[mdy]

Beside my primes I have the Vivitar 28-85 : 2,8-3,5 a good lens and pretty sharp.

However two downsides for me : 1 ring for focus & zoom / to heavy, specially on the ME Super.

Any recommendations on other "walking" zooms ?

Thanks !

[UncleVanya]

Depending on your wide angle vs telephoto inclination and budget the Pentax A 24-50 or 35-70 are both a bit more than half the weight of your current lens. They are slower and more limited. I recently gave away a sigma 28-70 f2.8-4 which was fine. It was light.

[pepperberry farm]

MF zoom? stack of primes every time...

[TwoUptons]

Pentax SMC-M 24-35

It is extremely small and optically decent.
It is a two-touch, which you suggested you prefer.

In my comparisons with some primes, it does have more distortion, and it is slower, but it is a very good travel companion.

I usually pair it with a 50mm or a 135mm, depending on mood.

I've heard the original 35-70 f2.8-f4 is optically similar to the original autofocus 35-70 f2.8, which is optically awesome but an ergonomic disaster...

-Eric

[tonyzoc]

The 24-50A might be the best choice depending on your budget and what focal lengths you mostly use... if you mostly using 50-85 then you'd be better off with the 28-80 SMC-A. Be sure it's the SMC variant as there's a non-SMC that crap. Another decent Pentax-A lens is the 35-70 f/4. I had that Vivitar 28-85 Varifocal and it's a good lens. Most of the Zooms from that era were one touch zoom/focus. One other decent cheap lens is the Tokina 28-70 f/2.8-4.3.

[Papa_Joe]

I would also recommend the Tamron SZ-X 270 SD MF 28-70mm F3.5-4.5.
Although some of the reviews call it soft. I hadn't anything to complaint during the times I used it on film (Ektachrome 64).

[mdy]

Thanks for the quick reply, nice forum !!

[Jonathan Mac]

I'd have a browse through the lens reviews section here on the forum. I've yet to buy a zoom for travel use on film but then I almost always use primes. I know that good zooms do exist though they may be a bit slow and with a restricted range, many do go as wide as 28mm.

For something manual focus, the A series 24-50mm f/4 looks like perhaps the best choice, though it's range is less than what you have now, it goes wider.

[ChrisPlatt]

This is a nice one: Tamron Adaptall-2 35-70mm F3.5 CF Macro (17A) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

You can use the less expensive (and more reliable!) Adaptall K/M adapter for K1000 and ME Super.

Chris

[tonyzoc]

I'd consider a few Pentax lenses... The 35-70 M f/2.8-3.5, the 28-50 M f/3.5-4.5, the 40-80 M f/2.8-4 and the 45-125 f/4. The best optically are probably the 35-70 and the 45-125. The 45-125 Is probably as long and heavy as the 28-85 Vivitar though. I like the 40-80 myself...it's faster and has an ok macro function (1:4 I think). The 35-70 is a one touch but it's fast and sharp. The 28-50 is compact but slow...the 24-50 is better, but harder to find and more expensive.

[stevebrot]

This is a nice one: Tamron Adaptall-2 35-70mm F3.5 CF Macro (17A) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

You can use the less expensive (and more reliable!) Adaptall K/M adapter for K1000 and ME Super.

Chris

More about this lens on the Adaptall-2 Web site:

Tamron Adaptall-2 35-70mm F/3.5 Model 17A

It is definitely well-regarded and would be near the top of my list for a walk-around manual focus. I know the OP prefers a two-touch zoom, but a good lens is a good lens. ;)

If wanting a to-touch zoom with similar performance and bit more money and a 50gm more weight, Edit: I was mistaken. The 17A is a two touch zoom. It just looks like a one-touch when in "macro" mode.

The Tamron SP 38-80/2.8-3.8 might also be considered if for a little wider aperture at the short end.

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 35-80mm F/2.8-3.8 Model 01A

Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 35-80mm F2.8-3.8 (01A) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

I have never used the 17A, but was able to do a short tour of the SP 01A, courtesy of a friend...example on Flickr HERE.


Steve

[pres589]

I've got a manual focus Tokina, 28-70mm, two-ring zoom. Variable aperture, small and light, not bad to use for a manual focus zoom. Find reviews here;

Tokina SZ-X 270 SD MF 28-70mm F3.5-4.5 Lens Reviews - Tokina Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

I am not a fan of manual focus zooms, though, and would rather pack a couple of primes like a 28 and a 90 or 50 if I want just two lenses in my kit.

[Autonerd]

Beside my primes I have the Vivitar 28-85 : 2,8-3,5 a good lens and pretty sharp.

However two downsides for me : 1 ring for focus & zoom / to heavy, specially on the ME Super.

Any recommendations on other "walking" zooms ?

Thanks !

I'm with the others here who say primes -- while I love having a zoom on my digital (28-85 equiv), with film (specifically Pentax) I usually bring a 28, a 50 and sometimes, but not always, sort of tele (either a 100, 135 or 80-200 zoom). I can use the extra speed of the primes, and I don't mind zooming with my feet or cropping. The zooms just add too much space and weight, and who wants to be stuck with nothing bigger than f/4?

[ChrisPlatt]

Just to clarify, the Tamron 17A is a two-touch zoom.
Note the separate zoom and focus collars in photo.




Chris

[stevebrot]

Just to clarify, the Tamron 17A is a two-touch zoom.
Note the separate zoom and focus collars in photo.




Chris

Right you are! I forgot that it just looks like a one touch. I edited my post.


Steve