Pentax SMCP-FA 200mm f/2.8 (IF) Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Alan Chan
(Intermediate)

Review Date
January 11, 2004

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 1 of 4

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

It is a lens which can be used wide open with confidence.

Strengths:

Sharp wide open. Good colour. Good size & weight without the hood.

Weaknesses:

A little expensive for what it is. The hood is heavy and oversize. 77mm filter thread.

Customer Service:

I had gone through 3 faulty samples before I got a perfect one. Pentax needed to improve their QC.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Wilson Chow
(Casual)

Review Date
June 17, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5,
3 votes

Review 2 of 4

Summary:

It gives very good optical performance even shooting in a dim day. Very solid and weight feeling. If you can't afford almost 1.6kg weight of FA 80-200/2.8 lens, you should go for this lens which should not make you disappointed. AF speed is reasonable for most purpose (used with MZ 5n), but I think not too good enough for sports shots.

Strengths:

Good optics whatever in colour reproduction and sharpness.
Reasonable packing size and convenient for travelling

Weaknesses:

A bit expensive than similar class products and no AF built in motor available.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AIS 180mm F2.8, some 80-200/2.8 lens of Tokina, Pentax, Nikon, etc.

Customer Service:

No experience.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Yves Simon
(Expert)

Review Date
March 28, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 4

Model Reviewed:
SMCP-FA 200mm f/2.8 (IF)

Summary:

Very sharp, even at 2.8! Gorgeous build quality / finish. Focus down to 1.2 m. Very easy selector MF/AF. Still very good with Sigma Apo-Extender 2x.
Price a little bit high: the 180/2.8 Nikon and the 200/2.8 Canon are cheeper. But are they as good ?
I LOVE THIS LENSE.

Strengths:

Everything

Weaknesses:

Price

Similar Products Used:

Tamron SP180/2.5, Leitz R-180/2.8, Leitz R-180/3.4 Apo, Tamron MF 200/3.5.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Roberto Burgos
(Expert)

Review Date
November 26, 1999

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 4 of 4

Model Reviewed:
SMCP-FA 200mm f/2.8 (IF)

Summary:

Great lens. worth every penny paid for it (retails for $1000 to $1100). Too bad Pentax does not make matching teleconverters for it, but I do use both Tamron's 1.4 and 2x AF with good results.

Strengths:

Well balanced, great optics, tack sharp, fast focuser, excellent flare control.

Weaknesses:

None so far. The silvery paint makes me nervous about scratching its nice finish.

Similar Products Used:

Only zooms up to 200 mm but none comparable

Customer Service:

Never needed

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