| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2011 Location: Niagara, Ontario Posts: 57
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 24, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Zoom range, push-pull zoom and focus ring, Macro, image quality, build quality | | Cons: | None that bother me | |
I carry and use this lens frequently when shooting with my k5-11 because of it's zoom range for many types of shooting subjects, ease of use as well as it's superb image quality, especially color and contrast. It was thrown in with another Pentax purchase and appears to be brand new and unused. Build quality is excellent. Although not a true 1:1 macro lens it is flexible enough for good close-up photo opportunities. The relatively fast f4 lens throughout it's range is also an asset for video. I have also used it for figure skating aided by the single zoom and focus ring and was surprised at the sharpness and image quality.
Don't leave home without it. | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 791
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 12, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | sharp, cheap zoom | | Cons: | chromatic aberration, short throw | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 5
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-50
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This zoom has two great properties: cheap and very high IQ when used in the proper conditions. It is also quite sharp. Although it is not terribly hard to nail the focus of this lens, it is not so pleasant or fast to do so because the throw of this lens is so short. This is especially noticeable when in the pseudo 1/4 macro mode, which incidentally is pretty handy to have.
The 70-210 focal length is very versatile. It can capture reasonably close images of some types of wildlife, especially the acclimated kind. In such situations the chromatic abberations are sometimes strong, but this doesn't happen so often so that I get irritated by it. This lens is also great for portraits. Since the focal length, it still produces backgrounds that are blurred sufficiently, even at the f/4 aperture. Flowers are easily captured using the macro mode, available only at 70mm. Sometimes I find myself hovering at the macro point, which makes focusing a little difficult. In outdoor situations, the lens has a handy retractable hood. It has some zoom creep but has never bothered me so far.
This brings me to the bokeh. The lens has eight aperture blades, and so whenever there are no light points, the bokeh is very smooth and pleasing. Wide open the lens is also quite nice. I'd say one place where the lens fails with the bokeh is when there are light points and the lens is stopped down a little. In this case the octagons are not regular and are a bit distracting. Compare for instance the Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7: this six bladed lens produces fairly regular hexagons, which are more pleasing than irregular octagons in my opinion. But again, in most circumstances this isn't a problem, and when it is, you can still shoot wide open and get nice circles and the IQ is still pretty high at f/4 for portraits.
Ultimately, my complaints are minor. This lens in most situations provides sharp, clear images throughout its zoom range. f/4, while not fast and can struggle in evening situations, is still pretty nice being constant aperture. All in all it was $60 well spent!
Sample image taken at f/8:
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2015 Location: Charleroi (Belgium) Posts: 60
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 4, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $28.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | macro mode, really smooth to use, solid as a rock | | Cons: | heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-50
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This might be my 2nd best lens, after the 50mm 1.7
It's incredibly fast for a 210mm, F4 all the way is magic, and the macro mode saves your life if you don't have enough money to buy a good macro like me.
Overall, it's really smooth, the zoom and the focus on one ring is really fun, makes this lens (imo) some sort of extraterrestrial.
It has a builtin hood, which is also excellent for photography.
I find the contrast not excellent, but the colors it renders make up for it. And these days, it's nothing a raw editor can't fix.
I strongly recommend, if you're not afraid of the weight of this lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2015 Posts: 15
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 4, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $85.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image Quality, Construction, Handling | | Cons: | Zoom Creep, lens hood | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-50
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I used this lens for the Pentax Single of the Month, March 2016.
I really, really like this lens. Most importantly it has excellent image quality. The colours are nice and vivid, with the right amount of punch, even shot wide open. Sharpness is stellar, particularly for a zoom lens. Having mainly just shot with primes i was expecting to have to settle on sharpness, but this is not the case. While not quite as sharp as my DA 35mm f/2.4, it can produce some amazing results even without PP. However with a small amount of PP it can be deadly sharp from f/5 onwards. f/4 and f/4.5 are a little soft, but nothing I wouldn't ever use. This lens sweet spot is around f5/5.6, and is where i spent most of my time shooting. While this lens was sharp across the frame up to f/10, and a bit soft over, there really isn't any situation that this lens is no decent, and in most cases excellent. During the month i didn't notice any significant difference between the wide and tele ends, i suspect 70mm is sharper, but i haven't done any tests to compare, and I've got sharp results at both ends, and great results in between. The lens coatings are excellent, and i can easily shoot into the sun without any problem. The lens hood does improve the contrast, but it isn't needed, and for most of my shots I didn't use the lens hood. Focusing with this lens is very easy. Comparing to my Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7, when your in focus, things just 'snap', and i usually hit focus much easier with this lens than other lenses. I do like the one touch zoom/focus, however i know a lot of people don't. I found it easy to lock focus while zooming out on a subject (bikers coming towards me), something i don't think a two touch lens could have achieved.
f/4 https://www.flickr.com/photos/40074476@N00/25110179269
f/5 https://www.flickr.com/photos/40074476@N00/26027306982
f/5.6 https://www.flickr.com/photos/40074476@N00/25462942960
f/6.3 https://www.flickr.com/photos/40074476@N00/25763585325
f/8 https://www.flickr.com/photos/40074476@N00/25210269664
f/11 https://www.flickr.com/photos/40074476@N00/25668544541
f/16 https://www.flickr.com/photos/40074476@N00/25451593286
Build quality
I brought this lens used from SRS, in what can only be described as mint condition. Not a single knock, scratch or ding to any part of the lens, a couple of light dust specks on the inside of the front element, but nothing to affect image quality. The Lens feels solid, and all metal, with the exception of a plastic aperture ring. The Aperture ring does feel quite cheap, when compared to the excellent precision metal that it accompanies. The lens has a good amount of weight, but not that it ever got uncomfortable. I could easily shoot all day with this lens without any problems. The only downside, its a slight amount of zoom creep. However this is very slight and only really occurs when its warm. On a cold day the lens stays in position, but on a hot day it will creep. This doesnt bother me, but it might bother some. The built in lens hood is nice, but i felt like it could do with being slightly longer (this may be due to it being a full frame lens on a crop body). The lens hood isn't loose, but it doesnt feel as solidly built as the rest of the lens.
Overall I really like this lens, very pleased with the results and I'll probably keep it with me at all times, as my go to tele lens.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2016 Posts: 3
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 25, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | One of the most sharp zoom, f 4 permanent, mf very easy and fast, pump mechanism, simil macro feature | | Cons: | F***ing heavy, no tripod socket, aberrations | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax KS-1
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For me, best vintage sportive lens ever. The pump mechanism make it very fast to zoom and the focus is very rapid and easy (often faster than some AF lenses). It have an incorporated lens hood, that i found long enough.
The IQ is incredible for a zoom, i usually crop pictures taken with it and i obtain wonderful results. The magnification ratio for macro mode is 1:4, and you can shoot a good close up even at 210mm with fantastic bokeh.
Personally i love the bokeh of this lens, i use it for photo hunt (yes, as i said the MF is very fast and easy), simil macro, portraits and others.
The worst thing in analog is probably the tendency to aberrations, but in digital you can remove them in one click, so the problem is solved.
Its heavy but very solid and resistant, the only negative note is the abscence of tripod socket.
Under 150$ i bet you can't find a better tele lens, this is better also than the dal smc 55-300 or the F 70-210 cause is faster ( f 4 permanent) and sharper than both.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Wild-Nord-East Hungary Posts: 149
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 13, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Color, contrast, built-in hood, price | | Cons: | Zoom creep, CA's wide open | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-30
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Good buy; very good general tele-zoom lens.
Focus ring loose, of had I to pull tiny screws (under rubber ring).
I setting manual focus viewfinder loupe O-ME53 help.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 1,612
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 1, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $52.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Color, contrast, rendering at infinity, focal range | | Cons: | Kind of slow, VERY larg | |
For the Single in September 2015 Challenge on these forums, I used the SMC Pentax-A 70-210mm f/4. I bought it a year ago from KEH on Ebay for $52!
Physically, this lens is large. Real large. I'd call it a tallboy. Or thermos. And it ain't light, either. All-in-all, kind of a beast. I don't have a ruler or a scale, but it's about as tall as my hand is long (~7 inches), and weighs about as much as a (full, 12oz) canned beverage. I literally took all of the dividers out of my Kelly Moore Mimi bag (which is gigantic to begin with) to accommodate the lens on my K-S2. Did I mention it's big?
The lens handles beautifully. A-setting on the ring was all I used, and the focusing ring is buttery smooth... almost TOO SMOOTH. It glides like it's got ball bearings in it and it was easy to slide past focus without meaning to. It was a beast to have to hold/carry for long periods; mostly I carried the lens/camera combo around by gripping the lens near the mount and carrying it upright, like I had a drink in my hand. I even used it in a "toasting" fashion to say hello to people (like that guy with the mullet on Moniteau Avenue...) Having the neck strap was kind of pointless, because the lens was too heavy and pointed down at a 45 degree angle.
For focusing, f/4 was a little slow, and very noticeable in low light, although I do feel like my ability to land focus with these manual lenses is still improving through technique. The lens can be very sharp, but I wasn't as impressed with the sharpness as much as I have been with other lenses (I'm thinking of my Accura Diamatic 135/2.8 and my SMC Pentax-M 28-50/3.5-4.5). However, the rendering of this lens in regard to distant objects at infinity is astounding. The focus ring turns past infinity, so be careful of that, but infinity just SNAPS and the detail is incredible. I should have taken more daylight shots of landscapes at low ISOs, because what I saw in less than ideal light conditions and haphazardly handheld was really incredible. Very, very impressive for a $52 lens.
I surprised myself by being completely satisfied with the focal length. I thought 70-210mm would be too much of a telephoto for me, but it was actually easy to adjust and I rarely missed having a wider view. Most of that is certainly a state-of-mind that the Single In Challenge puts you in, but I didn't find myself aching for a wider view (like I did coming off of the fish eye to a "normal" lens from January and February)...
I was simultaneously pleased that the lens did well in direct light (not much loss of contrast or wacky flare)... but I honestly was hoping for a little wacky hexagon flare... I tried to coax it out more than once, but ended up with a few tiny green blobs; not much to write home about. ;-) I did get a few starbursts without much effort, but that's not really a selling point for me.
The lens has a close-focusing range at 70mm that got me within inches of flowers and produced very nice bokeh, but otherwise I didn't play around a lot with bokeh. I know the lens can make it, but the shots I take don't tend to call for it. I know the technique to get it, and it's nice the know the lens can do it if I need to, though... Featureless, creamy backgrounds just ain't my jam.
Colors were excellent and I only ever had to make small adjustments to vibrancy or saturation. Same with contrast - very good, and, in fact, I found myself reducing the contrast for many shots, although I think that was more of a stylistic maturation/experimentation than anything to do with the lens' performance. It has a built-in hood that I always pulled out when shooting, but I don't usually use a hood in the first place, so it's hard to say if it was the glass or the tiny hood that "made the difference" in all or any of the photos.
Altogether, this lens has been really amazing to spend a month with. That good old SMC glass and the pleasure of a manual lens with A-setting aperture has been a joy - it's a real quality piece of equipment. It won't be a lens I reach for first, because of the imposing size, but it has it's place - it was perfect for my baseball game shots! Definitely well worth the $52 - I don't think you can get anything like it for a better bargain.
CLICK HERE to see my Flickr album with images from this lens. | | | | | Senior Member Registered: September, 2014 Location: Nelson Posts: 266
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 15, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Prime sharpness throughout | | Cons: | Big | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 4
Value: 10
Camera Used: K100DS
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Underated. Mine came attached to a dead P30 body, threw it in the wardrobe and forgot about it. Too many lens so recently decided it was time to thin the herd -ended up testing everything with a view to keep or sell. This one stood out, and the more I use it the better I like it.
The glass on mine's like new, focus is razor sharp after I tightened up the screws under the barrel rubber to fix the focus issue. The zoom slide is frankly awful, it sticks requiring two hands to move it, and the focus ring's stiff to boot, but the IQ makes it worthwhile. Attached photo is at 210mm, wide open at F4 on a K100DS, this lens just has no softness anywhere. Just wish it had some zoom creep...
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 130
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 16, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | precise focus, Auto, Parfocal Zoom, bokeh | | Cons: | weight, little stiff focus ring, chromatic aberration | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3
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Since I got my K3, I have also purchased quite few (7-8) zoom vintage lenses but I kept only 3 (Pentax-A-70-210, Promaster 60-300 and a Tokina 80-200 SZ-X.
The negative aspect of this lens are not of a big deal to me. I wish the sweet spot was wider then f6.3 but hey... 30 bucks! 
The focus ring is a little stiff but... very easy to use. I am a manual focus fanatic when it comes to hobby.
I have no zoom creep at all, compared to other reviewers here.
I have this lens always on 6.3, where it performs the best at 300mm
Anyway here some shots
more pictures here | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: March, 2007 Location: Tucson Posts: 292
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 16, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $49.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | light weight, sharp, built in hood | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3, K-5, K10D
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Picked this up on the Bay from a listing by Henry's in Canada for $49 US. It's my "buy of the year" for 2014.
This lens works great for catch-in focus shots of hummingbirds. Good minimum focusing distance, bokeh and sharpness. Example below:
On K-3, 1/1000s, f14, ISO 1600, ~135mm
 | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 30, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $89.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | good performer, sharp lens | | Cons: | some CA's wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: k-x,k200,k-5.mz5,mz50,k2,sfx,z20p
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very good lens, must be stopped down to f 8-11 for best results 
+/O some visible CA's wide and some flare wide open at f4 
++ but sharpness is very good 
++ very good contrast
++ excellent colour rendition
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2014 Posts: 7
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 17, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $59.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Excellent build, great color rendition | | Cons: | Somewhat heavy | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax k-3
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First of all, I must establish that I am a beginner with very little experience in photography. Until very recently I rarely took photographs, and when I did I used a point-and-shoot camera or my smart phone. During a visit to Japan, however, I became interested in taking more serious photographs –I was staying in Kyoto, a magical city that offers spectacular sights at almost every corner. So I walked into a Bic Camera store and left with a Pentax k-x and two kit lenses (a DA -L 18-55 mm and a DA -L 55-300 mm). Given my ignorance, I had no way to make an informed decision in choosing a brand or model, so a Japanese salesperson basically decided for me, probably based on the fact that the k-x was on sale at that moment. I believe I was extremely lucky, because with time I have come to decide for myself that I prefer Pentax to Canon or Nikon (say), and that the k-x was an excellent starting point. I have since moved to a k-30 and at present I am experimenting with a k-3. In the process I made the usual transition to primes (SMCP-FA 50 mm F/1.4, SMC DA Limited 40 mm F/2.8, SMC DA 70mm 1:2.4 Limited, HD DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited) and eventually I became acquainted with A and M lenses. I am now fascinated by old glass, and probably due to the fact that I am just a beginner I have had incredible luck with several old lenses, in particular with the SMC Pentax-A 70-210 F4 that I have come to love. I have taken pictures using it with both the k-30 and the k3 that IMHO are at least as good as many that I have taken with my more expensive limiteds. I couldn't recommend it more. | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2013 Location: Naples Posts: 10
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 1, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | sharp to be a zoom, contrast and colours, well built, f4 costant | | Cons: | "pump" zoom, heavy, some purple fingering. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 9
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For it's cost, it's a very good zoom, great sharpness in the center, good contrast, very good colours. F/4 constant is a good zoom aperture instead of kit zooms. Some purple fingering. Solid built, bad only the power zoom, a bit difficult to move with precision.
The A position very usefull for use on digital reflex with automatic exposure, to concentrate to manual focus.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Posts: 2
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Solidly built, constant aperture, good sharpness and color rendention | | Cons: | Long and heavy | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 7
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I've owned one of these for a very long time (1985), and it was my workhorse lens back in the film era. Despite all that use, it's still in 7+ condition, and optically as good as when purchased. It even survived a dunking by a rogue wave on the beach of the Sea of Cortez with no permanent effects. It was a little pricey back in the day, but it proved to be completely worth it.
Optically, this lens is very good, but it's far too heavy to compete with the compact digital designs now available, and it lacks autofocus. I still pull it out on occasion, but it's been replaced by a 50-200 WR for general use.
It has one weakness - the tiny screws under the rubber barrel band have a tendency to work loose. Get yourself a set of precision screwdrivers and tighten them up. Haven't had to do it again after the first re-tightening.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: March, 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 24, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Size, weight, and resolution near to primes of the same time | | Cons: | Zoom creep, constant F4 not true? | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: K200D
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It is big and heavy, but in this respect not different from many of well regarded 4/200 primes of that time, as the Takumars and the Pentacons. I checked for resolution @200 compared with the Pentacon 4/200, and intense pixel peeping was needed to see a difference.
At the long end there is strong green/purple fringing even at F5.6, but I saw this with all prime tele lenses I owned in the past. With film, most people would never see it because they wouldn't crop strong enough, but in the digital age all this can be seen on a monitor with a tip of the finger.
What I found, however, is that with my K200D it is under exposing by one stop at the short end, increasing to nearly 2 stops at the long end. So I don't trust Pentax when they call it a constant F4 maximum aperture.
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