[frederik9111]

PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing

Item for Sale
Smc Pentax-A* 1:2.8 300mm ED [IF] and Smc Pentax-A* 1:5.6 600mm ED [IF]

Asking Price
€ 1350 & € 1750 (about $ 1,815.47 and $ 2,353.39)

Item Location
Antwerp Area, Belgium (Europe, EU)

Item Description
I've set my mind on the FA*250-600/5.6. I haven't found one yet, but I want to be prepared financially
With pain, I'm putting two rarities up for sale:

First, the Smc Pentax-A * 1:2.8 300mm ED [IF] . SOLD

Since a few weeks I own two copies of this mythical 300mm. In my humble opinion, this A*300/2.8 is the best Pentax 300mm by far! Extremely sharp, super fast, and perfect CA control ... a dream for any nature photographer. A fairly heavy lens, but still management without a tripod. Of course, mounting on a tripod or monopod is possible.

Why am I selling it? I found this one. My newest copy in very similar optical and external condition but it came with its original retail box, the original flight case, complete paperworks,... etc. This new one is (for me) a more interesting addition to my collection, in particular because of the previous owner, who is a quite famous photographer and writer in my region. So that's why I can let my first copy go....

I traded this A * 300/2.8 about a year ago for a FA*300/4.5, a F1.7xAF adapter, and €350 cash (so about €1350, let's say), with a member of the French Forum. The lens comes with a Pentax back cap, the original leather front cover, the drop-in filter holder (I can provide a 49mm UV filter if you which) and a large lens bag, which fits the A * 300/2.8 perfectly.

Focusing with this F2.8 is like a dream and the aperture works properly. The glass is in spotless condition! Externally, there are a few minor scuffs, but nothing in particular.

Some of my realizations with this A*300/2.8:

- Cowspotting with the A*300/2.8: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
- A*300/2.8 and F1.7x AF adapter (9 pics): Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (A*300/2.8 met F1.7x AF adapter)
- Eerste 300/2.8 shotjes
- Eerste 300/2.8 portret :-)
- Meer A* 300/2.8 leute!

Secondly, the Smc Pentax-A * 1:5.6 600mm ED [IF] + A*600/5.6 DEMO lens. SOLD

I'm pretty sure I'm going to regret this... but also for sale is my very rare A*600/5.6. Attention: This lens is usable but not in perfect condition! The problem is a quite stiff focusing issue. When using this lens on a tripod mount it bends/tilts (extremely) slightly (almost invisible for the untrained eye, but the issue is really there; see the small gap of about half a millimeter between the gray and white focusing front group in one of the pictures). According to the previous owner, it toke a dive of about half a meter a few years ago. Probably one of the tiny screws that hold the two lens parts together has bent or is damaged.

However, when the front group is slightly supported (I use a small piece of wood as wedge), focusing is much more easy and the lens focal plane is perfectly straight. So the lens performs just fine! In fact, the image results with this lens are still pretty spectacular!

The lens comes with its dedicated flight case, an original Pentax back cap, the drop-in filter holder (I can provide an 49mm UV-filter if you lik) and the original soft leather front cover. I also add an additional home made black metal tripod plate for improved stability.

Furthermore, I also provide an additional and very rare DEMO version of the A * 600/5.6. This DEMO lens has a front element (don't know if its a real one; probably a discarded one) and all other components (focus system, drop-in filter holder, etc. ..) except the inner glass. It was my intention to 'transplant' the focus system of this demo lens to my real A* 600/5.6, but due to a lack of time, and because of the fact that my real A* 600/5.6 is perfectly usable, I never bothered. The A*600/5.6 is a rather simple lens, so every handyman can get to work immediately .

As I mentioned above, my * 600/5.6 is not in a perfect condition, so a "normal" price would therefore be wrong. I did some research on this and other forums, eBay, etc ... and estimate that the normal price for a perfect A* 600/5.6 would be around € 2500-3000. Because the little issue of my copy and but also because it comes with flight case, back cap, front cover, tripod plate and of course the extremely rare demo lens, I think that € 1750 should be an honest price.

Some of my realizations with this A*600/5.6 (mostly lunar pictures):

- PENTAX Photo Gallery
- PENTAX Photo Gallery
- Smc Pentax-A* 1:5.6 600mm ED (IF) - Extra fotootjes
- Beste lens naar de maan - Belgiumdigital forum - Digitale fotografie

Both A*300/2.8 and A*600/5.6:

Feel free to contact me for additional pictures of the lens. I'll be happy to provide new pictures with both lenses, even combined with different teleconverters (I have 1.4x-S, 2.0x-L and 1.7x AF). Of course you are very welcome to test this lens extensively at my home near Antwerp in Belgium, Europe.

Some picture: (Excuse me for the really "ugly" shots; I deliberately used harsh flash light and an absorbing background to highlight the imperfections and scuffs).



















Are you the original owner of the item being sold?
No

Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling

Item Condition (Key)
Used
Excellent

Shipping Destinations
Worldwide

Shipping Charge
To be discussed.

Shipping Services
TNT, UPS, Belgian Post,...

Accepted Payment Types
PayPal Other (Elaborate)

Return Policy & Additional Details
To be discussed.

Please send me a private message if interested in the item!

---

Last edited by frederik9111; 10-15-2011 at 12:21 PM.

[Ubuntu_user]

Man, I wish oh how I wish I had the money for both of these. Absolutely beautiful lenses.

[frederik9111]

I survive perfectly with one kidney, myself...

[dadipentak]

PM sent

[A-Craig]

Wow, nice lenses, wish I had some cash :/

GLWS.

[frederik9111]

PM replied, Dadipentak. Thx A-craig and Ubuntu_user!

[swip]

Love your picture of the moon shot with the 600mm lens

[Kanner]

I am interested in buying the 600mm A, I will send you a reply.

[ElJamoquio]

Well, I'm also interested in your lenses, but apparently you need 3 posts on the forum before you can send a pm. So... you get a free bump to the top of the list.

[frederik9111]

All PM's replied! Whew... lots of interest for both lenses!! I could use a good (sexy) secretary.

Thanks all for your interest. So far I have no less than 5 candidates for my A*600/5.6, of which one lives quite close to where I live (Germany).

An the other hand, I was hoping that my A* 300/2.8 went first. I only have one (real) possible candidate for it at this moment, but his actual bid is quite far from my minimum. Since I have two copies of this lens, the sell of the 300/2.8 would be somewhat of a priority for me. I've sent the interested party a counter-bid, but I haven't received an answer yet. For that reason, I have asked the German candidate to stretch his patience for the A*600/5.6

So: open for reasonable bids on the A*300/2.8!!

[68wSteve]

Pm sent

[frederik9111]

All PM's replied!

---------- Post added 09-27-2011 at 09:52 PM ----------

Again: all PM's replied!

I received many questions about the possible shipment costs. Here's what I just sent to a few interested parties:

The exact measurement of the A*300/2.8 are 133*226mm; the weight is about 3kg. When put into the protective lens bag, the total fits perfectly in a box with the size of a wine box.

I've tried to simulate the cost on shipping via the UPS-website, but I needed your postal code to get an estimated shipment cost. But maybe you can try it yourself? Just go to Belgian website op UPS (www.ups.be; chose "english" in the right top corner). My postal code is 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.

But on the other hand, I'm pretty sure that UPS is not the cheapest shipping company. An other option and probably the cheapest is a shipment through the Dutch postal services (I live near the Belgian/ Dutch border; just take 15 minutes by car). You can check their rates at the website of TNTpost -> http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=nl&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postnl.nl%2Fvoorthuis%2Fbrieven%2Ftarieven%2FPakketten%2F/ (Google translate!). I would prefer an insured shipment so (considering the weight of the lens, the lens bag and some protective bubble-wrap etc,...) the total weight will surely between 5 and 10 kilo, what would make a shipment cost of € 41,10 (or about 56.8907 CAD).

[bratzmahn]

if I do not already have an A*300/2.8 - I would take it immediately
The lens is sharp and beautiful to watch, Everything still full material...
so also quite heavy and on longer foto-trips a tripod is recommended
So i will give this lens a BUMP!:-)

[rvannatta]

Re: problem with the 600 f5.6.

I one I own had this problem when I bought it---though theh seller didn't bother to tell me. I finallyl found a repair place qualified to overhaul it.----they dismantled it
cleaned it, lubed it, and found 2 broken screws. Total bill inclulding cleaning was less than $200 US. It presumably had taken a dive at some time in the past.

The focusing however will always be stiffer than with the 300 f/2.8 because it has a floating element in it, and to move it there is a gear drive which turned two different helicoids---but when working properly, you don't have to support the front end of the lens to focus it.

[frederik9111]

Yep that's right rvannatta. And considering 8 candidates for the 600/5.6, my asking price was probably way to low

Anyhow, the A*600/5.6 is reserved to bratzmahn untill Saterday! See you this weekend Thomas!

The A*300/2.8 is still avaible! To be honnest, I am a litte bit supprised The last one on eBay went for almost €1500. Please don't force me to bring this beauty to the fleabay...