy and many others I've seen posted, did. I would still recommend the F 35-70 to anyone needing a short zoom, especially if they're on a budget.
Have fun, hope to see lots of F 35-70mm photos here!
Ron
I would start two threads on this lens if I could! I think I love its rendering more than any of my DAs. It has this unique filmy look that reminds me of my Yashica Electro 35 GSN. It is technically poor, and it's not going to win any awards on DxO, but it has a character and charm to it that I love!

04-23-2014, 10:08 PM   #8
Veteran Member
carrrlangas's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Joensuu (Finland)
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,761
allthough honestly, I never use it, itīs one light, small, not fast but hysterically lightning speedy focusing, sharp from wide open lens. Right now I gave it to my father because he wanted to "get more in the frame" than he does with the FA80-320.
If you donīt believe me, look at her smile:

04-24-2014, 01:40 AM - 3 Likes   #9
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Crooski's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Rozenburg , Zuid-Holland
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,664
QuoteOriginally posted by bsamcash Quote
True. It is one ugly lens by traditional standards (especially on my sleek, black, metal K-5IIs), but it has a charm.



I would start two threads on this lens if I could! I think I love its rendering more than any of my DAs. It has this unique filmy look that reminds me of my Yashica Electro 35 GSN. It is technically poor, and it's not going to win any awards on DxO, but it has a character and charm to it that I love!
I do not find the lens ugly on my K01 But of course there is a difference in taste
Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-5 II  Photo 
04-24-2014, 03:09 AM   #10
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,064
That's a beauty , Joe. Marvelous bokeh and sharpness....the whole package. Freddy

---------- Post added 04-24-14 at 06:10 AM ----------

Nice shots BSA and carralangas. love the pig shot. Its' great when a lens can actually bring the beauty out of a traditionally ugly animal. Freddy
04-24-2014, 03:25 AM   #11
Pentaxian
Arjay Bee's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,701
Daughter with grand daughter



Great idea for a thread...
04-24-2014, 06:12 AM   #12
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,064
QuoteOriginally posted by Arjay Bee Quote
Daughter with grand daughter



Great idea for a thread...
Rjay, Great shot. Love, love, your butterfly quartet and the ancient relics on your site, do you know model of the plane shown?. What lens did you use for the butterflies. Freddy
04-24-2014, 06:50 AM   #13
Pentaxian
Arjay Bee's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,701
QuoteOriginally posted by fevbusch Quote
your butterfly quartet and the ancient relics on your site
Hi there Freddy - thank you for the comments. Had to review the pics to remind myself - time to add more pics to the site I think and update it a little.

The butterflies were with either the close up feature of the DA50-200 or DA16-45 or possibly the Vivitar 100 3.5 macro (no 4). The wreck is a DC-3 (C47) that went down during WWII coming in to a military airbase at night and landing short of the runway by a kilometer or two. All five souls on board were killed as the crash site was heavily forested. The wings are still there all concertinaed up around a hole in the middle where the tree used to be.

More details here - digression seems appropriate on ANZAC Day eve here in Australia.

Higgins Field, QLD, during WW2 - Also known as Red Island Point Airfield, or Red Point Airfield, or Jack Jacky Airfield and now known as Bamaga Airfield

However, apologies for the sidetrack
04-24-2014, 05:05 PM - 1 Like   #14
Veteran Member
dcpropilot's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Vermont
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 941
Taken with K-30; awesome lens combo:












Last edited by dcpropilot; 04-24-2014 at 08:42 PM.
04-24-2014, 08:31 PM   #15
Veteran Member
dcpropilot's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Vermont
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 941
Taken with K-30



---------- Post added 04-24-2014 at 11:33 PM ----------



---------- Post added 04-24-2014 at 11:34 PM ----------

Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
air, beauty, flickr, k-mount, lens, pentax lens, pentax-f 35-70 f3.5-4.5, plastic, pm, post, slr lens, smc pentax-f, thread
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 does not focus micromacro Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 12 02-11-2014 02:37 PM
For Sale - Sold: SMC Pentax F Zoom - 35-70mm f3.5-4.5 Jean Poitiers Sold Items 5 02-11-2014 10:40 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:43 PM. | 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