Well, it seems nobody in this forum has used this lens. (Hard to believe)

Regards, Horst

I was always interested in lenses with slightly soft focus effect.

I managed to get this during my Leica days with the Summar 50mm f2 lens when used between f2 and f2.8 and also the Canon 50mm f1.2 with the Canon/Leica thread.

Now I am very interested in the Pentax-F SMC 85mm F/2.8 Soft Auto Focus
lens. The problem is however. It sells on Ebay four around 370-420Dollars plus postage.
However before I commit to save another 100 Dollars (I have 310 Dollars in my Coin Box) I like know if any of you had any expirience with this lens. Is it very tricky to use etc, and can it be used as a normal lens if stopped down, say to f8 or more?
Regards, Horst

The main purpose for a lens hood is of course to cut down the glare caused by angled light waves hitting the lens

However there are other handy uses especially with lenses where the front element rotates during focussing.
The auto focus lenses all seem to have a very narrow focussing ring on front. When using a screw in lens hood, focussing is much easier when using the hood to focus. This increases the size of the focussing ring greatly.

A complaint about a lens when reading reviews of lenses which rotate during auto focussing when using a polarising filter.

An easy way to overcome this, is to screw a lens hood in to the polarizing filter, then focus the lens and adjust the polarizing filter by turning the lens hood. Now when using auto focus, to focus closer or further, just hold the lens hood with one hand and do the auto focus bit.
The lens will rotate, but the filter will stay at the same position.

Regards, Horst

So do I.
I have now tried some other lenses , but I believe the F-35-70
is extremly suitable for portaits and as an all round lens.
And it costs very little.

Regards, Horst

Thanks.

Your right, it is very useful
Regards, Horst

This seems a fair price.

I suppose Pentax buys this units from China for approx GPB 2.- Postage paid. Nothing wrong with a lousy 7000% margin.

Regards, Horst

You'll find plenty of Spotmatics or Spotmatics II on Ebay for really good prices. Often including with a 50mm f1.4 or 1.8 lens.
I would not recommend the Spotmatic F, because of the strange light meter switch. (it uses the lens cap)
The advantage of the Spotmatic II are the lenses. They are normally SMC.

Regards, Horst

BTW, you can still buy the battery for the Spotmatic. They don't make the Mercury batteries anymore, But any battery with the same physical size can be used. It doesn't matter, that the voltage is slightly different, because the Spotmatic is one of the few camera which uses a bridge configuration for the light meter circuit. Just type in to Ebay: "Spotmatic Battery"

Its not so much the Australians, but mainly the German and American tourists.
(some Pomms too).

Regards, Horst

I may slightly disagree with this. Most tripod legs which are made of aluminium are very sturdy. Don’t forget, some aluminium alloys are as strong or stronger than steel. Both my Manfrotto tripods have tubular aluminium legs. I have a very old Viola tripod (from the 60s) which has U channel aluminium legs.
If they where made of steel, the weight would be prohibitive.
However the fittings for the legs and for the camera mount is some heavy material.
As long as the legs have a reasonable diameter they will be rugged.
However I fully agree with your comment about the joints.

If they are sloppy in the first place, or when the screws holding them work loose after a while, then the most solid legs don't help.

I guess some later models are made of carbon fibre, but I am certain the price is accordingly higher. If they are so much sturdier than good aluminium legs is questionable.

Regards, Horst

If you have the choice, buy the A-version. It is much easier to use. It will work with all the setting on your camera.(Av, Tv etc) And you don't have to use that completely inconvenient placed green button before you make your exposure.
I have an A24/2.8 lens and I personally can not find anything wrong with it.
But then I am probably not as critical as others.
Regards, Horst