[PentHassyKon]

I saw this recently on fleabay and hemmed and hawwed on whether to bid or not - I did not. I've been looking for a good low-light telephoto but I just can't bring myself to pay the prices I see out there.

I'm not sure how to link to it so that it will show up for posterity but it was item # 110437788293. I wanted to ask folks here for advice but I didn't want to spoil it for those who are on here to get it at a good price so I waited till after the bidding was over.

Essentially it sounded like somebody dropped the lens, the front element got chipped, and they tried to fix it and botched the repair.

I hope someone here got it and could tell us eventually if they were able to repair and hopefully use the lens. It would be a good story to hear.

[Lowell Goudge]

I saw this, and passed on it because my sigma APO 70-200F2.8 EX does everything I need and I would not bet on getting a new front element. The A series was made in the mid 1980's.

If it were a K 200F2.5 I might have thought about it but not for that price with a bad element.

[PentHassyKon]

I saw this, and passed on it because my sigma APO 70-200F2.8 EX does everything I need and I would not bet on getting a new front element. The A series was made in the mid 1980's.

If it were a K 200F2.5 I might have thought about it but not for that price with a bad element.

If you didn't have the Sigma would you have considered it?

I'm curious how badly the image would get affected with that cracked front element - I was considering it with thoughts of not having to replace the element. My understanding is that issues with the rear element are more critical vs those with the front. Especially in this case with the chip/crack not being in the center. Of course, there may be issues with optical alignment since it may have been dropped but I'm sure there are folks out there, like Erick, who might be able to realign with a collimator or other optical equipment.

[Lowell Goudge]

would I have considered it if I didn't have the sigma?

tough call. I am always looking for fast primes, somewhat as a "nice to have" thing, but so far, I have curbed my LBA by following a simple rule

Specifically, and the 200 wold fit into this category because the sigma is such a good lens, I don't buy a lens unless it is wider faster longer, ... than anything I already have. (or K mount over M42)

To show you how hard this is to actually buy anything at all consider my zoom kit as the reference.

Sigma APO 10-20 F4-5.6
SMC-FA-J 17-35 F3.5-4.5
Tamron XR Di 28-75 F2.8
Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8
Add onto this SMC 300mm F4 and vivitar MC 400F5.6 and you can see the problem.

I do have primes, bur all are faster than my zooms except for the SMC105F2,.8

Tamron adaptall II 24mmF2.5 and 28mmF2.5, SMC Takumar 35mm F2. SMC 50mmF1.4, Helios 58mm F2, vivitar 85mmF1.4, SMC 10-5F2.8, SMC 135F2.5

[PentHassyKon]

............... I don't buy a lens unless it is wider faster longer, ... than anything I already have. (or K mount over M42)

...............
Tamron adaptall II 24mmF2.5 and 28mmF2.5, SMC Takumar 35mm F2. SMC 50mmF1.4, Helios 58mm F2, vivitar 85mmF1.4, SMC 10-5F2.8, SMC 135F2.5

Great LBA rule - except at that point I don't think you can call this behaviour LBA

Looks to me like you need to get the 31mm Limited, 24mm f2, 28mm f2, a 50/55mm f1.2 and of course the 135 f1.8