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05-09-2012, 12:49 AM   #16
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If IQ is the 1st priority criteria, price 2nd, then get the pentax M200/4.

OP did ask about cheap 200mm

I have also canon fd 200/2.8, Olympus OM 200/4 both single coating and MC, Pentax K200/2.5, and Nikkor 180/2.8 ED-IF.
Olympus and Nikkor can have reversible mount conversion to pentax K.
I may say the best IQ is in fact the nikkor 180/2.8 ED-IF, far better than K200/2.5, but hey, it's not 200mm, and costs 2x pentax M200/4.

The Olympus 200/4 is on pair with the pentax M200/4. MC version costs a bit more, but mount conversion kit costs 50 euros,
and therefore the choices narrowed to pentax M200/4 - for f4 lenses.

If you need faster than f4, get the nikkor, and buy conversion kit, or spend more $ get the DA*200/2.8

If you need low light and dirt cheap, then get the vivitar 200/2.8. Nothing can go wrong when you only spend 20usd


Last edited by hoanpham; 05-09-2012 at 02:31 AM.
05-09-2012, 06:02 AM   #17
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Guys, you're awesome. I wasn't expecting so much feedback. Thank you all!

Now I don't consider Auto Revuenon lens at all, just M200/4 and... DA 50-200 (WR?). I saw many decent samples from the latter at 200mm. Of course, I know that I would have to be lucky and get good copy of it, besides - it's probably decently sharp only at F8.0 to F11.0. But it's lightweight and WR version might come in handy at times.
What still drives me to M200/F4.0 is it's price and wider aperture, which would suggest decent sharpness at F5.6 (maybe). I can probably get it under 100$ and that's something I can definitely call cheap. Stop-down metering is a non issue for me - I've got used to MC Helios 44K-4 very quickly, same with manual focus (unless I have to use superpowers to operate it).

But I still have doubts - how do those two lenses (M200/F4 and DA 50-200) compare at 200mm regarding maximum possible sharpness?
05-09-2012, 06:10 AM   #18
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M200/4 has superior sharpness compares to DA50-200WR.
Cons is manual focus, no auto aperture, no WR.

While DA50-200 has sweet spot of f8 with still beautiful bokeh with distant background,
the M200/4 delivers razor sharp at f5.6 and f8. At f4 it is still very sharp.

Good luck with your choices...
05-09-2012, 07:08 AM   #19
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I've got the M 200 and I really like it. IQ isn't perfect but it's better than cheap modern zooms and it's a nice satisfying lens to hold and use.

Got mine for US$65 + shipping a few months ago.

I wish manufacturers would make modern small light tele primes with high IQ - instead if I want to buy a current 200mm lens that takes better photos than a low-end zoom I have to choose between a few f2.8 monsters. That's why I ended up with the M.


Last edited by timh; 05-09-2012 at 07:28 AM.
05-09-2012, 08:19 AM   #20
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QuoteOriginally posted by timh Quote
I wish manufacturers would make modern small light tele primes with high IQ - instead if I want to buy a current 200mm lens that takes better photos than a low-end zoom I have to choose between a few f2.8 monsters. That's why I ended up with the M.
I strongly agree with this. Over time I have managed to pick up some very nice, very fast glass. But my most used Pentax telephotos are still these slower primes. This includes the M 85mm f2, the M 135mm f3.5, the M 200mm f4, as well as the A 400mm f5.6. They are certainly not the fastest lenses but they do extremely well and, in most circumstances, they produce awesome images. And they are far less expensive as well as WAYY easier to pack around. Well...maybe not the A 400

A nice bounce flash like the AF360 FGZ, is a great companion for these lenses and good examples can be found for around $160, which is quite a bit less than a fast, 200mm, telephoto. Fast glass in telephotos usually equals big, heavy and expensive, and they are not as easy to pack. However, we have been conditioned to go for the big glass. It really seems kind of silly since our cameras today have built in flash, as well as the ability to capture pretty darned good images at ISO 3200 or higher, some of them much higher.

Ah well, fast glass is always a great way to scratch my continual LBA itch.
05-09-2012, 09:15 AM   #21
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FWIW, a few years ago i owned the Pentax M200/4, the S-M-C Tak 200/4, and the Vivitar(Komine)200/2.8. I spent plenty of time comparing them all side by side and wholeheartedly recommend the S-M-C Tak version over the other two. IMO, it is head and shoulders a better lens. I've since sold the others and kept the Tak.
05-09-2012, 09:46 AM   #22
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QuoteOriginally posted by mikeSF Quote
FWIW, a few years ago i owned the Pentax M200/4, the S-M-C Tak 200/4, and the Vivitar(Komine)200/2.8. I spent plenty of time comparing them all side by side and wholeheartedly recommend the S-M-C Tak version over the other two. IMO, it is head and shoulders a better lens. I've since sold the others and kept the Tak.
Interesting, the SMC Tak and K200/4 are the same optically so you are saying that the new optical formula of the M lens which helped reduce it in size is not as good?

what about the MFD. the SMC tak I have has a rather significant MFD of 2.5 meters or 8.2 feet for the metric challenged users.

I find the MFD can sometimes limit the use of the 200's and I also note that especially wide open there is a good amount of CA with the SMC Tak, as was common of all lenses at that era.

So what you are saying is bigger is better, although I am not so sure. The M200 is interesting because it is small and light, compared to other 200's

05-09-2012, 10:05 AM   #23
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Lowell:
SMC Pentax 1:4 200mm
min focus less than 2 metre.
05-09-2012, 10:13 AM   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by wombat2go Quote
Lowell:
SMC Pentax 1:4 200mm
min focus less than 2 metre.
you sure, the SMC tak is 2.5? I have the lens in hand
05-09-2012, 10:13 AM   #25
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QuoteOriginally posted by wombat2go Quote
Lowell:
SMC Pentax 1:4 200mm
min focus less than 2 metre.
I believe Lowell was referring to this one (SMC Tak). Min focus is 2.5 meters

S-M-C/Super Takumar 200mm F4 Reviews - M42 Screwmount Telephoto Primes - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

the K200 4.0 though is 2M MFD so they must have changed something in the design
05-09-2012, 10:16 AM   #26
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Now I'm really confused.
I can purchase SMC Takumar 200/4 right now, or try to purchase Pentax-M 200/4 at 4 days (auction-type sale) and perhaps miss another chance at Tak in unknown amount of time.
One thing is bugging me - Tak is M42 mount lens. Do adapters make allow aperture push, so I can compose always wide open and perform stop-down metering?
Another thing... I may consider teleconverter one day. Are those lenses good enough to even bother with these?
05-09-2012, 10:19 AM   #27
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taks have an auto manual switch focus compos on auto (wide open) flip to manual and shoot at whatever aperture is set in av mode
no need to stop down meter
never used a TC on an m42 so can't speak to that (not genarally a TC fan myself). I have used tubes on a tak though works a treat
05-09-2012, 10:31 AM   #28
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Lowell
I have SMCPentax 1:4/200 serial 5260XXX
58mm filter, PK mount
It is not an -M
min focus less than 2 metre, a bit less than 6.5 foot.
05-09-2012, 11:16 AM   #29
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QuoteOriginally posted by wombat2go Quote
Lowell
I have SMCPentax 1:4/200 serial 5260XXX
58mm filter, PK mount
It is not an -M
min focus less than 2 metre, a bit less than 6.5 foot.
smc tak is the m42 lens - 2.5 meters as lowell said
K 200 4.0 is 2.0 meters as you said

M 200 4.0 is also 2 meters BTW
the A series 200 4.0 (non macro) is 1.9 meters
05-09-2012, 11:09 PM   #30
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If you want cheap but good, try the Chinon 200/3.5!
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