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08-11-2019, 08:58 AM   #1
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Yet another advice thread :-)

I’m currently in the market for a budget AF short zoom lens and something larger to complement the short zoom. I read through the reviews of most of the lenses I am interested in, but found many of the reviews to lag in decent information, and even worse, many reviews had “NO PHOTOS FROM GIVEN LENS”! I find it extremely hard to trust a review that offers ZERO photographs from the lens they are reviewing.

I fully understand that a budget lens will not perform as well as a high ticket item. This is fine by me. I just want something that will preform decent and be able to render it’s fair share of keepers. I normally am not a fan of zoom lenses, but I think I would like to give a few budget ones a go for those times I am just walking around, like at a fair or carnival.

I posted this thread in hopes of obtaining some decent photos from a couple lenses I may be interested in.

1. SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm f3.5 (the reviews have a few good pictures from this lens. It’s high on my list)

2. Tamron – 80-210mm f4.5 (This is the range where I waffle the most. Perhaps a better lens in this range can be suggested?)

I want to keep the price under 100.00 USD on each of the lenses.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

08-11-2019, 09:28 AM - 1 Like   #2
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for the F35-70mm:

F 35-70mm Post Your Photos! - PentaxForums.com
08-11-2019, 09:29 AM - 1 Like   #3
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It’s going to depend a lot on which camera(s) you’re planning on using...
If the lenses will only be used on an APS-C digital camera, you may get very different answers than if you have an old film camera around you’d like to put them on.

That said, the F35-70 is very good for its age and price. If I were on my real computer, I could post some photos, but I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a lens club for that one...

-Eric
08-11-2019, 09:35 AM - 1 Like   #4
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My suggestion for the Tamron is Pentax F 70-210mm f4.0-5.6

08-11-2019, 09:59 AM - 2 Likes   #5
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Pentax F 35-70 and Pentax F 70-210 neither is up to modern standards, but both are quite good, exceptionally good for the price.



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08-11-2019, 10:24 AM - 1 Like   #6
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I love my F35-70 😀. I also have an F35-80, which is not highly regarded, but my copy punches well above it's weight and costs next to nothing. Also take a look at the F35-70 Cult Club. (I'd post a link but I'm on a phone)
08-11-2019, 11:17 AM - 1 Like   #7
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The reviews are helpful but also look at the lens sample photo archive. Here are the lenses.
Index of lenses in this section - PentaxForums.com

08-11-2019, 11:24 AM - 2 Likes   #8
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I am quite happy with the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD Di, it goes used for about $60-80. I find it to be a very good 70-200mm f4-4.5. The rest of the range and the macro at 3p0mm IQ I'm not so happy about, but where it's good I find it very good.

It doesn't see as much use these days because I tend to prefer my two manual focus zooms that I think have even better IQ, but that's another story
08-11-2019, 12:35 PM - 1 Like   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by kevinWE Quote
SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm f3.5 (the reviews have a few good pictures from this lens. It’s high on my list)
QuoteOriginally posted by paulh Quote
Also take a look at the F35-70 Cult Club. (I'd post a link but I'm on a phone)
This thread has numerous images from the likeable, lovable little F 35-70mm (the link that @paulh referred to):

SMC Pentax-F 35-70 F3.5-4.5 Cult Club - PentaxForums.com

More sample images here:https://pixelpeeper.com/lenses/?lens=12834

and here: https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=interestingness-desc&safe_search=1&text=...024&width=1024

- Craig

Last edited by c.a.m; 08-11-2019 at 01:09 PM. Reason: Add Flickr link
08-11-2019, 12:36 PM - 1 Like   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by kevinWE Quote
I posted this thread in hopes of obtaining some decent photos from a couple lenses I may be interested in.
As noted above, the lens sample archive is the place to look if the reviews are lacking examples and if lens club entries are not enough. I will caution, that the quality of the sample archive images tend to be rather high overall.

Lens Sample Photo Archive - PentaxForums.com

FWIW, the index often does not reflect the archive contents with recent threads not included on the list. It is probably easier to simply search the titles.


Steve
08-11-2019, 01:13 PM - 2 Likes   #11
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The 35-70 is a great lens for your price range. The PENTAX-F 35-135mm F3.5-4.5 is also very nice if you ever come across one (under $50 for me). Took mine out with my 'new' K5IIs the other weekend, here are shots from both ends
Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-5 II s  Photo 
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-5 II s  Photo 
08-11-2019, 01:52 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Crooski Quote
My suggestion for the Tamron is Pentax F 70-210mm f4.0-5.6
+1

Kjell
08-11-2019, 02:50 PM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by kevinWE Quote
I’m currently in the market for a budget AF short zoom lens and something larger to complement the short zoom. I read through the reviews of most of the lenses I am interested in, but found many of the reviews to lag in decent information, and even worse, many reviews had “NO PHOTOS FROM GIVEN LENS”! I find it extremely hard to trust a review that offers ZERO photographs from the lens they are reviewing.

I fully understand that a budget lens will not perform as well as a high ticket item. This is fine by me. I just want something that will preform decent and be able to render it’s fair share of keepers. I normally am not a fan of zoom lenses, but I think I would like to give a few budget ones a go for those times I am just walking around, like at a fair or carnival.

I posted this thread in hopes of obtaining some decent photos from a couple lenses I may be interested in.

1. SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm f3.5 (the reviews have a few good pictures from this lens. It’s high on my list)

2. Tamron – 80-210mm f4.5 (This is the range where I waffle the most. Perhaps a better lens in this range can be suggested?)

I want to keep the price under 100.00 USD on each of the lenses.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.
You should be able to find BOTH the Pentax-F 35-70 and the ( Pentax-F 70-210 instead of Tamron 80-210 ) for $100 total. If Not PM me and I will sell you a very nice set for that shipped.
08-11-2019, 03:56 PM - 5 Likes   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by ChristianRock Quote
I am quite happy with the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD Di, it goes used for about $60-80. I find it to be a very good 70-200mm f4-4.5.
With the bonus of going out to 300mm. Along the same lines are the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax DA-L 55-300, each available for under $100. I have the DA-L and honestly it's amazingly capable.























More samples here: Pentax DA-L 55-300mm f4-5.8 sample images - Des(Australia) - Flickr
08-11-2019, 04:55 PM   #15
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Thanks everyone, you have all been very helpful. I will be grabbing the 35-70mm tonight. I'm still waffling on the longer end.
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