Question:
I agree that Pentax has missed the boat on upper level consumer grade telephoto zooms. The 80-200mm f/4.7-5.6 is too slow, and not opticaly up to the same standard as the lenses you mentioned. The 80-320mm f/3.5-5.6 is slightly faster at the 80mm end, but still variable aperture, slightly lower optical performance, and has that annoying zoom creep problem. The 100-300 f/4.6-5.9 and f/4.5-5.6 suffer from even lower optical performance, and are missing that 70-100 range. So what is the alternative? One might consider the 100mm f/3.5 macro, which has great optical performance, and a 200mm f/4 lens, but the 200mm f/4 is a Macro lens and blisteringly expensive for someone who just wants a 200mm f/4.
The original 100-300 FA (power zoom) was supposed to be quite decent from what I read at the time. I went for the Sigma 70-300 APO which isn’t ideal, but the results I get are pretty good. Yes, there should be a 70-200mm f/4 ED, non-variable maximum f-stop, to match the 20-35 and 28-70, and of similarly high optical performance. Until then, Pentax DOES have a hole in its lens lineup. I’ve always been a proponent of Pentax. I have always defended that their selection of lenses has just about anything any normal person would want. I have the ZX-5n, 20-35mm f/4, 28-70mm f/4, 80-320mm f/4.5-5.6, 50mm f/1.4, 100mm f/3.5 Macro, and an AF-330FTZ. I would give up my 80-320 for an 80-200mm f/4, or even for an affordable 200mm f/4 with AF if I could find one.
I’m currently using a Tamron AD2 SP 70-210 f/3.5 (non-variable) lens for this range. Again not ideal and quite heavy but otherwise an interesting lens. Pentax seem to have dropped the reasonably priced lenses, forcing users to buy the more expensive options which in many cases are too expensive for casual use, things like the 35 f/2.8, 85 f/2 and 105. Sure the 31, 43 & 77 are great lenses but expensive, the 35 f/2 isn’t cheap either. All of these lenses individually cost more than a ZX-5n body (at least in the UK), you have to wonder if it’s worth shooting Pentax primes in this environment? Especially when Canon, Nikon and Minolta all offer second rank, slower max. aperture lenses at much better prices. I also shoot Mamiya 645 and find the Mamiya 645 primes cost roughly the same as the equivalent Pentax 35mm primes (I guess the Pentax 645 lenses are similarly priced). When I consider a new lens, it’s not surprising that I generally prefer to go for the 645 lens over a 35mm lens. — John Preston, Lancs, UK. Photos at http://www.photopia.demon.co.uk
Response:
Pentax has the 28-70mm f4 AL zoom and the 20-35mm f4 AL wide angle zoom. These lenses performing closer to the fast f2.8 pro counterparts of similar range rather than the consumer variable aperture versions. Now I would like to see Pentax finish the equation by adding a 70-200mm f4 ED of high performance. This would be the icing on the cake. It would make a fine medium speed system that’s not too expensive or heavy to lug around. I’m not seeing the tele zoom in their cataloge. John
Response:
Now I would like to see Pentax finish the equation by adding a 70-200mm f4 ED of high performance. This would be the icing on the cake. It would make a fine medium speed system that’s not too expensive or heavy to lug around.
The lenses that have my interest right now are the 43mm f/1.9, 77mm f/1.8 and the upcoming 31mm f/1.8. To finish this prime equation I’d love to see a super-wide in the 15-19mm range and maybe even something above 100mm. -Dave-
Response:
The lenses that have my interest right now are the 43mm f/1.9, 77mm f/1.8 and the upcoming 31mm f/1.8. To finish this prime equation I’d love to see a super-wide in the 15-19mm range and maybe even something above 100mm.
Theres an FA 18/2.8 Limited coming.
Response:
The lenses that have my interest right now are the 43mm f/1.9, 77mm f/1.8 and the upcoming 31mm f/1.8. To finish this prime equation I’d love to see a super-wide in the 15-19mm range and maybe even something above 100mm. There’s an FA 18/2.8 Limited coming.
Excellent! Looks like I’ll soon be re-entering the auto focus game. -Dave-
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.