need help with buying those lenses:

michalkrawczyk · 02-19-2009, 03:03 AM

Im planning to het pentax super program ina an offer with thoses lenses:

3 SMC Pentax Lenses:
SMC Pentax-A 1:4 35-70mm
SMC Pentax-M 1:3.5 135mm
SMC Pentax-A 1:4 70-210mm

The point is Im a beginner and dont know anything about lenses. Could someone be so kind and explain me? What I can use the for, what are they good for, or if they are good at all. Is one of them good to make portraits ? Thank you very much

pasipasi · 02-19-2009, 03:10 AM

If the 70-210 is in good condition, it's an excellent lens and might be your favorite tele zoom even on the digital body.

Jimfear · 02-19-2009, 03:17 AM

Havn't used the first two but the 70-210mm lens is a good one. You can check out the lens review section for opinions on these lenses.

Any good for portraits... well I use it for portraits at least...

**Just1MoreDave** · 02-19-2009, 03:44 AM

They are all good lenses. The A35-70/4 is a two touch zoom, meaning separate zoom and focus rings. It has a close focus mode at 70mm, down to about 10 inches. Pentax has another zoom with similar specs that is not constant f4 aperture, which feels much cheaper. I use the f4 version on my film camera; the focal length isn't that great on digital. It takes a 58mm filter like the A70-210/4 and has a six-blade aperture. I read something about barrel distortion at 35mm but it doesn't bother me.

The 135mm is a classic portrait length. It's a compact lens with an integral hood. This is also a well-built lens with excellent performance at all apertures. It uses a 49mm filter. It only focuses down to about 5 feet, and it's not quite as useful on digital as film.

The last zoom has a great reputation but I've never used it.

**Canada_Rockies** · 02-19-2009, 11:22 AM

I am not familiar with the 35-70, but the other two lenses are very, very good. I used a 135/3.5 M series on a KX for sports for several years. I still have the 70-210 and it works just fine on my K10D as well as the film bodies.

Marc Sabatella · 02-19-2009, 06:22 PM

Originally posted by michalkrawczyk

The point is Im a beginner and dont know anything about lenses. Could someone be so kind and explain me? What I can use the for, what are they good for, or if they are good at all. Is one of them good to make portraits ? Thank you very much

What you need is to check out a book on photography tha can explain the concepts of focal length and aperture. Then you'll know what those lenses are for. It's way too big a topic to answer in a forum posting.

02-19-2009, 03:03 AM	#1
michalkrawczyk New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 11	need help with buying those lenses: Im planning to het pentax super program ina an offer with thoses lenses: 3 SMC Pentax Lenses: SMC Pentax-A 1:4 35-70mm SMC Pentax-M 1:3.5 135mm SMC Pentax-A 1:4 70-210mm The point is Im a beginner and dont know anything about lenses. Could someone be so kind and explain me? What I can use the for, what are they good for, or if they are good at all. Is one of them good to make portraits ? Thank you very much

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02-19-2009, 03:10 AM	#2
pasipasi Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oulu Photos: Gallery Posts: 532	If the 70-210 is in good condition, it's an excellent lens and might be your favorite tele zoom even on the digital body.

02-19-2009, 03:17 AM	#3
Jimfear Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 576	Havn't used the first two but the 70-210mm lens is a good one. You can check out the lens review section for opinions on these lenses. Any good for portraits... well I use it for portraits at least...

02-19-2009, 03:44 AM	#4
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	They are all good lenses. The A35-70/4 is a two touch zoom, meaning separate zoom and focus rings. It has a close focus mode at 70mm, down to about 10 inches. Pentax has another zoom with similar specs that is not constant f4 aperture, which feels much cheaper. I use the f4 version on my film camera; the focal length isn't that great on digital. It takes a 58mm filter like the A70-210/4 and has a six-blade aperture. I read something about barrel distortion at 35mm but it doesn't bother me. The 135mm is a classic portrait length. It's a compact lens with an integral hood. This is also a well-built lens with excellent performance at all apertures. It uses a 49mm filter. It only focuses down to about 5 feet, and it's not quite as useful on digital as film. The last zoom has a great reputation but I've never used it.

02-19-2009, 11:22 AM	#5
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	I am not familiar with the 35-70, but the other two lenses are very, very good. I used a 135/3.5 M series on a KX for sports for several years. I still have the 70-210 and it works just fine on my K10D as well as the film bodies.

02-19-2009, 06:22 PM	#6
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by michalkrawczyk The point is Im a beginner and dont know anything about lenses. Could someone be so kind and explain me? What I can use the for, what are they good for, or if they are good at all. Is one of them good to make portraits ? Thank you very much What you need is to check out a book on photography tha can explain the concepts of focal length and aperture. Then you'll know what those lenses are for. It's way too big a topic to answer in a forum posting.

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