| Review of: SMC Pentax-A 80-200mm F4.7-5.6 by stemked on Fri January 8, 2021 | Rating: 7 | View more reviews | |
Views: 46904
Reviews: 10
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I got this lens in my film days and used it mostly with my P30T and SuperProgram. I traveled extensively with the lens in China and Europe. It is super light which I would say is it's selling point. That and 49mm filters.
It's hard to fault a lens like this when it is so inexpensive. I didn't have serious aberrations. And it is so light.
This lens is NOT a pleasure to focus, but it works okay.
The rotating front element is an issue if you use filters.
It seemed to have some light vignetting on the K1, not too bad.
This image is taken on the long end.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A 35-80mm F4-5.6 by stemked on Fri January 8, 2021 | Rating: 0 | View more reviews | |
Views: 58184
Reviews: 8
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Okay, this was my first K mount lens after leaving the Spotmatic. I used it on a P30T film camera and then onto SuperPrograms, LX, etc. I traveled with it extensively back in the 80s until I got the 28-70mm f4. The thing I loved about the lens is that it is SO light, a great travel lens with limited zoom range. What I didn't like about it back in the day was the rotating front element, which was a pain when using filters.
At f4-5.6 don't expect beautiful brokeh.
I didn't include a price on it because I bought it new back in the early 80s, probably at a price that was 4 times what you can get it now. It then went unloved for decades, so I pulled it out today to try it on a digital.
Even though it is an A lens, my copy still has to have the focal length dialed in to use the shake reduction.
I just did one shot at f8 on a tripod. I have to say it was a lot better than I thought. I'm not saying that this is a stunning lens, but for the price it is fine.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A* 600mm F5.6 ED [IF] by stemked on Wed May 29, 2013 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 62444
Reviews: 9
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I've used this lens for about a year and a half. It is a joy to use. For a 600mm lens that is not a mirror lens it is light weight at something a bit over 3200g. It is easy to focus, and wonderfully sharp, much more than my Sigma 150-500 f6.3.
As others have noted you want to use a long quick release plate with it otherwise it tends not to balance well. I also added a battery pack at one point to balance, but found with the longer plate it wasn't necessary
I used it with a Jobu Gimble head for a while. Personally I didn't like the combination. While it balanced well I had trouble getting really steep shots of birds. Also as this is a manual focus lens I need one hand to focus and one to move the lens to my subject, the Gimble, IMHO is better for autofocus lenses. I have been using an older Markins head, like the Q10 (their smaller ballhead) and it has worked beautifully. I do use a larger Carbon fiber Gitzo legs (can't recall the actual name)
I use the lens occasionally with a 1.4X-L teleconvertor and I find the combination acceptable but not as sharp as without the TC.
It comes in its own case. I either transport it in the case or a Lowepro Pro Nature Trekker AWII. You cannot fit the camera on the lens while you travel, but that's not a big deal. A very nice comfortable combo.
I did have an element come loose inside. It was an easy fix for my local camera guy.
One great lens.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 24-90mm F3.5-4.5 AL [IF] by stemked on Sat December 4, 2010 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 132974
Reviews: 24
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This is a fun lens. I bought this lens MANY years ago. I used to own the 24mm K f2.8 version as well, but when I got the ‘A’ version I sold it. Both lenses have wonderful manual focus feel, and I have been quite happy with the lens wide open, This used to be my regular travel lens because it is so small and light, it only weighs a touch over 200g. I tried the 24mm f2 FA which is an incredible lens, but that lens is so heavy that I decided to stick with this A version.
It is hard to say a lot of negative things about the lens. No, its not autofocus and its not as sharp wide open as the 28mm f2 FA. But then the lens is not all that expensive (or wasn't) when I got it around 2000). There is a clip on hood that you might be able to find (part PH-S52). Honestly, I rarely used the thing. The is also a leather lens case you can get for the lens, the part number on that is HA-90. Flare is well controlled in this lens.
The lens has five aperture blades and can close focus to about 25mm. As is typical of excellent Pentax primes there is very little light fall-off on my lens and I see no noticeable distortion. The lens has nine elements in eight groups.
I think what was noted by others is that this lens has become hard to find. This is one of those fun to have lenses, that works equally well on a film or a digital body. On a digital body it is a respectable 35mm lens.
So in review it’s an excellent lens to add to your lens bag, provided you can actually find one on the used market.
24-90mm f3.5-90mm
This was a lens I happened to bump into Fry’s Department store was literally giving away this lens, only $100. I thought I would get it and sell it because I had the focal range well represented with the Pentax version II 28-205mm f3.2-4.5 FA, Pentax 28-70mm f4 FA, and Tokina AT-X f2.8 24-40mm. I was wrong. I really took to this lens. Both of my other lenses had mechanical issues and when I had them sent out I started to use this lens. Once I started using this lens I never returned to the other lenses.
First of all, being very superficial about this, this lens looks good. It has a solid feel. I personally don’t like to use the word ‘professional’ when I talk about any of my equipment, but it feels great and you know when you are using it you are using one great lens.
I know when the lens first came out there were ‘issues’ and reading through the other reviews I have no doubt that these issues were genuine. It seems that there where some manufacturing problems when the lens was first produced, I’m not sure what they were. I can say though the manufacturing issues were resolved in the later productions and the result was one wonderful lens.
At 24-90mm (35mm -135mm digital equilivant) the extra width is appreciated. I use the lens all the time chasing my daughter, and she is fast! It is the heaviest of my lenses in this range, but at 355g grams I don’t have all that much to complain about. The lens is quite sharp.
I personally do not see any serious distortion with this lens. The lens includes two aspherical lens elements and anomalous low-dispersion glass element. It has an excellent minimum focus of just 0.5 meters and makes an excellent portrait lens.
The lens comes with a tulip shaped hood that has one of Pentax’s useful windows that slide out so you can use a circular polarizer.
All in all an outstanding ‘walk about lens.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A 24mm F2.8 by stemked on Sat December 4, 2010 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 144622
Reviews: 23
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This is a fun lens. I bought this lens MANY years ago. I used to own the 24mm K f2.8 version as well, but when I got the ‘A’ version I sold it. Both lenses have wonderful manual focus feel, and I have been quite happy with the lens wide open, This used to be my regular travel lens because it is so small and light, it only weighs a touch over 200g. I tried the 24mm f2 FA which is an incredible lens, but that lens is so heavy that I decided to stick with this A version.
It is hard to say a lot of negative things about the lens. No, its not autofocus and its not as sharp wide open as the 28mm f2 FA. But then the lens is not all that expensive (or wasn't) when I got it around 2000). There is a clip on hood that you might be able to find (part PH-S52). Honestly, I rarely used the thing. The is also a leather lens case you can get for the lens, the part number on that is HA-90. Flare is well controlled in this lens.
The lens has five aperture blades and can close focus to about 25mm. As is typical of excellent Pentax primes there is very little light fall-off on my lens and I see no noticeable distortion. The lens has nine elements in eight groups.
I think what was noted by others is that this lens has become hard to find. This is one of those fun to have lenses, that works equally well on a film or a digital body. On a digital body it is a respectable 35mm lens.
So in review it’s an excellent lens to add to your lens bag, provided you can actually find one on the used market.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax 28mm F3.5 Shift by stemked on Wed March 4, 2009 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 81583
Reviews: 17
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I feel sort of bad reviewing this lens. I had it for a total of a year. I found that I didn't have the patients to use a shift lens and it just wasn't something that I used enough as a nature photographer. Perhaps if it were wider I would have had more use for it.
It is a beautifully constructed lens and for those who need it, and can live at 28mm you have a beautiful lens.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax 24mm F2.8 by stemked on Wed March 4, 2009 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 234812
Reviews: 34
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Lightweight, 52mm filter. It is sharp although not up to the 28mm f2 FA lens. Very pocketable. I replaced it with a 'A' version.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A 20mm F2.8 by stemked on Wed March 4, 2009 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 152404
Reviews: 22
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One of my truly most enjoyable lenses. I used it on film where it seemed almost too wide for my needs, but it has been a comfortable friend on my digital body.
If you ever find the hood for the lens I highly recommend getting it. It is not only a useful accessory it makes this lens look super great.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-6x7 55mm F4 by stemked on Fri February 20, 2009 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 40452
Reviews: 5
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The version II 55mm is to me a great lens. I know there is a following around the version III lens, but this one has suited me just fine.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax 67 / S-M-C Takumar / Super Takumar 6x7 300mm F4 by stemked on Fri February 20, 2009 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 68718
Reviews: 11
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A remarkable lens. Very sharp-my sharpest 67 lens.
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| Review of: S-M-C Takumar 6x7 / Super Takumar 6x7 200mm F4 by stemked on Fri February 20, 2009 | Rating: 6 | View more reviews | |
Views: 46466
Reviews: 8
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The fact this lens didn't close focus for me was an issue. I replaced it with the newer version.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax 67 / S-M-C Macro Takumar 6x7 135mm F4 by stemked on Fri February 20, 2009 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 96611
Reviews: 11
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A nice lens for the 67, but when you havew the full extension to get to 1:1 it is a beast! I purchased a Bogan long-lens adaptor to deal with this beast when using extension. Still a nice lens.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F4 Macro ED by stemked on Fri February 20, 2009 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 100164
Reviews: 16
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This was my standard nature macro lens on film cameras. Admittedly I use it less now with digital. Mine had an accident and now the focusing is a bit stiff and the color doesn't stay on. Still it remains one of my favorite lenses. Worked wonderfully also with the 1.4X-S Pentax TC.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A 200mm F4 by stemked on Fri February 20, 2009 | Rating: 7 | View more reviews | |
Views: 73728
Reviews: 15
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It was a nice lens, but ultimately I sold it because it didn't focus close enough for MY needs.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-AF 35-70mm F2.8 by stemked on Fri February 20, 2009 | Rating: 7 | View more reviews | |
Views: 75112
Reviews: 7
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The uniqueness and place in history of this lens maybe why you buy it. But it is VERY slow autofocusing on a ME-F, it searches and sounds pretty dreadful (at least the one I tested). Darn heavy too. I don't think I'd pick it up except for its place in history.
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