"to keep or not to keep?; this is the question", re: SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5

Athanassios · 04-25-2023, 05:25 AM

Some may find my dilemma silly but please understand my "pentaxian LBA logic"

I have a great copy of SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 which is a beautiful, small and sharp lens but I also have the legendary FA* 28-70/2.8 , the sexy FA J 28-80/3.5-5.6 and the underrated but super sharp and fast Sigma 28-105/2.8-4.

My collection, some may already seen, is BIG and this lens was first bought as a secondary lens for whenever I would be using the Tamron 70-200/2.8 in events instead of wide primes.

I would find GREAT help to people that LOVE SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 and have found more uses of it in K1 ie FF since the 20-40 Ltd, that I have, is a shorter mm but better walk around lens in APS-C ie my KPs.

Bought it for 75 euros MINT, I also purchased hood and vintage case for it cause I love to pamper my gear but I am now in the process of selling it for 75 euros.
I have some 40 lenses plus the HD TC.

My heart says keep it, my logic says sell it.

What do you say? Thanks in advance

And sorry if anyone finds all the above silly.

Attached Images

Last edited by Athanassios; 04-25-2023 at 05:28 AM. Reason: syntax errors

**boriscleto** · 04-25-2023, 05:37 AM - **2 Likes**

What is this "not to keep" you speak of? *shifts on dragon hoard of lenses to become more comfortable*

Athanassios · 04-25-2023, 05:54 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

What is this "not to keep" you speak of? *shifts on dragon hoard of lenses to become more comfortable*

TBH I did not understand your comment. My dilemma is whether I should keep this lens or not considering all that I wrote. Sorry if I am slow in grasping your point with "dragon hoard". I'm not american so some expressions do slip my mind.

AfterPentax Mark II · 04-25-2023, 06:29 AM

If I were you I would not sell it. It is small, so it always fits in a pocket and it is one of the first AF lenses of Pentax. I wish I had one, but I do not. Instead I bought myself an A 35-70 f4... The F series was always noisy, but great gave great IQ and still do on DSLR. It is a KEEPER!

PS.: I think that Borisloceto means that you have an immense collection of lenses (dragon hoard) and that getting rid of the smallest one does not make room, but might give you the idea of feeling better after you sold this one.

Last edited by AfterPentax Mark II; 04-25-2023 at 06:34 AM. Reason: PS

Athanassios · 04-25-2023, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II

If I were you I would not sell it. It is small, so it always fits in a pocket and it is one of the first AF lenses of Pentax. I wish I had one, but I do not. Instead I bought myself an A 35-70 f4... The F series was always noisy, but great gave great IQ and still do on DSLR. It is a KEEPER!

PS.: I think that Borisloceto means that you have an immense collection of lenses (dragon hoard) and that getting rid of the smallest one does not make room, but might give you the idea of feeling better after you sold this one.

Thanks for both the advice and the draconian clarification. I guess I will keep it ��

**JensE** · 04-25-2023, 09:11 AM

Originally posted by Athanassios

Thanks for both the advice and the draconian clarification.

Tolkien's Smaug in The Hobbit would be a superb reference.

If you don't feel compelled to use the lens, there would simply be more space for a different one if you sold it.

**paulh** · 04-25-2023, 09:18 AM

I say keep it. It's small, doesn't take up much space, very good IQ and has a very useful macro function.

Last edited by paulh; 04-25-2023 at 09:46 AM.

**robgski** · 04-25-2023, 09:25 AM

An unused piece of equipment only collects dust and takes up space. If I haven’t used a lens in the past 6 months and I can’t think of a specific situation where only that lens will do, I would consider selling it.

35mmfilmfan · 04-25-2023, 10:29 AM - **2 Likes**

Some of my lenses see only occasional use, but I keep them all. I would feel guilty if they went to someone who was not as protective as I - same with books and vinyl. Not a hoarder as such (purchases are always the result of long and deep thought), but I like to feel accompanied in my declining years by items that provide me with interest and pleasure.

VictorDA · 04-25-2023, 11:20 AM

I'm with robgski on this. I like a clean and tidy kit, and I prefer any lens to be used by someone enthusiastic enough to buy it from me, rather than sit unused in my drawer

See this as offering unplanned baby dogs and cats to a loving home for good care!

Athanassios · 04-25-2023, 12:08 PM

Thanks all for your suggestions. I think I’ll keep it. It’s a sweet little lens and it can find good use as Inwas planning to; even less than expected

**hjoseph7** · 04-25-2023, 12:13 PM

You have a lot of overlapping lenses as far as focal length, I would just keep the sharpest one..

**AggieDad** · 04-25-2023, 04:49 PM

I appreciate that some folks will wax rhapsodic over a camera or a lens. And while I may appreciate it, I surely do not understand it.

Cameras and lenses are simply tools. Keep the tools you need to do the job you want to do, and dispense with the others. They can be put to good use by others who will use them.

Athanassios · 04-25-2023, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by AggieDad

I appreciate that some folks will wax rhapsodic over a camera or a lens. And while I may appreciate it, I surely do not understand it.

Cameras and lenses are simply tools. Keep the tools you need to do the job you want to do, and dispense with the others. They can be put to good use by others who will use them.

Lenses and cameras, apart from mere tools, inspire you to shoot by their looks and characteristics and …. character. That’s why I bought the FA J 28-80 with hood or the Sigma 18-35 or the A* 300 etc etc. That is why I searched the whole planet to find a K1ii Silver Limited or bought the “biscuit” ie 40 XS or the original Bigma. The look of the combo inspires me. Hope you understand now.

**AggieDad** · 04-25-2023, 06:10 PM

Originally posted by Athanassios

Lenses and cameras, apart from mere tools, inspire you to shoot by their looks and characteristics and …. character. That’s why I bought the FA J 28-80 with hood or the Sigma 18-35 or the A* 300 etc etc. That is why I searched the whole planet to find a K1ii Silver Limited or bought the “biscuit” ie 40 XS or the original Bigma. The look of the combo inspires me. Hope you understand now.

If I understand your comment, your camera and lenses are your inspiration for your photography. If so, then I know why we have a totally different outlook about the equipment. That is, for me, I want to create a certain image (generally inspired by something I have seen) and then decide which tools I need for the job.

You feel that the means justify the ends, while I feel that the ends justify the means.

04-25-2023, 05:25 AM	#1
Athanassios Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Glyfada, a southern suburb of Athens Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 208	"to keep or not to keep?; this is the question", re: SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 Some may find my dilemma silly but please understand my "pentaxian LBA logic" I have a great copy of SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 which is a beautiful, small and sharp lens but I also have the legendary FA* 28-70/2.8 , the sexy FA J 28-80/3.5-5.6 and the underrated but super sharp and fast Sigma 28-105/2.8-4. My collection, some may already seen, is BIG and this lens was first bought as a secondary lens for whenever I would be using the Tamron 70-200/2.8 in events instead of wide primes. I would find GREAT help to people that LOVE SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 and have found more uses of it in K1 ie FF since the 20-40 Ltd, that I have, is a shorter mm but better walk around lens in APS-C ie my KPs. Bought it for 75 euros MINT, I also purchased hood and vintage case for it cause I love to pamper my gear but I am now in the process of selling it for 75 euros. I have some 40 lenses plus the HD TC. My heart says keep it, my logic says sell it. What do you say? Thanks in advance And sorry if anyone finds all the above silly. Attached Images Last edited by Athanassios; 04-25-2023 at 05:28 AM. Reason: syntax errors

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04-25-2023, 05:37 AM - 2 Likes	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	What is this "not to keep" you speak of? shifts on dragon hoard of lenses to become more comfortable

04-25-2023, 05:54 AM	#3
Athanassios Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Glyfada, a southern suburb of Athens Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 208 Original Poster	Originally posted by boriscleto What is this "not to keep" you speak of? shifts on dragon hoard of lenses to become more comfortable TBH I did not understand your comment. My dilemma is whether I should keep this lens or not considering all that I wrote. Sorry if I am slow in grasping your point with "dragon hoard". I'm not american so some expressions do slip my mind.

04-25-2023, 06:29 AM	#4
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,462	If I were you I would not sell it. It is small, so it always fits in a pocket and it is one of the first AF lenses of Pentax. I wish I had one, but I do not. Instead I bought myself an A 35-70 f4... The F series was always noisy, but great gave great IQ and still do on DSLR. It is a KEEPER! PS.: I think that Borisloceto means that you have an immense collection of lenses (dragon hoard) and that getting rid of the smallest one does not make room, but might give you the idea of feeling better after you sold this one. Last edited by AfterPentax Mark II; 04-25-2023 at 06:34 AM. Reason: PS

04-25-2023, 08:38 AM	#5
Athanassios Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Glyfada, a southern suburb of Athens Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 208 Original Poster	Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II If I were you I would not sell it. It is small, so it always fits in a pocket and it is one of the first AF lenses of Pentax. I wish I had one, but I do not. Instead I bought myself an A 35-70 f4... The F series was always noisy, but great gave great IQ and still do on DSLR. It is a KEEPER! PS.: I think that Borisloceto means that you have an immense collection of lenses (dragon hoard) and that getting rid of the smallest one does not make room, but might give you the idea of feeling better after you sold this one. Thanks for both the advice and the draconian clarification. I guess I will keep it ��

04-25-2023, 09:11 AM	#6
JensE Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Leipzig Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,969	Originally posted by Athanassios Thanks for both the advice and the draconian clarification. Tolkien's Smaug in The Hobbit would be a superb reference. If you don't feel compelled to use the lens, there would simply be more space for a different one if you sold it.

04-25-2023, 09:18 AM	#7
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,269	I say keep it. It's small, doesn't take up much space, very good IQ and has a very useful macro function. Last edited by paulh; 04-25-2023 at 09:46 AM.

04-25-2023, 09:25 AM	#8
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	An unused piece of equipment only collects dust and takes up space. If I haven’t used a lens in the past 6 months and I can’t think of a specific situation where only that lens will do, I would consider selling it.

04-25-2023, 10:29 AM - 2 Likes	#9
35mmfilmfan Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 4,329	Some of my lenses see only occasional use, but I keep them all. I would feel guilty if they went to someone who was not as protective as I - same with books and vinyl. Not a hoarder as such (purchases are always the result of long and deep thought), but I like to feel accompanied in my declining years by items that provide me with interest and pleasure.

04-25-2023, 11:20 AM	#10
VictorDA Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lyon area, France Posts: 718	I'm with robgski on this. I like a clean and tidy kit, and I prefer any lens to be used by someone enthusiastic enough to buy it from me, rather than sit unused in my drawer See this as offering unplanned baby dogs and cats to a loving home for good care!

04-25-2023, 12:08 PM	#11
Athanassios Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Glyfada, a southern suburb of Athens Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 208 Original Poster	Thanks all for your suggestions. I think I’ll keep it. It’s a sweet little lens and it can find good use as Inwas planning to; even less than expected

04-25-2023, 12:13 PM	#12
hjoseph7 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,047	You have a lot of overlapping lenses as far as focal length, I would just keep the sharpest one..

04-25-2023, 04:49 PM	#13
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,453	I appreciate that some folks will wax rhapsodic over a camera or a lens. And while I may appreciate it, I surely do not understand it. Cameras and lenses are simply tools. Keep the tools you need to do the job you want to do, and dispense with the others. They can be put to good use by others who will use them.

04-25-2023, 05:33 PM	#14
Athanassios Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Glyfada, a southern suburb of Athens Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 208 Original Poster	Originally posted by AggieDad I appreciate that some folks will wax rhapsodic over a camera or a lens. And while I may appreciate it, I surely do not understand it. Cameras and lenses are simply tools. Keep the tools you need to do the job you want to do, and dispense with the others. They can be put to good use by others who will use them. Lenses and cameras, apart from mere tools, inspire you to shoot by their looks and characteristics and …. character. That’s why I bought the FA J 28-80 with hood or the Sigma 18-35 or the A* 300 etc etc. That is why I searched the whole planet to find a K1ii Silver Limited or bought the “biscuit” ie 40 XS or the original Bigma. The look of the combo inspires me. Hope you understand now.

04-25-2023, 06:10 PM	#15
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,453	Originally posted by Athanassios Lenses and cameras, apart from mere tools, inspire you to shoot by their looks and characteristics and …. character. That’s why I bought the FA J 28-80 with hood or the Sigma 18-35 or the A* 300 etc etc. That is why I searched the whole planet to find a K1ii Silver Limited or bought the “biscuit” ie 40 XS or the original Bigma. The look of the combo inspires me. Hope you understand now. If I understand your comment, your camera and lenses are your inspiration for your photography. If so, then I know why we have a totally different outlook about the equipment. That is, for me, I want to create a certain image (generally inspired by something I have seen) and then decide which tools I need for the job. You feel that the means justify the ends, while I feel that the ends justify the means.