Inexpensive AF telephoto club ($200 for 200mm)

jct us101 · 04-16-2010, 01:23 PM

And yet another topic is brought back up from the depths of PentaxForums.

kacansas03, we have a post your photos board on the forum that you can always feel free to post photos to from your Pentax cameras. Here's the link to it:

Post your photos! - PentaxForums.com

Russell-Evans · 04-16-2010, 03:45 PM

Sigma AF 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 APO 1:2 macro. I've seen one on ebay which I bought and one at Keh or Adorama, I can't remember which. The one at Keh/Adorama was $45, I think. I paid $35 on ebay and was the only bidder.

A little slow to focus, has a focus switch to enable the 1:2 at 210mm, but it is a slower focusing lens all round.

Thank you
Russell

jct us101 · 04-16-2010, 06:13 PM

That's a 1:2 macro? Wow, I definitely need to look for this lens! I've never even heard of it before, no wonder the used prices are so low, I bet that nobody else really has either. How heavy is it though?

**boriscleto** · 04-16-2010, 07:04 PM

Another from the Promaster 100-400.

Russell-Evans · 04-16-2010, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by jct us101

That's a 1:2 macro? Wow, I definitely need to look for this lens! I've never even heard of it before, no wonder the used prices are so low, I bet that nobody else really has either. How heavy is it though?

Information from dyxum.com (two reviews)
coverage: Full frame
max. aperture: 3.5-4.5
min. aperture: 22-32
focal range: 70-210 mm
elements/group: 12-9
angle of view: 34,3-11,7
minimum focus distance: 1300(750 macro) mm
filter rotate when focusing: Yes
filter rotate when zooming: No
max. magnification: 1:2 (at 210mm)
min. length: ~130mm
max. length: ~180mm
filter diameter: 58 mm
hood: Mine didn't have one.
weight: 600 g
color: black

Thank you
Russell

Laurentiu Cristofor · 04-17-2010, 10:58 AM

Here's one shot from the DA 50-200

I like the bokeh of this lens, but I feel it falls short in sharpness, especially for shots like these, where I want to capture small details.

And this is a shot from a Kiron 70-200 f/4 macro, a surprisingly good zoom lens for its age:

I had this lens for a bit and then I sold it ($35), but I was impressed by how well it behaved. It was vulnerable to CAs in high contrast situations, but otherwise it worked very nicely.

A couple more from the Kiron:

kacansas03 · 04-18-2010, 08:36 AM

The Kiron is a good lens because of it's manufacturer. Kiron actually built some lenses that were sold under the Canon brand, their quality was that good!

**boriscleto** · 04-21-2010, 06:12 PM

Another from the Promaster 100-400 @ f/8. Cream in a yogurt cup.

Laurentiu Cristofor · 05-16-2010, 01:06 PM

f/6.3:

f/8:

Mechan1k · 05-17-2010, 10:07 AM

I have one of the really crap Pentax FA-J 75-300mm lenses.
I really should have gotten the DA 50-200mm though (as I keep seening some stunning images from the longer kit lenses.

Here's a few I have managed with my 75-300mm ... I was going to get rid of it ... but might keep it for those situations where I don't want to carry around a more expensive lens.

pcarfan · 06-05-2010, 02:21 PM

Cost about US $100.

320mm is definitely the worst fcoal length for this lens.

This is at 320mm and a 100% crop

Opened in LR, adjusted the exposure (+1.35) and cropped and posted. No PP other than exposure adjustment.

AS AN IMAGE IT IS NOT GOOD, BUT JUST WANTED TO SHOW A 100% CROP OUT OF THIS LENS AT IT'S WEAKEST FOCAL LENGTH

This is a whole image reduced in size to show bokeh at 320mm. I think it's not bad at all, the foreground bokeh is a little busy but not bad. Shiot wide open at f5.6

P.S: What would it do with a 1.4 TC?....now, that is some crazy talk.....Tamron 1.4 TC at 320mm for 448mm. No PP except some cropping, AF works.

borno · 06-05-2010, 03:06 PM

I found a tokina atx 300mm f4 used for $160 and had to buy it because I never saw one before (and I miss my DA300). It was canon mount, but if I ever see one in K mount it is mine.

Not too bad wide open, but pretty nice stopped down a tad. I don't have many test pics yet, but here are a couple.

Laurentiu Cristofor · 06-05-2010, 10:12 PM

pcarfan: That 100% crop is not bad and I expect it might have been even more impressive in better light. Looks like a neat lens.

borno: Very nice shots - now I'm interested in this lens too. I like the background blur in the second shot.

pcarfan · 06-06-2010, 08:34 AM

Laurentiu,

Thank you for the compliments.

This time I baited the suckers so I don't have to crop that much and actually show a real photo. No sharpening added.

Laurentiu Cristofor · 06-06-2010, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by pcarfan

This time I baited the suckers so I don't have to crop that much and actually show a real photo. No sharpening added.

Very nice shots and this kind of results is what I had in mind when I made my previous comment. Your lens was also recommended by Adam here. I can now see why

04-17-2010, 10:58 AM	#36
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	DA 50-200 and Kiron 70-200 Here's one shot from the DA 50-200 I like the bokeh of this lens, but I feel it falls short in sharpness, especially for shots like these, where I want to capture small details. And this is a shot from a Kiron 70-200 f/4 macro, a surprisingly good zoom lens for its age: I had this lens for a bit and then I sold it ($35), but I was impressed by how well it behaved. It was vulnerable to CAs in high contrast situations, but otherwise it worked very nicely. A couple more from the Kiron:

05-16-2010, 01:06 PM	#39
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	FA100-300 f/4.7-5.8 f/6.3: f/8:

06-05-2010, 02:21 PM	#41
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978 Original Poster	Pentax FA 80-320 f4.5-5.6 Cost about US $100. 320mm is definitely the worst fcoal length for this lens. This is at 320mm and a 100% crop Opened in LR, adjusted the exposure (+1.35) and cropped and posted. No PP other than exposure adjustment. AS AN IMAGE IT IS NOT GOOD, BUT JUST WANTED TO SHOW A 100% CROP OUT OF THIS LENS AT IT'S WEAKEST FOCAL LENGTH This is a whole image reduced in size to show bokeh at 320mm. I think it's not bad at all, the foreground bokeh is a little busy but not bad. Shiot wide open at f5.6 P.S: What would it do with a 1.4 TC?....now, that is some crazy talk.....Tamron 1.4 TC at 320mm for 448mm. No PP except some cropping, AF works. Last edited by pcarfan; 06-05-2010 at 03:20 PM.

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04-16-2010, 01:23 PM	#31
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	And yet another topic is brought back up from the depths of PentaxForums. kacansas03, we have a post your photos board on the forum that you can always feel free to post photos to from your Pentax cameras. Here's the link to it: Post your photos! - PentaxForums.com

04-16-2010, 03:45 PM	#32
Russell-Evans Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,553	Sigma AF 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 APO 1:2 macro. I've seen one on ebay which I bought and one at Keh or Adorama, I can't remember which. The one at Keh/Adorama was $45, I think. I paid $35 on ebay and was the only bidder. A little slow to focus, has a focus switch to enable the 1:2 at 210mm, but it is a slower focusing lens all round. Thank you Russell

04-16-2010, 06:13 PM	#33
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	That's a 1:2 macro? Wow, I definitely need to look for this lens! I've never even heard of it before, no wonder the used prices are so low, I bet that nobody else really has either. How heavy is it though?

04-16-2010, 07:04 PM	#34
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Another from the Promaster 100-400.

04-16-2010, 07:46 PM	#35
Russell-Evans Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,553	Originally posted by jct us101 That's a 1:2 macro? Wow, I definitely need to look for this lens! I've never even heard of it before, no wonder the used prices are so low, I bet that nobody else really has either. How heavy is it though? Information from dyxum.com (two reviews) coverage: Full frame max. aperture: 3.5-4.5 min. aperture: 22-32 focal range: 70-210 mm elements/group: 12-9 angle of view: 34,3-11,7 minimum focus distance: 1300(750 macro) mm filter rotate when focusing: Yes filter rotate when zooming: No max. magnification: 1:2 (at 210mm) min. length: ~130mm max. length: ~180mm filter diameter: 58 mm hood: Mine didn't have one. weight: 600 g color: black Thank you Russell

04-18-2010, 08:36 AM	#37
kacansas03 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 650	The Kiron is a good lens because of it's manufacturer. Kiron actually built some lenses that were sold under the Canon brand, their quality was that good!

04-21-2010, 06:12 PM	#38
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Another from the Promaster 100-400 @ f/8. Cream in a yogurt cup.

05-17-2010, 10:07 AM	#40
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	I have one of the really crap Pentax FA-J 75-300mm lenses. I really should have gotten the DA 50-200mm though (as I keep seening some stunning images from the longer kit lenses. Here's a few I have managed with my 75-300mm ... I was going to get rid of it ... but might keep it for those situations where I don't want to carry around a more expensive lens.

06-05-2010, 03:06 PM	#42
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	I found a tokina atx 300mm f4 used for $160 and had to buy it because I never saw one before (and I miss my DA300). It was canon mount, but if I ever see one in K mount it is mine. Not too bad wide open, but pretty nice stopped down a tad. I don't have many test pics yet, but here are a couple.

06-05-2010, 10:12 PM	#43
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	pcarfan: That 100% crop is not bad and I expect it might have been even more impressive in better light. Looks like a neat lens. borno: Very nice shots - now I'm interested in this lens too. I like the background blur in the second shot.

06-06-2010, 08:34 AM	#44
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978 Original Poster	Laurentiu, Thank you for the compliments. This time I baited the suckers so I don't have to crop that much and actually show a real photo. No sharpening added.

06-06-2010, 10:05 AM	#45
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Originally posted by pcarfan This time I baited the suckers so I don't have to crop that much and actually show a real photo. No sharpening added. Very nice shots and this kind of results is what I had in mind when I made my previous comment. Your lens was also recommended by Adam here. I can now see why