SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm. Review from the reader Radozhiva

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm review specifically for Radozhiva, prepared Alexey Ovoshchnikov.

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

Good day, everyone, I present to the readers a review of the wonderful SMC Pentax-A ZOOM 70-210 F4 lens.

This lens is a true sweet spot among Pentax telephoto zoom lenses. I myself was convinced of this by walking through the lineup in this segment. It turned out that before that there were similar telephoto lenses with worse aperture and focal length characteristics, for example, SMC Pentax 85-210 mm f / 4.5 (without the possibility of automatic aperture control). After the production of our SMC Pentax-A ZOOM 70-210 F4 was discontinued, Pentax did not have anything similar at all, and the amateur photographers had to be content with plastic ones that did not have multi-coating and were made according to a simplified scheme Pentax-F 70-200 mm f / 4-5.6, or SMC Pentax-F ZOOM 70-210 mm f / 4-5.6, etc. Everyone who was not satisfied with this had to buy a professional zoom with a relative aperture of F / 2.8. That's it! I had the dubious pleasure of shooting with the Pentax-F dark autofocus telephoto lenses and was unhappy with the result. They are not that terrible, but, in fact, they are much inferior to the picture of the old 70-210 F4.

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

About technical specifications:

Optical design: 13 elements in 10 groups
Special Multi-Lens Coating (SMC)
Focal length 70mm - 210mm
Maximum aperture - F4
Diaphragm design - of eight not rounded petals
MDF - 1.2 meters - (macro 1: 4)
Hood Type - Extendable Hood
The diameter of the filters used - 58 mm
Weight -680 grams
Length - 149 mm
Started production: 1984
Year of completion: 1988

The lens is perfectly assembled and feels like a professional lens like Nikon AF Nikkor 80-200 mm f / 2.8. The lens is built according to the push-pull scheme (changing the focal length is carried out by moving the ring from yourself or to yourself, while the length of the lens does not change). You have in your hands a single-ring pump-type telephoto with an excellent picture and excellent ease of use. It’s unfortunate that there is no autofocus, however this is compensated by perfect manual focus. I can’t recall now any lens with which manual focus was more convenient. Also, I do not remember a single trombone with such a convenient change in focal length. I will say right away that my 70-210 F4 lens looks like new. Maybe that's why everything is smooth and comfortable, but the fact remains. Unfortunately, when focusing, the front lens rotates 180 degrees and travels forward. However, the rear lens always remains stationary and there is no vacuum cleaner effect. My lens has no visible specks inside, etc.

More about the picture

Just wonderful contrast and sharpness. Sharpness is already open enough for a full-frame 20 megapixel matrix and enough for a 12 megapixel crop matrix for pixel-by-pixel sharpness. When closing the aperture, as usual, the sharpness increases a little more. There is no obvious vignetting and a noticeable drop in sharpness at the edges and corners of the frame. It tolerates side and back light even without a hood. There are no visible spherical aberrations on the open diaphragm and a moderate amount of chromatic aberrations. The nature of the blur is well suited for portrait and macro photography.

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

Best of all, the lens will reveal itself at full frame, with Pentax. You will have automatic iris control and ease of installation of the lens on the camera. Unfortunately I don’t have full frame yet Pentax K1However, you can also install the lens on a Sony E-mount mirrorless camera or on Canon through special adapters! On cropped Canon cameras, the lens is no problem.

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

In my case, I used this lens with Canon 6D + small macro ring (approx. 10 mm) + adapter Pentax-K-EOS... There are difficulties with installation without a macro ring due to a protruding metal element (it will not allow the mirror to close completely) / There are two ways to solve the problem. The first is to remove this metal aperture control leash (you can simply bite off with pliers if the lens is no longer used on Pentax cameras, or bend it somehow). The second method is a macro ring, which, unfortunately, loses focus to infinity. The maximum in my case was about three meters, which was enough for me to create examples.

About prices ... Excellent value for money. The lens is easy to find on sale at flea markets for up to $ 70.

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm

All examples with Canon 6D shot in camera JPEG high quality auto profile.

All examples with Pentax Kx Shot in camera on high quality jpeg profile landscape.

Express all your thoughts on this lens in the comments.

You will find more reviews from readers of Radozhiva here.

Add a comment: Sasha Sanek

 

 

Comments: 30, on the topic: SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm. Review from the reader Radozhiva

  • Aries

    I have long ago come to the conclusion that MF optics of the 70-80-90s are much better than the natural pattern and even affordable, and a similar AF is within 35-80 tr

    • Andrei

      And I have long ago come to the conclusion that the percentage of marriage at the Ministry of Finance is incomparably higher, and while you look at your airiness, I will post a report.

      • ñ

        Alas, my conclusion is that it all depends on the photographer’s cache), and people already use it to dance like ELEC 2.8 or SUPER ZOOM MADE IN JAPAN INFA 100ka))))))))

  • koba

    I personally used this lens on my Pentax. This is one of the best lenses from Pentach and one of the best manual zoom lenses in the world, especially considering the price. Nikon 80-200 / 4.5 and / 4 come to mind better than it, and not by much. The Leica n Contax had similar zooms but they are expensive and not multiples of the best. By the way, in China this lens in the condition of 97-99 costs about $ 150, for 70 it is impossible to find even in a very poor condition. This indirectly indicates the demand for it ...

    • Alex fg.

      Vivitar from 3.5 series 1 is very good

      • Rodion

        Yes, he's cool. Only very heavy) Yet. I remember MDF seemed uncomfortable, and in the macro mode for a long time to switch it. If we are talking about Kironovsky.

        • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

          It is a great weight that often coincides with a good iron structure. If it's just the heavier, the better the quality.
          This may not be objective, but more often it matches than it does not match.

    • Andrei

      State 97-99 is how? Percent of ideal? And how are they calculated?

      • koba

        I didn't figure them out. There is a certain pre-sale scale here. For example, state 99 corresponds to the state when it is not possible to find even one small scratch on the lens, it just looks like new, it also works like new, the lens is just like from a factory. Of course, there are not many such objects on the market here, but one way or another you can always find several copies. Sometimes there are generally new ones, with an original box, etc. Of course, everything is fine with such lenses and optics. In my experience, on the local Chinese scale, it is quite possible to trust objects with a score of 94-95 or higher. 92 already has external scratches, although the optical unit is completely intact. Here's another example - a couple of months ago I bought a Nikon D3s in condition 97 and with a range of 17600. I specifically looked with a magnifying glass for at least minor external damage, but there were none. And of course the device works like a clock. Over the past 12 years as I have been living in China, then at the request of my friends I had to buy such devices or lenses 100 times or even more, and so far no one has had any problems with them, except for the fact that some lenses sometimes have back or front focuses ... I'm sure that in Europe a person will find the same thing as in China, only a little more expensive ...

    • Alexander

      What is better nikon 80-200 / 4.5?

  • Victor

    I agree with the authors of the first two comments. I have a Nikkor series E 70-210 / 4 somewhere on the shelf, which I don't want to part with: there, there is everything you need for creativity - sharpness, plastic, bokeh, etc.

    • anonym

      E Series? Maybe Nikon?

      • Sasha Sanek

        Is it so important that you decide to leave a comment?

        • anonym

          Hooked on the thin strings of the soul? Do not be nervous. Or be nervous, but only truly with a twinkle, with enthusiasm. And it turns out that only they opened their mouths.

          • Sasha Sanek

            You're nervous here. And you didn’t open your mouth too.

    • koba

      By the way, that Nikon 70-210 / 4 Series E two years later was equipped with autofocus and got 70-210.4 AF. And today, Nikon owners can buy this wonderful manual manual for less than $ 80 in the state of 95-97, that is, closer to the new.

      • anonym

        Still not tired of promoting your Chinese at 92-97?

        • Arkady Shapoval

          The Nikon 70-210 / 4 was theoretically still made in Japan, despite the fact that the manual 70-210 / 4 E is still 'E', this does not prevent the manual and AF versions from being very pleasant lenses in something for really ridiculous money ...

  • anonym

    Thanks for the review, Alex! The picture is wonderful, they knew how to do glass before. Alexei, where is this wonderful bas-relief taken?

    • Alexey de Paris

      Good afternoon, the bas-relief with the depicted officers is a triumphal arch in Paris.

  • Oleg

    Thanks, like it so much

  • Konstantin

    I purchased this lens for 1500r on the Pentax K-70, this is my first telephoto and first camera, while I like it, I’m learning to use it)) thanks for the review

  • comrade

    I bought such a lens on ebay, I'm quite satisfied, it is suitable for astrophotography and ordinary portraits and nature. A natural moment - mine was tired, and the focusing pipe sagged under its own weight, but this is treated by tightening the screws under the rubber band of the diaphragm ring, after which everything began to be held as needed.

  • vladimirplakhot

    Thanks for the review of this lens! Tell me please, is it worth changing your Takumar A 70-200mm F4 to SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1: 4 70-210mm? Will I win much in the picture? Thanks!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I wouldn't change. It will be difficult to get a special win and it is better to look at something more “powerful” for replacement. Perhaps Alexey (the author of this review) will express his opinion and give a recommendation based on his experience.

      • vladimirplakhot

        Arkady, thanks for the answer! I agree with you that you need to buy an auto-focus "camera gun" already :)

  • Oleg

    Did you accidentally notice - is it parfocal or not?

    • Rodion Eshmakov

      If the trombone is most likely not parfocal. But they may be close to it.

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    Each company has strengths to be proud of, among other successful lenses. So, apparently at Pentax, long-range magicians of the middle and amateur categories were doing very well. I remember we tested zooms 70-300 and Pentax won in this test with its 80-320 won. I used it, a nice lens though it is plastic.
    This review is simply wonderful in my time, this was not, and the Internet was just beginning to develop. In general, I bought among many Tokina RMS 70-210 / 3,5. The lens is good, but there is no that very Pentax drawing and that's it!

  • Alexey

    Please tell me, a pentax K5 camera + a pentax A 70-210 lens ... every time you turn it on, it requires you to enter a focal length, I drive 200 mm. , and after shooting I don’t know how to change this focal length

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