On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 01:04:15PM +1000, Rob Studdert scripsit: > On 26/07/2009, Graydon <[email protected]> wrote: > > I take it that A* 135/ƒ1.8 can't be had for love nor money? > > That's not quite true, they do occasionally become available but for > big money, far more than the photographic value IMO. It's a lovely > looking piece of glass but has attained its legendary status more due > to its obscurity than its performance in my opinion. I sold mine quite > a few years back and never regretted the sale, it's not so hot until > stopped down a bit, lots of CA and low contrast, it does look > impressive though.
That's a pity. Pentax seems to have decided that there's no reason to go faster than ƒ2.8 on digital. The only exception I can think of is the DA* 55/ƒ1.4, and it's got a sort of vast penumbra of expectation attached if it's to serve as the APS-C 85/1.4. (Oh, wait, DA 70/2.4 Ltd.) I'd like to see some much faster medium -- 100 to 150 mm -- teles; at the 77mm filter size, they ought to be able to do a 100/1.4, a 135/1.8 (just squeaking, but that's the size listed for the A* 138/1.8), or a 150/2; a DA* 150/2 Macro would be especially welcome. And, yes, perhaps I should stop trying to take pictures of wretchedly crepuscular songbirds. Or inside zoo buildings on cloudy days. Or under forest canopies. Or at the other end of long rooms inside. Or of specific members of the orchestra after the house lights have dimmed. But, well, I've been known to try all of those, and a sharp-wide-open fast medium tele -- what I suspect Pentax thinks of as a long tele -- would be really useful. -- Graydon -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
