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05-29-2020, 07:13 AM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by bdery Quote
Right. Having tested three versions of the 18-55, plus the two versions of the 18-50, the 35-70 is better than all except the HD 18-50. And smaller. And cuter. But with a shorter range and no WR.
Critical for me over that 18-50, though (and why I also still have an 18-55 instead of 18-50): much better maximum magnification in the "macro" mode. Still not "true macro" but generally adequate for what I'm usually shooting, and I'm probably using the F 35-70 in that "macro" mode for more than half of what I shoot with it.

As for flare, I haven't noticed much issue, and I shoot into backlighting a lot. The coatings are good. I use it with a screw-on hood that was originally intended for the Olympus OM 100mm f2.8 (works nice on fast 50s, too), I'm sure it would vignette corners on full-frame but for APS-C it works great.

05-29-2020, 07:57 AM - 1 Like   #17
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Haha ! I've used myriad of lenses during my lifetime. I started out with a Kodak Brownie camera using 620 roll film and the lens wasn't so bad for the time. I had my first Minolta SR-1 in 1967 with a 55 mm f/2 lens that blew all expectations. I learned photography with this manual camera and Kodachrome 25 film. Over the years I accumulated over 20 Rokkor MC and MD lenses, from the 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye to the 400 mm APO tele. I purchased my first Pentax 67 in 1991 and exchanged the body for a 67 II when it became available. I now have twelve 67 late model lenses and most are terrific performers (like the 75 mm f/2.8 AL or the M* 300 mm f/4). Around 2010 I acquired a 645N (I should have done that years earlier, had I known) and started getting A-series 645 lenses. Now I have a 645Z plus 6 FA lenses (3 zooms and 3 telephotos). I have a K1 with the DFA 28-105 mm (the best combo anyone can ask for) and several APS-C bodies (K20, K5 and K3) plus more lenses that a mule could carry. I hated the F35-70 mm we used in our Government office but I'm glad you guys like it. Maybe I missed something ...

Best regards, everyone !
05-29-2020, 08:26 AM   #18
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I like mine and even used it to do some real estate photography of a business my boss owns. Whoo! First paid photography work!
I picked it up here cheap but need to find a nice hood for it to help with contrast in tough light. It also works pretty well on my K-1!
05-29-2020, 08:28 AM   #19
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QuoteOriginally posted by RICHARD L. Quote
I hated the F35-70 mm we used in our Government office but I'm glad you guys like it. Maybe I missed something ...
With your experience I doubt you missed anything. But I suspect the copy you used was damaged in some way. I've had two different copies and used it on K-5, K-3 and K-1. Results have always been more than acceptable. Not as good as the DFA 28-105 or other modern lenses but not at all like what you described.

05-29-2020, 09:02 AM   #20
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QuoteOriginally posted by RICHARD L. Quote
plus more lenses that a mule could carry. I hated the F35-70 mm we used in our Government office but I'm glad you guys like it. Maybe I missed something ...
I think that your experience lends credibility to your assessment of the F 35-70.

Most users seem to be pleased with this little lens, but perhaps it is a function of its relatively low cost. Indeed, the lens may be found easily on the used market for $25-50, which could lead to low expectations. So, people are surprised that it produces decent images, and rate it accordingly. I've been generally happy with my copy, but I know it doesn't come close to matching some of my other lenses.


Thanks for your insight and comments.

- Craig

Last edited by c.a.m; 05-29-2020 at 09:50 AM.
05-29-2020, 09:10 AM   #21
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QuoteOriginally posted by RICHARD L. Quote
I hated the F35-70 mm we used in our Government office but I'm glad you guys like it. Maybe I missed something
That may explain your special relationship with that lens.

Also, perhaps the camera was terrible, not the lens itself. Just curious, have you tried F35-70 since on DSLR-s?
05-29-2020, 09:24 AM   #22
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[QUOTE Just curious, have you tried F35-70 since on DSLR-s?

No I never had a personal copy of this lens. I got an A 35-70 mm f/4 that performed well on my K5 but was terrible on the K3 and totally inadequate on the K1. I have an F70-210 mm f/4-5.6 that performs beautifully on the K3 (I never tried it on my K1 ...). I don't have a biais against F-series lenses. The copy we had back when I worked was lost in a manure pit along with the SF10 film body. No one dared to dive to retrieve it ... lol !

Regards

05-29-2020, 09:41 AM   #23
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QuoteOriginally posted by RICHARD L. Quote
[QUOTE Just curious, have you tried F35-70 since on DSLR-s?

No I never had a personal copy of this lens. I got an A 35-70 mm f/4 that performed well on my K5 but was terrible on the K3 and totally inadequate on the K1. I have an F70-210 mm f/4-5.6 that performs beautifully on the K3 (I never tried it on my K1 ...). I don't have a biais against F-series lenses. The copy we had back when I worked was lost in a manure pit along with the SF10 film body. No one dared to dive to retrieve it ... lol !

Regards
It will be funny if your would like that lens on DSLR. )))
05-29-2020, 11:07 AM - 2 Likes   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by c.a.m Quote
I think that your experience lends credibility to your assessment of the F 35-70.

Most users seem to be pleased with this little lens, but perhaps it is a function of its relatively low cost.
Let's avoid boasting, but for my part, I have reviewed around 40 lens Pentaxforums so far, so my evaluation of the lens is quite objective. I don't think anyone claimed it was, say, better than the 28-105 (it isn't) but that it's quite good in its own right, better than most current kit lenses, and would still be "worth it" if it sold for a higher price. No more, no less.
05-30-2020, 06:11 PM   #25
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I’ve had a couple. The one I still use is terrific, and it was my go-to lens on the K1 for walking around until it was replaced with a FA28-105PZ

I tested it against a couple of FA28-80s, the PZ28-105, the 35-70 f2.8 AF, and a couple of old primes.

The 35-70 was better than either of the FA28-80s, tied the PZ over the relevant range, was beat by the 35-70 f2.8, and was a mixed bag with some cheap third-party primes. (One of the Vivitar 28s was very good. The others, not so much...)

That said, the FA28-80 Al wasn’t as bad as the other one, and neither was garbage. My PZ28-105 beat the 28-80s but got some haze in it, so I replaced it with the DFA28-105, which is noticeably better than any of the older lenses.

I have had a couple other F35-70s. One lives on a SF10 and seems fine the couple times I’ve used it. The other wasn’t very good, even before it completely came apart in my hand... that may have been related.

I have to think the sample variation with inexpensive lenses is enormous, especially 30+ years on...
So I’ll believe results consistent with mine that show it one of the best values going, but I’ll also believe there are a couple still out there that are horrible but have not yet been destroyed

-Eric
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