Pentax A*200 Macro at SRS

The used pentax summary page shows out of stock, the product page shows in stock - at £829

https://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/dpt/pgr/used-pentax-a-200mm-f4-macro-green-sta...

One of the finest lenses ever produced - it won't be there for long!!!

Amazing, a legend waiting for a new owner.

No mustn't.

Are you sure

Stop it. Bad...

Nope - won't

I am amazed it is still showing as in stock - when SRS update their Ebay listings I suspect it will be gone within a few minutes

Of course I am not sure !!

What a lens. Don't miss out on it!

And if you don't like it, you can simply sell it on as it will not be losing value any time soon.

You say that but this price is just over half what they were selling for 4 to 5 years ago (£1500+ was a typical price) - the perceived value has clearly dropped or this would have been swallowed up yesterday. You and I know how good this lens is (better than any other macro lens I have used) but as we move forward in the digital world a brand new HD AW 100mm macro will shortly be available for £130 less - I can appreciate why most wouldn't go for this

Or you can put a 100mm Pentax macro onto an F series 1.7x AF adapter and get almost the same thing for about £300 except it's auto focusing. I am absolutely delighted with the IQ you get from this combination.

Or there's the Irix 150mm macro (manual focus) for about £400, put it on a 1.4TC and its a 210mm f4 macro. Great for bug-hunting . Not sure what it would do with the F1.7 AF adapter, I've resisted the temptation (so far...).

Steve

Is it not missing the tripod foot?

Personally I have always rated the Sigma 180mm above most other macro lenses in Pentax mount but I have never tried one of these.

if it had the foot I would have gone for it.

Yes - the foot is missing, as is the hard case. I have a feeling that the foot from another may fit this lens - but I can't remember which one it is

I have never owned the Sigma (apart from one faulty AF that was returned after a couple of days) but the build quality and damping of the focus on the Pentax is far nicer (IMO) - I can't say that the IQ is better as I don't have enough experience with the Sigma but the Pentax 200mm Macro has the best IQ I have seen (excluding the recent DFA* primes) and reviews seem to say the same. Another unexpected plus point is the quality produced when the A-1.4X-L converter is used (making a 280mm f5.6 Macro ) - on most shots you wouldn't know a converter had been used.

I'm genuinely surprised the lens is still available at that price - but maybe times are a changing

A change in perception and even bragging rights? Images online, on say, Flickr, shows some great quality images taken with all sorts of kit.

When "we" post images on forums such as ours here, we are showing to people who appreciate what the kit can do and are also aware of esoteric glass.

So times have changed.

A limited number of people appreciate lenses and cameras from an actual in-use capability. Most will remember what the camera magazine article said and base all judgement on that. Very easily mislead people imo.

It will sell, but to who?

1. To add to a collection.
2. To show off to others when out & about (assuming they have a clue what it is).
3. To use to it's full capability and be appreciated.

Did I miss another reason?

Best regards

Personally. the main thing I'm looking for with a macro lens of this focal length is ergonomics - is it easy and comfortable to handle when hunting bugs with an ageing body (mine, not the camera!) in an unnaturally contorted position? As long as IQ is acceptable (and is there a macro lens where it isn't?), the ability to get the shot is a higher priority for me than whether IQ is very good or very, very good. I've never handled - or even seen - the A*200 but would be very surprised if it handles better than the Irix. Of course, handling is very subjective, what works best for me might not work at all for you - or even anyone else at all .

Steve