F-series lenses

Dewman · 10-22-2015, 12:06 PM

Over the past couple of years, I have acquired three F-series lenses, a F-35-70mm, a 35-105mm and a 70-210mm. I haven't had a chance to really take any to task other than the 70-210mm, but found it to be absolutely stellar! The sharpness is stunning and equal to any lens I own, save for my FA-50 and FA-100 macros.

If I had any complaints about it, it would be the violent auto focus movement and it's butt-ugly appearance.... not that that has any real effect on the results it provides.

So.... I'm missing two in the series, the 24-50mm and the 35-135mm. What's your opinion of this series of lenses, overall? Are they all as sharp as the 70-210mm?

**UncleVanya** · 10-22-2015, 12:14 PM

I owned the 35-135 and on film found it soft partly because fi is slow and it required shooting wide open. On apsc I found it reasonably sharp - better at 135 than the 18-135 but that isn't from extensive pixel peeping. Just a basic overview.

I do highly recommend a hood.

**boriscleto** · 10-22-2015, 12:19 PM

If you want a 35-135 keep your eyes on the marketplace in coming weeks

SMC Pentax-F 35-135 F3.5-4.5 - PentaxForums.com

**jatrax** · 10-22-2015, 12:22 PM

24-50 is very nice
35-135 i have tried to love but have not. OK not great iq, big and heavy and minimum focus is too long for product shots.

35-70 and 70-210 are the best values in the F line

**MSL** · 10-22-2015, 12:28 PM

You'll find a lot of threads on the 35-70 including whether it is over-rated. Bottom line though is that for what it generally costs these days it is a great lens. Compact, easy to use macro mode, and gives you more length than the kit lens for times when you don't need to go so wide. I might pick up a 70-210 if I see a bargain version. Nothing I've tried at the long end (for bargain only lenses) has really pleased me.

**boriscleto** · 10-22-2015, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I owned the 35-135 and on film found it soft partly because fi is slow and it required shooting wide open. On apsc I found it reasonably sharp - better at 135 than the 18-135 but that isn't from extensive pixel peeping. Just a basic overview.

I do highly recommend a hood.

There are other lenses that were trashed in the film days that are gems on APS-C. The A 135/2.8 for example...

**UncleVanya** · 10-22-2015, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

There are other lenses that were trashed in the film days that are gems on APS-C. The A 135/2.8 for example...

Agreed. The corners in that particular lens (35-135) had a bad reputation. Very soft edges. On the other hand that's not what I have seen on this lens on APSC. Also as I mentioned you can shoot at ISO 1600 for example rather than 100 or 400 and that makes a huge difference.

DHA · 10-22-2015, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

Over the past couple of years, I have acquired three F-series lenses, a F-35-70mm, a 35-105mm and a 70-210mm. I haven't had a chance to really take any to task other than the 70-210mm, but found it to be absolutely stellar! The sharpness is stunning and equal to any lens I own, save for my FA-50 and FA-100 macros.

If I had any complaints about it, it would be the violent auto focus movement and it's butt-ugly appearance.... not that that has any real effect on the results it provides.

So.... I'm missing two in the series, the 24-50mm and the 35-135mm. What's your opinion of this series of lenses, overall? Are they all as sharp as the 70-210mm?

Hi, I've had several F series lenses over the years, zooms, primes, et al. Today, I carry only a handful of Pentax lenses and a couple of Sigmas. My favorite lens of the bunch is the F 50mm F1:1.4. It is by far the best I have ever owned of the F series. If you go to my Flickr site, you will see many, many images with this stellar lens. You'll have to go back a few years in my site, but many of these images still remain amongst my all-time favorites. Here's a couple of which I speak. Don

fwcetus · 10-22-2015, 07:32 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

Over the past couple of years, I have acquired three F-series lenses, a F-35-70mm, a 35-105mm and a 70-210mm. I haven't had a chance to really take any to task other than the 70-210mm, but found it to be absolutely stellar! The sharpness is stunning and equal to any lens I own, save for my FA-50 and FA-100 macros.
If I had any complaints about it, it would be the violent auto focus movement and it's butt-ugly appearance.... not that that has any real effect on the results it provides.

Well, the "violent auto focus movement" is one of the F 70-210/4-5.6's features -- it's a ~very~ fast focusing AF lens -- It's "not a bug but a feature".

As for its "butt-ugly appearance", well, er, it does have a wee bit of form-follows-function beauty. ... Even if it is still "butt-ugly"...

Actually, I find all of the F* lenses visually attractive, while I find all of the other F lenses rather, er, um, "plain". [And the same generality for the FA* and the other FA lenses.] But I digress...

Dewman · 10-22-2015, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by fwcetus

Well, the "violent auto focus movement" is one of the F 70-210/4-5.6's features -- it's a ~very~ fast focusing AF lens -- It's "not a bug but a feature".

As for its "butt-ugly appearance", well, er, it does have a wee bit of form-follows-function beauty. ... Even if it is still "butt-ugly"...

Actually, I find all of the F* lenses visually attractive, while I find all of the other F lenses rather, er, um, "plain". [And the same generality for the FA* and the other FA lenses.] But I digress...

Violent and butt-ugly or not, I still love 'em! My F-70-210mm has turned out to be a very good birder lens. Of course, they're not too far away, but.... oh my, how sharp the images are that it provides me!

bdery · 10-23-2015, 05:08 AM

Originally posted by Dewman

butt-ugly appearance

Whaaaaaat?

I for one love the Star Wars appearance.

Originally posted by Dewman

So.... I'm missing two in the series, the 24-50mm and the 35-135mm. What's your opinion of this series of lenses, overall? Are they all as sharp as the 70-210mm?

The primes are excellent, too

10-22-2015, 12:06 PM	#1
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	F-series lenses Over the past couple of years, I have acquired three F-series lenses, a F-35-70mm, a 35-105mm and a 70-210mm. I haven't had a chance to really take any to task other than the 70-210mm, but found it to be absolutely stellar! The sharpness is stunning and equal to any lens I own, save for my FA-50 and FA-100 macros. If I had any complaints about it, it would be the violent auto focus movement and it's butt-ugly appearance.... not that that has any real effect on the results it provides. So.... I'm missing two in the series, the 24-50mm and the 35-135mm. What's your opinion of this series of lenses, overall? Are they all as sharp as the 70-210mm?

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10-22-2015, 12:14 PM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	I owned the 35-135 and on film found it soft partly because fi is slow and it required shooting wide open. On apsc I found it reasonably sharp - better at 135 than the 18-135 but that isn't from extensive pixel peeping. Just a basic overview. I do highly recommend a hood.

10-22-2015, 12:19 PM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	If you want a 35-135 keep your eyes on the marketplace in coming weeks SMC Pentax-F 35-135 F3.5-4.5 - PentaxForums.com

10-22-2015, 12:22 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	24-50 is very nice 35-135 i have tried to love but have not. OK not great iq, big and heavy and minimum focus is too long for product shots. 35-70 and 70-210 are the best values in the F line

10-22-2015, 12:28 PM	#5
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	You'll find a lot of threads on the 35-70 including whether it is over-rated. Bottom line though is that for what it generally costs these days it is a great lens. Compact, easy to use macro mode, and gives you more length than the kit lens for times when you don't need to go so wide. I might pick up a 70-210 if I see a bargain version. Nothing I've tried at the long end (for bargain only lenses) has really pleased me.

10-22-2015, 12:49 PM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by UncleVanya I owned the 35-135 and on film found it soft partly because fi is slow and it required shooting wide open. On apsc I found it reasonably sharp - better at 135 than the 18-135 but that isn't from extensive pixel peeping. Just a basic overview. I do highly recommend a hood. There are other lenses that were trashed in the film days that are gems on APS-C. The A 135/2.8 for example...

10-22-2015, 01:46 PM	#7
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Originally posted by boriscleto There are other lenses that were trashed in the film days that are gems on APS-C. The A 135/2.8 for example... Agreed. The corners in that particular lens (35-135) had a bad reputation. Very soft edges. On the other hand that's not what I have seen on this lens on APSC. Also as I mentioned you can shoot at ISO 1600 for example rather than 100 or 400 and that makes a huge difference.

10-22-2015, 07:32 PM	#9
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by Dewman Over the past couple of years, I have acquired three F-series lenses, a F-35-70mm, a 35-105mm and a 70-210mm. I haven't had a chance to really take any to task other than the 70-210mm, but found it to be absolutely stellar! The sharpness is stunning and equal to any lens I own, save for my FA-50 and FA-100 macros. If I had any complaints about it, it would be the violent auto focus movement and it's butt-ugly appearance.... not that that has any real effect on the results it provides. Well, the "violent auto focus movement" is one of the F 70-210/4-5.6's features -- it's a ~very~ fast focusing AF lens -- It's "not a bug but a feature". As for its "butt-ugly appearance", well, er, it does have a wee bit of form-follows-function beauty. ... Even if it is still "butt-ugly"... Actually, I find all of the F* lenses visually attractive, while I find all of the other F lenses rather, er, um, "plain". [And the same generality for the FA* and the other FA lenses.] But I digress...

10-22-2015, 08:31 PM	#10
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by fwcetus Well, the "violent auto focus movement" is one of the F 70-210/4-5.6's features -- it's a ~very~ fast focusing AF lens -- It's "not a bug but a feature". As for its "butt-ugly appearance", well, er, it does have a wee bit of form-follows-function beauty. ... Even if it is still "butt-ugly"... Actually, I find all of the F* lenses visually attractive, while I find all of the other F lenses rather, er, um, "plain". [And the same generality for the FA* and the other FA lenses.] But I digress... Violent and butt-ugly or not, I still love 'em! My F-70-210mm has turned out to be a very good birder lens. Of course, they're not too far away, but.... oh my, how sharp the images are that it provides me!

10-23-2015, 05:08 AM	#11
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by Dewman butt-ugly appearance Whaaaaaat? I for one love the Star Wars appearance. Originally posted by Dewman So.... I'm missing two in the series, the 24-50mm and the 35-135mm. What's your opinion of this series of lenses, overall? Are they all as sharp as the 70-210mm? The primes are excellent, too

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