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SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED

Sharpness 
 9.7
Aberrations 
 8.7
Bokeh 
 9.1
Handling 
 9.3
Value 
 9.7
Reviews Views Date of last review
9 85,670 Sun July 2, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $605.00 9.67
SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED

SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED
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SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED
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Description:
The SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 employs the finest of Pentax optical engineering, including extra-low dispersion elements. It can deliver exceptional photos, is relatively compact, and features a built-in hood.



SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F2.8 ED
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 8 blades
Optics
6 elements, 6 groups
Mount Variant
KA
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F2.8
Min. Aperture
F32
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
180 cm
Max. Magnification
0.14x
Filter Size
77 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 8.1 ° / 6.9 °
Full frame: 12 ° / 10 °
Hood
Built-in, slide out
Case
Hard case HF-185 (initially)
Soft case S90-160 (later)
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
91 x 138 mm
Weight
850 g
Production Years
1984 to 1998
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-A* 1:2.8 200mm ED
Product Code
24130 (initially), 24135 (later)
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Two ED elements.
Features:
Manual FocusBuilt-in HoodAperture RingAutomatic ApertureFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-9 of 9
Site Supporter

Registered: December, 2020
Location: Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago
Posts: 39

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: July 2, 2023 Recommended | Price: $266.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Bokeh, Handling, Build Quality, Character, sharpness.
Cons: I honestly haven't found anything I have a gripe with.
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-1   

Well, I've only tried a few 200mm lenses. My experience has been through the Takumar 200mm f3.5 and the tele takumar 200mm f5.6. Both of those lenses have really specific strengths and weaknesses. I would say that this lens does a great job at filling in any weaknesses found in those 2 lenses, but fails to address weight. As others have stated though, weight isn't really an expectation any reasonable person would have of this lens. I found it perfectly useable handheld even approaching blue hour. The main thing to note about this lens, and other A series lenses I've tested and continue to use is that they are simply more engaging and rewarding to use. If you value a more tactile experience and want to feel like you are really crafting your images this is a great option.

The focus ring has as much grip as the soles of your shoes as you carry this beautiful piece of glass to whatever it is you'd like to capture. The built in hood is a nice feature as well, but could perhaps be a bit larger, and in my case, tighter. The hood will slide forward once the camera is angled much at all in a downward trajectory. But, instead of rambling on about my week or so of experience with this new gem I'll just share what I've captured so far!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lordawesome/albums/72177720309257066
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2022
Posts: 11

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 4, 2022 Recommended | Price: $420.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Very Sharp. Good I.Q
Cons: Weight
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 9    Camera Used: Pentax K70   

I have had this lens for a while now and have been using it as much as I can, this is my first large prime lens and the next long focal length I have is a 18-135 ED AL WR. I got he 200mm green star because I could not afford the cost of an autofocus equivalent and it had good reviews for its IQ etc. My copy is in excellent condition from Japan and I am very please with it.

I thought I would write a review as there are not many on this lens, so it may help someone considering getting one. Build quality of this lens is fist class, it is solid but can be heavy to hold for extended periods of time, but worth persevering with. The focus ring is smooth and the built in lens hood works well, and as its an A series the auto aperture is very handy. As its my first 200mm or 300 on the K70 sensor using high shutter speed is a must, especially hand held. I have been mainly using a custom user mode set to auto ISO and setting the aperture and shutter speed manually, so totally different to my normal landscape techniques where I set the ISO.

As you will see from some of the sample shots which where all shot hand held, the lens works well in good light bit is difficult to hold steady and focusing can be a challenge. I did try swapping out the standard focus screen for a split focus one (I where glasses and eyesight is not perfect!) but while very good on my A series 50mm 1.7 prime was no good for the 200mm, so I have gone back to the stock screen. I have however fitted the Pentax Eye cup 0-ME53 and this is helping a lot so can recommend trying that.

Its a shame Pentax did not fit tripod mounts to these lenses as its a lot of weigh on the camera lens mount but it will take it, however I have been hand holding or using a bean bag most of the time. I think the main thing I wanted to convey is that this lens is capable of producing wonderful images but you have to work hard to get them, or at least do ! I was also very surprised how good it is at capturing small images like flowers and insects, just keep the shutter speed above 1/1000th.

For shots that had high ISO I found putting them through a noise reduction program like DxO Pure Raw improved noise a lot, the other thing I found in post processing was no lens profile, at least not in On 1 Photo Raw, so I picked a DA 50-200mm one and this helped in correction of things like distortion.

I find I can be out with the lens and look at images on the screen and think none of these are any good, out of focus etc and end up discarding about 70% when I review them on the computer. But and its a big but there are normally one or two that after a bit of light processing I am really please with, and have a great look to them that I don't feel the more modern lenses give, similar to my 1.7 50mm in the A series style, and it can produce some nice bokeh as well.


   
Site Supporter

Registered: July, 2020
Posts: 131

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 30, 2020 Recommended | Price: $454.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: build; sharpness; f/2.8; aperture priority; built-in lens hood
Cons: aperture ring just a bit small and awkward against the camera body
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K10D, K-3 II, K-1 II   

I find that this lens is excellent, confirming what other reviewers have also stated here. I'm surprised that there has not been a review of this lens in over 9 years, as lots of these lenses have been available on Ebay. My astrophotography tests have this lens passing with flying colors in terms of sharpness and chromatic aberration. I find this A* 200-mm f/2.8 lens to be quite sharp even wide open at f/2.8. Because the optics are so sharp, I get excellent results also with my Pentax Rear Converter-A 2X-S, which also allows me to use aperture priority with the lens effectively 400-mm f/5.6. The focusing band is excellent -- good feel and fairly easy to focus sharply (aided by the 270-degree rotation of the focusing ring from infinity to closest focus). The aperture ring is solid and has a good feel, also; it has a not-too-narrow band for turning with fat fingers, and you can turn it from the side or below (though it is right up against the camera) with its 360-degree ring -- and, of course, you can use aperture priority with the aperture ring set to "A". The exterior diameter at the lens (meaning around the extendable lens hood) is 95 mm, which is the diameter you'd need to allow for an exterior-placing solar filter (i.e., it is larger than the diameter specified in the table above); the actual objective-lens diameter is about 70 mm (just as with the 300-mm f/4 and the 400-mm f/5.6 A* lenses, interestingly).

The built-in lens hood is a huge plus and was a fabulous design in the pre-F series of Pentax lenses. And this lens is very attractive and feels really solid and well-built. The lens is large and heavy, with its large-aperture f/2.8 glass, so I find that it really needs a tripod (though it can surely be used hand-held in brightly lit environments, and indeed my tests of bokeh were made of flowers in our garden while hand-held). But this lens' large size and heavy weight is to be expected (with its solid build and large, fast glass) and thus cannot be listed as a "con" realistically (and yes, it's not autofocus, but you shouldn't be judging this lens on what all manufactured lenses lacked at that time in history). My listed price paid includes shipping and tax, as always in my reviews.

Below are photos of this A* 200-mm f/2.8 lens on my camera, one showing the built-in hood extended and one showing it retracted (the latter showing a UV filter over the front lens), along with a photo showing the relative sizes of various Pentax smc telephoto lenses (left to right, [K] 200-mm f/2.5, A* 200-mm f/2.8, A* 300-mm f/4):



   
Site Supporter

Registered: April, 2010
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 813

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 14, 2011 Recommended | Price: $850.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Build, IQ, Colour, Contrast, and ease of focus. Sharp+
Cons: None
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

Superb lens, just get one however you can, and use it!

Very sharp from F2.8, extraordinarily sharp from F4 onwards.
Great bokeh.
Typical "A" lens colour and rendition. Super contrast.

As good, if not better than the current DA* 200 lens!
   
Senior Member

Registered: October, 2009
Location: ita/swiss
Posts: 267

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 21, 2010 Recommended | Price: $700.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Compact, superb build,, great color / contrast and extremely very sharp
Cons: no AF, but is not a problem
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10   

Please compact, well built, is also quick to seek the perfect focus.
Very defined and beautiful colors, I bought the FA * 200mm, because I wanted to AF, but I must say that I almost am sorry.
FA * is the same, only with AF more, but if AF does not fall where you want, you have to do by hand.
I paid half of this lens is 200mm FA * I must say that is worth all the money paid.
   
PEG Moderator

Registered: August, 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Posts: 57,711

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 29, 2008 Recommended | Price: $650.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Wow, razor sharp even wide open
Cons: Not found any yet
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

I only just recently acquired this lens second-hand, after searching the globe for many months. I admit that I'm lucky enough to own several other "green star" lenses; hence I feel I can offer an unbiased opinion of this lens.

I won’t give any technical jargon or performance figures, because I’m not qualified to do that. What I will do, is tell you as working photographer how I find this lens through every day use (I’m old school and still use manual focus, I like the way it feels and the level of control I still have).

To say I'm blown away with the resulting images would be a huge understatement. I cover many musical events that are dark (ish) with mixed fast changing lighting set ups, this lens delivers even wide open.

It allows tight head and shoulder shots from front stage pits and when used with K10D, it can be hand held (with SR on) @ 1/30 s f/2.8 ISO 1600, still getting razor sharp results. Stopped down (lighting permitting) it just gets better still.

Fast becoming a favourite lens, not a bad accolade considering the company it keeps in my Crumpler (85mm 1.4 & 135mm 1.8 to name but two).
   
Veteran Member

Registered: November, 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 593

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: January 14, 2007 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Image and build quality
Cons: Nnone
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 9   

I did have this lens and it was a real beauty. Superb image quality across all aspects, sharpness, bokeh and colour rendition. Build quality without peer and manual focusing was a joy.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2006
Location: Chicago suburb, IL, USA
Posts: 1,535

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: January 11, 2007 Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: very sharp wide open, superb build, great color/contrast
Cons: none, unless you require AF

Very sharp at f2.8, and it just gets better from there. CA and PF are well controlled by the ED element. A great tele to use with a good Teleconverter for some extra reach.

At a little under 2 lbs, it's a little heavy -- you have to expect that from a fast telephoto len -- but it balances well on either a DS or K10.

Build quality is absolutely first rate, as you would expect of an A*. For some reason, I really like the rubber bumper ring on the built in hood, which is very convenient.

Great lens -- couldn't recommend it more highly.
   
Administrator
Site Webmaster

Registered: September, 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 51,558

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 9, 2007 Recommended | Price: $1,100.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Compact, fast, and extremely sharp
Cons: A bit too heavy for its short length

The A* 200mm is sharp wide-open, and it also possesses great color rendition. It delivers truly amazing photos- they're always crisp and clear.

Here are two unedited tele shots that simply say it all.







The lens can be hand-held, but it is a bit too heavy for its short physical length, making it harder to hold than most other teles.
Add Review of SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED



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