John Sheldon's photos with the keyword: Vintage zoom lens

SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Zoom setting about 40mm. White balance set in camera using Expodisc 2, unaltered during computer processing.

SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Zoomed to 50mm focal length and 'Macro' focussing facility used.

At the Lyme Park estate, Cheshire, UK. First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom 80mm.

In the Orangery at Lyme Park, Cheshire, UK. First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom 80mm.

In the Orangery at Lyme Park, Cheshire, UK. First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom 50mm.

Artemis with bow and arrows and a deer, on the roof of Lyme Park house in Cheshire, UK. Square format based on a suggestion by Ipernity member Marta Wojtkowska. Thanks, Marta! First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom 105mm (longest).

Artemis is 'hard to miss" portrayed with bow and arrows and a deer, on the roof of Lyme Park house in Cheshire, UK. First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom 105mm (longest).

On the Lyme Park estates in Cheshire, UK. First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom about 95mm.

On the Lyme Park estates in Cheshire, UK. First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom 50mm.

The Macclesfield Canal at Higher Poynton, Cheshire, UK. First outing with SMC Pentax-A f3.5 35-105mm vintage zoom lens. Focal length of zoom 35mm (shortest).

Test shot with smc Pentax-A f3.5 35mm-105mm zoom lens.

Test shot with smc Pentax-A f3.5 35mm-105mm zoom lens.

Spotted in a charity shop, classed as ‘bric-a-brac’ (a miscellaneous collection of small articles commonly of ornamental or sentimental value per Merriam-Webster). The main point of interest is the smc Pentax-A f3.5 35mm-105mm zoom lens. This model was produced between 1985 and 1989. On the Pentax Forums website its cumulative scores (out of 10) are sharpness 9.0, aberrations 8.5, Bokeh 8.5, Handling 8.3. Its down sides are heaviness (615g/1.35 lbs) and, apparently, busy bokeh with bright backgrounds. This one is in fine condition. I am a lucky lad. The Pentax P30 35mm SLR film camera was introduced in 1985 (called P3 outside the UK) and seems to have had a very short run before being superseded by the P30i and P30n upgrades. It is a creature of extremes – either fully automatic exposure (it chooses aperture and shutter speed with no scope for intervention except for exposure lock) or fully manual mode where the user chooses everything guided by either a handheld light meter (just like a Pentax S1A) or the TTL exposure gauge in the viewfinder (or of course, as in the old days, the use of experience and instinct). The viewfinder information is limited to shutter speed: the one being used and the one it thinks you should use. This P30 camera body is generally in very good condition and all seems to be working well. I suspect that someone has tried to remove the focussing screen for a clean as there is a horizontal mark that seems to float in space inside the viewfinder. It is tempting to put a film through the camera to see how it performs – it still has its adherents who praise it on YouTube. This picture was taken using smc Pentax-DA 35mm f2.4 AL (weight 124g/4.4 oz).