David Madsen wrote:
I have had some experience with the Tamron SP 24-135 (f4-5.6?). About the same price as the Pentax 28-200 but sharper. I used one to shoot a wedding once and I thought it was very sharp. The only reason I didn't buy one is that I am addicted to wider apertures. It might be worth consideration.
Dave
Thanks for the words, Dave.
My old eyesight is not near what it used to be, and I need larger apertures to focus!
That lovely old 85-205 Vivitar is too dim for me, so it's going on the block.
Strange, as it's not just aperture alone...or so it seems to me.
The lens can SAY 3.8, but it looks dimmer to me than other 3.5s. (I don't have any other 3.8s...)
I have a beautiful old Tak 35mm f/3.5. I can see thru that one pretty well!
Bottom line? I'd far prefer an f/4 to a 5.6; even a 3.5 to an f/4... To me it's enjoying using a lens as much as it's performance.
So, as I said earlier, I'm going to try to find a Tokina 28-105mm, which has an aperture range of 3.5 to 4.5.
keith whaley
-----Original Message----- From: Keith Whaley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 4:40 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Lens ruminations on a Monday...
I have the following zooms:
M-42:
Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Tele-Zoom Auto (Kiron) Literally like new.
K-mount:
SMC Pentax-FA 28-70mm f/4.0 AL ~ 99%+ (*) Vivitar 28-70mm f/3.5-4.8 MC Macro zoom ~ 99%+ SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm f/4.0 ~ about 95% (*?) SMC Pentax-A 35-80mm f/4.0-5.6 ~ 99%+ (*) Asahi Takumar-A 70-200mm f/4.0 zoom macro ~ about 98% (Identical to Pentax-A zoom, but later production)
(*) = going to keep. Others are up for sale... (*?) = I'd keep this one, but it's pretty limited in focal length...
Some were intentionally purchased, others were part of package deals. Having used some of them on photo trips, I find I like the 35-80 a lot, but it's slow and plastic-y and I'd prefer a more solid feel.
For a walking around zoom, I'd like a little more range, and am thinking of 28mm on the lower end, but beyond 100 at the top. That's at least a 4:1 zoom ratio. Pentax makes a 28-105mm manual zoom in the f/4.0-5.6 range.
The only other one I know about is an FA 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6, AL IF. I might like that one, but I think it's pretty expensive. Don't know! Who has opinions on this particular lens?
Who has other thoughts? I'm fishing for information... Gotta be 28mm or less on the lower end, and over 100 on top. Prefer an f/3.5, but probably f/4.0 will be okay.
Ideas please?
Thanks, keith whaley
