Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

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.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5,
2 votes

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.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

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.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

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