| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 200mm F4 by Ira Crummey on Sun March 27, 2011 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 303204
Reviews: 66
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The only reason this lens isn't always on my K20D is that my manual focusing skills aren't what they once were and I do not have an MF focus screen for my camera.
Sharp and of course built like most M-series lenses, superb mechanically. Only the Limited series approach the mechanical quality of these old lenses.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 100mm F4 Macro by Ira Crummey on Sun March 27, 2011 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 245283
Reviews: 37
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I would rate it more but mine seems to be delaminating the front two elements, but in spite of a flaw that can be seen obviously on inspection of the front element it still takes sharp pictures. I wish I had a better copy because it is ideal for me, I do not need a 1:1 macro, this is just fine, and it is a great telephoto lens as well. The mechanical construction and the feel of the lens is of extremely high quality.
Sorry about the 8 but this issue (in an admittedly old lens) does spoil it somewhat for me.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 28-105mm F3.2-4.5 AL [IF] by Ira Crummey on Sun March 27, 2011 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 145617
Reviews: 29
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Although I initially rated this as an eight, today I tried hard to find faults with this lens but couldn't so I am rating this a nine because the image quality is good with my copy and it focuses fast and accurately. No it isn't as good as the FA 28-70mm f4 but that lens is a constant aperture zoom which is a big plus. I find that I have gotten sharp images with decent contrast and no examples of extreme CA. It is even fast enough to use indoors without a flash as long as you use high ISO and noise reduction software.
I know the silver finish on my is a little cheap looking but the lens works, very well. I own a *istDL in the Canadian colour, silver, and this lens looks more at home here than on a black camera. The build quality is typical of FA lenses from that particular aesthetic era, a little loose and plastic but not to the point of causing any problems, and the internal focus makes it fast even on the old DL.
Overall I like it, it works very well on my DL and my K20D but will see very little time on that camera since it is practically welded to the *istDL. I understand that some people have had serious issues with this lens but when you get a good one it is very good indeed.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR by Ira Crummey on Sat March 26, 2011 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 222023
Reviews: 35
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A great companion to my K20D, I have used it at -20C with excellent results. It is a very good lens at this price point showing no serious bad qualities while producing sharp results in good light. It does not focus very close but checks most of the other boxes for a general purpose consumer lens. I am very pleased with the images I have shot with it so far, good contrast and sharpness throughout the zoom range but at f5.6 you need lots of light to shoot at the 200mm end.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR by Ira Crummey on Sat March 26, 2011 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 335481
Reviews: 97
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I owned the first series DA 18-55 and the image quality of this lens is much better as is the build quality. I am very pleased with it as an outdoor companion for my K20D and it performed very well at -20C. I now have both of the WR kit lenses and really like them.
The other reviews have brought up all of the positive and negative points very well, my experience:
positive - well built, decent image quality, all weather security
negative - still vignettes at 18mm, not the sharpest lens.
It is my walk around lens when I need the wide view and weather protection.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF] by Ira Crummey on Sat March 26, 2011 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 306326
Reviews: 101
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I bought this lens because I had some money put aside and knew I would never get one if I passed up the chance, so it was an impulse buy of what I thought would be a useless lens. I was so wrong.
It is incredibly sharp, tremendous fun at 10mm but actually usable (carefully) as a normal wide lens at the 17mm end. By the long end the distortion is obvious but manageable. I have used it in tight quarters and to shoot big sky for my Aurora Borealis shots and have not been disappointed. The DA 14mm f2.8 is a better wide angle lens (as it should be) but this tiny little 10-17 is just the most fun you can have with a camera.
I am converted, fisheye lenses are valid and not just novelty items. It is an art lens, not a way of recording reality but interpreting it.
I stand by my 10 rating because, it is what it is.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 28-70mm F4 AL by Ira Crummey on Fri March 25, 2011 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 286209
Reviews: 49
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This is the sharpest zoom I own, and the only AF constant aperture lens I own. In spite of its rather flimsy feel and the rotating front element, it is an excellent lens.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.4 AL by Ira Crummey on Fri March 25, 2011 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 767185
Reviews: 157
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I bought this for my wife for Christmas so I could get my FA 35mm f2 AL back. If it weren't for all of the plastic I would have kept it. I see no discernible difference in IQ between the two lenses and the FA occasionally balked at infinity focus on her K100D Super but this little DA-L gem works flawlessly, and gives her the results she wants. We both used it with the FGZ 540 flash (bounced from the ceiling, straight up) at family gatherings and got some amazing images, and it is fast enough for lots of flash free low light shots.
This lens is as good as the FA for only about half the price, and the only other option is the DA limited 35mm f2.8 macro for even more. A bargain like this is not to be passed up if you want near ultimate image quality for nearly nothing in price.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 35mm F2 AL by Ira Crummey on Thu March 24, 2011 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 329885
Reviews: 82
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This is my sharpest lens, especially wide open. Unlike the FA 50mm f1.4 this lens doesn't need to be stopped down to get sharp results. The angle of view is perfect as a normal lens. Good control over DOF.
This lens did not play well with some of my cameras, balking a little at infinity focus, however before I could send it back I bought a K20D, it was a match made in photographic heaven. Finally a camera lens combo that seems incapable of doing any wrong. I have my WR kit lenses for harsh environments but for most other shooting (especially people) the FA 35 is my hero.
Sorry if this review seems more emotional then scientific but this is not a perfect lens, it just takes photographs with true character. It is an artists tool, not a scientific instrument.
EDIT - my copy is still having issues with infinity focus, it may need repair, as an indoor lens it is flawless but shooting landscapes means turning the AF off or making a number of attempts to focus. Hopefully the repair will not be too expensive.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA J 75-300mm F4.5-5.8 AL by Ira Crummey on Thu March 24, 2011 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 126792
Reviews: 23
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Nine may seem high but of three "to 300mm" Pentax zooms I have owned this one is the best. The F 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 was nice but heavy and not particularly sharp, the FA 100-300mm f4.7-5.8 was also a lightweight all plastic design but optically a little better than the F, however this 75-300mm exceeds my (admittedly modest) expectations.
First it is not as well built as my F lens but is much easier to carry, it has some zoom creep but no where near the issues with the FA lens. I have shot some sharp images at 300mm with just a slight reduction in contrast and, even with an old Takumar metal lens hood attached, it easily fits in my camera bag. I don't have much call for really long telephoto glass so this inexpensive lightweight easily gives me what I need when the chance arises. I find that 300mm hand held will usually stretch the SR system in the camera to the limit, it is best to up the ISO to shoot a much higher shutter speed or use some support if you want sharp images at long distances. The 300mm end works really well at shorter distances up to 200m (200 yards) or so but beyond that camera shake is amplified and sharpness drops off. Since this is not a fault of the lens it does not effect my rating.
Negatives: well it is no FA* or DA* 300mm in sharpness, and at f5.8 it is quite slow, but in bright light it works very well. The lack of a distance scale is a minor inconvenience and if my old FA 100-300mm is any indication the plastic lens mount will wear faster than metal and produce a little slop.
Overall I would heartily recommend this lens to those who do not have the budget, nor the need, for a pricey, high quality, 300mm lens. Mine is in black, which is a little more professional looking than the silver, and my lens hood is a screw in Takumar which offers much better flare resistance than the cheesy plastic hood the lens was often shipped with.
I like it
Addendum: After trying out the F 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 again and then back to this lens I am now convinced that this lens is slightly better and that my telephoto technique sucks. Although all of the 300mm images I have shot with this lens are a little soft some are very detailed, and what more can you ask from a lens that came practically free (paid less than $250 for a *istDL with an FA 28-105mm f3.2-4.5 and this lens). I am hoping to give it a real trial soon.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 100-300mm F4.7-5.8 by Ira Crummey on Thu March 24, 2011 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 242764
Reviews: 55
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I was the one who wrote the first review on this lens but since I can no longer access that account to make changes I am using this review to fix my initial error. This is one of the most under-appreciated lenses Pentax has ever produced. The rather poor perceived build quality and the plastic mount mask an optically sound lens. Mine was stolen, for a while I thought the F 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 was better but on reexamining my old photos I found that the FA was actually as good (or better). Therefore my 9 here against my 7 earlier gives it a well deserved 8.
Fantastic lens, especially for the price, wish I could get another.
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