I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Workhorse. Daily carry. Sturdy. Good optics.
Cons:
None; exceeds expectations.
Daily carry. A good workhorse zoom.
Overall, it's in my bag everyday. I use it everywhere. If I've had a setup where I hadn't used this lens, it must have been for some special application. I've even used it with 645 Auto Bellows and been satisfied with its performance.
The manufacturer doesn't recommend it for use with bellows, but I tried it and liked it anyway. It's my most versatile lens. Just generally great.
77mm filter size; convenient. Goes down to f/4.5. There are no DOF markings on the lens, but that didn't even occur to me until I'd used the lens for nine months. The 645 has a DOF preview lever anyway.
I use this lens with 645 Adapter K on my small format equipment; it works well with 35mm (K1000 and ME Super) and DSLR (K200D). 100% completely satisfied. Someone should probably study this lens and build six more just like it.
Weight-wise, I have no qualms about mounting a K1000 on a tripod with this lens.
This is one of two lenses I keep with me all of the time. If that doesn't tell you I like it; I don't know what would.
Extremely durable; versatile; generally well made. It's zoom is two touch, and I like that. I carry this and a wide angle 645 lens. I have others, but this one's in the bag all the time. Every application from closeups to landscape. Every environment from studio tabletop to urban areas to my last setup, where I was scrambling over rocks through dense forest to get to a waterfall. I take it everywhere without a second thought.
Very durable. No prissy extras to clog up my usual all-manual line of thought. I like it; I'm surprised that everyone doesn't have one of these. It's utility is comparable to that of a good ole 50mm standard lens.
In 645, it's angle of view is from normal to short telephoto. It does everything I need.
