[Marc Sabatella]

KEH sells the A28/2 for in the $400's (US) depending on condition. not sure what that works out to in AU.

It *is* supposedly a very good lens. Its resolution numbers as measured by Yoshihiko Takinami are practically off the charts, beating pretty much everything except the FA 35/2 and FA50/2.8 macro, and the few people I've seen talk about it do so glowingly.

[Matthew]

KEH sells the A28/2 for in the $400's (US) depending on condition. not sure what that works out to in AU.

So basically the seller is in the ball park. But then there is the current EC.

It *is* supposedly a very good lens. Its resolution numbers as measured by Yoshihiko Takinami are practically off the charts, beating pretty much everything except the FA 35/2 and FA50/2.8 macro, and the few people I've seen talk about it do so glowingly.

It is still an old manual lens without warranty so my own value for this lens would be about half the asking price.

[StevenVH]

The SMC-A 16mm f2.8 is another A 'gem'. Like others, it is pin sharp and contrasty. One of my favourites.

I'm wondering about this lens on a cropped sensor dSLR. The equivalent FOV on FF was my favorite WA in the film days. For the going price of this one I'd probably just stick with my 16-50 or get the DA14.

cheers

[StevenVH]

Here's a couple more with the 35-105. I did these for a bokeh test in the late afternoon. The first is facing easterly and the second towards the west and both are wide open. Again these are the JPEGs just scaled and a little UM applied.





cheers

[Lance B]

The A lenses were probably the most beautifully engineered lenses that Pentax ever did. A joy to manually focus.

"A" lenses that I still have:

A16mm f2.8:


A50mm f1.2:


A50mm f1.4:


A100mm f2.8 non macro:


"A" lenses that I had, but sold:

A28mm f2.8:


A100mm f2.8 macro


A*200mm f2.8


A*300 f4

[StevenVH]

The A lenses were probably the most beautifully engineered lenses that Pentax ever did. A joy to manually focus.

Wow! Mr LBA hisself. Nice images and PP work. So you sold an A 200/2.8 and a 300/4 ??
How did that feel? Nevermind, I don't wanna' know. I hope I get the chance to sell both of those and decide not to

Okay, now about that FA20 in your sig....

[Lance B]

Wow! Mr LBA hisself. Nice images and PP work. So you sold an A 200/2.8 and a 300/4 ??
How did that feel? Nevermind, I don't wanna' know. I hope I get the chance to sell both of those and decide not to

Hi Steven,

Selling these two was a terrible feeling, I can assure you. The A*200 f2.8 is quite possibly the most beautifully crafted lens I had and it was in mint condition. The manual focus feel was beautiful, the build quality was exemplry and the image quality was up there with the best. You could just sit and play with the lens all day without even taking a photo! The A*300 was almost as nice.

Unfortunately, I could not justify having these two lenses as well as others that covered the range like the FA*300 f4.5(at the time - now the DA*300 f4 as well) and the FA*80-200 f2.8.

I sold the A*200 f2.8 to Jim King (on DP Review) who has the biggest collection of Pentax lenses I know, so I knew it would be going to a good home. I also sold him my A100mm f2.8 macro.

Okay, now about that FA20 in your sig....

Another lovely lens that I do not utilize enough.

[Venturi]

I picked up a 70-210/4 off fleabay last weekend and USPS delivered it today. I'm overjoyed! It's so minty I just held the case in my hands for a few minutes before opening it up to look at the lens.

I've only taken a few shots with it on the K20 just to test it out - it's mounted on the Super Program so we'll all have to wait for me to finish the roll before seeing much from it (darn delayed gratification...)

But here's some lens porn:
"At home" perched on a DA12-24 hood
[imgwideleft]http://www.perzactly.com/posts/2009/03/13/JDG06851.jpg[/imgwideleft]
The booty. Yep, the strap's never been opened.
[imgwideleft]http://www.perzactly.com/posts/2009/03/13/JDG06855.jpg[/imgwideleft]
Down the middle
[imgwideleft]http://www.perzactly.com/posts/2009/03/13/JDG06859.jpg[/imgwideleft]
Standing tall
[imgwideleft]http://www.perzactly.com/posts/2009/03/13/JDG06860.jpg[/imgwideleft]

And here's the best of the test shots:
Xena doesn't hold still for long so it's a miracle I got this focused
[imgwideleft]http://www.perzactly.com/posts/2009/03/13/JDG06834.jpg[/imgwideleft]
100% crop

[Jewelltrail]

Venturi:

That is just beautiful--thanks for sharing.

[Venturi]

Thanks. Hoping to finish up the roll of XP2 and run a roll of TMax through the SP with her this weekend.

[HansenTsang]

A little something to keep this thread at the top.;-)

[Matthew]

"A" lenses that I had, but sold:

A*300 f4

Lance,
I'd be interested in you opinion on the differences between the A* and DA* 300s.

That is the first A*300 shot I've seen that has the same edge heavy OOF highlights that I find with my DA*300. Perhaps I haven't been looking hard enough.
I noticed that you gushed somewhat in your DA*300 review, presumably the reason that you sold the A*300?

I probably shouldn't do this as it is the "A" club, not the DA* club but here is an example from the DA*300 showing some of the unusual edge heavy OOFH it is capable of. I actually really like it in this instance (although the reduction to this scale might need a bit of work). I chose a pigeon to match Lance although obviously I was much further away.

f5.6 on K20D. Will remove if the "A" CLUB disapproves.

[er1kksen]

A 50mm f2, first shots on my new K20D:





This lens renders beautifully, I wish it didn't have bent filter rings.

[StevenVH]

Lance,
I'd be interested in you opinion on the differences between the A* and DA* 300s.

That is the first A*300 shot I've seen that has the same edge heavy OOF highlights that I find with my DA*300. Perhaps I haven't been looking hard enough.
I noticed that you gushed somewhat in your DA*300 review, presumably the reason that you sold the A*300?

I probably shouldn't do this as it is the "A" club, not the DA* club but here is an example from the DA*300 showing some of the unusual edge heavy OOFH it is capable of. I actually really like it in this instance (although the reduction to this scale might need a bit of work). I chose a pigeon to match Lance although obviously I was much further away.

f5.6 on K20D. Will remove if the "A" CLUB disapproves.

er1kksen, nice and thanks for bumpin the A club

Matthew, that is a very interesting sample. Thanks for the effort, I for one don't mind at all.
If I saw that shot without the explanation, I'd guess is was done in PP.
If the bokeh effect is easily replicable, I'd love it for specific shots. I like the sample you posted very much.

cheers

[Illuwatar]

Some shots from Stockholm in (very) early spring, taken with the Pentax-A 35-105/3.5. A wonderful lens that became my new favorite.

















I hope I did not make them too large... (first post to a Club thread). [image tags modified]