[Lowell Goudge]

i think he meant the 70-210 f/4 exhibits zoom creep..

You've got me there if you want a real example of zoom creep, try the seeries 1. The old singele ring zooms were impossible to use on a copy stand

[metalfab]

I thought I was done but, no no no, I found an M 80-200 f/4.5 version 2 at my favorite shop. Any opinions on this lens? TIA

[moxfyre]

okay, i know i've kind of gone on about this, before.. but.. i'm really getting annoyed, now. is it too much to ask for for a high quality, internal zoom, constant f4 70-200 or 210 or so? maybe i just HAVE been spoiled from my old minolta beercan.. is there ANYTHING similar in Pentax history? here's a shot of it, compared to the 55-200 kit lens..

Which Minolta model is that? Pentax made a bunch of beercans under various brands. (Note that only the first of those is SMC-coated. The rest are all the same lens under various badges, non-SMC budget models.)

I have the budget version, A 70-200 f/4. It is not so sharp wide open. I've compared it at 200mm and f/4.5, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 to my Tamron LD Di Macro 70-300 f/4-5.6. The Tamron is better hands-down at f/4.5, and a bit at f/5.6.

That being said, I like the beercan design! It is easy to focus manually, auto-meters nicely, and a good conversation piece. Though since you can get a modern AF zoom that has 50% more reach, and is only 1/2 stop slower and much sharper at 200mm, for $130.......

You know what I think we need more than cheap telephoto zooms? Cheap telephoto primes. There are all kinds of cheap telephoto zooms... the Tamron 70-300, two models of Sigma 70-300, the Pentax FA 70-300, the upcoming DA 55-300. Is anyone buying them for the short end??? No, I didn't think so. I would happily trade my 70-300 for a 300mm prime, if I could get (a) a little more sharpness, (b) a little less CA, or (c) a little more speed. Take your pick, Tamron, I'll buy it

By the way, why do people prefer internal focus designs??? Just cause it looks funny when your lends extends real far??

[OniFactor]

Which Minolta model is that? Pentax made a bunch of beercans under various brands. (Note that only the first of those is SMC-coated. The rest are all the same lens under various badges, non-SMC budget models.)

I have the budget version, A 70-200 f/4. It is not so sharp wide open. I've compared it at 200mm and f/4.5, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 to my Tamron LD Di Macro 70-300 f/4-5.6. The Tamron is better hands-down at f/4.5, and a bit at f/5.6.

That being said, I like the beercan design! It is easy to focus manually, auto-meters nicely, and a good conversation piece. Though since you can get a modern AF zoom that has 50% more reach, and is only 1/2 stop slower and much sharper at 200mm, for $130.......

You know what I think we need more than cheap telephoto zooms? Cheap telephoto primes. There are all kinds of cheap telephoto zooms... the Tamron 70-300, two models of Sigma 70-300, the Pentax FA 70-300, the upcoming DA 55-300. Is anyone buying them for the short end??? No, I didn't think so. I would happily trade my 70-300 for a 300mm prime, if I could get (a) a little more sharpness, (b) a little less CA, or (c) a little more speed. Take your pick, Tamron, I'll buy it

By the way, why do people prefer internal focus designs??? Just cause it looks funny when your lends extends real far??

i like internal zooming because i like big solid lenses, i'm slightly disturbed that my 18-55 and 50-200 are both about the same size.. LOL.

also, that's just the original 1985 AF Minolta 70-210 f/4 lens..

[w6wat]

Don't forget about the Tamron 19AH. It's a 70-210mm with a constant 3.5. It's revered world-wide as "probably the best zoom lens ever designed and built". It's built like a tank, and is bulky and heavy, but it's very sharp with zero creep! It's an adaptall 2 mount, so you can use it with your film and digital cameras. They're still available new from many sources for less than $450 USD, and you can find them on ebay for as little as $50 USD.


Read about it here:

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 70-210mm F/3.5 Model 19AH

Here's a cropped photo of a spool of thread taken with the Tamron. Keep in mind this is hand held with me wavering back and forth in Macro mode.

Camera is a Samsung GX-1L (same camera as the Pentax ist*DL), on board flash, 210mm/Macro, f:11 +1/2 stop. 1/180s.

[Canada_Rockies]

You've got me there if you want a real example of zoom creep, try the seeries 1. The old singele ring zooms were impossible to use on a copy stand

Yes, my A 70-210/4 creeps. I think I might have to start chewing gum ...