alexander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I bought the FA* 80-200/2.8 a couple of weeks ago. So far I am very >pleased with it and an I can second everything John Francis said about >this lens. Also, if this is important for you, I think it is one >of the very few zoom lenses that have a good bokeh. That was the >ultimate reason why I preferred it over the Sigma (which also seems >to be a good lens).
I've had the FA*80-200/2.8 for several years and I'll also confirm what John Francis has written. I've also used it for motorsports photography and had no problems doing so (http://www.robertstech.com/mid02004.htm). I think pros who do this sort of thing for a living rely much less on autofocus that the general public believes. >Some other aspects which may be of interest: The Sigma APO EX 1.4x >converter fits the FA*80-200mm though it is not mentioned under the >list of compatible lenses manual of the converter. I've used that teleconverter with this lens. Works very well indeed. >The Pentax focuses down to 1.4 m (vs. 1.8 for the Sigma) and the >tripod collar (of the Pentax) is removable so it does not get in >the way when shooting free-hand. The close-focusing distance was also part of my eventual decision to buy the Pentax. Makes it much more viable as an occasional "only lens to take with you" lens. I've also been told that most other fast 70/80-200 lenses perform poorly in macro work. I've used mine with extension tubes with excellent results and I've heard from those who use it with Nikon achromatic close-up diopters with excellent results also. There's also something else about the FA*80-200 that's difficult to describe. Mike Johnston put it well in one of his recent columns.: "I've been testing lenses for years, and, as I also mentioned, I've developed certain tastes; and at this point I can just tell when a lens has got it. So what's "it"? Just an essential rightness in its look, a visual coherence, a vividness. Call it sharpness, call it contrast, call it "3D," it's all gaslight � you can pick apart the technical specifications and MTF charts apart nine ways from Sunday. But the fact remains that some lenses just have it and some lenses just don't. (Even if they're "supposed" to.)" The 80-200 has this "it". -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com
