Review: smc PENTAX-DA 50-200mmF4-5.6ED

SpecialK · 01-05-2007, 10:05 PM

The DA 50-200 is a compact and lightweight (66.5mm x 78.5mm @ 285 g) zoom lens covering the short to medium telephoto.

It comes with front and rear caps and a bayonet hood, but no case. The hood has a small removable hatch to allow access to a polarizing filter so it can be rotated to the desired effect, and the hood can be reversed during storage. The last included item is a generic instruction/specification booklet that covers the current line up of lenses.

The zoom ring has a good firm feel. The focus ring is the "quick adjust" variety which means you can tweak the focus without sliding the AF/MF switch. The focus ring has a bit looser feel to it.

I got this lens as a compact alternative to the rather bulky Sigma 70-300. The Pentax is about 1/2 as long as the Sigma at the minimum, and when extended is only 6-3/4" (including hood) versus over 10" for the Sigma. Still not a "stealth lens", at least I don't draw stares as with the Sigma :-)

Even with a mediocre f4-5.6 maximum aperture and lack of close focusing (1.1m or 3.6 ft), its very low cost should put it your bag of tricks.

The image was shot at 1/750, f8, ISO 800 at 200mm.

**Adam** · 01-05-2007, 11:41 PM

I'd have to say that this is one of the most cost-effective Pentax lenses out there

I picked it up for the collection, but it's proven itself worthy of going out in the field because of it's stunning clarity (ED at work?). I still don't think it beats my FA 80-320, though...

Regardless, I'd recommend this lens to anyone who's missing a telephoto zoom!