[aurele]

a Promaster Spectrum 7 MC 19-35mm lens and managed to get it at less than $48

For that price get it !

Maybe it's good : it's a great score. And it's even better than that ... i mean 48$, makes everything even better

Maybe it's average : at least you'll know if you like the range, and you can look for some alternatives*. And when you upgrade you can probably sell this 19-35 for the price you paid it !

It's a Win situation whatever the quality of the lens !

*alternatives like : Sigma 17-35/2.8-4 - Tamron 17-35/2.8-4 - Sigma 12-24 /4-5.6 - Sigma 15-30/3.5-4.5 - Sigma 20-40/2.8 - Tokina 20-35/2.8 - Tokina 20-35/3.5-4.5 - Tokina 12-24 /4

[Craigbob]

Ive been looking for quite a while for the FA 20-35 lens , but seem to get passed by on any that come available one way or another. Im either broke.....late.....or the price is just too high.
Tonight I have been watching a Goodwill auction that had a Promaster Spectrum 7 MC 19-35mm lens and managed to get it at less than $48 including some other crap listed in the auction.
Pentax Z-10 Film Camera + Sigma 28-70mm Lens+ - shopgoodwill.com
Im kinda excited to get it , but don't want to get my hopes up that it will even come close to the Unobtanium FA 20-35 lens I really want.
Has anyone used this lens recently ? There is only 4 reviews for it in the lens section and it actually doesn't look too horrible at all from the scant reviews here.
Mine is the 77mm filter size.....I have no idea if a filter/hood might be hidden in the bag , and what to use for a hood if there isn't ?
I also have no idea the production history is on this lens as far as a manufacturer ?
Any help is appreciated....Thanks.

Another option you may want to consider is the Pentax FA-J 18-35. It's an F/4 lens, but gives nice color rendition, is lightweight (some may see the plastic feel cheap) and gives nice images:

I used it for night landscape as well as all around wide angle shooting.

Here's a couple of examples

[yucafrita]

What's that in the first picture? A rocket?

[Lowell Goudge]

I picked up a vivitar similar to this, manufactured by samyang, sadly it seems to lack contrast.

I would suggest the FA-J 18-35, this is what came with my original *istD

[cyberjunkie]

I'd suggest the Tokina AF 20-35mm.
I own the first version, which is identical to the second, apart from the front (non rotating filter attachment).
I mostly use primes, but I always have it with me, cause it's practical, and quite good at mid diaphragms.
Unfortunately, lacking alternatives (apart from the FA), the price has gone up a lot.

[Craigbob]

What's that in the first picture? A rocket?

Yes, It's the first nighttime SpaceX launch from Vandenburg AFB in California. This shot made the 12/24/2017 NASA APOD page.

[UncleVanya]

Yes, It's the first nighttime SpaceX launch from Vandenburg AFB in California. This shot made the 12/24/2017 NASA APOD page.

Congrats!

[Theov39]

I have the Soligor version of the Cosina 19-35 lens in Nikon mount. Obviously I can't comment on its performance on Pentax but on my FF Nikon D700 it gives really nice results. Much better than you would expect from a 20+ year old consumer grade lens. As for the DA 12-24 that is a beautiful lens. The color rendition is very nice and its nice and sharp on most settings.

[mikesbike]

I agree regarding the Tokina AF 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 although I've not used it with digital. But it is fine with film, and price is reasonable. It is of mostly plastic construction, but very well built. It received good reviews back when it was current. Pop Photo gave it especially good points for edge sharpness, and this on film (full-frame).

The Tokina AF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 is fine too. The reports I saw indicated more vignetting on the first version, but the 2nd version having the 77mm filter thread was better in this regard.

[Ronald Oakes]

Well.....I got the lenses earlier today. Unfortunately there is no hood , but the glass is pristine !
Havent had a chance to try it out yet as I had three skin cancer surgeries today and now off to an auction with a bit of Nikon camera stuff.
Its kinda plasticky , but looks good so far.