The A* 300/4 is exactly the same as the M* 300/4 except for the A button and setting, which is why it is so M-ish. It is a good lens, although I think the optical quality is somewhat compromised compared to other 300mm lenses I've used, as a result of its size. This does not mean that it isn't a great performer.
According to Cecchi a few other A lenses are also minor updates of the equivalent M, and therefore presumably also as compact: 15/3.5, 35/2, 50/1.2, 100/2.8, 50/2, 100/4, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.4, 50/1.7, 200/4, 24-50/4. I think some of these are in turn the same as their K equivalents. I have some Pentax lens catalogues somewhere in which they state that the * designation refers to high performance glass, typicaly with fluoride or asymmetric elements. Bob > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of J. C. O'Connell > Sent: 05 April 2008 05:29 > To: 'Pentax-Discuss Mail List' > Subject: RE: My first A* Lens > > I realized Pentax may have made a big goof with their lens > designations > with the A series. There was no designation for COMPACT fully > auto ("A") lenses. If there was, the A*300/4 would be the most > "M"ish "A" lens ever. I still cant believe how short it is. If I > knew that I would have bought it a long time ago. Pentax blew > it with their lens designations for sure. They should have called > the compact A lenses "MA" or something similar, not just A. > UNLESS, does A* mean compact A? I always thought it meant > high performance A, not compact A. > jco -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
