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Which is optically better? SMC Pentax-A 135mm f/2.8 VS Soligor 70-220mm f/3.5 Macro @135mm

Started Aug 28, 2019 | Discussions thread
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Massao Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Which is optically better? SMC Pentax-A 135mm f/2.8 VS Soligor 70-220mm f/3.5 Macro @135mm

SMC Pentax-A 135mm f/2.8 VS Soligor 70-220mm f/3.5 Macro @135mm

Thoughts before this comparison:

This Soligor seems a rare lens, as not much information about it is available online. If you find some, please specify in comments:-)

I didn't include SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED in this comparison, as Pentax-A 135mm f/2.8 performs significantly better at 135mm than SMC DA 50-200mm.

So far, Pentax-A 135mm f/2.8 doesn’t seem to be an “exceptional” lens (more comparisons to follow ;-). Still, this is a comparison I really hope Pentax wins simply because it is very light weight in comparison. It also has auto aperture. In comparison, this Soligor is quite a beast, and something you would use on a tripod. So, unless Pentax is “significantly” worse than Soligor, there is no argument for using this Soligor as a medium tele lens 😊.

Comparison:

Set-up: Out-of-camera-jpegs; Same camera and settings on tripod; Focus confirmation via OVF used; no PP; Daylight WB in all photos.

F/3.5

Soligor f/3.5

Pentax F/3.5

F/5.6

Soligor F/5.6

Pentax F/5.6

F/8

Soligor F/8

Pentax F/8

F/11

Soligor F/11

Pentax F/11

F/16

Soligor F/16

Pentax F/16

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Kind regards,
Massao
--
First camera: Canon FTB; First autofocus SLR camera: Pentax; First Nikon: F601 (N6006); First digital camera: Sony DSC-W5; First DSLR: Nikon D70; First mirrorless ICL camera: Samsung nx11

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