Trying out my Takumar 80-200mm f4.5

Shooting around the garden on the day I bought the Takumar 80-200mm f4.5.

The images look a touch fuzzy, but I did take them at full aperture.

1/1000 second, f4.5, 200mm, ISO200, handheld


1/250 second, f4.5, 200mm, ISO400, handheld


Any suggestions on improvement?

[daacon]

I like #1 nice framing. It woul be nice to only have a signle flower there. In #2 the background on the right hand side is a little distracting - both are good shots.

[séamuis]

I assume this is a K mount Takumar? what made you decide to get one? just wondering.

[MoiVous]

Yes séamuis - this is a K mount Takumar. circa 1985 I think.

As for the reason, I've been hunting around for a longer focal length lens (200 to 300) for wildlife around our backyard (we live in bush) as well as a macro (my other passion).

The camera shop I went to had a 70-210 Tokina, but it looked very beaten up (hence the AUD$90 price tag). The guy then showed me the 80-200. The first thing that struck me was that it was mint - not a mark, tight zoom control (push pull) and solid. I'd read that more recent Takumars were budget Pentax lenses, without the SMC. At the price (AUD$130 after some haggling) it seemed like a good idea.

[MoiVous]

daacon - thanks for the comments - much appreciated feedback.

The flowers in question are still about - might try again.

[séamuis]

too bad you didn't have a better selection. I bought a near mint smc-A 70-210mm f4 for I believe 90 USD, and I would very highly recommend that lens. if you would like a push pull within that range, a solid performer built like a tank with A contacts, definitely keep your eyes peeled for that lens. id sell you mine but its the only zoom I use and I love it.

[MoiVous]

Originally Posted by séamuis

too bad you didn't have a better selection. I bought a near mint smc-A 70-210mm f4 for I believe 90 USD, and I would very highly recommend that lens. if you would like a push pull within that range, a solid performer built like a tank with A contacts, definitely keep your eyes peeled for that lens. id sell you mine but its the only zoom I use and I love it.

Talking to the guy in the shop revealed that the used lens market in Oz is very tight at present. Seems a quite a few K200Ds and K20Ds were sold over here this year. A lot of people want the old glass to go with them so the market it tight. Thats why I started a thread for new/used Pentax sellers in Australia - to find the good glass.

If the Aussie dollar was worth more than 2 flat rocks and a piece of string I'd be buying from the US or Europe . Your SMC-A 70-210 f4 is worth about AUD$140 over here at the moment - add shipping and it gets up to about $160 - still quite reasonable though. I'd have liked a lens like that, and thought thats what they had when I went in, but it was the Tokina.

I've almost bought a couple of lenses on the market place, but the weak dollar has stopped me.

The other lens I want is a good Macro like the Tamron 90mm. Thats going up in price soon, so I'd better be quick.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions - I'll keep hunting.

[db2]

Do try this lens for portraits I think you will be surprised at how good they are. I love mine. The bokeh is beautiful and soft at 4.5. Of course you need a tripod with these to get sharp images but sure every one on this forum is aware of that.