| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2016 Location: Moab, Utah Posts: 90
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 18, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, color rendering, contrast | | Cons: | bokeh | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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Typical perfect build quality and usage from the old Pentax primes. The military wishes they could build tanks this tough. Smooth and snappy like you expect and desire.
Very sharp. I don't keep lenses with soft corners and this is a definite keeper. Usable for most things at f4 (but you better be dead on critically focused) and tack razor crisp at 6.3 and smaller. I don't need the 2.8 at 200. There's never enough depth of field for anything I want to shoot, and any 2.8 lens I have ever used isn't actually usable at 2.8 anyway, so why bother carrying the extra 4x the weight? I suppose you look cooler with a 70-200 2.8, but aside from that, what are you actually gaining in usable images? At least that's how I feel. Sports shooters will likely disagree for focusing reasons, but then they aren't using manual focus lenses as first choice are they. With live view and super sensors of modern cameras, there's no need for f2.8 for almost anybody. This lens is a serious bargain for under a hundred bucks and will help you get higher quality images than you ever could with a modern, haphazardly constructed zoom.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2015 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 20, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small, solid, crisp, built-in hood, overall very good lens. | | Cons: | none, just a little CA full aperture. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax ist DS
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This is a tipical old school Pentax M lens: well built, lightweight, nice optical scheme, sweet colour and contrast.
I used it tipically on wild animals (African photosafari...) and everytime you need a lightweight gear.
Best shots I get with it is full aperture; subject remain very crisp with a smooth, creamy background... just nice!
Cromatic aberration is noticeable at f4 (especially on luminous background), but is not a real issue.
An overall very good lens, I've found it withstands comparison against the venerable Takumar 200mm f3.5 (which is probably
2-3 times higher priced...). Use it with built-in hood for a better flare protection and contrast improvement.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: September, 2010 Location: MD Posts: 1,029
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 18, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $38.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | compact, solid, built-in lens hood, Pentax M character | | Cons: | needs f5.6 or greater | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-30
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Typical Pentax M prime lens with all it's delicious characteristics. Solid and smooth, and I appreciate the built-in lens hood.
At f4, it's almost not worth using since I got soft, glowing images with lots of green CA. Much improved one click down (5.6) and best at f8 +/- a step or so. Still quite nice at f16. Compared to my DAL 55-300 shot at 200mm, it may not be quite as sharp or contrasty, but it's a bit better across the frame. Attached pics (sorry for cat pics  ) have minimal pp.
  | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 518 | | Review Date: May 17, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | relatively small/light, solid, inexpensive, large focus range | | Cons: | complete manual | |
Good deal on a lens... lots of PF in outdoor light.
| | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: September, 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,070
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 12, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $38.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Somewhat small in size, reasonably good image quality, good build quality | | Cons: | Takes a little more time to use | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K30
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I have tested this lens on my K30 in bright as well as cloudy conditions, and conclude that it is usable at f4 but really starts to sharpen up and gain significant contrast one click over to f5.6. For this reason I am not sure it has much of an advantage over a typical autofocus zoom that starts at f5.6 at its 200mm end. Based on my testing against my Pentax F 80-200 f 4.7-5.6, they were very close in image quality at comparable f stops at both near and far distances and with 100% crop viewing. The M 200mm may have a slight advantage in sharpness and appears that it may be resolving the full 16 mp at the click between the f5.6 and f8 marker on the aperture ring. At f8 both lenses will resolve all of my K30's megapixels. Advantages this M 200mm may have? Of course the extra stop of light is there if needed, but remember that manual focus lenses have the benefit of hard stop focus at infinity, whereas most autofocus zooms can pass infinity in manual focus mode (thus making manual focusing in the dark much more difficult than a manual focus lens). It is still a rather small lens at nearly the same size as the 80-200 I have (but both are bigger than a Pentax 50-200mm zoom). The 200mm f4 is built like a tank, focuses very smoothly, has a built in hood, and if you are willing to take the little extra time to manually focus it and deal with stop down metering with the green button, it can impress you. But remember that using proper technique is paramount in order to use this lens to its fullest, and a viewfinder magnifier helps. The colors it renders are great, and as another reviewer mentioned the blues are very deep and vibrant. The bokeh is good, and purple fringing is surprisingly very minimal! My lens shows a little sign of wear on the body, and has a little scratch nearing the border of the front element, but other than that it is very clean and I don't mind keeping a spot in the camera bag for it (considering it cost $38, including shipping).
Below are links to some heavily cropped samples showing what I am able to squeeze out of this lens. I do post process my images, and the lens was stopped down near or at f8 in these photos, but I didn't keep track of which were which:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/38463039961/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/20091608882/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/20105003621/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/19912848469/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17478894406/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17988730908/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/18108190741/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/16884975213/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17318956279/in/dateposted-public/ | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2015 Location: France Posts: 363 | | Review Date: May 4, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small size, sharpness, construction, IQ | | Cons: | minimal focus distance, CA | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: k-x
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Bought this lens on eBay with a light fungus infestation on the rear element. Strangely, on the outside of the rear element. Cleaned without a trace. I've must have cleaned or repaired a hundred lenses, this was the first time I saw a fungus on the outside of the rear element. Special from the start. Back to he review.
I found it to be very easy lens for manual focusing, maybe the easiest from all the lenses I own. I was able to take pictures of swifts and swallows flying low in the garden. It produces lovely colors, even on a grey day, and I find it to be sharp enough for wildlife photography, acceptable even wide open. More tests in the days that come will show me more but for this price, there is not much negative I could say.
I definitely recommend this lens, especially for beginners with manual focusing.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 2,176
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 21, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $32.63
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Small, Easy to focus | | Cons: | Could be AF or an "A" lens | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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 Bought this on eBay in mint condition without a lens cap for $32.63 +shipping. I stole it.  Very happy with the lens. It is quite light for a 200mm, easy to focus and it performs very well. I made a test shooting in RAW with my K5 showing full frame and 100% crop at f4 through f11. Decide for yourself. https://www.flickr.com/photos/24877856@N00/15819953076/ | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2014 Location: Nagoya Posts: 577
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 24, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $34.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, lovely colours, built-in hood keeps contrast up. Usual solid build and good looks. | | Cons: | Nothing significant | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: ME Super, Olympus E-510 w/ adapter
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I picked up a boxed, new old stock example of this lens in a charity shop last weekend for £20. It seemed like it was probably bought as part of a kit many years ago and never saw any use. The glass and body are spotless, so I really feel like I'm reviewing an untainted lens here.
And boy, was it worth that £20. With the built-in hood extended colours and contrast are well controlled and my copy is sharp enough at f4, and faultless from f5.6 onwards. The aperture and focus rings have that usual solid Pentax feel, and are a pleasure to operate. This lens' appeal lies not only in its image quality but the feeling that you are handling a precision instrument. Find one of these for a good price and it's an invaluable addition to a lens collection.
Sample images taken on an Olympus E-510 with a K mount adapter.
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2014 Posts: 38
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 25, 2014 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | produces very crisp and well defined images | | Cons: | none from my perspective | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax Kx, K10, MX
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Sharpness can be somewhat subjective - at f8 or f11, this lens is a razorblade, at f4 it is more than acceptable. I'd expect that, and really, only a portrait type lens is going to be used wide open, and this lens is a bit long for that use. It is critically sharp by f5.6, and more than useable at f4. Also, give it a 9 for sharpness on a DSLR, because you're using the central area of the lens on the CMOS sensor, so my rating for a film camera would be 8.
Your results with this lens is going to blow any zoom out of the water (see the post by Asama a few below for excellent comparative pictures which say more than my entire review!). It is corrected for aberrations and color at 200, so you will be delighted pictorially.
I use it primarily as a landscape lens, for perspective flattening. It excels in this regard, because on the DSLRs it really comes off as a 300mm f4. It's a bit short and slow for a wildlife lens unless you're using a blind, but in that case I'd go for a 135mm f2.
This is a common lens and can be had cheaply. It's light and small for it's focal length, so a copy of this excellent lens should be in your bag, IMHO! 
As a PS, I just got back from a trip to Vancouver, and thought I'd post a shot taken with this lens and my K10. The detail on the full file is astounding. The compact nature of this lens is a real feature for travel, and the sharpness is top drawer.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 2 | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2012 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 16, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, light weight, easy to use, build quality, low price | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-x
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Lens loved on is constructive and usability. The picture is certainly not
ideal, but in my opinion better than the FA and DA zooms (of course not stellar).
By field, though not much, but better than my FA 100-300 4.7-5.8, and also to stop lighter and
at 55-300 (he did not have, judging by the full length extended to me once).
Here, the first "test" photo (doll and flowers on the MDF to the building about 60 m):
https://picasaweb.google.com/113830004396908134834/SMCPentaxM2004?authuser=0&feat=directlink | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2013 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 40
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 23, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light & oh so crisp! | | Cons: | For a 200 tele......none! | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K10D
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I recently attended a wedding & was too lazy to take a bunch of lenses.
The last wedding I attended I used my 135 mm.
This time I thought I need to practice more with the 200, but this meant having to force myself to work around the problem of not being able to get in real close.
Well let me tell you I was so impressed......firstly I could stay right back & still capture the ring exchanges, then when we went out onto the lawn, the 200mm allowed me to stay out of the official wedding photographers' way.
Did a shoot two days ago down at the beach of my kids Boggie board riding in the shore break......check this out!
My son has actually been complaining that all I ever want to buy is prime lenses & why? So I took along my 75-300 Soligor zoom, took some shots & then switched to the Pentax 200mm tele.
Admittedly it was drissling & very overcast, but compare the loss of colour in the Zoom photo to the tele, & also the loss is sharpness!...... Photos don't lie!!!
Soligor 85-300 f5 Zoom:
Pentax 200mm f4 Telephoto
 | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2013 Posts: 19 | | Review Date: December 10, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharphness, size, prize | | Cons: | f4 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax ILX
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Very useful and quite underrated, maybe because it is so common and cheap. Use it stopped down a bit but not to maximum, and this elegant, small and lightweight prime will be a joy to use. Anyway, it is a tele lens, so beware, without a tripod, no times longer than 1/250.
smc M 200 f/4, pentax ILX, Neopan 400@800 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 9 | | Review Date: November 26, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Sharp . Sharp . Sharp . | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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Just put this lens on a K5 and WOW!!!!! The quality of the images are superb .
Oddly seems sharpest on the low end 2stops above f4 .
So fast at the wide apertures making it great for wildlife shots .
I would suggest always using the lens hood .
I tried it with a x2 teleconverter . I don't think you will get a better 400mm lens at this quality for the price .
Always in my bag for coastal walks .
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 7 | | Review Date: June 18, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp at f8, light weight, easy to use | | Cons: | Should be sharper at f4 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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I tested this lens against the wonderful Takumar 200mm f3.5, both with hoods on, on an Olympus OM-D E-M5.
The Tak is sharp from f4. In fact it is sharper at f4 than the Pentax-M is at f5.6. Bokeh on the Tak is probably a little better and its more usable because the Tak is sharp at f3.5 and the M really isn't sharp until f5.
But by f8 the two lenses are equal, and the M has less purple fringing. The M is also a lot lighter, easier to take on road trips. My copy has some strange ancient fungus that runs in a ring on the back glass. It causes some softness in the corners at f4-6.3, and some halo effects around light flares. But the center is sharp and contrasty.
I also compared the M to the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 and the M is sharper @ 200mm in every f-stop. And of course the Vivitar is even heavier than the Takumar...
You can find these lenses online for about $30 these days and for a 200mm that is this light, handy, and sharp from f5.6 onward, its a great lens. My copy looks mint on the outside and its amazing how well they age.
When I am shooting locally, I take the Tak with me. When I travel and need something long, I take the M.
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