I haved a mint version of the K. I've only used it a few times, but its sharpness and contrast amazed me. It's a very good lens, but it's also a very large lens by today's standards. I'll have to pull it out again one of these days and see how it fares on the *istD. Paul
> The version one - K - is better in some respects, but IMO the M is better > overall. I have fond memories of it and would like to buy one. > All the best! > Raimo K > Personal photography homepage at: > http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~raikorho > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Andre Langevin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <pentax-discuss@pdml.net> > Sent: Friday, December 24, 2004 12:12 AM > Subject: Re: M80-200/4.5 lens > > > > It is a lighter lens, with lots of plastic inside instead of the > > full-metal mechanism of version one. Mechanically, two examples I played > > with were flimsy. One was like new and its internal SMC were badly > > applied on one element. > > > > The lens was "moved" outside Japan to be made without SMC. The examples > > of the non-SMC lenses I have seen were mechanically horrible, although > > quite used. > > > > Raimo and Bernd noted it is better than M200. The same has been said of > > version one lens. I wonder if the version 2 zoom is better than version > > one... > > > > Andre > > > >>Guys, > >>I've noticed that there are two different versions of this lens from > >>Boz's site. > >>According to Boz, the optical formula is different, focusing distance is > >>different, weight is different and the newer version has a linear > >>aperture-coupled lever which the old one doesn't have. > >>But how about the optical qualities? Are they different too? > >>Stan's site does have a little comment about the lens, but nothing was > >>mentioned about the version used... > >>Anybody has one here? > >> > >>Cheers > >>Andy > > >