Pentax SMCP-F 35mm-80mm f/4-5.6 35mm Zoom

Pentax SMCP-F 35mm-80mm f/4-5.6 35mm Zoom 

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 13  
[Sep 18, 2002]
SwimPhoto15
Intermediate

Strength:

Lightweight, compact, economical filter size.

Weakness:

AF is as loud as anything.

For what this lens is intended for, it does great. I have found it to be relatively sharp. It also has good Bokeh.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Quantaray 28-80

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 27, 2002]
Scott
Intermediate

Strength:

It''s not bad, all things considered

Weakness:

It can''t stand up to everyday use.

It''s a consumer lens that came with my MZ-50. It takes ok pictures considering it''s made out of cheese. I''ll be replacing it soon, as it''s been for repair twice now.

Customer Service

Not bad, but you are halfway to the price of a new lens after a service.

Similar Products Used:

None, have an old Spotmatic F with lenses that could survive a direct hit from an ICBM.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
3
[Jun 06, 2000]
Shahreen
Casual
Model Reviewed: SMCP-F 35mm-80mm f/4-5.6

Strength:

Lightweight and reasonable performance

Weakness:

Not a sharp lens and rather flimsy in construction.

I've taken plenty of pictures using this lens but i feel somewhat disappointed by its poor image (as compared to my 50mm f/1.7 lens). I only use it when i'm taking landscape. I trying to save $ to get a fast wide-angle lens. Overall, ok but get a new one soon!

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Apr 14, 2000]
Niladri Kar
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: SMCP-F 35mm-80mm f/4-5.6

Strength:

Very light, easy to use.

Weakness:

None.

I am happy with the "begginer's" zoom, in spite of its slowness. With Pentax ZX50 body the autofocus works like blink. With this combination I am getting flash-lit faces warm enough and spring sky blue enough.

Customer Service

N/a.

Similar Products Used:

None.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
3
[Dec 19, 1999]
Roberto Burgos
Expert
Model Reviewed: SMCP-F 35mm-80mm f/4-5.6

Strength:

Small size?

Weakness:

The front element baffle came off with a blast of canned air!

Lousy construction, optically good for its price but not recommeded for anyone.

Customer Service

Never needed, I popped back the baffle into position.

Similar Products Used:

Thank God none

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
2
[Aug 29, 2000]
Brendan Bhagan
Intermediate

Strength:

Very cheap, light, small, I have the manual focus "A" and Autofocus "F" versions, The AF version is very well made. Good contrast and flare control, sharp when stopped down

Weakness:

soft wide open, a little slow but this is a consumer zoom, too much barel distortion at 35mm, the manual focus "A" feels too plasticy

Price vs performance makes this a great bargin for a consumer level zoom, it can not be expected to perform as good as a 50mm lens but it is much better than the similar zoms in it's price range, if you can afford more get the 28-70mm F4 from pentax but if not and you don't blow up pictures past 8x10" this lens will serve well.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-80, Canon 28-80

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
[Oct 21, 2000]
Dave Kuzdrall
Beginner

Strength:

cheap, light, fairly fast AF

Weakness:

soft wide open

This lens was included with my pentax zx-50. The manual focus is not dampered enough, but its auto focus is pretty fast. This lens is not the sharpest, which makes it good for portraits, and its price is right.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Oct 20, 2000]
Leehu Zysberg
Intermediate

Strength:

Cheap
Light-weight
Relatively swift AF response (on the MZ-5)

Weakness:

Poor resolution & optical performance, especially when it comes to landscapes and far details.
Compromised built quality.

Used this lens with the acclaimed Pentax MZ-5 a few times. Reasonable results achieved for portraits and close details but landscapes and relatively far details were just blurred, even at the optimum f:8-11 focused on the horizon. Both the above mentoned Sigma & Tamron used on the same body configuration yielded much better results. In its favor I'll note that AF was reasonably fast and its price is low but again-optical performance is among the worst I've seen. You can do much better for nearly the same price with any independent maker or other Pentax glass (such as the not too pricy 28-70/4).

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

Sigma DL 70-300/4-5.6
Tamron MF 70-210/4

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
3
[Jun 15, 2001]
TUDR C
Intermediate

Strength:

-CHEAP
- LIGHT

Weakness:

- COLOUR DISTORSION
- CONTRE JOUR EFFECT
- NOT VERY SHARP AT ALL

- I BOUGHT IT WITH A PENTAX mz-50 CAMERA.I WASN'T VERY SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS.
- A LOT OF DISTORSIONS AT 35 MM.
- I INTEND TO BUY A NEW PENTAX CAMERA , BUT I'LL CHOOSE ANOTHER LENS - PROBABLY SIGMA

Customer Service

- WHEN I BOUGHT IT - IN 1998 THEY DIDN'T HAVE A REPRESENTANT IN ROMANIA

Similar Products Used:

- DIFERENT NIKON, MINOLTA AF

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
3
[Aug 08, 2001]
Doug J. Stemke
Intermediate

Strength:

Light
49mm filter ring
small
robust inspit of it's apearance

Weakness:

variable f stop
Soft on edges

Not bad for a budget lens. I used to throw this lens and a P30T in my bike paniers and photograph from a low tripod. I mistreated the lens, it even fell out of the paniers once and came back fine (don't try this at home!). Good for snaps and traveling just don't blow the photos up too much.

Customer Service

Unused for this product but Pentax is generally excellent.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 20-70 f4

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-10 of 13  

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