A little help...

Flugelbinder · 04-28-2015, 08:23 PM

I've been wanting to try some legacy glass for some time and I believe the time has come
I might have a possibility of trading my 55-300 for a Pentax F35-70 and a Takumar AF70-210. The Pentax I know I need and I'm pretty sure will become my workhorse. My doubt is in regards to the 70-210. I really wanted the Pentax, but this is what I can get.
Do you guys think I'll be missing too much, if anything in this trade? I'm starting to fall in love with the colors I'm getting from the 55-300, and I read that the legacy glass renders differently...
Any thoughts/advice?

Aaron28 · 04-28-2015, 08:36 PM

I don't know other than I would not want to give up the reach of the 55-300

Flugelbinder · 04-28-2015, 08:42 PM

Originally posted by Aaron28

I don't know other than I would not want to give up the reach of the 55-300

Thanks, but for the photography I make, that's not a concern.
I'm wondering about IQ in general...

Driline · 04-28-2015, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by Flugelbinder

My doubt is in regards to the 70-210. I really wanted the Pentax, but this is what I can get.

The Takumar essentially is a Pentax. I've got both the Pentax 70-210 and the Takumar 70-210. They look identical. Matter of fact I prefer the image quality of the Takumar slightly over the Pentax brand name.

As far as IQ goes, I'd give the nod to the F type for image quality. I don't own the 55-300, but I've borrowed my brothers before to check it out.

Flugelbinder · 04-28-2015, 09:12 PM

Originally posted by Driline

The Takumar essentially is a Pentax. I've got both the Pentax 70-210 and the Takumar 70-210. They look identical. Matter of fact I prefer the image quality of the Takumar slightly over the Pentax brand name.

As far as IQ goes, I'd give the nod to the F type for image quality. I don't own the 55-300, but I've borrowed my brothers before to check it out.

Good to know. Thank you.

Mistlefoot · 04-28-2015, 09:21 PM

I am not sure that is a good trade, value wise. I think the 55-300 has too much value for that trade.

But I suppose it might not be overly easy to find the 35-70 in your area. But $50 where I live from a reputable local store.
Digital Cameras - Kerrisdale Cameras
and they also have the 7-210.
Digital Cameras - Kerrisdale Cameras

drypenn · 04-28-2015, 11:56 PM

I have an F70-210, and I love this glass' rendering especially under natural lighting. My copy is tack sharp despite some obvious imperfections with its front elements.

The one thing that's quite observable with this lens is that there's a noticeable drop off in IQ (when pixel peeping) beyond approximately 150mm and above, especially with regards to sharpness.

I happen to also have the 55-300. The 55-300 drops off at around 200mm, but the 200-300 is still serviceable too.

But similar to Aaron, I have no plans of giving up the 55-300 as well.

Flugelbinder · 04-29-2015, 02:42 PM

So, I made the deal.
The 35-70 is what's expected. After a -5 adjustment is dead on and super sharp. Those who compare this to the 18-55, at least my copies, are miles away...
As for the Takumar, I have to thank Driline and all those other threads where this lens (more the Pentax, but I'm more convinced than ever that they are indeed optically identical) is so well regarded. Tack sharp from wide open. Much better than the 55-300, at least the one I had.
One issue, though... Even with a -10 adjustment, it's still front focusing, just a tad, but noticeable in some situations. Any thoughts? Maybe I'll have to hack the software to give it a bit more leeway?

Aaron28 · 04-29-2015, 03:07 PM

nice good for you.....as ya know that stuff is beyond me

Driline · 04-29-2015, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by Flugelbinder

Those who compare this to the 18-55, at least my copies, are miles away...

Agree. My 18-55's are long gone, but my F 35-70 lives to shoot another day

Glad I could be of some help.

Flugelbinder · 04-29-2015, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by Driline

Agree. My 18-55's are long gone, but my F 35-70 lives to shoot another day

Glad I could be of some help.

I kept mine, for the occasional group shot, but I'm pretty sure the 35-70 will see the most use, along with the Takumar which is sharper wide open than the 55-300 was at f/8... Although it needed one or two extra negative adjustment values to be exactly where I wanted it to be; like this I'll have to reconsider my 'focus-recompose' style of shooting...

domusofsail · 04-30-2015, 05:55 AM

If IQ is a concern, why not consider some manual prime legacy lens? So cheap and great IQ. E.G. the Pentax M 50 f1.7 can be found at a very cheap price (so you can keep your 55-300) and is one of the best Pentax primes.

04-28-2015, 08:23 PM	#1
Flugelbinder Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto - missing the ocean Posts: 466	A little help... I've been wanting to try some legacy glass for some time and I believe the time has come I might have a possibility of trading my 55-300 for a Pentax F35-70 and a Takumar AF70-210. The Pentax I know I need and I'm pretty sure will become my workhorse. My doubt is in regards to the 70-210. I really wanted the Pentax, but this is what I can get. Do you guys think I'll be missing too much, if anything in this trade? I'm starting to fall in love with the colors I'm getting from the 55-300, and I read that the legacy glass renders differently... Any thoughts/advice?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A little bit of help for a newbie	mariusdk	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	19	11-06-2014 06:16 AM
Little help for a newbie!	Mr. K	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	10	05-02-2014 12:37 PM
A little K3 help	Mark K5	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	5	12-08-2013 02:17 PM
Hello from NYC! and a little help	Kunju	Welcomes and Introductions	5	07-17-2013 06:44 AM
Nature A mothers love...with a little help...	Nerdlinger	Post Your Photos!	4	07-03-2013 09:48 AM

04-28-2015, 08:36 PM	#2
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	I don't know other than I would not want to give up the reach of the 55-300

04-28-2015, 08:42 PM	#3
Flugelbinder Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto - missing the ocean Posts: 466 Original Poster	Originally posted by Aaron28 I don't know other than I would not want to give up the reach of the 55-300 Thanks, but for the photography I make, that's not a concern. I'm wondering about IQ in general...

04-28-2015, 08:45 PM	#4
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,704	Originally posted by Flugelbinder My doubt is in regards to the 70-210. I really wanted the Pentax, but this is what I can get. The Takumar essentially is a Pentax. I've got both the Pentax 70-210 and the Takumar 70-210. They look identical. Matter of fact I prefer the image quality of the Takumar slightly over the Pentax brand name. As far as IQ goes, I'd give the nod to the F type for image quality. I don't own the 55-300, but I've borrowed my brothers before to check it out.

04-28-2015, 09:12 PM	#5
Flugelbinder Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto - missing the ocean Posts: 466 Original Poster	Originally posted by Driline The Takumar essentially is a Pentax. I've got both the Pentax 70-210 and the Takumar 70-210. They look identical. Matter of fact I prefer the image quality of the Takumar slightly over the Pentax brand name. As far as IQ goes, I'd give the nod to the F type for image quality. I don't own the 55-300, but I've borrowed my brothers before to check it out. Good to know. Thank you.

04-28-2015, 09:21 PM	#6
Mistlefoot Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia Photos: Albums Posts: 328	I am not sure that is a good trade, value wise. I think the 55-300 has too much value for that trade. But I suppose it might not be overly easy to find the 35-70 in your area. But $50 where I live from a reputable local store. Digital Cameras - Kerrisdale Cameras and they also have the 7-210. Digital Cameras - Kerrisdale Cameras

04-28-2015, 11:56 PM	#7
drypenn Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 963	I have an F70-210, and I love this glass' rendering especially under natural lighting. My copy is tack sharp despite some obvious imperfections with its front elements. The one thing that's quite observable with this lens is that there's a noticeable drop off in IQ (when pixel peeping) beyond approximately 150mm and above, especially with regards to sharpness. I happen to also have the 55-300. The 55-300 drops off at around 200mm, but the 200-300 is still serviceable too. But similar to Aaron, I have no plans of giving up the 55-300 as well.

04-29-2015, 02:42 PM	#8
Flugelbinder Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto - missing the ocean Posts: 466 Original Poster	So, I made the deal. The 35-70 is what's expected. After a -5 adjustment is dead on and super sharp. Those who compare this to the 18-55, at least my copies, are miles away... As for the Takumar, I have to thank Driline and all those other threads where this lens (more the Pentax, but I'm more convinced than ever that they are indeed optically identical) is so well regarded. Tack sharp from wide open. Much better than the 55-300, at least the one I had. One issue, though... Even with a -10 adjustment, it's still front focusing, just a tad, but noticeable in some situations. Any thoughts? Maybe I'll have to hack the software to give it a bit more leeway?

04-29-2015, 03:07 PM	#9
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	nice good for you.....as ya know that stuff is beyond me

04-29-2015, 05:13 PM	#10
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,704	Originally posted by Flugelbinder Those who compare this to the 18-55, at least my copies, are miles away... Agree. My 18-55's are long gone, but my F 35-70 lives to shoot another day Glad I could be of some help.

04-29-2015, 05:24 PM	#11
Flugelbinder Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto - missing the ocean Posts: 466 Original Poster	Originally posted by Driline Agree. My 18-55's are long gone, but my F 35-70 lives to shoot another day Glad I could be of some help. I kept mine, for the occasional group shot, but I'm pretty sure the 35-70 will see the most use, along with the Takumar which is sharper wide open than the 55-300 was at f/8... Although it needed one or two extra negative adjustment values to be exactly where I wanted it to be; like this I'll have to reconsider my 'focus-recompose' style of shooting...

04-30-2015, 05:55 AM	#12
domusofsail Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 28	If IQ is a concern, why not consider some manual prime legacy lens? So cheap and great IQ. E.G. the Pentax M 50 f1.7 can be found at a very cheap price (so you can keep your 55-300) and is one of the best Pentax primes.