slrgear's DA* 60-250 review imminent - Page 2

Chwisch87 · 08-24-2009, 11:05 AM

Well if they are saying interesting Pentax zoom they must like it

philbaum · 08-24-2009, 11:27 AM

There was that rumor about the retirement of some lens designer and how that might affect Pentax.

The Pentax 60-250 and 50-135, IMO, make a definite statement that Pentax retains its lens designing capabilities. I don't have the former lens but have the latter one and just love it.

*Igilligan* · 08-24-2009, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by dnaseigel

The lens is very managable hand held. The balance is fantastic although you will want to remove the tripod mount to reduce weight and so you don't have to figure out where to put it so it doesn't interfere with your hands. Fortunately you don't have to think about where to put a clumsy tripod ring since the mount is simply this very cool block with the tripod socket in it.

Amazing lens but so is the DA*200 f/2.8. The great thing about the DA*200 is if you lose your hammer you could use the lens to bury nails. I have never felt such a well built lens.

I guess balance is a relative thing... I got to try this wonderful lens on the K7 at the SF K7 roadshow.

And it was certainly not balanced well on the K7 IMO. It was a little better with the Battery Grip on the K7, but without it I could not imagine shooting a lot of low SS shots with it.
But on the K20 it felt very good.... with very nice results.

I also shot the DA*300 and fell in love with that one instantly. Now I finally know what real Lens Lust is...

*kcmadr* · 08-24-2009, 01:58 PM

lithos · 08-24-2009, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by philbaum

There was that rumor about the retirement of some lens designer and how that might affect Pentax.

The Pentax 60-250 and 50-135, IMO, make a definite statement that Pentax retains its lens designing capabilities. I don't have the former lens but have the latter one and just love it.

50-135 isn't a Pentax design, though.

thibs · 08-24-2009, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by lithos

50-135 isn't a Pentax design, though.

Yes it is. Stop that BS.
BOth 16-50 and 50-135 are Pentax designs.

*GLXLR* · 08-24-2009, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by lithos

50-135 isn't a Pentax design, though.

It is a joint operation between Tokina and Pentax, but it doesnt' really matter because both are from the same parent company HOYA. Even Pentax is now called Hoya Pentax.

So yeah, it basically IS a Pentax design with PENTAX engineers.

gazonk · 08-25-2009, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by GLXLR

It is a joint operation between Tokina and Pentax, but it doesnt' really matter because both are from the same parent company HOYA. Even Pentax is now called Hoya Pentax.

So yeah, it basically IS a Pentax design with PENTAX engineers.

Tokina is not a HOYA company, that's a very persistent urban legend, though.

bnishanth · 08-25-2009, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by kcmadr

Mike, thats a beauty. Just saw the exif and this was shot at long end, very impressive..!!!

Cheers
Nish

*dnaseigel* · 08-25-2009, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by jbinpg

Why take off a tripod collar when you can just rotate it 90 or 180 degrees and get it out of the way? I flip the one on my DA* 300 90 deg to the right. Doesn't interfere with anything.

The great thing about this lens is the collar does not come off. As simply as the mounting block comes off and stores in bag pocket, I would rather do that than rotate the mount, and then rotate it some more when I shoot vertical shots. My hands are huge and where ever I rotate the collar the block eventually ends up in the way. Wheatfield is 100% correct about inertia being our friend; one of the things that helps the inertia is having the greatest meeting of mass. When I have to lift a finger or two away from the lens, support is sacrificed.

The block on the 300 does not interfere, but there also is no zoom ring to operate. The long and the short of it is that if the lenses hold well for you as they are then I certainly would not suggest anything different. I guess I failed to illustrate that it's the lens design that is so great. Not only is the lens optically outstanding, the barrel design rocks as well.

Have a great day.

GeneralBenson · 08-25-2009, 10:56 AM

This lens is amazing. I have one right now, and it hasn't come of a boy since I got it, unles it was to switch bodies. Hand holding is completely efortless for me. Everyone heekps talking about how big and heavy it is, but that's only because we're all so spoiled by the best zom ever made, which is the 50-135. So to the person who asked if one could replace the other, I woudl say no, the 50-135 is just so sweet. And once you get used to shooting the 60-250 for a bit than the throw hte 50-135 back on, it feels like a ballerina. It just dances. As far as hand holding, I've shot pictures at 1/13th at 250/4, that were sharp at 100% so SR is the bomb. That's 5 stops under the 1/400 rule of thumb hat it should be. Handholding is fine though, it's no biger than a 70-200L, and might be smaller. Take the tripod boot off and the lens hood, and it's surprisingly small. I like that I can take a small camera bag with a body, flash, 16-50, 60-250 anf 50/1.4 and basically shoot anything ever. I'm going to tak that exact setup out later today. I can carry the 35mm equiv of 24-400 in a bag that would barely fit a 5D and a 24-70L. The bokeh is great on the 60-250, but not as good as the 50-135 with its rounded aperture blades. I'm realy njoying this lens, and I think it's yet another sign of Pentax's amazing lens prowess. I think the DA* series blows everything out of the water.

*Andi Lo* · 08-26-2009, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by GeneralBenson

I've shot pictures at 1/13th at 250/4, that were sharp at 100% so SR is the bomb. That's 5 stops under the 1/400 rule of thumb hat it should be.

Curious. K20D or K-7? Thanks

BB_Zone28 · 08-28-2009, 12:48 PM

I tried swapping between the larger 60-250 and smaller 50-135 zooms on my K20D at a recent Pentax open house. The larger lens felt very solidly built, zoomed smoothly and was a pleasure to use. The smaller seemed a little looser on the zoom, but the f/2.8 was nice for shallow dof effects and the images I shot looked a little sharper than the larger. (the shallow dof can enhance that perception)

I'm thinking for my usage, the smaller 50-135 is an excellent indoor lens for candids and social events (and portraits), while the larger 60-250 has more "reach" needed for sports and other outdoor types of events where that tripod mount comes in handy over the course of a long day of shooting multiple games.

*jake123* · 08-28-2009, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by gazonk

Tokina is not a HOYA company, that's a very persistent urban legend, though.

It's a persistent urban legend that Tokina is a not a Hoya company.

GoSharks · 08-28-2009, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by thibs

Yes it is. Stop that BS.
BOth 16-50 and 50-135 are Pentax designs.

Pentax owns the patents for both lenses.
US 11/672224 is the 50-135.