The * lens club

[Lance B]

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

To those that lust after the FA*80-200/2.8 PASS on it. It's not as good as you think. I had a chance to get a mint condition one at a great price (even had the box). It had a few scratches on the body but was well cared for. I have the Sigma 70-200/2.8 and thought I'd sell the Sigma.

Not a chance. The Sigma is lighter and about an inch shorter. Better tripod collar and takes better pictures in every respect. It's sharper, Yes It's sharper at all focal lengths!! and has better IQ in every way you could measure with one exception. The Pentax produces better bokeh but only just a little.
This is an over hyped lens that IMHO is worth not a dime more than $600.00 given that the new Tamron will come in at around $700.00 and I bet that lens will outclass the Pentax as well. After a 2 week testing period, I couldn't sell the FA*80-200mm FAST ENOUGH. There are some excellent */F*/FA*/DA* lenses out there but this isn't one of them. This was a great lens in the film days but I think there is a reason that Pentax has not yet revived this lens for DSLR's (It's said the 200mm and 300mm are just re-worked FA*'s) It's just not as good on a DSLR and they will redesign this lens from the ground up if they ever introduce a new one.

Stupidly I passed on a MF A*85mm/1.4 for a decent price and have kicked myself ever since. I got to test it and these lenses are something to use. IQ like nothing I've seen. But at $1200 ++ these days a 77mm ltd will do just fine thanks.

So my only lens in this group is now the FA*300mm/4.5 and that is a beautiful lens. (2 times the quality of the FA*80-200 (BTW)

I second Adam's request. If you have lens pictures for either the Pentax lenses or the 3rd party ones, Please submit them to Adam.

All I can say is that you must have had a bad copy of the FA*80-200 f2.8. I did notice that it BFed on my K10D and K20D, but with the K20D I can adjust AF to suit and it now works brilliantly, so maybe it was BFing on your camera?

I find it to be sharp as a tack and image quality to die for.

[Ole]

Originally Posted by BrendanPK

Hey Just want to know how many of yah have the premo-glass of Pentax legend; FA*/F*/A* glass that is. I say this is a harder club to join these days as true * glass is getting EXPENSIVE and rare. The New DA* line can be included when it hats the market too I guess. But something is more appealing when its a full 35mm frame image circle
Please name what you have.


My list so far
FA* 24mm F2
FA* 300mm F2.8
Soon to be: FA* 200mm F2.8

working on:
80-200 F2.8 and maybe a 28-70
the 600mm F4 is a pipe-dream, but luckily I know a plumber


SPECIAL:
Oh and if you can show proof of owning the ultimate * lens, you win a prize... That lens is of course the smc PENTAX-A*1200mm F8 ED [IF]

BrendanPK, I have had some success lately in extending my * line, so here you go:
FA* 24/2.0
A* 85/1.4
A* 135/1.8
FA* 28-70/2.8 -- my favorite lens now
FA* 80-200/2.8 -- too heavy for comfort, looking forward to the DA*60-250
FA*300/4.5 -- light enough for handheld shots but I do miss a tripod mount

[NaClH2O]

Well, I did buy one. The FA *24mm, but it was such a bad copy I returned it. Wide open it was terribly soft with horrible bokeh, I think some elements were out of alignment...or something. In any event it was completely unusable wide open.

NaCl(maybe someday)H2O

[Eaglerapids]

Can I join? I have the DA* 300/4 on order:-).

[dsport]

Previously owned but sold:
M*300mm f4
F* 300mm f4.5
FA*24mm f2
FA*85mm f1.4
FA*200mm f2.8

Currently owned and will keep:
A*200mm f4 macro
A*300mm f4
FA*28-70mm f2.8
FA*80-200MM f2.8
DA*16-50mm f2.8
DA*50-135mm f2.8

[Ben_Edict]

I only have a few of those stars. When I bought my PZ-1p (way back) I ordered a couple of lenses with it from B&H:
FA 24/2
FA 85/1.4
FA 28-75/2.8

later I got the
A 300/4

I always logned for the 200/4 Macro, but couldn't get one, so substituited it with the Voigtländer Apo Lanthar 180/4 - beautiful...

I am still contemplating getting the DA 300 or the F/FA 300 and cannot decide. The F/FA would be more useful on my old film bodies, the DA has the better AF...

Ben

[Alan]

I have the A* 300 f4. I use it for capturing racing motorcycles in the UK, Isle of Man and also in Thailand.

[rburgoss]

So far, my * arsenal counts two members

FA*200/2.8
FA*24/2

I would sure wanna get an FA*85/1.4, but I guess I'll have to do a little research in the used market.

Rb