Here's a handheld shot at 210mm (exposure was 1/750, I believe, aperture closed down a bit from wide open). Camera was PZ-1p.
http://homepage.mac.com/wilensky/Stilts_1.jpg Uncropped, about 380K.
Joe
Hi Tom!
At last, I've probably understood the issue of the F 70-210 quality.
I was wrong when thinking the lens is a dog at longer focal lengths. (because if you focus carefully, performance is good)
I was right when thinking the lens is a dog at longer focal lengths. (because if you shoot AF, as one could expect from such an AF lens, performance can be very bad)
The problem is the lens tends to focus on a plane closer than the subject you autofocus on! As somebody may recall, I found that same problem with the FA* 1.4/85mm, another lens somebody thinks to be excellent (me included) while somebody else thinks to be bad.
I found that problem some time ago, by using the FA* 85/1.4 on my MZ-S, while now the F 70-210 does the same on my *ist D. Other lenses on those same cameras autofocus very well, including my brand new Sigma 2.8/70-210 EX.
I cannot explain such an odd behaviour, since AF is performed by the camera, and that same camera apparently shows problems with above lenses only.
A revised test shot series of the F 70-210, compared to the Takumar 3.5/200 and the Sigma, is here:
http://www.dariobonazza.com/t04p13e.htm (it might take some time to load the heavy page)
Dario Bonazza
