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Help required from those with knowledge of fa/faj lenses

Telstar
Posted 31/07/2009 - 19:40 Link
Hi all, as i'm off on a motorcycle trackday soon i need a little more reach than my 50-200 gives, my local independant camera shop has both an FAJ 75-300 and an FA 100-300, both cheap as chips in good nick, both seem to be the same speed (5.8 @ 300).
Now i know that the FA is a slightly older lens by a couple of years or so (and has an aperture ring), but does anyone have any idea which will be the sharper lens at the top end? At the moment ive taken the 75-300 home to have a try, but he's a very helpful gent in the shop, and wont mind at all if i go back tomorrow and swap for the other.
(I would love a 300 or 400 prime but havent the funds for one even if I was lucky enough to stumble on one at present - just looking for a budget solution at the moment)
Bodies: GX20 | MZ-3 | MZ-M | Auto 110 complete kit
Primes: DA*300 F4 | DA40 F2.8 Ltd. | SMC-A 50/1.7 | Sigma 30mm F1.4 | Sirius 28/2.8
Macro : SMC-A Dental 100 macro
Zooms: 12-24 SA | 18-55 SA | 50-200 SA | 28-80 FA | 35-80 F | Vivitar 28-200
Other: Bellows | Tube sets | Vivitar 2x PK/A Tele | SEF-36PZF Flash | SBG-D1V Grip | Billingham 335


My Flickr
hefty1
Posted 31/07/2009 - 20:46 Link
Neither will be bitingly sharp (wide open and at full stretch) and performance is probably going to be fairly similar, hence it's more likely to come down to sample variation than anything else. If the guy in the shop is happy for you to try both then do so and see which you prefer - all else being equal I doubt you'll notice anything in the final picture so it'll be handling more than anything else.
Joining the Q
Telstar
Posted 31/07/2009 - 22:08 Link
Thanks Hefty, thats about what I thought - nice to have it confirmed.
Just been looking on the lens database over on pentaxforums and the 100-300 gets a slightly better review, think i will head down with the camera tomorrow and try both. (theres also a 500mm mirror in there i'll have a try with too.)
As for the mirror lens. it'll be a manual so how do I go about the 'catch in focus' on a Gx-20?
Set it on in the menu, but the instructions ive read then state set camera to AF-C. Is this the C-AF mode from the lensmount side switch on the samsung?
Bodies: GX20 | MZ-3 | MZ-M | Auto 110 complete kit
Primes: DA*300 F4 | DA40 F2.8 Ltd. | SMC-A 50/1.7 | Sigma 30mm F1.4 | Sirius 28/2.8
Macro : SMC-A Dental 100 macro
Zooms: 12-24 SA | 18-55 SA | 50-200 SA | 28-80 FA | 35-80 F | Vivitar 28-200
Other: Bellows | Tube sets | Vivitar 2x PK/A Tele | SEF-36PZF Flash | SBG-D1V Grip | Billingham 335


My Flickr
Steve Chasey
Posted 01/08/2009 - 08:58 Link
Telstar - I've got both lens. In my experience the FAJ 75-300 is good in the mid range - 135/150 area but not hot in the upper range. I got mine in March/April 06 bundled with an MZ60. It travelled with me as the long zoom option for the MZ50/iST film cameras when we went to Aus/NZ in late 06 and has been relegated to the back of the cupboard since as I've usually favoured my Super As, LXs and MZ Ss since. Based on the limited examples from 06 that I can identify as taken with this lens - wouldn't buy.

The 100-300 sits in my draw at the office as a longer reach option for the iSTD I keep at work with the DA18-50 and DA50-200. Not had many occasions when the added reach is wanted and it's not been very good then (but the subjects haven't been good either in all fairness).

The best Pentax AF zoom in the range is the FA80-320. I used it with a K10D in the Kruger and it performed well (backed up with an iSTD and the DA50-200). Second hand FA80-320s go for around the £100. Of the 3, I'd go for this lens everytime.

Added point - don't think the 75-300 will work with your MZ M - the lens has no aperature ring.



Steve
In the Pack - Gripped K5 (SE),K7 & K20, Gripped MZ-S(SE)& MZ-S,DA10-17, DA12-24, DA14, DA*16-50, 50-135, 60-250 & 300mm; FA31mm/43mm/77mm Ltds; Sigma 8-16, 135-400 & 150-500
Half Backs: K10+BG,DA16-45, DA50-200
Backs: LXs,Super As and lots of A, M & K lenses
Impact Subs: 28mm Shift, K 135-600 (the Banahan of Pentax zooms ), 400-600 Reflex
Mongoose
Posted 01/08/2009 - 09:25 Link
If you want a long Pentax zoom which will work with your MZ-M in all modes the FA 100-300 is the answer of the two available now. The FAJ will only work in modes where you would have the aperture ring set to A anyway, ie P and Tv.

Steve is right in that the 80-320 is a better lens but you'd have to find one first.
you don't have to be mad to post here



but it does help
Telstar
Posted 01/08/2009 - 13:11 Link
Thanks for all the help guys, just back from having a play with the lenses.
In the end didnt go for either, took the mirror lens instead!
Its a Ranger branded one, made in japan, seems better quality than the centon ones ive looked at before. It was cheap anyway so not that bothered, i'll just have some fun with it.

This LBA is kicking in though, he'd just had some pentax stuff come in. I'm now the proud owner of a sigma 28-200 aspherical IF lens (the earlier 72mm filter one)
boy that focuses quick in comparison to the kit lens. I think this one may well be on the body for 90% of the time now, seems it'll make a good companion to my 12-24.
Bodies: GX20 | MZ-3 | MZ-M | Auto 110 complete kit
Primes: DA*300 F4 | DA40 F2.8 Ltd. | SMC-A 50/1.7 | Sigma 30mm F1.4 | Sirius 28/2.8
Macro : SMC-A Dental 100 macro
Zooms: 12-24 SA | 18-55 SA | 50-200 SA | 28-80 FA | 35-80 F | Vivitar 28-200
Other: Bellows | Tube sets | Vivitar 2x PK/A Tele | SEF-36PZF Flash | SBG-D1V Grip | Billingham 335


My Flickr
Mongoose
Posted 01/08/2009 - 15:02 Link
The Sigma 28-200 has a very short throw on it's focus, which makes it a pain to focus manually but lightning fast in AF.

I imagine it would make a good "traveling light" walking around pair with the 12-24, even if that combination does initially seem unusual since you're paring one of the best lenses in any mount (12-24) with an all purpose high ratio zoom.
you don't have to be mad to post here



but it does help

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