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A* 200mm Marco f4
Posted By: blan01, 10-17-2016, 05:06 PM

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Very rare, however it is too expensive in my opinion, but it's a good lens.
Near Mint Pentax A Macro 200mm F4 Lens for Pentax K Mount from Japan 957 | eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXC-SMC-PENTAX-A-MACRO-1-4-f-4-200mm-ED-STAR-Lens-RA...0/322296591003
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11-28-2016, 06:04 AM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by starjedi Quote
Fully agree. It is a good piece of optical glasses but highly overpriced due to rarity.
It wasn't cheap when new and you can bet if Pentax brings back a 200mm macro, it will be an expensive piece as well.

11-28-2016, 06:57 AM   #17
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
For macro use, it is optically the best Pentax has ever made.
So essentially a commercial product.
11-28-2016, 07:11 AM   #18
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QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
So essentially a commercial product.
I wouldn't say that all macro use is commercial. It could be used for a number of things including scientific. I would say something similar about the FA* 600/4.

Edit: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/photos/gallery/query?camera=&lens=760#/carousel

Last edited by Blue; 11-28-2016 at 07:17 AM.
11-28-2016, 07:37 AM   #19
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I've seen lots of birders out in the field with 600mm ƒ4 lenses. Never a Pentax, but Nikon. I've never seen a 200 ƒ4 macro anywhere. For macro, I carry the 50 macro, for 200 I carry the 200 2.8, which allows stacked converters.

A 200 macro would seriously crimp my style.

Of course that doesn't mean someone somewhere couldn't work it into their every day usage.

Or for the collector who has to have everything... I think we have a few of those too.

11-28-2016, 08:17 AM   #20
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QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
I've seen lots of birders out in the field with 600mm ƒ4 lenses. Never a Pentax, but Nikon. I've never seen a 200 ƒ4 macro anywhere. For macro, I carry the 50 macro, for 200 I carry the 200 2.8, which allows stacked converters.

A 200 macro would seriously crimp my style.

Of course that doesn't mean someone somewhere couldn't work it into their every day usage.

Or for the collector who has to have everything... I think we have a few of those too.
I wouldn't be working an A* 200 into the collection! Stacked convertors is one thing, but the working distance without having to screw around is excellent for things that dong hang around long like dragonflies and butterflies.
11-28-2016, 08:26 AM   #21
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
I wouldn't be working an A* 200 into the collection! Stacked convertors is one thing, but the working distance without having to screw around is excellent for things that dong hang around long like dragonflies and butterflies.
But so is the FA 100 with a 1.4 TC on it... at a fraction the price. And for things that don't hang around long, AF is wonderful thing.
11-28-2016, 08:36 AM   #22
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QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
But so is the FA 100 with a 1.4 TC on it... at a fraction the price. And for things that don't hang around long, AF is wonderful thing.
I run the D FA100 WR and have with the 1.4. It still isn't close to a replacement of a true 180 or 200mm macro. I don't have a Pentax 200mm macro but miss the one I had for Nikon. It sells new for under $1800 at present. I do have the Tamron SP 180/2.5 that I use for closeup style shots.

11-28-2016, 08:40 AM   #23
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I wish they would curate even a little over there. Some of the shots in that gallery are downright embarrassing. (This shouldn't reflect on the A* 200mm, of course.)
11-28-2016, 08:47 AM   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by Doundounba Quote
I wish they would curate even a little over there. Some of the shots in that gallery are downright embarrassing. (This shouldn't reflect on the A* 200mm, of course.)
It is based on a voting with a point system. I am amazed by some of the stuff that gets in as well as some that don't.
11-28-2016, 09:23 AM   #25
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QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
A 200 macro would seriously crimp my style.
Don't you use the DA 200 on a regular basis? Outdoors, no less? How often are you shooting at 2.8? I don't currently have a 200. If I had a choice between a 200 2.8 and a 200 f4 Macro i would choose the macro in a heartbeat. Maybe if I had a DA 200 with a TC aleady I wouldn't be so quick to switch, but I don't know why you don't think you would use that lens.
11-28-2016, 09:25 AM   #26
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
For macro use, it is optically the best Pentax has ever made.
I thought the FA 200 f4 macro was as good or better. I have never used either.
11-28-2016, 12:21 PM   #27
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
I thought the FA 200 f4 macro was as good or better. I have never used either.
It has been a while since I got to use the A*. It was a little bit better than the Nikon I had. As far as the FA* being better optically I don't know. It does have IF and of course autofocus. AF isn't always useful in macro though. The IF is a big deal though.
11-28-2016, 12:29 PM   #28
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QuoteOriginally posted by redcat Quote
the price is ridiculous for a manual focus lens that dated ~10 years (we are not talking about Leica <= that's a religion, not photo equipment )
This 200mm f4 macro is not run of the mill by any means I have shot with it once and I though it was stunning on the K-10. Of course rarity is one thing but this lens can easily deserve a premium given the images it produces. And manual focus is nothing to whine about. I use my D-FA 100 in manual mode all the time despite being an auto focus lens.
yeah and that Leica thing .. its more of a hype, religion or equipment whatever you may want to call it. No offense meant.
11-28-2016, 12:38 PM   #29
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I'm sure it's nice but the price seems ridiculous to me.
11-28-2016, 12:39 PM   #30
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
It has been a while since I got to use the A*. It was a little bit better than the Nikon I had. As far as the FA* being better optically I don't know. It does have IF and of course autofocus. AF isn't always useful in macro though. The IF is a big deal though.
I agree on the manual focus for Macro. I do that often with my DFA and did it with my F 100 Macro also. I was basing that on the comments I had seen from @Digitalis on the FA* 200 f/4 - but as I said I have no experience with either of these lenses.
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