John,
I've had one for over 21 years & have gotten very good (and saleable)
results from it - both with film & digital. Many prints up to 12'X18'. Its
one of my most used lenses - check out my images on the Pentax Gallery site
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller if you're so inclined. I
believe a review of these images will back up my claim.
I wouldn't claim it to be semi-legendary tho.
Biggest complaint I have with it is the rotating end element - mainly when
using a polarizer.
AFAIC, nothing in the Pentax lineup comes close to it in its price range.
Kenneth Waller
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Mustarde" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Speaking of KEH and good lenses
On Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:55:11 -0400, you wrote:
KEH is listing one of the semi-legendary F 70-210 f4~5.6 lenses for
only $139.
When did this lens become "semi-legendary"? I've had
two; neither was great. I sold my last one for the
going rate of about $125 some years ago. It was nicely
matched in range and size with the F 24-50/f4, but
optically was sub par, suitable only for 4x6 snapshots
and cropped 8x10s, at almost every focal length. In the
days of when anything faster than ISO 100 was of
unexceptional quality, the f5.6 speed was a nuisance.
There was a long PDML thread discussing its measured
shortcomings some years back. It was poor anywhere near
the edges. But of course, using only the center glass
on an APS-C camera, it's performance likely increased
substantially. Maybe even to semi-legendary status?
The problem with "great" glass is that it becomes
greater through discussion and praise, rather than
objectively evaluated by measurement. I've been as
guilty as anyone of promoting lenses based on my
limited experience. It is an easy thing to do in the
absence of reliable and accurate means of measurement.
That said, I have a superb, super fast and
semi-legendary M 200/2.5 lens for sale. Cheap, make
offer, hurry cause there's a fancy new but soon to be
legendary .22 Magnum semi-auto pistol I'm lusting
after.
.
--
John Mustarde
Paris, TX
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