Pentax MZ-7, SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6

Analog Diary: Film photography favorites, image making with an SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6, on a street shoot with the Pentax MZ-7.

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The SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6, a zoom lens introduced as a kit lens to the MZ series of Pentax AF SLRs, is available in silver and black. Though plastic-bodied, the lens has a metal mount that fits the camera nicely and is snug. The lens is solid enough for a kit lens, has a zoom ring that is fairly smooth and not too sticky, is rather stiffer around the 28mm and 80mm ranges, and has a front element that wobbles a bit.

Getting the best of the lens means looking for the 'sweet spot', which should be around f/11 at its wide end, and at f/5.6 at the long end. Low cost and easy to find, the lens comes mostly included with an MZ/ZX type SLR often listed on the auction sites, the lens should do well as a beginner or backup lens, though it might not end up as a keeper.

Pentax MZ-7, SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6

Images were shot on a roll of recently expired Fuji Superia 200, scanned at 2400 bits, and post-processed on Olympus Viewer 3 (OV3), with final print sharpening on Google NIK Sharpener Pro 3.

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