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Chinon 200mm F3.5 Review RSS Feed

Chinon 200mm F3.5

Sharpness 
 8.4
Aberrations 
 7.4
Bokeh 
 8.0
Handling 
 8.6
Value 
 9.6
Reviews Views Date of last review
6 51,152 Sun July 4, 2021
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $40.50 8.33
Chinon 200mm F3.5

Chinon 200mm F3.5
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Chinon 200mm F3.5
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Description:
Aperture: f/3.5
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Body Construction: Full Metal, with build in metal hood
Filter Size: 62 mm
Length: 120 mm
Weight: ~575 grams
Coating: Multi-coated
Focus System: Full Manual
Price History:



Add Review of Chinon 200mm F3.5
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Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-6 of 6
New Member

Registered: May, 2021
Posts: 15
Review Date: July 4, 2021 Recommended | Price: $18.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharpness, bokeh, build quality, cheap
Cons: None
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: Sony A7III   

This was my first 200mm and I think it deserves some more love. It's very well build, quite sharp, has a pleasant bokeh and the CA isn't that bad(to me)

I made a video review on it: https://youtu.be/ULWaFPKs74U

Considering the price, I think you can't go wrong with this lens. I highly recommend it
   
New Member

Registered: April, 2016
Posts: 23
Review Date: September 7, 2016 Recommended | Price: $15.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: affordable, high quality build
Cons: CA at f/3.5
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax Spotmatic SPII, Panasonic GH2   

I have an M42 version of this lens in excellent condition. My version is without the 'multi-coated' on the front ring but is the same in every other respect. I have several Chinon lenses of this era and all are extremely well made, handle well and give good results. This one is no exception and was practically a gift at the bargain price I got it for. There's not much more I can add to the other reviews. Wide open at f/3.5 there's some hefty CA, but it disappears from f/5.6. There is a built in hood but in bright very conditions some mild flaring can slightly reduce the contrast. I don't have a contemporary zoom lens to compare it too, but if you're looking for a cheap, solid telephoto to play around with, this is a good one to start with.

For the heck of it I tested the Chinon against a 200mm Pentacon lens (that I also got for next to nothing). You can watch the video here.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: May, 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 892

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: May 27, 2015 Recommended | Price: $15.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Cheap to buy
Cons: Not an "A" lens
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-5   

I am unable to compare this to a premium brand lens as I don't yet have one. I purchased this in a lot so $15 is only a guess at it's cost to me.


I had been watching a pair of Robins in the garden, noticed that they had a nest under the eaves of my garage and sometimes let me come up to around 6 feet of them. I grabbed the camera, stuck it on F:5.6 and went back to shoot some images. The image shows how close! This was at the minimum focussing distance, JPEG out of the camera, no cropping, just reduced the number of pixels for uploading. I've added a crop to show near detail of the head. Focussing on the eye was possible with this lens and for once I seem to have a picture I'm very pleased with. As opposed to quite pleased. Maybe the colour isn't a saturated as I might like.


The 200mm length of this lens on Digital is so much easier than using a 300mm on film, seems to provide good sharp images.
No reason not to buy this lens, it does a fair job, maybe a good one .
   
New Member

Registered: October, 2014
Posts: 4
Review Date: December 30, 2014 Recommended | Price: $70.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Good value for money. Sharpness is good enough.
Cons: none
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: pentax K-x   

what i had it says 'Auto Chinon(in orange words) F3.5'. CA problem at wide open aperture, little to none when closed down. Weight of the lens was no problem to me. This lens - loved it!

Some pictures i've taken:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/74203-carerre/albums/9210-auto-chinon-200mm-f3-5/
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2014
Posts: 3
Review Date: December 1, 2014 Recommended | Price: $80.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Low price for respectable performance.
Cons: Poor contrast by today's standard, CA when wide open (f3.5)
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 8    Camera Used: Pentax K-30   

I got this lens second hand for two reasons:
- to compare a 200 mm prime with my 55-200 and 55-300 DA zooms.
- to connect to an old manual 2x focal length adapter to give me 400 mm.
(The DA lenses just don't work on this adapter)

Handling: It is not an SMC Pentax-A or -M series, but does not look out of place in my collection.
It feels right in the hand, allowing comfortable hand-held shots. Aperture and focus ring are positive and give a feeling of solid construction. The lens opening just looks big - filter size of 62mm - as if it will let in a lot of light. The built-in sliding lens hood is convenient, but perhaps a little too short.

Results (subjective): On a tripod, and stopped down to f5.6 or f8, the results are pretty good.
IQ is not quite as good as the DA 55-300, and almost as good as the 55-200, which is at its limit.
It lacks a little in contrast compared to the modern breed.
With the 2x adapter, reasonable moonshots at 400 mm are possible, as long as the atmosphere is behaving of course. This shot was taken against an evening sky (still blue) and adjusted.



Not the "sharpest tool in the shed", but often gets pulled out when I feel the need to get away from the automatics and zooms, and enjoy some old-style manual photography.
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2008
Location: Pireaus, Greece
Posts: 18

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 21, 2011 Recommended | Price: $45.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Excellent construction, Excellent resolution!!
Cons: very noticeable CA at 3.5

Surprised a little by the quality of the lens and the performance.
If CA was better controlled at F3.5 it would be a nearly perfect lens. But from 5.6 it almost no present.
And the odd think is that against the sun performs pretty well!

All at F3.5

The CA think (can correct with little effort. Couldn't correct it with the photoshop lens correction filter)







Against the sun
Add Review of Chinon 200mm F3.5



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