[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing

Item for Sale
SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 K Mount

Asking Price
300.00 USD

Item Location
Iowa (United States)

Item Description
This is a huge lens: SMC Pentax 500mm f4.5, and is the version with the K-mount bayonet rather than the M42 mount. Link to PF review page.


I purchased it in 2019 off ebay from a listing titled "Rare NEAR MINT Pentax SMC 500mm f/4.5 Telephoto MF Lens For K Mount from Japan", and I honestly haven't found myself using it much. I purchased a more modern Sigma 120-400 from a user here, and it's a lot smaller and lighter and gets way more use.


I'd held onto it thinking that I might use it for astrophotography, but unless you use it with filters this model has too much chromatic aberration to be super useful (example attached).


The lens itself is in really good shape - calling it "good" on the rating scale is pretty conservative. The case is in worse shape, and unless it's just a collectors piece I'd recommend that you store it in something else, as the case is starting to leave dust on the outside of the lens due to its age.


Happy to provide additional pics or other info if needed.

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

Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling

Item Condition (Key)
Used
Good

Shipping Destinations
Continental U.S. Only

Shipping Charge
Included

Shipping Services
USPS, UPS, FedEx

Accepted Payment Types
PayPal

Return Policy & Additional Details
No returns - if you need more pictures or video of the item before buying let me know.

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

---------- Post added 02-04-21 at 04:34 PM ----------

Posting another picture I dug out of the archives - really challenging low-contrast lighting conditions, taken from well below the bird, which was sitting high up in a tree. You can get some great photos from this lens if you're parked someplace with a tripod.

---------- Post added 02-05-21 at 08:33 AM ----------

Dropping the price, but won’t go much lower - the lens is basically pristine, is the rarer k-mount version, and I know there’s somebody out there with a tripod and a good use case for this big sharp boy.

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Last edited by BugsDogsAndSunsets; 02-15-2021 at 05:01 PM.

[5shot]

Mine is an M42 mount and not SMC, but it is a fun lens.

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

Mine is an M42 mount and not SMC, but it is a fun lens.

Absolutely, I just never got around to doing any of the things with it I planned on. When I go out shooting I usually prefer to cover a lot of ground hiking rather than waiting for a shot, and it definitely needs a tripod to work well. I also think that it would make a great lens for doing filter based astrophotography, since it has great optics, lots of aperture, and a good focal length for a lot of larger objects/groups.

It definitely makes a conversation piece too, thing is an absolute unit.

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

Bump and price drop, still available.

[luftfluss]

This lens should be sold already, especially considering shipping is included.

SMC Pentax 500 f4.5 - PentaxForums.com

Shot wide open on a cloudy evening...

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

That was my thought, but it might partly be because I'm not a natural salesman and don't do the usual song and dance of "this is my favorite lens ever OMG I can't believe I'm letting it go!"

[jva59]

Tempted, but reside in Canada.

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

Hmm, mainly included that restriction since I figure the shipping would be more expensive and there might be unknown hassles since I've never shipped anything internationally. If it's not onerous we could probably work something out.

[aaronjamesgray]

The sample images are a bit out of focus. Do you have any better focused samples? I am curiously interested.

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

I honestly haven't used it much, so I don't have a whole lot of pictures taken with it. If you check out the grass in that picture of the robin you can sort of see how it handles. I can try to go out and take some actual shots later this week if that would help.

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

I've added two photos for comparison, using a framed calligraphy piece in my living room. Both shots are from the same tripod in the same spot:

1. 500mm (lens for sale), f4.5, ISO800, 1/80
2. 120mm crop (Sigma 120-400 APO DG HSM), f4.5, ISO800, 1/100

If you want a detailed comparison I can PM you the raws, but I'd rather not post the wider shot of my living room publicly.

---------- Post added 02-11-21 at 12:16 PM ----------

Those pictures are taken at around 36 feet btw.

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

Adding a 100% crop for the 500mm also, since the JPG loses some detail.

[BugsDogsAndSunsets]

OK, dropped price another $25. My new telescope just arrived, and finally selling this guy will make my wife feel better about my terrible gear addiction.


Are there other kinds of pictures people want to see? The level of sharpness shown wide open in dim indoor light on that calligraphy picture should reassure potential buyers that this copy matches the optics seen in the review threads. When it warms up next week I could try going out and getting some bird shots if that's what it takes, but it's too damn cold right now.

[luftfluss]

OK, dropped price another $25. My new telescope just arrived, and finally selling this guy will make my wife feel better about my terrible gear addiction.


Are there other kinds of pictures people want to see? The level of sharpness shown wide open in dim indoor light on that calligraphy picture should reassure potential buyers that this copy matches the optics seen in the review threads. When it warms up next week I could try going out and getting some bird shots if that's what it takes, but it's too damn cold right now.

It is not unusual for items to take weeks or months to sell, and keep in mind that it's currently winter, so not as many folks are looking for a wildlife-centric lens as in warmer weather.

[aslyfox]

Be patient and confident

Good things can come to those who wait