Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Regentag · 05-24-2016, 02:08 PM - **4 Likes**

The Day my K-r died - M24-35

I will pair up this Lens with my today received M35-70 and the 75-150 Lens for strolling soon.

**paulh** · 05-27-2016, 07:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Regentag

The Day my K-r died - M24-35

I will pair up this Lens with my today received M35-70 and the 75-150 Lens for strolling soon.

Nice one!

M35-70/2.8-3.5:

**paulh** · 07-24-2016, 04:47 PM - **1 Like**

M35-70/2.8-3.5

Stagnant · 09-21-2016, 02:08 PM - **3 Likes**

SMC A-70-210 F4.

Dredging ships in the port.

ChristianRock · 09-21-2016, 03:22 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Stagnant

SMC A-70-210 F4.

Dredging ships in the port.

Very sharp, gorgeous colors!

**paulh** · 09-21-2016, 03:37 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ChristianRock

Very sharp, gorgeous colors!

Agree - very nice! When someone says the old manual lenses can't compete with today's modern glass & coatings - show them these photos.

Stagnant · 09-22-2016, 01:29 AM

Thank you for feedback ! At the short end, this lens produces excellent results even wide open, but the further you zoom, the more you have to stop down, to achieve sharp results and minimize all kinds of fringing. At 210 mm the lens has to be stopped down to around F8 to get the most out of it. I tried many RAW converters with manual glass and in my experience SilkyPix or DCU are the best (sharpness, contrast, colours). So when judging about the quality of the lens, one has to take into account the software used to process the shots from it

In this very case the colours are slightly yellowish, because the shots were taken in the evening.
When used properly this lens, can indeed compete with modern optics.

**ivanvernon** · 09-22-2016, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by Stagnant

SMC A-70-210 F4.

Dredging ships in the port.

Great shots. I have recently acquired a copy of this lens and like it a lot.

ChristianRock · 09-22-2016, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by paulh

Agree - very nice! When someone says the old manual lenses can't compete with today's modern glass & coatings - show them these photos.

I humbly suggest that the SMC-A 70-210mm f4 is not really a typical old manual zoom lens... I think the optical design was very good for its time and the characteristics that Stagnant pointed out (you have to stop it down at the long end) are identical to what you experience with a lens like the FA 24-70 f/2.8. The person or group working on the early more premium zooms (starting with the K 45-125mm all the way through the 75-150mm and the A 70-210mm) obviously knew what they were doing - sharp and very contrasty. Even the highly regarded Vivitar Series 1 70-210 versions, while very sharp, don't have the same contrast and color rendering.

**pepperberry farm** · 09-22-2016, 10:12 AM

I only have two manual zooms, one is the A70-210/4 and it is a stunner..... I need to dust my copy off and put her to work in the Single challenge for a month....

Stagnant · 09-22-2016, 01:18 PM

Cross-posted from this thread.

85 MM

IMGP1827 - 85mm F4.0

IMGP1828 - 85mm F4.0 PS

IMGP1831 - 85mm F8.0

IMGP1832 - 85mm F8.0 PS

210 mm

IMGP1854 - 210mm F4.0

IMGP1855 - 210mm F4.0 PS

IMGP1858 - 210mm F8.0

IMGP1859 - 210mm F8.0 PS

Pixelshifting can to a certain extent compensate for the softness on the long end at the widest apertures, but fringing is made more evident. At F8 both with PS and without can compete with any modern zoom or prime, though it would required some tweaks to contrast and colour.

**From1980** · 09-25-2016, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by GUB

It is not a particularly sharp lens but the 12 bladed aperture performs well in the backgrounds and the colours are great.

Interesting old low contrast lens and with the 12 bladed diaphragm out of focus areas are beautiful and creamy smooth.

**paulh** · 09-25-2016, 10:46 AM

The wife and Jeannie with an *ist D and the M75-150/4, taken a couple years ago:

**wtlwdwgn** · 09-27-2016, 06:34 PM

K-1 and A 70-210 f/4.

**paulh** · 10-03-2016, 08:05 AM

K5 + Tokina RMC 80-200

09-25-2016, 10:46 AM	#193
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,308	The wife and Jeannie with an ist D and the M75-150/4, taken a couple years ago: Last edited by paulh; 09-26-2016 at 05:17 PM.*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DA zoom club	yeatzee	Lens Clubs	3137	4 Days Ago 03:14 AM
DA Limited Zoom Club	lytrytyr	Lens Clubs	1029	04-05-2024 07:02 PM
Sigma Telephoto Zoom Club	Weevil	Lens Clubs	989	11-26-2023 10:03 PM
The Cheap Film-Era Wide Angle Zoom Lenses Club!	ChristianRock	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	24	10-06-2017 07:09 AM

05-24-2016, 02:08 PM - 4 Likes	#181
Regentag Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	The Day my K-r died - M24-35 I will pair up this Lens with my today received M35-70 and the 75-150 Lens for strolling soon.

05-27-2016, 07:39 AM - 1 Like	#182
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,308	Originally posted by Regentag The Day my K-r died - M24-35 I will pair up this Lens with my today received M35-70 and the 75-150 Lens for strolling soon. Nice one! M35-70/2.8-3.5:

07-24-2016, 04:47 PM - 1 Like	#183
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,308	M35-70/2.8-3.5

09-21-2016, 02:08 PM - 3 Likes	#184
Stagnant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	SMC A-70-210 F4. Dredging ships in the port.

09-21-2016, 03:22 PM - 1 Like	#185
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,912	Originally posted by Stagnant SMC A-70-210 F4. Dredging ships in the port. Very sharp, gorgeous colors!

09-21-2016, 03:37 PM - 1 Like	#186
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,308	Originally posted by ChristianRock Very sharp, gorgeous colors! Agree - very nice! When someone says the old manual lenses can't compete with today's modern glass & coatings - show them these photos.

09-22-2016, 01:29 AM	#187
Stagnant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	Thank you for feedback ! At the short end, this lens produces excellent results even wide open, but the further you zoom, the more you have to stop down, to achieve sharp results and minimize all kinds of fringing. At 210 mm the lens has to be stopped down to around F8 to get the most out of it. I tried many RAW converters with manual glass and in my experience SilkyPix or DCU are the best (sharpness, contrast, colours). So when judging about the quality of the lens, one has to take into account the software used to process the shots from it In this very case the colours are slightly yellowish, because the shots were taken in the evening. When used properly this lens, can indeed compete with modern optics.

09-22-2016, 07:12 AM	#188
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Originally posted by Stagnant SMC A-70-210 F4. Dredging ships in the port. Great shots. I have recently acquired a copy of this lens and like it a lot.

09-22-2016, 09:08 AM	#189
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,912	Originally posted by paulh Agree - very nice! When someone says the old manual lenses can't compete with today's modern glass & coatings - show them these photos. I humbly suggest that the SMC-A 70-210mm f4 is not really a typical old manual zoom lens... I think the optical design was very good for its time and the characteristics that Stagnant pointed out (you have to stop it down at the long end) are identical to what you experience with a lens like the FA 24-70 f/2.8. The person or group working on the early more premium zooms (starting with the K 45-125mm all the way through the 75-150mm and the A 70-210mm) obviously knew what they were doing - sharp and very contrasty. Even the highly regarded Vivitar Series 1 70-210 versions, while very sharp, don't have the same contrast and color rendering.

09-22-2016, 10:12 AM	#190
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,778 Original Poster	I only have two manual zooms, one is the A70-210/4 and it is a stunner..... I need to dust my copy off and put her to work in the Single challenge for a month....

09-22-2016, 01:18 PM	#191
Stagnant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	Cross-posted from this thread. 85 MM IMGP1827 - 85mm F4.0 IMGP1828 - 85mm F4.0 PS IMGP1831 - 85mm F8.0 IMGP1832 - 85mm F8.0 PS 210 mm IMGP1854 - 210mm F4.0 IMGP1855 - 210mm F4.0 PS IMGP1858 - 210mm F8.0 IMGP1859 - 210mm F8.0 PS Pixelshifting can to a certain extent compensate for the softness on the long end at the widest apertures, but fringing is made more evident. At F8 both with PS and without can compete with any modern zoom or prime, though it would required some tweaks to contrast and colour.

09-25-2016, 01:37 AM	#192
From1980 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Essex, Ontario Posts: 682	Originally posted by GUB It is not a particularly sharp lens but the 12 bladed aperture performs well in the backgrounds and the colours are great. Interesting old low contrast lens and with the 12 bladed diaphragm out of focus areas are beautiful and creamy smooth.

09-27-2016, 06:34 PM	#194
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,853	K-1 and A 70-210 f/4.

10-03-2016, 08:05 AM	#195
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,308	K5 + Tokina RMC 80-200

Manual Zoom Club

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!