[Lowell Goudge]

Look at the shots here.

Some birds with my old stand by - PentaxForums.com

These are all taken with a K5 and a sigma APO 70-200/2.8 EX and 2x TC.

Now you need to recognize, how exactly I have referenced this lens, thee is no HSM, no macro designation, not even a DG designation. That’s right, this is a lens developed and sold for Pentax K mount AF bodies Before digital even existed.

This lens works just fine even on my K1 MK2

[Kwong]

I have both this version and the latest version. IMHO I ca't really tell difference between the two. Both are equally good on the K3 and K1MK2

[Serkevan]

Some more shots with old lenses:
Tokina AF 70-210mm f/4.5 (1991 or whereabouts)


SMC Pentax-M 20mm f/4 (1975)


SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 (1975)


Tamron SP 90mm f/2.5 AF (Model 52E, basically an AF version of the 52B's optics, therefore I'm counting from 1979)

[niels hansen]

Thanks for all the answers.
The reason I asked is that duren the digital aera I have seen som strange statements, where everything new was marvellous. I remember a danish photowriter, Thomas Nykrog has said that Nikons 14000dollars 1,5 MP camera had professionel quality. In Denmark some writers were "married" with the photoindustri.
There was a time where the best was not good enough. I am happy to see that in this forum there is a large degree of timeless objectivity

[UncleVanya]

Thanks for all the answers.
The reason I asked is that duren the digital aera I have seen som strange statements, where everything new was marvellous. I remember a danish photowriter, Thomas Nykrog has said that Nikons 14000dollars 1,5 MP camera had professionel quality. In Denmark some writers were "married" with the photoindustri.
There was a time where the best was not good enough. I am happy to see that in this forum there is a large degree of timeless objectivity

The current crop of Uber primes exceed older lenses in sharpness, contrast, and wide open performance is stunning with most. However, this comes at a cost since these primes are far larger and heavier than primes of the past. The reality is that those old gems continue to perform as well or better than before. Simple resolution tests show that as the sensors get higher resolution the measured results from virtually every lens also goes up. These old gems don't beat the most modern resolving lenses, but most photography doesn't require that kind of resolving power.

[travelswsage]

There are several older 67 lenses that perform well on the K-1 -- the 55mm late, 75mm and 100mm macro are all really good/excellent performers. I'm sure others here can probably add to that list. And all have the added advantage of virtually no hot spots when used on my IR converted Sony a7rii. I'm sure others can also recommend 120 lenses that are just as good. If you dont mind manual focus these can be had relatively cheaply.

[normhead]

You'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 55 1.4, and a DFA 50 1.4 a a fraction the weight and cost. I have observed the difference, but, you wouldn't see it unless you did pixel peeping side by side comparisons.

Sorry I don't have DFA 50 images, but here are some 55 1.4, which is bigger than the FA 50. 1.4 or 1.7 but smaller than the DFA 50 1.4. A happy medium, a least for me.
Hand held, without pixel shift. (no tripod) (K-1 and DA* 55 1.4)








The new lenses are for perfectionists, I personally don't expect them to be practical either in size, weight or cost. But if the DA*s aren't good enough for you, buy a DFA* 50 1.4 or DFA* 85 1.4.. But their images probably won't be good enough for you either.

With all the 70-200 type lenses there is getting to be this kind of choice at all the popular lens focal lengths. I bought the 55 after the DFA 50 1.4 came out (and after I dropped my FA 50 1.7, killing the AF.) . I wanted to look at actual images to see if buying the 55 would leave me still wanting to buy the DFA 50. Turns out, even after the most careful comparisons, I'm happier with the 55.

Part of that is most of my images are taken on walks, carrying 4 lenses. Size matters. A lens that is too big (and I have many) will be cabinet bound 352 days a year.

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Last edited by normhead; 09-28-2020 at 02:23 PM.