Has anyone used or own the 500 f5.6 for the Pentax 67? What's it like to use? Is it sharp? Thanks for your input

-- John Miller (vwbus1967@aol.com), January 11, 2000

Answers

First of all, let me say that I do not own a 500mm and have never heard of anyone who has. So, let me give you my opinion from an optical point of view. This lens is an old design using late 60s-early 70s technology. It has four elements( a Cooke Triplet up front with a simple field flattener in the rear). It is not a low dispersion type lens. If the triplet were superachromatic and the field flattener was Fluorite, I'd say it has potential. But, given the degree of color correction used by Pentax at that time, I would guess that this lens would color fringe at f/5.6 and at f/8 to a lesser degree. If you buy one, please let us know how it performs. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), January 12, 2000.

Rolland, as far as I have seen, there has only been one version of the 500mm. You are more than welcome to post a test on this lens. When I test a lens, I do real world shooting and don't use test targets very often. I think what is important for this forum to know about the 500, is whether it will color fringe at f/8 and f/5.6 in high contrast situations. Overall sharpness would be interesting to hear about also, especially at f/5.6. Both the 400 Takumar and 600mm will color fringe to some degree and I would expect the 500 to be similar. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), November 09, 2000.

I just bought the 500mm f/5.6 on Ebay. And despite an earlier post by Steve commenting on the optical design and how it might be somewhat inferior to today's designs I remaine optimistic about it.

Since I could find absolutely NO information on this lens I'd be willing to test it out for the list. However I've never really tested a lens. I'm sure this has been discussed before, so maybe someone would give me a web page that describes an acceptable way to test a lens.

I paid about $1200 for it, which I'm guessing is a good price compared to it's new price of $2500 from B&H. Anyone know if there have been different versions of this lens throughout it's production?

Peace, Rolland

-- Rolland Elliott (rolland_elliott@yahoo.com), November 06, 2000.

The 35mm version - Pentax SMCP 500mm f/4.5 - is a wonderful performer and very sharp for a 'non' ED/APO lens, so if the 6X7 Pentax f/5.6 version (which is a similar design, should be worth owning.

-- Globetrotter (globetrotterworld@ukonlnie.co.uk), November 28, 2001.

I own a 500mm f 4.5 pentax lens (for 6x7). It seems to me to be very sharp, but I am not a professional. I have owned the lens for a long time, but I rarely use it...it is very heavy! If anyone is interested I will trade or sell it.

Thanks, Jamie

-- Jamie Heath (terrasaurus@hotmail.com), December 03, 2001.