The Pentax smc P-FA 80-200mm f/4.7-5.6 is a telephoto zoom lens designed for Pentax DSLR cameras. It offers a versatile focal length range of 80mm to 200mm, making it suitable for a wide range of photography genres such as sports, wildlife, and portrait photography. This lens is part of Pentax’s P-FA series, known for its high-quality optics and reliable performance.
**Technical Specifications and Features**
The lens features a variable aperture of f/4.7 at 80mm and f/5.6 at 200mm, allowing for great flexibility in various lighting conditions. It is equipped with Pentax’s smc (Super Multi Coating) technology, which minimizes flare and ghosting, resulting in improved image quality and better contrast.
The Pentax smc P-FA 80-200mm offers a minimum focusing distance of 1.2 meters, allowing photographers to capture close-up shots with ease. It also features a 9-blade diaphragm, which produces smooth and pleasing bokeh, making it ideal for creating artistic background blur.
This lens is constructed with 11 elements in 9 groups, including one low-dispersion glass element, which helps to minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure sharp and clear images. Furthermore, the lens provides a 34.5 to 12 degrees angle of view, enabling photographers to frame their shots precisely.
**Performance and Image Quality**
The Pentax smc P-FA 80-200mm f/4.7-5.6 lens delivers excellent image quality throughout its focal length range. The lens produces sharp and detailed images, with good contrast and color rendition. The smc coating effectively reduces lens flare and ghosting, resulting in images with vibrant colors and high contrast, even when shooting against bright light sources.
The lens’s autofocus system is quick and accurate, allowing for precise focusing on subjects. However, in low-light situations or when photographing fast-moving subjects, manual focus may be preferred for better control and accuracy.
**Compatibility and Price**
The Pentax smc P-FA 80-200mm f/4.7-5.6 lens is compatible with Pentax DSLR cameras that use the K-mount system. It can be used on both full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras, offering a different effective focal length depending on the camera’s sensor size.
As for the price, the Pentax smc P-FA 80-200mm f/4.7-5.6 was originally released in 1995. At that time, it had a retail price of around $250. However, prices may vary depending on the condition and availability of the lens in the current market.
**Conclusion**
The Pentax smc P-FA 80-200mm f/4.7-5.6 lens is a reliable and versatile telephoto zoom lens for Pentax DSLR cameras. With its flexible focal length range, high-quality optics, and excellent performance, it is a valuable addition to any photographer’s gear bag. Whether capturing action-packed sports events or beautiful wildlife portraits, this lens delivers sharp images with vibrant colors. Despite being released over two decades ago, it remains a popular and affordable choice for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
