Playing With Lenses: Creepy stuff: Pentax-A Zoom 1:4 70-200mm

Monday, 30 March 2020

Creepy stuff: Pentax-A Zoom 1:4 70-200mm

Cost: $29.99 (average market price $35)

This lens was only produced for one year, but re-released as a Takumar-A two years later. So it's not so common to see this lens, but it was targeted to be a budget lens, without the then new SMC coating. It was also re-branded under various other names such as Toyo-A, MC Finex and MC Cosmicar.

It's a well build lens, but the zoom barrel is very loose, resulting in extreme lens creep when pointing down or up. And when I mean extreme, I mean sliding down at full speed of gravity.

That being said, as long as you point forward, it's a pleasure to use, with smooth zooming and aperture and resulting in nice colors and pretty sharp when stepped down a few steps.

The range is not to bad on a full frame camera. 70mm is still useful for most situations, and the 200 will allow you to bring something closer. I was not very impressed with the macro though... but in all fairness, it's not a dedicated macro lens. I would rather avoid to use it as a macro lens.

So not to bad as a lens, and a nice addition to the collection.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 70-93mm
Maximum Aperture: F4
Minimum Aperture: F32
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: PK
Optics: 11 elements, 9 groups
Blades: 8
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 0.7cm
Filter Size: 58mm
Weight: 625g
Length: 150-155mm
Production: 1987
Serial Number: 6745234
Made in: Japan

More information on Pentax

Samples: