Photozone review DA* 50-135mm

ZaphodB · 10-14-2007, 08:27 AM

For anyone who's interested, Photozone have now got a review up for the 50-135mm.

Pentax SMC-DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Photozone Review / Test Report

*wtlwdwgn* · 10-14-2007, 10:43 AM

Thanks for posting the update on PZ. After reading the test on the Tokina I was a little worried about the Pentax version. It sounds pretty good.

**roentarre** · 10-14-2007, 03:59 PM

A great review confirming a lot of rumour I heard. Definitely sharp and some significant CA.

Not too concerned about the vignetting though.

Waiting for this lens to arrive in Melbourne.

carpents · 10-14-2007, 06:10 PM

Thanks for the link, Klaus always provides insightful tests.

ZaphodB · 10-14-2007, 06:36 PM

NP. Yes I always check Photozone, I like Klaus' reviews which are always quite detailed and consistent... though I know I might be accused of the sin of pixel-peeping

The review is pretty much as I expected really... good resolution, good overall quality and great build, but vignetting and the almost inevitable CA. Personally I could live with slight vignetting, and CA has never been as much of a problem for me as it seems to be for others. I would definitely consider this lens, except for two things:
1) It's digital-only.
2) It's not 70-200

On the other hand if you're only shooting digital and are happy with a 70-200 "equivalent" instead of 70-200, this does seem to meet the expecations.

FotoPete · 10-14-2007, 07:49 PM

Ugh Pentax needs to get quality control together haha. Lots of lemons diluting DA* quality assurance.

**roentarre** · 10-15-2007, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by FotoPete

Ugh Pentax needs to get quality control together haha. Lots of lemons diluting DA* quality assurance.

Maybe it is always to buy them after some post-market surveilance. Modifications will be made after release of these products.

In medicine, the best and most reliable pharmaceutical research is the phase 4 where post market surveliance of the medication released into the population provides the overall insight into the product (side effects, complications, unexpected problems, large sample size etc). Usually these medications are approved by FDA then released in US and tested by the huge population sample size in US. Then Australian government will wait and see if certain meds are safe to be allowed here ...

Cheers
James

and · 10-15-2007, 04:34 AM

It seems to do better than the 80-200 altho that one scored surprisingly low from the pictures I have seen from it.

Matjazz · 10-15-2007, 07:47 AM

Judging by fotozone, Pentax SMC FA* 80-200mm f/2.8 [IF] ED did better in all fields. i guess old lenses will keep their prices. We'll see.

carpents · 10-15-2007, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Matjazz

Judging by fotozone, Pentax SMC FA* 80-200mm f/2.8 [IF] ED did better in all fields. i guess old lenses will keep their prices. We'll see.

Most importantly the FA* beat it by about 1.5x in focal length!

Tom M · 10-15-2007, 09:44 AM

I notice it has worse chromatic aberation than the DA 50-200 but better sharpness.

FotoPete · 10-15-2007, 10:23 AM

yea that surprised me because in the past, SMC has shown its superiority as a coating. While its not saying that all pentax lenses are immune to CA/PF, I expected it to have a marked improvement over the Tokina variants.

I agree with Matjazz, the 80-200 did better and is longer in focal length. Pentax should just pull out some of its older designs for the time being. Its not like they're bad or anything.

and · 10-15-2007, 10:40 AM

the da* has the supposedly superiour SP coating as well.