Pentax now offers the DA 40-200 4/5.6. An excellent lens for the money, although the build quality is so-so. The next lens you'll see that meets your needs is the DA*. I believe it's a 60-210, f4. If you require full frame, there are no lenses on the chart. Paul On Jan 14, 2007, at 12:19 AM, J. C. O'Connell wrote:
> Have you tried a basic L bracket grip with the combo? I have used > these > for > years with long/heavy lenses and they certainly help. > jco > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of > Mark Erickson > Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 11:43 PM > To: PDML > Subject: quick report: A 70-210 F4 on *ist-Ds > > > I sold my FA* 80-200 F2.8 for way too much money last spring and ended > up with a hole in my lens lineup. To fill it, I picked up an SMC-A > 70-210 F4 zoom on eBay recently. Here's my quick report on using it > with my *ist-Ds and pixel-peeping the results. I got this lens > based on > advice from Bruce Dayton and others on the list.... > > Image quality: Quite sharp wide open at both ends (70 and 210). Not a > lot sharper stopped down to F11, but a bit higher contrast when > stopped > down. The built in hood and/or SMC coating seems to do a good job. > > Handling: Longer than I expected. Feels good on an MZ-S with battery > grip, but completely overpowers the *ist-Ds. The small grip of the Ds > doesn't have enough leverage to handle the lens, so my right hand gets > tired pretty fast even when I'm using my left to support the lens. > I'll > have to try different methods of holding the lens and camera to find a > comfortable solution. My guess is that the lens would feel pretty > good > on a K10D with battery grip. About as big and heavy as I would > want to > put on my Ds on a tripod. It would probably be better on a bean-bag > support. > > Conclusion: this lens fills a gap between the 200mm F5.6 low-cost > zooms > and "professional grade" F2.8 lenses. I really really really wish > that > Pentax would release an autofocus version of this lens! I picked mine > up on eBay in near-new condition with hard case for around $120. > > --Mark > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
