On Thu, 9 Jan 2003 17:22:35 -0800 (PST), you wrote: >Why not buy a Pentax FA 20-35mm f4 AL? > >Amazing lens optically. Can maybe get it used for the >price of the others. Check Ebay. > I vote for the Pentax 20-35, and I've never even used one. When it comes to wide-angle zooms, the benefit of the excellant Pentax SMC coating is of real value. Think about it - wide angle lenses, outside, taking photos in the sun, trying to get it all in... then flare hits, limiting what one can do. Time for a shot of the ol' Pentax SMC magic.
I've had the Phoenix 18-28/f4-4.5. Used indoors it's not too bad, but outdoors or anywhere near bright light it is prone to flare. There's an old photo taken with it at http://www.photolin.com/john/union.jpg I sold the Phoenix lens after taking some photos comparing it to the SMC-M 20/4. The SMC lens was substantially better in flare resistance and also seemed to be better optically (but I was really testing flare resistance and not optics so I can't say for sure). I won't bad mouth the Phoenix too much - I'd buy another if I needed an inexpensive indoor wide zoom, say for some of my factory shots - but I think the Pentax 20-35 is a much better long-term investment. -- John Mustarde www.photolin.com
