Pentax A 35-70 f4

[tromboads]

Well it arrived and well.. and Ho Hum.

Condition appears good, took it for a walk and contrast was, well it was fine. But just fine.

The macro capacity is great / handy, and I can see how this becomes a favourable walk around do everything lens.

I compared it to my old 35mm Super Tak, and @ 3.5 it's sharper then this thing at f4. At f4 the Super Tak is sharper again.

Still images out of the 35-70 are not bad. they just aren't "wow!" And that shouldn't be a negative. If I wanted to pack lightly. I think I'd be comfortable taking this. And with any modern DSLR stop it down to f8 and go nuts,

I still can't get into the "A" setting on my Pentax bodies, I'm just to used to selecting the aperture with the control on the lens, and for how I shoot, the "A" setting doesn't do anything for me.

Still, pair this with a Super Program, a 70-something or other and I'd be ready to fit right into to 1984.

I might try it with the flashes for a bit first before I sell it on.

[Paul]

this lens should be the best 35-70-lens that Pentax made!

I had it too (an yes: I also had the M 2.8-3.5/35-70).
The only thing I was missing:
Greater wide angle.... and therefore I sold this lens.
It has been tested by german "fotomagazin" resulting in the highest ranking "super".
(Nearly) No fall off to the corners, no difference in IQ betwenn the focal lengths, good macro function, good build quality (compared to the push-pull-version 3.5-4.5/35-70).

Therefore the price of this lens are quite high (at least here in Germany):
What did you pay for it?

[tromboads]

I got it for $100.

And look I agree. corners look good, its sharp, not crazy sharp.. but just bland.. It's like a Toyota corolla? Perhaps I'm being to hard on it. My overall initial response was underwhelmed.

[Abbazz]

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/301301-just-me-f-35-70-insanely-over-rated-lens.html

Cheers!

Abbazz

[tromboads]

I agree.

Now someone buy it off me and argue differently

[Paul]

[Abbazz]

[fwcetus]

The SMC Pentax A 35-70/4 is a deceptive little gem. It doesn't look like a whole lot (it's a bit "plasticky" feeling compared to some of the bigger Pentax "macro zooms" of that era), but it is quite capable (within its somewhat limited range) of providing quite good images. And, its so-called "macro" function is significantly better than that function in some other "macro zooms". (For example, its "macro" setting is better than that of the otherwise sublime A 35-105/3.5.) I've had many a nice walkabout over the last umteen years with one of these lenses (it's nice and light, too).