Re: F 70-210mm 4.0-5.6

[Joseph Tainter]

Sorry to say, I have just seen my first chromatic aberration from this 
lens. In Prague a couple of weeks ago, I photographed some gargoyles on 
a cathedral. The scene was an individual gargoyle, shot at 210 mm. and 
f5.6 (wide open). In the background are some gothic architectural 
elements that are rendered out of focus, set against a lighter sky. 
There is a purple halo around the OOF architectural elements. Since the 
CA is in the center of the image area, ACR cannot fix it. Although shot 
wide open, the gargoyle I was focusing on came out pleasingly sharp.

So now I am thinking again about the DA 50-200. But I believe I have 
seen an image with CA from this lens, too -- a white license plate 
rendered purplish. Again, it was in the center of the image.

Still, this is the first time that the SMC F 70-210 has failed me, and 
this was a limited situation. So for now I will keep using it. I am 
waiting to hear the details of Pentax's forthcoming D FA "high 
performance telezoom."

I sure wish I could put my hands temporarily on a DA 50-200 to test it 
systematically against the F 70-210.

Joe