Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
On Mon, 11 Apr 2005, Fred wrote: Among the f/2.8's, I really like the FA* 80-200/2.8 (what's not to like, except I would have preferred a one-touch zoom, but I know it's an AF lens, so...). Heft. Judging from specs. I blame PZ :-) admiration of it.) I find that the A 70-210/4 is better (unless maybe I just have a dud of an F lens) in all ways (except maybe in autofocus speed - g). And heft, again. This time from handling one. Kostas
RE: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
William, (Is Bill OK or do you prefer William?) I know you're not a zoom lover, actually neither am I. I find that the quality of primes tend to make me look on *most* zooms as rather inferior, though there are a few exceptions. Many of my photo opportunities are quick 'shoot from the car' or 'jump out of the car and shoot'. Since I'm usually on the clock at work when I do this I can't take the time to zoom with my feet, a zoom lens helps me fill frames without heavy cropping later. A question for you: Do you usually find 150mm long enough? I often carry the 200/4, I frequently wish it was a bit longer. I was carrying the 300/8.0 CAT but I just don't much care for donuts. ;-) Don -Original Message- From: William Robb [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 11:33 AM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom? - Original Message - From: Don Sanderson Subject: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom? **What is your favorite mid-range zoom?** I use an FA77/1.8 or an M150/3.5, and I zoom with my feet. William Robb
Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
Vivitar Series 1 F2.8 70-210. Quoting Don Sanderson [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I have several 70/80-200/210 zooms in the F/4-5.6 range for autofocus. All of them have their strengths and weaknesses. Some are good at the short end and poor at the long end. Others are just the opposite. The ATX 80-200/2.8 is fantastic but it's large, heavy and manual focus. The F70-210/4-5.6 is good when it wants to be but I get inconsistent results with it, both exposure and image quality wise. **What is your favorite mid-range zoom?** TIA Don
Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
Vivitar Series 1 F2.8 70-210. . . . as in VS1 70-210/2.8-4 ? Fred
Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
Yes. Quoting Fred [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Vivitar Series 1 F2.8 70-210. . . . as in VS1 70-210/2.8-4 ? Fred
Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
- Original Message - From: Don Sanderson Subject: RE: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom? William, (Is Bill OK or do you prefer William?) HAR!! Bill is fine. I went with William when I signed on to try to differentiate myself from the half dozen other Bills on the list. I know you're not a zoom lover, actually neither am I. I find that the quality of primes tend to make me look on *most* zooms as rather inferior, though there are a few exceptions. Many of my photo opportunities are quick 'shoot from the car' or 'jump out of the car and shoot'. Since I'm usually on the clock at work when I do this I can't take the time to zoom with my feet, a zoom lens helps me fill frames without heavy cropping later. A question for you: Do you usually find 150mm long enough? No. My answer was somewhat tongue in cheek, although I rarely use zoom lenses. I tend to run with a pack of primes from 15mm to 500mm, in the 80-200 range I use the 77 or 85, the 100 macro or K105, the M150 and the M200/4. I do have an old Tokina 80-200/2.8 which I have started to become fond of on the istD, even though it lacks the A position. I often carry the 200/4, I frequently wish it was a bit longer. I was carrying the 300/8.0 CAT but I just don't much care for donuts. ;-) Long lenses seem to be a bit of a problem on the digital. Neither my 300 or 400 are as good on the istD as they are on film. hey both seem to have a bit more CA than I am able to correct in the RAW converter. William Robb
Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
I have several 70/80-200/210 zooms in the F/4-5.6 range for autofocus. All of them have their strengths and weaknesses. Some are good at the short end and poor at the long end. Others are just the opposite. **What is your favorite mid-range zoom?** I do have some experience with a few different 70/80-200/210 zooms, so I thought I'd chime in with a few comments. The ATX 80-200/2.8 is fantastic but it's large, heavy and manual focus. Among the f/2.8's, I really like the FA* 80-200/2.8 (what's not to like, except I would have preferred a one-touch zoom, but I know it's an AF lens, so...). I also really like the ol' manual focus Tokina ATX 80-200/2.8 (which I'm reluctant to give up, even though I now have the FA*). I don't care as much for the autofocus ATX 80-200/2.8 (although, to be honest, I have not used it as much as the others). All three lenses do seem very well built. However, about as was said, all of these are big and heavy - not exactly walking around lenses - g. (Of course, the heavy goes hand-in-hand with the well built.) But, when you're short on photons... The F70-210/4-5.6 is good when it wants to be but I get inconsistent results with it, both exposure and image quality wise. I still haven't gotten excited about the F 70-210/4-5.6. (I know some people love this lens, but I can say that there is not a universal admiration of it.) I find that the A 70-210/4 is better (unless maybe I just have a dud of an F lens) in all ways (except maybe in autofocus speed - g). In fact, jumping directly to the bottom line question, the A 70-210/4 is my favorite all-around flavor of the 70/80-200/210 zooms. Among some of the 3rd-party models, I've used the five different VS1 70-210's: The original VS1 70-210/3.5 is solid, but is not quite as sharp as the second VS1 70-210/3.5 (which is optically identical, as far as I can tell, to the Tokina 70-210/3.5), which I'd say is tied with the VS1 70-210/2.8-4. The fourth and fifth VS1 70-210's (both f/2.8-4) are not as good as their predecessors (although the Q-DOS version, i.e., the fifth version, is a lot of fun to play with). So, my bottom line choice for this category is still the A 70-210/4. Fred
Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
- Original Message - From: Don Sanderson Subject: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom? **What is your favorite mid-range zoom?** I use an FA77/1.8 or an M150/3.5, and I zoom with my feet. William Robb
Re: Best mid-speed 70/80-200/210 AF zoom?
Hi! I have several 70/80-200/210 zooms in the F/4-5.6 range for autofocus. All of them have their strengths and weaknesses. Some are good at the short end and poor at the long end. Others are just the opposite. The ATX 80-200/2.8 is fantastic but it's large, heavy and manual focus. The F70-210/4-5.6 is good when it wants to be but I get inconsistent results with it, both exposure and image quality wise. **What is your favorite mid-range zoom?** Mine is the one that gives you inconsistent results. I find it quite excellent. I had Soligor 70-222/3.5 C/D that was very heavy. Though I don't think Soligor was sharper than Pentax... And it had this sandy bokeh - very odd... I've seen Jostein's Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX that is huge compared to F70-210... In fact, me so thinks that in mid-speed 70-200 zoom category you cannot get the lens that has no weaknesses. May be it would be a time for you to move to fast f2.8 glass... Or you can buy some primes in the focal lengths you use most... Just my pennies. Boris
