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SMC Pentax 200mm F4 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax 200mm F4

Sharpness 
 9.3
Aberrations 
 8.6
Bokeh 
 8.5
Handling 
 8.9
Value 
 9.5
Reviews Views Date of last review
20 128,338 Fri February 5, 2021
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $88.50 9.30
SMC Pentax 200mm F4

SMC Pentax 200mm F4
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SMC Pentax 200mm F4
supersize

Description:
This lens was introduced in 1975 and later, in 1977, replaced with a smaller M-series version.



SMC Pentax 200mm F4
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (no A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
5 elements, 5 groups
Mount Variant
K
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F4
Min. Aperture
F32
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
200 cm
Max. Magnification
0.13x
Filter Size
58 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 8.1 ° / 6.9 °
Full frame: 12 ° / 10 °
Hood
PH-R58
Case
Dedicated hard case
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
65 x 137 mm
Weight
535 g
Production Years
1975 to 1977
Engraved Name
SMC PENTAX 1:4/200
Product Code
24040
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Plastic clip-on hood, shared between 135/2.5, 200/4, 85-210/4.5
Features:
Manual FocusAperture RingFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax 200mm F4
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 20
New Member

Registered: March, 2009
Location: Copenhagen
Posts: 10

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 5, 2021 Recommended | Price: $120.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Solid build, good optics and rather compact
Cons: Not as sharp as I hope for
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 8   




I have had the M-200mm f4 and liked it but sold it - then I saw the reviews on this K-series 200mm and decided to buy it. Its a really nice, slim lens that's exremely well build. Unfortunately it doesn't have a build in sliding hood like the M-series lens but its not a huge problem. Focus is smooth and precise. I've only used it with film so far. The optics are good but not on par with eg. a Leica 180mm Apo-Summicron, which of course costs about 30 times more. On the other hand though, I have found that the Pentax lens has a wonderful "glow" or a bit of dreamy softness to the images that comes out nice when shooting against the sun.
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: June, 2013
Location: Utrecht
Posts: 250

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 7, 2020 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: K-build quality, sharp, rendering, cheap
Cons: None
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K1ii   

I doubted buying this one but I was curious if it is better than the M200 I also own. It is a bit longer and has no build in hood. This lens makes me think of my K135 F2.5. Same look & feel (quality), same coatings, same rendering. It has a longer focus throw also what makes focussing more precise. I use the metal hood from the Takumar era, made for the 135 & 200 mm lenses.

I compared this one on a tripod with my M200 and the SMC-A 70-210. My pixel peeping observations are:
  • K200 has the "pop" the other two lenses lack: it is sharper, crispier and contrastier wide open and at F5.6. From F8 the differences are smaller.
  • K200 has a narrower FOV than the M200, about the same as the A70-210 at 210.
  • K200 has almost no abbarations, it delivers clean images.
  • A210 shows stronger vignetting.
  • Hand hold and focussing works fine for me on a K1, better than the M200.

So this one is a hidden gem. If you can find one, get one.












   
New Member

Registered: January, 2019
Posts: 14
Review Date: February 5, 2019 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharpness, colors, price
Cons: there is no
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-5 II and K-3   

Sensational lens, nourishing better than the "M" version, in every respect - sharpness, bokeh, colors, contrast ...
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2018
Location: Houghton, Michigan
Posts: 1

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: January 20, 2019 Recommended | Price: $90.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: IQ, build quality, price
Cons: some CA
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-1   

I bought this lens along with a Samyang 85/1.4 and SMC K 135/2.5 to use instead of buying the new D FA 70-200/2.8. I primarily do landscape photography and occasionally find myself wanting a telephoto focal length. I don't use these focal lengths long enough to justify a new lens, but didn't want to sacrifice IQ. Although the Pentax lenses lack auto-anything and the Samyang is MF, I don't mind at all as I have a very slow and methodical workflow.

The main reason I bought this lens was due to its IQ at a low price. If you don't mind the handling limitations of a lens from this era such as manual aperture and exposure, this lens won't disappoint. The IQ is really nice at f/4 and one stop down it is incredibly sharp all over the frame with lowered CAs, more than enough for the K-1's 36MP sensor.
   
Forum Member

Registered: October, 2015
Posts: 61

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 22, 2018 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: sharpness, clarity, contrast, color rendition, cheap, build quality
Cons: weight, F4
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K5IIs   

This is a wonderful telephoto lens. Like other Pentax manual lenses, this lens is built like a tank. Everything is tightly put together. The color rendition is great and sharpness is almost perfect. Well, the lens has only 5 elements so you should expect it to be optically great. The bokeh is nothing mind blowing but that's the nature of the lens. If you want creamy out of focus background you'd better go with a 2.8 lens or faster.
I got this lens for telephoto landscape photography and it was in almost brand new condition. It is a little heavy though, which I am totally OK with.
Overall, fantastic lens for the price.
   
New Member

Registered: May, 2013
Location: Jakarta
Posts: 2

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 5, 2015 Recommended | Price: $95.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: it's super sharp! clarity, flare resistance
Cons: heavy
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 8    Camera Used: K5, A7   

as good as many K series this lens also inherit sharpness, it's very sharp! i'm also surprised that the lens has good flare/glow resistance
bokeh is not attractive, but it's not something important for me
the lens only has minor cons, it's weight
   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2013
Location: Goolwa, SA
Posts: 4,310

7 users found this helpful
Review Date: July 28, 2015 Recommended | Price: $70.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Quite compact, nice to focus, quite sharp
Cons: None that are relevant
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K5II   

I used this lens for a month on the "Singled in challenge"...... lens is capable of getting nice shots.......


Broccoli.jpg
by Noel Leahy, on Flickr


Back Yard Scene.jpg

by Noel Leahy, on Flickr


Macro Flower.jpg
by Noel Leahy, on Flickr


Community Garden Frog.jpg
by Noel Leahy, on Flickr
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2015
Posts: 1
Review Date: June 19, 2015 Recommended | Price: $80.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Rather small for a 200mm, great build quality.
Cons:
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax K1000 and Canon 5D mk II   

I was quite impressed with the results with my Pentax K1000 so I bought an adapter for my Canon 5D mk II. The results are really good. The lens is really sharp, easy to handle, and for less than 100 bucks, I can only recommend it. The contrast and colors are really enjoyable.
Here's a short video I shot yesterday with it, on the Canon FF. Unfortunately the sensor of the Canon was a bit dirty, but you can tell the image quality's good!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgwYrqipqsw
   
Junior Member

Registered: December, 2013
Location: Pendik, Istanbul
Posts: 35

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 27, 2015 Recommended | Price: $70.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, Color rendering
Cons: Heavier than M version
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: Sony A7   

I use this lens with FF camera Sony A7.
This is a fantastic lens which is as sharp as zeiss lenses for only 70$.
I test this lens sharpness with ISO12233 chart printed on A1. Lens is sharp in all apertures except differaction limits.
My results about this lens are:
  • On f/4 there is slight vignetting.
  • No optical distortion.
  • Sharping is excellent on center f/4 between f/22.
  • Lens is less sharper on center between f/22 and f/32 because of differaction.
  • Sharping is excellent on corners f/4 between f/22.
  • Lens is less sharper on corners between f/22 and f/32 because of differaction.
  • Best shooting aperture is between f/4-f/22.
  • Lens sharpness is really amazing between f/4-f/22. Most probably lens can be used without differaction limit with 12Mp FF camera
  • I cannot see a difference on sharpness with Zeiss 55mm
For charts please check kirlisensor.com
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2014
Posts: 370

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 23, 2014 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharpness, quality
Cons: Heavy
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: K5ii   

Just took this out for the first time this weekend and am very impressed with the results. I have a 200MM M Series lens also, and despite the fact this lens is much, much heavier, it is very precise and gets the business done.

As I am just learning this lens, I will have more to say in a few months time, but initial impressions are very good.

Here are a couple of shots from the weekend.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/66269-mikeodial/albums/8471-micha...ture75837.html


https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/66269-mikeodial/albums/8471-micha...cture75842.jpg
   
New Member

Registered: December, 2008
Location: Mèxico
Posts: 5

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 8, 2012 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Image quality, built quality
Cons: no lens hood
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K10D   

I love the lens since the beggining.
Good manual focus. But the important thing is the image quality.
If you find one buy it.
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2012
Posts: 1

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 20, 2012 Recommended | Price: $116.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharp, colourful, contrast
Cons: pure manual (but this is this row)
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-5   

Very good lens with excellent price.

Some Example Photos are there

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8094506787_7bf96c086e_h.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8094504019_2874848e84_h.jpg
   
New Member

Registered: March, 2012
Posts: 2
Review Date: March 17, 2012 Recommended | Price: $95.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Reasonable sharpness and excellent color
Cons: Small aperture just for daylight
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 9    Camera Used: KR   

I picked up this lens for a reasonable price one of these days.Generally it's just worth the price.Ideal sharpness and pleasant recovering.All just doesn't go beyond the spacialities of K-mounts.
   
Junior Member

Registered: January, 2012
Posts: 38

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 22, 2012 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: IQ, pleasant bokeh, colour, 3D
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: EOS 30D   

Hi,
this is my first contribute here, and notwithstanding I used the K200 on a "foreign" 30D, I had the opportunity to recently compare - not scientifically - the shots taken with K200/4, 180/2,8 ED, Tessar 200/3,5, ML100-300 @200.

Well to my eyes this cheap piece of glass performed at least on the level of both Nikkor and Zeiss. I'm used to mount old C/Y Zeiss lenses on my 30D (including 100/2) and the output of the K200/4 keeps amazing me. It's very often on my camera!

I have a pair of them and given the performance can't decide to part from one

HTH,

Stefano
   
Site Supporter

Registered: April, 2010
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 813
Review Date: August 16, 2011 Recommended | Price: $55.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Great IQ (with care), sharp, contrasty, good colour
Cons: It's big and heavy, and no built-in hood
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 9   

Better than the M 200/4
Nearly as good as the A* 200/2.8
Nearly indestructable.

Focus is easy, sharp images just pop.
Great K lens colour and contrast.
Shares hood with K135/2.5
Add Review of SMC Pentax 200mm F4



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