I've got this lens as a Phoenix, manual focus.
Build quality is nothing to write home about, but it's light
and gets the job done. It came with a two element diopter that I now
use on the M 100 f4 macro. For the price, the Phoenix is good value.
I've used it at f3.5 to 5.6 for portraits and have no complaints.
The Phoenix does flare a bit in backlit situations, but the Pentax
would have SMC, right? I'd buy the Phoenix again. In fact, I did.
The ex wife and number two son both have them.
-Lon
Boris Liberman wrote:
Hi!
A Russian Penta Club member approached me asking to sell him my Tamron
90/2.5 lens. I agreed. Same reason - unfortunately the lens is manual
focus.
I am thinking of replacement. KEH has now very good variety of macro
lenses at rather reasonable prices. Say, Sigma 50/2.8 EX macro goes for
$144.
Though this may appear rather heretic I am thinking of lowly SMCP FA
100/3.5 (with attachment, which I believe is just a close up filter).
Why - because the darn thing is small.
Anyone here who owns such a beast - how it performs between f/3.5 and
f/5.6?
I realize that SMCP FA 100/2.8 is better, probably far better, but it is
big and most probably I will not use too often, because of its size.
Any feedback will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Boris
