So what older & forgotten lenses will be revived by FF?

**Wheatridger** · 01-24-2016, 08:08 PM

I'm sure we all have thoughts on this. Maybe some of us have growing stashes of classic Pentax-mount lenses we plan to use with the FF camera.

I've been through this kind of expectant excitement before. Ten years ago, I was a Minolta/Sony user awaiting their new FF, the Sony a900. Although many chose only the top Sony/Zeiss lenses to match their new 24-MP wonder, I stuck with the cheap old AF Maxxum lenses left over from Minolta's long-lost mastery of the early AF market. I loved the results- adding stabilization and Lightroom's image corrections to these 20-year-old lenses made them sing. Among the better-regarded Maxxums, I didn't find one whose performance was unsuitable. Maybe I'm just not that picky? But others raved too about, for example, the 70-210/4 "Beercan," renowned for its smooth bokeh and its beefy, internal-focus build. The Maxxum 24-85/3.5-4.5 was my main go-to lens for the time I shot Sony FF (until last year). Originally a $700 lens (and the first to have two aspherical surfaces), it was pin-sharp. The bokeh was bad, so I avoided that...

What Pentax or other K-mount lenses will be sought after six months from now? For one, I'm betting on the Pentax-F 24-50/4. It's FF, AF and rated in the nines here. The focal lengths are quite useful, and I expect that the FF's croppability will make this lens useful to an equivalent of 100 mm or so. Also, it seems to be one of the rarest Pentax AF lenses. Not at my house, though- I just bought a third copy.

Most of the bargains in older Pentax lenses seem to have already been snapped up already, but what's your vote for a "diamond in the rough?"

**mgvh** · 01-24-2016, 08:23 PM

My Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical

**clackers** · 01-24-2016, 08:42 PM

I have a K55 f1.8 and K28 f3.5 that would be good.

Anyone with the cash to own an F85 f1.4 or A50 f1.2 or K28 f2 is going to have a great time.

@Pinholecam has thoroughly explored a lot of vintage glass and developed a fondness for lenses like the M20.

stevebrot · 01-24-2016, 09:01 PM

It would be nice if both Zeiss and Voigtlander (Cosina) would revive K-mount support for their SLR lens lines. Ditto for Sigma 70-200/2.8

As for F and FA series Pentax glass, how about the FA* 24/2 and FA* 85/1.4? I would not expect revival of any manual focus Pentax lenses.

Steve

**boriscleto** · 01-24-2016, 09:29 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

It would be nice if both Zeiss and Voigtlander (Cosina) would revive K-mount support for their SLR lens lines. Ditto for Sigma 70-200/2.8

As for F and FA series Pentax glass, how about the FA* 24/2 and FA* 85/1.4? I would not expect revival of any manual focus Pentax lenses.

Steve

I don't think the OP means "put back in production" by "revived".

**Wheatridger** · 01-24-2016, 10:21 PM

I'm seeing some bargains in Pentax medium format lenses, such as 300 mm teles, but will anyone want to carry those bigger lenses and focus them manually? I guess it depends on the focusing aids Pentax will provide...

p38arover · 01-24-2016, 11:25 PM

Maybe the SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 Macro Zoom. I bought mine in 1989 with my SFx (SF10 in the USA). There are some who think it's a pretty average lens but I like it.

They can be had quite cheaply at the moment but that may change with FF.

SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 Reviews - F Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

officiousbystander · 01-25-2016, 01:25 AM

K24 3.5. Isn't this one of the rarest legacy lenses?

Igelkotten · 01-25-2016, 06:20 AM - **1 Like**

I just found a M 85mm F/2.0 www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-M-85mm-F2-Lens.html in a local charity shop. Got it for less than 35USD (I know it was a bargin) in the same deal I also got a Tokina RMC 24mm f/2.8 and a working Pentax ME Super. I tried the lens this weekend and found it to be one of the best so far when it comes to old legacy lenses. Should be even better on a FF in terms of focal length and bokeh. All Pentax A & M legacy lenses up to 135mm that I tried has been just great, the longer lenses like the M-200mm I tried has not been up to the expectations I had.

The photo is taken by the window with the M 85mm f/2.0

**Digitalis** · 01-25-2016, 06:23 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

It would be nice if both Zeiss and Voigtlander (Cosina) would revive K-mount support for their SLR lens lines.

I'll take the Vegas odds on that happening..

**boriscleto** · 01-25-2016, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by p38arover

There are some who think it's a pretty average lens but I like it.

And there are those who consider it a cult classic. A stack of primes.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/258498-smc-pentax-f-35-70-...ighlight=35-70

**monochrome** · 01-25-2016, 07:12 AM

At one time the FA24~90 was considered a decent consumer medium zoom. Of course in this era of pixel peeping and vicious criticism nothing is good enough any more.

jk333 · 01-25-2016, 08:39 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

At one time the FA24~90 was considered a decent consumer medium zoom. Of course in this era of pixel peeping and vicious criticism nothing is good enough any more.

It's pretty sharp, especially f/5.6 and up. And it gives really good colors. I like it but you are correct that it would probably test more like that 18-135 than the 16-85

LennyBloke · 01-25-2016, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

At one time the FA24~90 was considered a decent consumer medium zoom. Of course in this era of pixel peeping and vicious criticism nothing is good enough any more.

Superb lens that I suspect will suddenly be "re-discovered" when the FF appears. Some guy called Greg from the North Coast also seems to be a bit of a fan

Many of the wide to tele zooms tend to be weak at one of the extremes (often the long end), but IMO this one really holds the quality

90mm

**RobA_Oz** · 01-25-2016, 01:57 PM

The A 35-105 is an obvious candidate, IMO. I have had one since film days, and it has worked well on my K-5 and K-3, though not so well on the K20D, where low contrast made it a disappointment. I can only guess that the later bodies have lower reflectance from the sensor unit, or that I'm shooting different subjects now.

01-24-2016, 08:08 PM	#1
Wheatridger Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Front Range Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 644	So what older & forgotten lenses will be revived by FF? I'm sure we all have thoughts on this. Maybe some of us have growing stashes of classic Pentax-mount lenses we plan to use with the FF camera. I've been through this kind of expectant excitement before. Ten years ago, I was a Minolta/Sony user awaiting their new FF, the Sony a900. Although many chose only the top Sony/Zeiss lenses to match their new 24-MP wonder, I stuck with the cheap old AF Maxxum lenses left over from Minolta's long-lost mastery of the early AF market. I loved the results- adding stabilization and Lightroom's image corrections to these 20-year-old lenses made them sing. Among the better-regarded Maxxums, I didn't find one whose performance was unsuitable. Maybe I'm just not that picky? But others raved too about, for example, the 70-210/4 "Beercan," renowned for its smooth bokeh and its beefy, internal-focus build. The Maxxum 24-85/3.5-4.5 was my main go-to lens for the time I shot Sony FF (until last year). Originally a $700 lens (and the first to have two aspherical surfaces), it was pin-sharp. The bokeh was bad, so I avoided that... What Pentax or other K-mount lenses will be sought after six months from now? For one, I'm betting on the Pentax-F 24-50/4. It's FF, AF and rated in the nines here. The focal lengths are quite useful, and I expect that the FF's croppability will make this lens useful to an equivalent of 100 mm or so. Also, it seems to be one of the rarest Pentax AF lenses. Not at my house, though- I just bought a third copy. Most of the bargains in older Pentax lenses seem to have already been snapped up already, but what's your vote for a "diamond in the rough?"

01-24-2016, 08:42 PM	#3
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	I have a K55 f1.8 and K28 f3.5 that would be good. Anyone with the cash to own an F85 f1.4 or A50 f1.2 or K28 f2 is going to have a great time. @Pinholecam has thoroughly explored a lot of vintage glass and developed a fondness for lenses like the M20. Last edited by clackers; 01-24-2016 at 09:47 PM.

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01-24-2016, 08:23 PM	#2
mgvh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,030	My Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical

01-24-2016, 09:01 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	It would be nice if both Zeiss and Voigtlander (Cosina) would revive K-mount support for their SLR lens lines. Ditto for Sigma 70-200/2.8 As for F and FA series Pentax glass, how about the FA* 24/2 and FA* 85/1.4? I would not expect revival of any manual focus Pentax lenses. Steve

01-24-2016, 09:29 PM	#5
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by stevebrot It would be nice if both Zeiss and Voigtlander (Cosina) would revive K-mount support for their SLR lens lines. Ditto for Sigma 70-200/2.8 As for F and FA series Pentax glass, how about the FA* 24/2 and FA* 85/1.4? I would not expect revival of any manual focus Pentax lenses. Steve I don't think the OP means "put back in production" by "revived".

01-24-2016, 10:21 PM	#6
Wheatridger Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Front Range Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 644 Original Poster	I'm seeing some bargains in Pentax medium format lenses, such as 300 mm teles, but will anyone want to carry those bigger lenses and focus them manually? I guess it depends on the focusing aids Pentax will provide...

01-24-2016, 11:25 PM	#7
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Maybe the SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 Macro Zoom. I bought mine in 1989 with my SFx (SF10 in the USA). There are some who think it's a pretty average lens but I like it. They can be had quite cheaply at the moment but that may change with FF. SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 Reviews - F Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

01-25-2016, 01:25 AM	#8
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 912	K24 3.5. Isn't this one of the rarest legacy lenses?

01-25-2016, 06:23 AM	#10
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by stevebrot It would be nice if both Zeiss and Voigtlander (Cosina) would revive K-mount support for their SLR lens lines. I'll take the Vegas odds on that happening..

01-25-2016, 06:55 AM	#11
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by p38arover There are some who think it's a pretty average lens but I like it. And there are those who consider it a cult classic. A stack of primes. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/258498-smc-pentax-f-35-70-...ighlight=35-70

01-25-2016, 07:12 AM	#12
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	At one time the FA24~90 was considered a decent consumer medium zoom. Of course in this era of pixel peeping and vicious criticism nothing is good enough any more.

01-25-2016, 08:39 AM	#13
jk333 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: bev Posts: 181	Originally posted by monochrome At one time the FA24~90 was considered a decent consumer medium zoom. Of course in this era of pixel peeping and vicious criticism nothing is good enough any more. It's pretty sharp, especially f/5.6 and up. And it gives really good colors. I like it but you are correct that it would probably test more like that 18-135 than the 16-85

01-25-2016, 01:15 PM	#14
LennyBloke Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Worcestershire, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 677	Originally posted by monochrome At one time the FA24~90 was considered a decent consumer medium zoom. Of course in this era of pixel peeping and vicious criticism nothing is good enough any more. Superb lens that I suspect will suddenly be "re-discovered" when the FF appears. Some guy called Greg from the North Coast also seems to be a bit of a fan Many of the wide to tele zooms tend to be weak at one of the extremes (often the long end), but IMO this one really holds the quality 90mm

01-25-2016, 01:57 PM	#15
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	The A 35-105 is an obvious candidate, IMO. I have had one since film days, and it has worked well on my K-5 and K-3, though not so well on the K20D, where low contrast made it a disappointment. I can only guess that the later bodies have lower reflectance from the sensor unit, or that I'm shooting different subjects now.