Suggest a zoom lens.....

Turbotak · 03-21-2019, 08:32 AM

I have the SMC 45-125 and the Pentax M SMC 35-70 f/2.8-f/3.5

I would avoid the 45-125. It has pretty strong pincushion distortion and the range is only decent on full frame IMO.

The 35-70 is an excellent stills lens. Extremely sharp, very pretty bokeh. Affordable. Long focus throw is very precise. Close focus though is 1 meter and it's a one-touch (push pull) which is kind of annoying to use.

The 35-105 is probably your best bet. I have that in my sights...but I have enough lenses...for now.

If you buy one from Japanese ebay be aware that "excellent" is near the bottom of quality. You want between mint/near mint and excellent++++

johnha · 03-21-2019, 11:23 AM

I find the A35-105/3.5 a bit big & heavy and it unbalances smaller film bodies*, although I haven't tried mine on a KX. It is probably the best 'does it all' walkabout lens in the M or A series. However, I mostly use an FA20-35 (would like to try an M24-35 but can't justify one having the FA) teamed up with an FA43 and a longer lens. Usually this is an M135/3.5 but I'm trying out a recently acquired M75-150 & M200/4 lenses instead.

Tamron AD2 lenses are later than '75 but they don't look it - I have the SP 70-210/3.5 (19AH) - it's a very good lens but is very long & heavy. If buying an AD2 adapter for a KX (or other camera with the Judas window) the Tamron AD2 KM mount is preferred. The aperture ring on the Tamron lenses is too far away to appear in the window, the KM mount has a duplicate aperture scale in the correct position so it does show in the mount (both aperture scales rotate together).

* I must try mine on the K-1, a bigger body might balance it better.

Turbotak · 03-21-2019, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by johnha

However, I mostly use an FA20-35 (would like to try an M24-35 but can't justify one having the FA)

Don't worry, you're not missing out. The FA is superior in every way except for video or full manual work.

**pres589** · 03-21-2019, 01:40 PM

I've got a Tokina 28-70 f2.8-3.something zoom that is quite nice. Has an A position on the aperture ring but the ring works great and doesn't feel gritty or otherwise less than good. I also have an Access 28-70 f2.8-3.something which has a macro position and seems okay overall. Kind of large. Very nice close focusing distance. Both are two-two which I think is nicer than the one-touch like some lenses had back then. If you can find the Access lens it should be cheap. Mine came with a film camera; I could see spending $40 or $50 USD for a good copy of the Access. Tokina was $100 or something and it's quite nice.

Astro-Baby · 03-28-2019, 11:35 AM

As an aside back in the day (about 1975) I had a Visitor 28-200 zoom stuck onto a shabby Spotmatic. The camera was good but I was never happy with the zoom - it was my 'carry round' for stuff but apart from news story stuff I never really got good pics with it. Back then all my gear was second hand and the lenses were nearly always 3rd party as original manufacturer stuff was pretty pricey. As time went by I got better gear but lenses were always pretty stiff on price (at least here in the UK). These days - well I am back to buying second hand (at least until I find someone with a brand new MX or LX

) but at least now I can own some of the stuff I could never have afforded back when I started.

**RICHARD L.** · 03-30-2019, 09:29 AM

Hey, don't agonize over this, get a used DFA 28-105 mm. I got mine for about 325 $ in like new condition. Awesome lens !

**pres589** · 03-30-2019, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by RICHARD L.

Hey, don't agonize over this, get a used DFA 28-105 mm.

That's a great photo, Richard. For reference, here's a picture of the camera the OP is talking about finding a lens for;

**RICHARD L.** · 03-30-2019, 12:14 PM

Sorry, I thought it was a Kx digital camera. The DFA 28-105 has no aperture ring, so it would not be really usable with an older KX film body. On eBay you can find used lenses like an A 35-70 mm f/4 or similar for a very affordable price. I found an FA 28-105 f/4 in excellent condition for less than 100 $, it's not actually astounding (rather so-so @ 28 mm and @ 105 mm but surprisingly good @ 65 mm) but any lens gets usable at f/8 or f/11.

03-21-2019, 11:23 AM	#17
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	I find the A35-105/3.5 a bit big & heavy and it unbalances smaller film bodies, although I haven't tried mine on a KX. It is probably the best 'does it all' walkabout lens in the M or A series. However, I mostly use an FA20-35 (would like to try an M24-35 but can't justify one having the FA) teamed up with an FA43 and a longer lens. Usually this is an M135/3.5 but I'm trying out a recently acquired M75-150 & M200/4 lenses instead. Tamron AD2 lenses are later than '75 but they don't look it - I have the SP 70-210/3.5 (19AH) - it's a very good lens but is very long & heavy. If buying an AD2 adapter for a KX (or other camera with the Judas window) the Tamron AD2 KM mount is preferred. The aperture ring on the Tamron lenses is too far away to appear in the window, the KM mount has a duplicate aperture scale in the correct position so it does show in the mount (both aperture scales rotate together). I must try mine on the K-1, a bigger body might balance it better. Last edited by johnha; 03-21-2019 at 11:25 AM. Reason: Clarity/grammar etc.

03-30-2019, 09:29 AM	#21
RICHARD L. Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 6,633	Short Pentax zoom lens Hey, don't agonize over this, get a used DFA 28-105 mm. I got mine for about 325 $ in like new condition. Awesome lens !

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03-21-2019, 08:32 AM	#16
Turbotak Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	I have the SMC 45-125 and the Pentax M SMC 35-70 f/2.8-f/3.5 I would avoid the 45-125. It has pretty strong pincushion distortion and the range is only decent on full frame IMO. The 35-70 is an excellent stills lens. Extremely sharp, very pretty bokeh. Affordable. Long focus throw is very precise. Close focus though is 1 meter and it's a one-touch (push pull) which is kind of annoying to use. The 35-105 is probably your best bet. I have that in my sights...but I have enough lenses...for now. If you buy one from Japanese ebay be aware that "excellent" is near the bottom of quality. You want between mint/near mint and excellent++++

03-21-2019, 12:50 PM	#18
Turbotak Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Originally posted by johnha However, I mostly use an FA20-35 (would like to try an M24-35 but can't justify one having the FA) Don't worry, you're not missing out. The FA is superior in every way except for video or full manual work.

03-21-2019, 01:40 PM	#19
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	I've got a Tokina 28-70 f2.8-3.something zoom that is quite nice. Has an A position on the aperture ring but the ring works great and doesn't feel gritty or otherwise less than good. I also have an Access 28-70 f2.8-3.something which has a macro position and seems okay overall. Kind of large. Very nice close focusing distance. Both are two-two which I think is nicer than the one-touch like some lenses had back then. If you can find the Access lens it should be cheap. Mine came with a film camera; I could see spending $40 or $50 USD for a good copy of the Access. Tokina was $100 or something and it's quite nice.

03-28-2019, 11:35 AM	#20
Astro-Baby Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reigate, Surrey Posts: 764 Original Poster	As an aside back in the day (about 1975) I had a Visitor 28-200 zoom stuck onto a shabby Spotmatic. The camera was good but I was never happy with the zoom - it was my 'carry round' for stuff but apart from news story stuff I never really got good pics with it. Back then all my gear was second hand and the lenses were nearly always 3rd party as original manufacturer stuff was pretty pricey. As time went by I got better gear but lenses were always pretty stiff on price (at least here in the UK). These days - well I am back to buying second hand (at least until I find someone with a brand new MX or LX ) but at least now I can own some of the stuff I could never have afforded back when I started.

03-30-2019, 10:34 AM	#22
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	Originally posted by RICHARD L. Hey, don't agonize over this, get a used DFA 28-105 mm. That's a great photo, Richard. For reference, here's a picture of the camera the OP is talking about finding a lens for;

03-30-2019, 12:14 PM	#23
RICHARD L. Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 6,633	Sorry, I thought it was a Kx digital camera. The DFA 28-105 has no aperture ring, so it would not be really usable with an older KX film body. On eBay you can find used lenses like an A 35-70 mm f/4 or similar for a very affordable price. I found an FA 28-105 f/4 in excellent condition for less than 100 $, it's not actually astounding (rather so-so @ 28 mm and @ 105 mm but surprisingly good @ 65 mm) but any lens gets usable at f/8 or f/11.