Pentax FA 80 - 200 f/4.7-5.6

antipattern · 03-29-2015, 12:20 PM

I recently picked up a Pentax FA 80 - 200 and took it for a walk today. Here are some of the photos.

At 80mm:

Without post processing, at 200mm:

With post processing, at 200mm:

stillshot2 · 03-29-2015, 01:32 PM

Nice shots! I have the F version of this lens. It's a great value and highly underrated!

antipattern · 03-29-2015, 02:11 PM

Thanks, the differences in the ratings between the F and the FA versions are quite massive. I understand that the FA was the cheapo lens for cameras like the MZ-50, but not for a second will I believe that it fares so much worse than the F version. Having said that, I'm not sure I will hang on to this lens, since I am more of a prime person. But we will see, my usual kit only goes to 70mm or 100mm, maybe throwing the FA80-200 will give me a little more variable reach in a focal range I don't shoot very often.

**RKKS08** · 03-29-2015, 05:46 PM

Pentax produced many different zooms in that range, with different optical designs.

To me it seems the best IQ is offered by the SMC-A 4/70-210.
Its disadvantages are the missing AF (for some) and the size and weight (for all).
But it is fully metal, has a built-in lens shade, and constant aperture.

But resolution is very near to the 135 and 200 primes, even fully open.

stillshot2 · 03-29-2015, 08:57 PM

Originally posted by RKKS08

To me it seems the best IQ is offered by the SMC-A 4/70-210.

It seems pentax forum users didn't rate this lens too well either. Have any good samples from your lens to show? I really like how light and small the 80-200 is, which is why it keeps a place in my camera bag.

**RKKS08** · 04-18-2015, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by stillshot2

It seems pentax forum users didn't rate this lens too well either. Have any good samples from your lens to show?

Sorry I did not answer this, but I found only (poorly) digitized shoots from film.

But there is another member praising the A 4.0/70-210 even more than me, and offering examples.
Have a look at post #21 of this thread:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/268665-pent...8-macro-2.html

03-29-2015, 12:20 PM	#1
antipattern Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Berlin, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 232	Pentax FA 80 - 200 f/4.7-5.6 I recently picked up a Pentax FA 80 - 200 and took it for a walk today. Here are some of the photos. At 80mm: Without post processing, at 200mm: With post processing, at 200mm:

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03-29-2015, 01:32 PM	#2
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	Nice shots! I have the F version of this lens. It's a great value and highly underrated!

03-29-2015, 02:11 PM	#3
antipattern Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Berlin, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 232 Original Poster	Thanks, the differences in the ratings between the F and the FA versions are quite massive. I understand that the FA was the cheapo lens for cameras like the MZ-50, but not for a second will I believe that it fares so much worse than the F version. Having said that, I'm not sure I will hang on to this lens, since I am more of a prime person. But we will see, my usual kit only goes to 70mm or 100mm, maybe throwing the FA80-200 will give me a little more variable reach in a focal range I don't shoot very often.

03-29-2015, 05:46 PM	#4
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	Pentax produced many different zooms in that range, with different optical designs. To me it seems the best IQ is offered by the SMC-A 4/70-210. Its disadvantages are the missing AF (for some) and the size and weight (for all). But it is fully metal, has a built-in lens shade, and constant aperture. But resolution is very near to the 135 and 200 primes, even fully open.

03-29-2015, 08:57 PM	#5
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	Originally posted by RKKS08 To me it seems the best IQ is offered by the SMC-A 4/70-210. It seems pentax forum users didn't rate this lens too well either. Have any good samples from your lens to show? I really like how light and small the 80-200 is, which is why it keeps a place in my camera bag.

04-18-2015, 04:49 PM	#6
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	Originally posted by stillshot2 It seems pentax forum users didn't rate this lens too well either. Have any good samples from your lens to show? Sorry I did not answer this, but I found only (poorly) digitized shoots from film. But there is another member praising the A 4.0/70-210 even more than me, and offering examples. Have a look at post #21 of this thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/268665-pent...8-macro-2.html

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