Robert, this might be the best non-pro zoom Pentax ever built. A test in Camerart (a Japanese magazine written in english) showed that it is good wide open, something uncommon then, except for some of the best C*n*n and N*k*n zooms. I don't know if this is still true for the latest non-pro zooms, but few zooms can be used wide open and produce photos with good sharpness AND contrast.
It is a bit long and feels better on a bigger K body than on M bodies. Newer bodies with grips and M bodies used with a winder handles very well with this lens. I would call it a portrait lens as you can take someone from head to foot at 45mm and "head'n shoulders" at 125mm. The ones that were used very little tend to have a slightly stiff zoom ring but it may get smoother with use as I have seen a few used ones with a quite smooth ring (but still feeling perfect mechanically). Stiffness is a question of taste anyway. Its hood consists of a step-up ring 58-67 and a shallow hood that screws in. Why? If you put a 58mm filter on it, it will vignette at the minimum focusing distance with the zoom set at 60-70mm. No big deal. I wouldn't bother getting (or using) the hood and 67mm filters. The hand is a better hood at longer settings (the thumb supporting the end of the lens at the same time) because the hood does only the job for the shortest setting (45mm). And 58mm filters are cheaper and fit many other Pentax lenses. If you buy it, please tell us about the results. Andre >Hi all, > >I am considering purchasing this lens. What are your thoughts and opinions >on it: bokeh, versatility, resolution, contrast, build quality, etc. > >Thanks, > >Robert >- >This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, >go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to >visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . -- - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
