Hi -
OK, a second lens test in two days, a photo taken of my pear tree.


My motivation is to re-purpose a lens or two for a new camera, which did come with one kit zoom.

This is a classic 1980s SMC Pentax zoom lens, and I am lucky to have a mint copy. I had used it for astronomy, with a Tamron SP 2x extender.

The sample image is a close up at the 210mm setting, not macro as I wanted to frame things a little.


The only 'con' I'd note is that the lens is fairly heavy, when compared to today's plastic composite ones.


Some things that I can explain:

First there is an 'A' setting, of importance to Pentaxians, and a small macro range.


It is a 'reverse trombone' zoom, and why more designs don't extend from the longest focal length I don't know. Do you reach for a lens like this to use at 70mm?

Settings are pretty much parfocal in my trials hand held, and all focal lengths in the range are sharp. That's how they were made back in the day.

To quote Bob Seeger they were built solidly,'like a rock' or like a Nikkor.


Regards, C.

[angkymac]

I had one of those 70-210 SMC-A zooms. Bought it in the early 80's. Really liked it. But so long and heavy that I didn't always carry it.
Wish I still had it, but it "crashed" internally.
Be careful about how it gets knocked about or how quickly you zoom from one end-stop to the other. If it's like mine, it could come undone inside.
Angky.

[UncleVanya]

I had one of those 70-210 SMC-A zooms. Bought it in the early 80's. Really liked it. But so long and heavy that I didn't always carry it.
Wish I still had it, but it "crashed" internally.
Be careful about how it gets knocked about or how quickly you zoom from one end-stop to the other. If it's like mine, it could come undone inside.
Angky.

Yup. I have one that was repaired but the repair has to use fabricated parts. The lens seems to have some mechanical difficulties but the glass is lovely.

[goldenhr18]

Hello angkymac and UncleVanya - I'll keep in mind your observations on the delicate internal of that SMC-A 70-210 1:4 lens.


Also a couple of points I thought of later... in fact perhaps all this should be in the lens review section. But again, I'm not using Pentax camera. I just like the community and the excellent artistic work.


Now what I noticed is that zooming is internal which helps the balance on a tripod, and my copy does not 'creep'. However focusing does change the length of the inner lens barrel and it rotates.
So the rotation would be an annoyance with circular polarizing filters. You'd think lens breathing would be severe but it doesn't seem to be! Still a great lens, I only count the rotation as a con.

Cheers, C.