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03-05-2009, 01:48 PM   #1
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manual focus tele zoom

I am looking for a manual focus (with A on the aperture ring) for my K10d. Any opinions on Tokina AT-X 80-200 f2.8 versus Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f2.8-4 (version 3) or any others I may have missed in this range?

03-05-2009, 02:13 PM   #2
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You find sometimes the Tamron Adaptall 70-200/2.8. But apart from an older pre-A Tokina 80-200/2.8 I haven't used any of these, as I bought a Sigma 70-200/2.8 AF lens to replace the Tokina. The Sigma is significantly better optically and the built is at least en par, though it is a bit bulkier than the comparetively slim Tokina.

Ben
03-05-2009, 02:53 PM   #3
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Don't forget to look at this forum's marketplace and lens review sections to help make your choice.

I'm pretty happy with a 70-210/4 SMC-A (but of course wish it were 2.8).

Dave
03-05-2009, 04:07 PM   #4
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I have the non A version of the Tokina lens you mentioned and I'm very happy with it. It's the only zoom lens I use on a regular basis.

03-05-2009, 05:00 PM   #5
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Hi jkglogau,

I've found the Tamron Adaptall 2 SP 80-200 f2.8 to be the best of the fast MF telezooms. It's one of the few zooms that stands up really well to use with the Pentax F 1.7x AFA for auto focusing. Another really good one (and usually available pretty reasonably) is the Pentax A 70-210 f4 that newarts mentioned -- it's probably one of the best (and most unappreciated) MF tele zooms ever made. Another very good lens in this class is the Tamron SP 70-210 f/3.5 model 19AH. Of course, with these Tamrons, you'll need a PK/A adapter, and they are now few and far between, as well as up there in price. The good thing is that getting one will open up a whole lot of great A2 MF lenses to collect and use at usually very good prices. A recent post in one of the fora showed that there are still a few of these available in older B&M camera shops at their former retail of @ $40USD. . . you just have to hunt one down.

A bit longer, the Tokina 100-300 f4 AT-X SD tested as one of the best, though my experience with one didn't live up to the reputation (I dismissed this as sample variation).

Scott
03-05-2009, 05:29 PM   #6
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I have the Vivitar you mentioned (version 3). It is a great lens that only suffers from PF in extreme contrast situations. I would still be using it now except I decided that I want autofocus on all of my main lenses (even if I have to MF every once in a while). Highly recommended. If you wait long enough, I will be posting it in the marketplace, but I'm waiting for my wife to decide she doesn't need it. It will probably be late spring by the time I post it (and several others).
Brian
03-05-2009, 06:42 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by snostorm Quote
A bit longer, the Tokina 100-300 f4 AT-X SD tested as one of the best, though my experience with one didn't live up to the reputation (I dismissed this as sample variation).
My experience (two samples, one a K-mount, the other a Ka-mount) is that the AT-X 300/4 is a somewhat unusual long zoom, in that it is as good at its long end as it is at its short end.

The following six "tables" show the center and corner resolution and contrast, at 100mm, 200mm, and 300mm, of the manual focus Tokina AT-X 100-300/4 lens, as determined by Modern Photography magazine:

Center and Corner Resolution at 100mm (at 1:49)
4 -- 55 Excellent -- 49 Excellent
5.6- 55 Very Good - 49 Excellent
8 -- 62 Very Good - 55 Excellent
11 - 62 Excellent -- 55 Excellent
16 - 55 Very Good - 49 Excellent
22 - 55 Very Good - 49 Excellent
32 - 49 Excellent -- 44 Excellent

Center and Corner Resolution at 200mm (at 1:49)
4 -- 55 Excellent - 49 Excellent
5.6- 55 Excellent - 49 Excellent
8 -- 62 Excellent - 55 Excellent
11 - 62 Excellent - 55 Excellent
16 - 55 Excellent - 49 Excellent
22 - 55 Excellent - 49 Excellent
32 - 49 Excellent - 44 Excellent

Center and Corner Resolution at 300mm (at 1:51)
4 -- 57 Excellent - 51 Excellent
5.6- 57 Excellent - 51 Excellent
8 -- 64 Excellent - 57 Excellent
11 - 64 Excellent - 57 Excellent
16 - 57 Excellent - 51 Excellent
22 - 51 Excellent - 45 Excellent
32 - 51 Excellent - 45 Excellent

Center and Corner Contrast at 100mm (at 30 lpm)
4 -- 54 High - 42 High
5.6- 59 High - 48 High
8 -- 74 High - 59 High
11 - 69 High - 56 High
16 - 66 High - 53 High
22 - 58 High - 48 High
32 - 49 High - 40 High

Center and Corner Contrast at 200mm (at 30 lpm)
4 -- 49 High - 40 High
5.6- 64 High - 48 High
8 -- 71 High - 55 High
11 - 73 High - 65 High
16 - 67 High - 57 High
22 - 53 High - 47 High
32 - 45 High - 34 Medium

Center and Corner Contrast at 300mm (at 30 lpm)
4 -- 53 High - 43 High
5.6- 58 High - 48 High
8 -- 73 High - 58 High
11 - 69 High - 56 High
16 - 64 High - 50 High
22 - 57 High - 45 High
32 - 48 High - 40 High

03-06-2009, 09:02 AM   #8
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undecided!

thanks everyone for answering. I see that the folks in the marketplace seem to really love the Tokina but its not getting any respect here. I am currently bidding on a Vivitar Series 1 on ?bay. If I can't get it at a decent price then I will look for the Pentax or I see a Vivitar just showed up on the marketplace so I would either jump on that or the Tokina. If neither of them is available after the weekend, I will be on the lookout for a Pentax. Any other opinions would be appreciated.
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