FA 28-70 f/4 .... any good?

NicholasN · 01-15-2009, 07:02 PM

Can anybody tell me if this lens is any good at all?

I have found one for sale which looks to be in good condition.

**Marc Langille** · 01-15-2009, 07:27 PM

Supposedly it's a good lens:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/showproduct.php?product=218&cat=44

Stopped down a bit, this lens was relatively well regarded, and given it's price, that's a good thing!

Cheers,
Marc

NicholasN · 01-15-2009, 07:40 PM

Would AU$80 (US$54) sound too much for a used copy in good condition?

*hwblanks* · 01-15-2009, 07:49 PM

Considering that KEH.com has 2 in excellent condition for $84 & $89, respectively and 1 in "bargain" condition at $45 USD, it sounds like you'd be getting a good deal if you bought the one you're considering.

Heather

creampuff · 01-15-2009, 07:52 PM

Is this shot from the FA 28-70 f/4 good enough?

It is a very compact lens that offers good optical quality.
One of the underrated and better zooms from Pentax.

**roentarre** · 01-15-2009, 07:55 PM

It is a very good zoom. The pricing is going up quite a bit over the past few years. Surprisingly, the zoom does not fringe that much comparing to other Fa zooms or primes.

leeak · 01-15-2009, 07:56 PM

Sounds like a fair price. I have been watching the FA28-70/4 on Ebay in the past and it usually sell for US$50-70. I have read somewhere in the past the the FA28-70/4 is prone to certain deterioration inside the lens over time, but I don't remember exactly what. Does anyone know what that is?

*awo425* · 01-15-2009, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by leeak

Sounds like a fair price. I have been watching the FA28-70/4 on Ebay in the past and it usually sell for US$50-70. I have read somewhere in the past the the FA28-70/4 is prone to certain deterioration inside the lens over time, but I don't remember exactly what. Does anyone know what that is?

element separation. There are lens elements that are cemented together and in some lenses they are getting separated. I think you can spot this separation visually by looking at the optical elements. It should looks like bubbles.

vinceloc · 01-15-2009, 08:11 PM

Can anyone share their experience with this lens shooting wide open? Especially at the long end? Thanks!

*jglover* · 01-15-2009, 08:11 PM

The 28-70/4 was an outstanding lens, small, light and vey sharp. But as stated, it is very prone to element separation due to deterioation of the optical cement. As these lenses are now several years old, this is a pretty common issue from what I have read. If you get a good one it is a gem, but keep in mind that it may start to separate without warning at any time.

*woof* · 01-15-2009, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by vinceloc

Can anyone share their experience with this lens shooting wide open? Especially at the long end? Thanks!

Sure. Wide open... at the long end.

*bwield* · 01-15-2009, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by vinceloc

Can anyone share their experience with this lens shooting wide open? Especially at the long end? Thanks!

I just got a copy of this lens.. so I have not had too much time to play around with it, however long end wide open is noticably softer than say 5.6 when its sharp.
If you need really sharp f4 than you may want to look at something like the tamron 28-75 which is a 2.8. However it is much bigger and heavier, as well as being about 3x's as much.
All about what you will need it for

vinceloc · 01-15-2009, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by bwield

I just got a copy of this lens.. so I have not had too much time to play around with it, however long end wide open is noticably softer than say 5.6 when its sharp.
If you need really sharp f4 than you may want to look at something like the tamron 28-75 which is a 2.8. However it is much bigger and heavier, as well as being about 3x's as much.
All about what you will need it for

Thanks! I used to own the SIGMA 28-70 f2.8 EX DG, and the only real complaint I had was that it was soft wide open at the long end. But when stopped down to f3.5/4, it was tack sharp at 70mm (as well as the rest of the range, that is). I was thinking of getting the Pentax 28-70/4 to replace it, but now I'm thinking that it may not be that great a decision, since, at least with the SIGMA I am assured of sharpness at f4

*bwield* · 01-15-2009, 08:38 PM

Fair enough if you already have the sigma.. however the shot above would argue against my claim of "soft wide open" ...

*woof* · 01-16-2009, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by bwield

Fair enough if you already have the sigma.. however the shot above would argue against my claim of "soft wide open" ...

No, actually, I tend to agree... at f/4 it ** is ** just slightly soft. That picture is pretty good, but it lacks the kind of definition/sharpness the Tamron 28-75mm would have at this point. On the other hand it is pretty darned good, and I do like it... especially for the price and compactness, weight.

I picked up my copy for around $100.00. My PZ-1 "owns" it because it is of course a full-frame lens.

Here is what is said about this lens elsewhere: Brief Comments