| Author: | | Inactive Account Registered: June, 2011 Posts: 1
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 1, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $85.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | tack sharp | | Cons: | zoom creep | |
Although it's a great lens, I am dissatisfied with the zoom creep. I recently purchased a Lens Band to stop the zoom creeping. This is what they look like:
 | | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 6,176
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 12, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Reasonably sharp edge to edge when stopped down; very inexpensive | | Cons: | Heavy, zoom creep, not as sharp as modern lenses | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 5
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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Generally I've relegated most of my telephoto work to my KP. I find full-frame telephoto lenses to be too large and heavy to carry around, and I don't like leaving expensive glass in the car. So more often than not, when out shooting with the K-1, I bring along the KP and DA 55-300 PLM to provide a lightweight solution for telephoto photography. But sometimes I don't feel like bring along a second camera. Since it would be nice, in such circumstances, to be able to shoot beyond 105mm, I began looking for some of the older legacy telephoto zooms that can be had for very low prices to fill the gap. I came across a good deal for this old manual focus zoom from mid-eighties and purchased the optic. How, then, does it perform on the K-1?
First, the good news. The biggest issue with many of the older zooms is that they're not sharp away from the center, even when stopped down. That's not a problem with the A 70-210. At f11 through f16, it doesn't seem to suffer any significant loss of sharpness as you move toward the far corners. This standard of performance seems to persist throughout the entire zoom range, even at the long end, where many older telephoto zooms begin to weaken. In addition to this, the A 70-210 has reasonably good contrast and color, and it renders beautifully.
Now for the not so good news. I've compared what the A 70-210 can do when combined with the K-1 against the DA 55-300 PLM combined with the KP. Despite the smaller size and MP count of the KP, the DA 55-300 nonetheless, in the FOV range it shares with the A 70-200 on the K-1, is able to capture as much detail as the old A series zoom --- which is actually rather impressive given the built-in resolution advantages of the K-1's full-frame sensor. And while it may be a draw between the DA 55-300 and the A 70-210 in terms of detail captured, the DA 55-300 is clearly the better lens when it comes to contrast, saturation, handling, auto-focus, size and weight. The A 70-210, of course, enjoys a clear advantage when it comes to price.
One important caveat to the above findings. I bought the A 70-210 to exclusively for landscape photography, which means my comparisons with the DA 55-300 PLM involve capturing detail at long distances. At closer distances, you may get different results.
Some images, all taken somewhere between f11 and f16:
 | | | | | 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. | | | | | 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
 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2010 Location: California Posts: 125
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 13, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive, constant aperture, zoom range, decent sharpness | | Cons: | Size, one-touch zoom, low contrast, not exceptionally sharp | |
Overview - Large and heavy, but also a decently sharp lens that offers good value for the dollar.
Build quality - Generally well-built, with a nice solid heft. Mine was a "bargain" lens that had a loose zoom ring, but peeling back the rubber grip and tightening the screws tightened up the action considerably. There is still some zoom creep, but it doesn't bother me much.
Handling - It's a big lens, but since it weighs about as much as (but not more than) my ist DS it actually balances quite well on the camera. It's an internal zoom so zooming doesn't change the length, but focusing in and out does. As a result, the front element also rotates while focusing. The built-in hood is a nice perk, but only extends about an inch, which isn't very much. On a crop sensor it could use a 2 or 3 inch hood, but that would make a long lens even longer.
Getting sharp focus is a little challenging - the DOF is shallow throughout the zoom range, and the one-touch feature makes zooming in to focus less useful. I also find that the focus ring resistance is a little too light, and the lens easily slides in and out of focus as I am handling the lens or recomposing.
Image quality - With the caveat that this is my first and only tele lens, compared to my Tamron 17-50 it gives slightly but noticeably softer and lower contrast pictures. It also seems better at the short end than the long end. Some of this is camera shake (I don't use a tripod) and the short hood, the rest is probably inherent to the lens. On a five-step scale, I'd say sharpness is "Good" at f4 and f5.6, and "Very Good" at f8. Bokeh is smooth and easy on the eyes. The pseudo-macro feature doesn't substitute for a real macro lens, but is useful for decently close work in a pinch.
Value - Of all of the tele zooms I was looking at, my A70-210 was the least expensive of the lot. There are lenses out there that are smaller, lighter, sharper and more contrasty, but nothing is quite as inexpensive or easily available as the 70-210. If you're looking for a telephoto on a budget, this is definitely one of the lenses to get.
Mounted on a DS, shortest possible length. (Tamron 17-50 for size comparison)
With hood extended, focused all the way in (longest length):
 | | | | | Closed Account Registered: November, 2008 Location: The edge of nowhere, Alberta, Canada Posts: 467
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 28, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Constant f/4 max. aperture, build quality, built-in lens hood, one-touch focus/zoom, internal zoom, macro mode | | Cons: | Front element rotates while focusing, low contrast | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K20D
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If you're on a budget but think you can't find a worthy telephoto zoom for a great price, you will be get impressive results with a good-quality copy of this lens if you can live with having no autofocus and no f/2.8.
I bought this lens for my K20D, and it was my first SMC-A purchase after owning a couple of DA lenses and a FA. I was not too excited about the thought of saving up for the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or the Pentax DA* 60-250 f/4 - both in terms of cost and time frame - so I decided to give this lens a shot as a quick-fix solution to getting a telephoto zoom.
Due to this lens being an older zoom (built between 1984-1988), I was expecting decent but not exceptional image quality, and I was concerned about whether it was worth giving up AF and a f/2.8 maximum aperture. I also didn't know whether I was paying too much for it used in 2009; I paid more than I would have liked, but I chose to buy it from a used dealer with a good reputation who said this lens was in "ex++" condition.
After the lens arrived and I put it through its paces, I must say that I am quite impressed and I in no way feel that I was ripped off. I believe that I have sacrificed nothing by giving up autofocus and f/2.8 since the Sigma 70-200 is about five times the cost, and the Pentax 60-250 even more so (the latter, in my opinion, being about $400 over-priced for a cropped-sensor lens). And in a day and age of in-body shake reduction and better image quality at higher ISO, f/4 is perfectly fast enough for most situations.
I love the 'grippy' 3-inch focus ring and how smoothly and precisely it focuses. I had never experienced the one-touch focus/zoom before, but I can say that I would like to find more used zoom lenses that have it - it's brilliant! My copy doesn't suffer the dreaded zoom creep that others have reported, and the zoom mechanism is smooth and tight. I'm not concerned by the so-called "heaviness" of this lens; in fact, like the K20D, I prefer the feeling of handling something so solid and exceptionally well-built.
Others have noted the macro feature at 70mm. It's easy to engage and disengage, and I've found that you can get from 26 inches to as close as 9 inches to your subject in macro mode as you turn the zoom ring.
As for the image quality, it is okay wide open (f/4) at all focal lengths, but f/5.6 showed a noticeable improvement and I was blown away by the sharpness at f/8 and even f/11. Distortion is minimal and only slightly more noticeable at 210mm. In short, my pixel-peeping has revealed absolutely nothing that would indicate this is a 20+ year-old zoom lens, and I would have no hesitation making a large (16x20 and up) print of any image produced by this lens on a K20D.
Nevertheless, this lens loses a mark due to its IQ since it just doesn't quite compete with my DA 35mm f/2.8 Limited Macro shots or those of my FA 50mm f/1.4, but it's not far off. Being a zoom lens, this is to be expected. If you want excellent IQ, you'll need to buy a prime lens or save up for the Sigma 70-200 or Pentax 60-250.
EDIT: I've lowered my rating from 9 to 8 because of low contrast. I have to bump up the contrast for nearly every photo I take with this lens during post-processing, and it's growing tiresome. However, once done, image sharpness is as good as described.
I'm also no longer a fan of the one-touch focus/zoom. Too often I find it easy to move the ring after I've achieved focus, and so I had too many soft focus shots before I discovered the catch-in focus feature on my K20D. Now my well-focused shots have more than doubled, but I still get a few duds.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: February, 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,710
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 26, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, Colors, Handling, Sharp, Inexpensive | | Cons: | A bit soft at F4, | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3, K-5iis, KP, K-1
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My review will be brief. The positive aspects of this classic Pentax A series zoom are impeccable build quality, SMC lens coatings, IQ from short to long, easy one touch zoom and focusing and very good to excellent sharpness across the frame from f5.6 to f11. The built in lens hood and 58mm filter size are a bonus. The macro capability at the 70mm end is useful, with good IQ and even at 210mm the lens focuses to a close 120cm/ 4 feet.
Negatives? Yes, there are a couple. Images aren’t exactly tack sharp at F4, though they are useable with some PP sharpening. Contrast often needs a small PP boost and magenta/green CA can appear at Wide apertures in high contrast lighting. Manual focusing is aided by the bright, constant F4 aperture, however I highly recommend using the Pentax 1.3X magnifying eyecup to increase accuracy.
Compared to my DA HD 55-300mm WR, the SMC-A lens holds its own in the center but kicks the modern zooms posterior where edge sharpness and distortion are concerned, especially at 210mm. Also, colors have that special Pentax look.
I really like this lens for shooting trains and cars. The lack of distortion and smooth tonal rendition of benefit in these situations.
Verdict, if you can find a clean copy for $80 or less, the SMC-A 70-210mm should follow you home.
I recently acquired a K-1, the 70-210 REALLY shines on full frame! From f4.5 to f11 at all focal lengths . | | | | | 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.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: August, 2012 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,299
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 18, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $95.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fits a large slot of lengths plus close-up | | Cons: | Given it's price and intent, none | | Sharpness: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K5
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I couldn't quite believe how cheaply this lens sold for. It seemed to do everything, I live on a hill with a view to the ocean and an airport about 6 miles as the crow flies. This is a good test for any lens to see it pull in the details from that distance. The full size on flicker allows one to identify the logo on the airplane.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeomaster32/7348018952/
Anyway, I have now shot the same scene with a M200mm,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeomaster32/6935946724/
and a 200mm Super Multicoated Tacumar for a comparison.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeomaster32/7806382484/
I really didn't expect the details to come through so well on the zoom, but they did. In fact I was hand holding it when a jet took off, and the picture was clear enough to tell the airline brand on the vertical fin. All three lenses are comparable here (On the K5 they are effectively 300mm lenses).
I don't think a prime 200mm is that necessary if you have this lens; not for normal use anyway. Perhaps others will notice the failings of the zoom on closer inspection, but for me, it did the job, plus you have macro for close work.
Still don't know why this lens is so inexpensive, so grab one while you can.
Below:
F9@1/320 hand held out car window at smaller zoom 70mm?
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 11,590
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 19, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp and very nice rendering | | Cons: | awkward handling, hood too short on dslr | |
I've got great copy of this lens and I love it! Its rather unbalanced due to the combination of length & weight which makes handling a bit awkward and I'm not a big fan of one-touch but it delivers splendid IQ. https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/images/8469/1_IMGP0814_filtered.c.as.600.as.jpg | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2017 Location: Ronneburg Posts: 1
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 5, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | built like a tank, constant arperture, a-setting, SMC Colours | | Cons: | None for me | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3,K-7,Z-1
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Pentax K-3 HIghest Resolution /70mm Macro Mode/Center Weighted
Out of cam no post processing. JPEG
     | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2020 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 17
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 6, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | handling, sharpness, heft if you like heft | | Cons: | heft if you don't like heft, mild CA | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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High on the fun factor, great color, gets plenty of attention. Built well. My copy has no zoom creep issues. Used outdoors/in brighter light, images are sharp enough, at center areas anyways, and there are the common and relatively mild chromatic aberrations visible here and there. Below are 2 images, handheld at 210mm, 1/1000, ISO 400, on K-3 crop sensor DSLR, with first one at f4 = wide open, and second at f4.5. Remember, the resolution of the photos after upload are limited - these don't do the actual sharpness justice when compared with original images on my home computer. Realizing that the iPhone camera development continues its encroachment on hobby (and professional) photography, I am glad to say that there is just no satisfaction in using their AI to artificially create the small depth of field or pleasing bokeh or far reach that this affordable lens can mechanically and optically provide on both film and digital sensor.
f4 = wide open
f4.5
 | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2015 Posts: 11
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 1, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $180.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Exposure is correct with TTL flashes; sharp wide open; robust construction | | Cons: | CA; zoom creeping | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 3
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 5
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30; K-S2; NX500
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The best thing about this lens is that its Pentax-A; meaning, the exposure is correct with TTL flashes. This alone makes this lens perfect for any Pentax DSLR in indoor environment. Sharp wide open; CA control is not good.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 255
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 5, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Well build, sharp, shines on full frame | | Cons: | You have to pop up the contrast, a bit fringing wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-1ii, K-01, film
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Another very cheap but interesting A-zoom that performs much better on FF than it does on APC-C. Wide open there is some fringing in harsh areas and some green magenta aberrations in the outof focus areas, but not by much. Stopped down this lens is serving the K1ii real nice delivering nice clean crisp images up to 800 ASA and SR. In post I only adjust the levels somewhat (stretching the histogram to full 0-100%) and adding some contrast in case the pictures might be a bit flat (low contrast). Always focus on the long end and then adjust your zoom range, old school focussing....
About 180 mm at F8
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