| Author: | | Showing Reviews 1-15 of 34 | | New Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Burley, Idaho Posts: 4
3 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: December 3, 2011 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $480.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | SHARP!!! Quiet with Good Range and Close Focus. | | Cons: | Focusing ring rotates | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
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I've been reading other reviews of this lens and I can't believe we're talking about the same lens. I think it's the best normal range zoom. I've used almost all the others, Pentax, Nikon, and Canon none were better. I've taken portraits and flower pictures at 70mm f4 and they are tack sharp. I've had one problem with the focus but that was after I stood in a blowing rain storm taking a picture of a mountain lake. I sent it to pentax and it came back better than new. I use this lens for about 85% of my pictures. I've been a professional photographer for over 40 years and I'm telling you this lens can do it all. I know Pentax has a 16-50mm f2.8 that a lot of people like and it is sharp but 50mm are you kidding? I owned a Canon 17-50mm f2.8 and I almost gave it away, too short for weddings and not all that sharp. I know the SDM gets a bad rap but other Pentax lenses have the SDM focusing like all the Star lenses. I have not tried the new 18-135mm yet. I do need a weather proof lens that is sharp. If the 17-70mm lens was wearher proof it would be perfect. Once again I'm telling you this lens is Sharp!!!!!!! | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2009 Location: port townsend, wa Posts: 850
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: February 14, 2011 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $469.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Nice IQ, Nice zoom range | | Cons: | none | |
I was looking for a Pentax crop sensor equivalent of the full frame Canon 24-105 f4. Here it is. Like that popular lens, this has very nice image quality. Photos are sharp through the range, if the tiniest bit soft at 70mm. If contrast is slightly down at f4, that's easy to fix in post. For 99% of my uses it's more than simply good.
Some people knock it for being f4 and heavy. Well folks you bought an f4 lens, didn't you. Marking it down because it's not faster is pretty silly, isn't it? I'll guarantee you that it would be a lot more expensive and heavy at f2.8. My 50mm lens doesn't have much of a zoom range. Can I knock it for that? No, for what it is it's a 10, as this lens is for me. Rate the lens for what it is. I've also tried the Sigma 17-70 and it does go to f2.8 at the wide end. It just isn't as good a lens and 2.8 is simply too soft and flat to be appealing on it.
Anyway, now that that's out of my system, I can say that this is my new walk around lens. At all focal lengths it's sharper than my 18-250 and about the same weight. And the 18-250 is a step up from kit lenses at the same focal lengths. Contrast and color saturation are both better with the 17-70. Focusing is both faster and more accurate, as well as much quieter. Build quality is about the same as the 18-250, good but not superb. That's what I expect from Pentax with a non-* zoom lens. It's certainly feels more solid than the kit lenses I've used. I considered the 18-135. The weather sealing on that and the great zoom range are both appealing but after trying that out, it didn't have the same IQ, though its focusing was excellent.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: March, 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 482
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: September 16, 2010 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $320.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | zoom range, decent IMQ, near silent AF | | Cons: | Not good for MF, a bit heavy, SDM DEAD | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
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I do not have many zooms (less than 10). This is one of the best ones. The quality of zoom lenses have improved dramatically over the years. They have become smaller in size, larger in aperture and having wide zoom range. Front element is no longer rotating. There is no need to change focus while zooming. There are also FREE and Internal focusing, you name it. While the design has improved, the addition of ED and AL lenses also helped. It is particularly evident in the IMQ of the borders and extreme borders. All in all, zooms can rival primes in certain condition and if you not pay too much attention to details.
However, they are not primes. None of them (except maybe one) has aperture larger than f2.8. The IMQ at the largest aperture is still lagging particularly at the far end. They are more prone to flare and distortion. The extreme borders are still lacking in IMQ. BUT they are more convenient than primes in day light conditions.
I am not sure how to compare this lens. Let me compare it with the legendary but often ignored FA 28-70mm F4. First, I have to say that I am not going to sell the FA at the moment.
Second, this DA is certainly better built than the FA 28-70mm f4. The front does not rotate when focusing. The zoom ring is more smooth, which is important for shooting videos. It also comes with a lens hood. But image quality wise, it is only slightly better better that the FA in the center and in certain occasions. The FA has quite a bit of personality itself and is much lighter than the DA.
Third, the DA is better at close focusing. The DA is better at the extreme borders and at 50-70mm range.
However, it is much bigger in all dimensions than the FA, perhaps due to IF design and the zoom range. Focusing is relatively fast. The downside is that it is not good for MF, since the focusing throw is too short. The upside is that it is easy for videoing.
Not good for low light. IMQ degrades at the borders at the 70mm range. Resolution is not the highest at f4. Am I asking too much? 
While not big on zooms, happy so far.
EDIT: SDM motor dead soon after getting this lens from a PF member, have to send to Pentax for a fix. Come back SDM motor replaced. But it was not a pleasant thing  So lower my grade by one point.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: Independence, MN Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: April 2, 2012 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $480.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | great range, quality feel, quiet, vibrant | | Cons: | no Weather proofing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k5
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If this had weather-sealing and a bit more "bling", it would be a DA*. I might say if it was a bit faster too, but Pentax's current short/mid zoom DA*16-50mm doesn't look that great until it is at F4 anyway. I really debated between the DA17-70 and the DA*16-50. I own several DA*'s in other ranges and I like the little "extra" they come with.
Ultimately, without the WR and the Gold Band and perhaps the 2.8 or 3.5 designation that would attract more attention, this lens is simply good, excellent even. And 20mm more reach is greatly appreciated, especially with portrait work. Pentax has 5 short zooms. Their Kit zooms are better than expected. And we are programmed to presume the DA*16-50mm is the one we should all be saving for. This DA17-70mm, especially at the $480 I paid, is the best choice. Not just for the money, it is the best choice period. It is so consistant, center to edge and in different light. The DA*16-50 needs to be compensated for, the DA17-70mm you just shoot.
The Sigma 17-70mm and Tamron 17-50mm each have some noteworthy strengths, but some negatives as well. Of all 7 choices I know of that you can hang on the front of a K5 and capture the midrange zoom, this is the best. If you don't have to have weather-sealing, buy it; enjoy it. Don't let anyone make you feel bad!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: March, 2010 Location: Andalucía and the U.K. Posts: 17
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 16, 2011 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Useful zoom range, swift and silent AF, nice colours | | Cons: | Weak corners at 17 and at 70mm, price? | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 7
New or Used: Used
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I suppose your opinion of this lens depends on the copy you have. Mine has never had any focussing issues between 50 and 70mm and the SDM has performed flawlessly. For me it's always been a very useful and reliable performer.
In terms of IQ, autofocus and range it's a definite step up from the kit lens. However, the question is whether it's worth the extra cash. In the UK this lens is retailing for about £400, nearly £350 more than the 18-55. You get an extra 1mm and the wide end, an extra 15mm in length and the autofocus is swift and silent (at least in my example). The overall IQ is better, but it's still a zoom. So is it worth the extra? I think that depends on your specific needs, expectations and of course the size of your wallet.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 134
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: August 14, 2011 | I can recommend this lens: No |
Price: $500.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Versitile zoom range, Image quality, moderate price | | Cons: | SDM failure, problems focusing above 60mm | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: New
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I would rate this lens much higher if it were not for the SDM failure that was repaired on warranty (and quickly too) and also the problems with focusing above 60mm. That problem was originally also repaired on warranty but it has developed again so I'll have to send it back to Pentax. I would think it was just my bad luck but I've read here where others have experienced the same problem.
If I ignore the above two problems I would give this lens an overall score of 8.6 or so. The zoom range is very convenient making this an ideal walk around lens. The quality feel is certainly there as there has been no zoom creeping. When the SDM works it is fast and silent. As to image quality, I have never noticed purple fringing so it seems to handle CAs excellently. There is some vignetting, which is especially noticeable when a filter is attached.
Once the lens is returned I will use it again and hopefully they will have found a permanent fix for the problem with not locking onto focus at zoom ranges approximately above 60mm. I will continue to use this lens because I like the quality of the images and the convenient zoom range. The present line up of Pentax lenses seems to emphasize wide angle to normal and normal to telephoto (except for the new DA18-135). This is one lens that bridges that gap by providing wide angle to a moderate telephoto range.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: Motown Posts: 141
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: March 3, 2011 | I can recommend this lens: No |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Very high image quality when focus spot on. Good focal range. | | Cons: | Unreliable AF. Can't lock focus at long end. | |
This lens has potential to make you very frustrated. One one hand, if focus is spot on, image quality is very high. Color is pleasing. On the other hand, achieving focus is not easy, at least for my copy. At many occasions, it can't lock focus at all @50mm~70mm focal length - it hunts all the time. I suspect my copy is having faulty SDM motor or internal mechanism. I concur with another reviewer here that its SDM motor has design problem. Or problem might only happen on some copies (I'm not sure), but it is enough to make you wonder whether you should trust SDM. I have many Pentax screw-drive AF lenses. None of them makes me so worried about their AF.
If the lens does get the focus right, it is very sweet. Resolution seems to be very high. Color is very pleasing. The focal range is very useful. These make me even more frustrated about this lens - should I bring it when I take pictures? I end up to bring another lens along with it all the time lest this lens lets me down at importatnt moment. But this lens is supposed to be so versatile that you can bring it alone, right?
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 893
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: February 15, 2011 | I can recommend this lens: No |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | Good focal range | | Cons: | Not sharp at the long end | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 3
Handling: 8
Value: 6
New or Used: New
| |
I originally bought this lens to replace a DA16-45, because I wanted the added telephoto reach. The problem was that the lens was decidedly soft at the long end, especially when focusing at infinity. Twice, I sent it along with my camera to Pentax for service and was told that the lens was performing within specifications. That was not exactly what I wanted to hear, so I sold it and replaced it with a DA*16-50, which I consider to be a much better lens in every way. Although the DA* cannot go to 70mm, at least it is sharp at all points within its focal length range.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2010 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 4
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: February 2, 2011 | I can recommend this lens: No |
Price: $670.00
| Rating: 2 |
| Pros: | Silent focussing. Nice construction. Reasonable size and weight. | | Cons: | Poor definition. Failure to find focus 25% | |
I think I just got a defective copy. I used it for one day, was appalled to find a 450 GBP lens outperformed by my 18-55 kit lens (come back, all is forgiven) and returned it to the shop. Fortunately, Jacobs (Birmingham UK) understood my dissatisfaction and refunded my money (apart from £20 "restocking fee").
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 137
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: December 8, 2010 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | zoom range, build, focus speed | | Cons: | size, lens creep | |
The SMC Pentax-DA 17-70mm F4 AL [IF] SDM is my most used lens. I was surprised that the extra range has caused me to relegate the 18-55mm kit lens to only occasional use, mostly as a very light weight travel lens. The 17-70 has proven to easily cover my most widely used range - ideal for my purposes. The build seems very sturdy and I find my K-7 (without grip) to be very well balanced with it although I do find the 17-70 to be on the 'large' size for its range. It comes with a lens hood supplied While not a "WR" lens the 17-70 does have a seal around the mount.
On moving from the kit lens to the Da 17-70mm the first thing I noticed was the silence; the auto focus of this lens is very fast and very quiet. Under my normal shooting conditions I find the auto focus to also be quite accurate. I rarely use manual focus but the quick shift focus feature is a real help in this regard. As most reviewers have pointed out, the narrow focusing ring and short throw can make manual focusing a bit of a challenge. The minimum focusing distance of less than one foot is quite acceptable.
The image quality I have been able to produce with 17-70 seems good to me. I am an enthusiastic amateur who shoots a wide range of subjects. I do not yet have any of the Pentax 'Limited' lenses for an IQ comparison but I must say my17-70 images compare quite favourably with those I produce with an F 50mm 1:1.7 For now I am quite satisfied with the 17-70. The long term fate of the lens is unclear. My initial thought is that the new SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR would be a natural replacement. On the other hand I may move to more prime lenses and in that case the 17-70 will remain an important part of my lens inventory.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 126
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: December 8, 2010 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $315.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Constant Aperture, Zoom Range, Sharp, Color Rendition, Low Cost | | Cons: | Barrel Wobble, Focus Ring | |
Handling:
This is a really really nice standard zoom lens. It's perfect for general photography and walking about. It's wide enough for 90% of shots, (I wouldn't notice the other 10% if I didn't have a Sigma 10-20mm), and the extra reach to 70mm is great for portraits or the like. The zoom ring has a very nice, high quality feel to it. The lens zooms in and out without any hiccups or rough spots. The focusing ring is extremely loose and undamped, probably so the SDM motor wouldn't break. I don't recommend using the focus ring ever, even with the quick-shift feature. It doesn't feel good at all. The lens is an externally zooming design, so the front of the lens extends when zooming. Unfortunately, the extending part isn't the most sturdy of components, and a noticeable barrel wobble is present.
Performance:
Optically, this lens is phenomenal. It's sharp and contrasty, all the way from wide-open. Of course, it improves dramatically as it is stopped down, but wide-open performance is very respectable. I can see some CA and PF, as is common for Pentax lenses. Flare control is respectable, thanks to the SMC. Focusing speed is... alright. I'm more of a manual focus guy, and it bothers me when it doesn't focus on exactly what I want it to. Even so, when it does focus, it does a very good job. On my k200d, it doesn't always lock focus in low light, and occasionally fails to lock focus in other situations. The AF is certainly quicker than manual focusing, but somewhat unreliable in less than ideal situations. In short, AF performance is a bit disappointing, but this will probably improve with practicing AF, (I can't believe I just said that).
Overall, this lens is one of the best walkabout zooms in Pentax's lineup. A combination of exceptionally low cost (I got mine for $315), good build quality, and amazing optics leads me to rate this lens a solid 9/10.
The only alternative to this lens is the DA* 16-50mm, which loses 20mm on the long end and costs at least twice as much. In return, it has a constant f/2.8 aperture and is totally weathersealed. I believe the DA 17-70mm stacks up nicely.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2010 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 10
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: November 4, 2010 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | good contrast, good colour, great zoom range | | Cons: | less than perfectly sharp, hesitant and not always accurate SDM, focus ring, bulky | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 7
Value: 7
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This could have been a great lens, but it misses the mark. Great control of distortion. Its colour rendition is superb. Excellent contrast, too. It may be somewhat large for what it does and is also quite heavy, but no matter. My main problems with it are:
(i) not very sharp above 45mm. This improves at f5.6, but then gets worse at f8 and above;
(ii) the SDM focusing can be vague and has a tendency to hunt in low light like no other lens I've used (tried on several cameras);
(iii) the focus ring is poorly thought out: it is too light which means you can easily loose focus just by touching it, and the throw is too short making manual focus almost impossible if you were unwise enough to be tempted to try in the first place.
Of these, the sharpness issue is the one that really matters. I have compared this lens with the 18-250 and the 16-45. Both alternatives are as good in terms of sharpness. This makes the 18-250 seem a pretty amazing lens when you consider its range. The 17-70mm is also not sufficiently better than the kit lens as one might have the right to expect.
So, what you have is a lens that had the possibility of greatness. However, it falls short. I would turn to either of the three zooms mentioned in preference.
I have tried another copy and it is a good deal sharper, so I have revised my mark from a 7 to an 8. However, another drawback for some with this lens that ought to be mentioned is the fact that it will not take more than one filter without vignetting at the wide end (even if you use 77mm with an adapter). If you are one of those people who likes to use an ND fader, or you like to experiment with multiple filters, then you will in such cases only be able to shoot as wide as 24mm with this lens - as opposed to the full 16mm with the 16-45.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2010 Location: Utrecht Posts: 13
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: June 20, 2010 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | SDM, color rendering, 17-70 range at F4, IQ | | Cons: | bit bulky | |
This is a very good lens, certainly a worthy upgrade from the 18-55 kitlens. First of all, it's very sharp, even wide open. Image quality is good, great colors. And off course you can enjoy the moment of silence: it has SDM.
Although there is a slight wobble in the construction of my lens, it seems pretty solid. Perhaps the weight has something to do with it. This is not a featherweight.
I have experienced no problems focusing from 50-70 mm, as mentioned in earlier reviews. Lifting the outertube does not have any effect on the AF.
Solid upgrade from kitlens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 303
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: June 2, 2010 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $800.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Sharp, pretty fast, SDM, focal range | | Cons: | Unreliable AF, focus ring, build quality | |
Again, this lens would have needed a "maybe". I've sold mine, primarily due to being an "odd" lens, either too slow, too short, not long enough or just too expensive/fragile to risk bringing with me if throwing the camera in a bag.
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If you've got this lens, please post a review here without rating, and state how your AF functions, and if the 'finger trick' mentioned below helps. Thanks.
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Starting with the bad things, the lens is actually quite wobbly, more so after spending two months on a service trip to Germany, which isn't very comforting. Even at the shortest (focal) length, you can feel the inner tubes wobbling. Apart from this, the build quality is very good. The zoom ring has good resistance, the focus ring is... at least there (no resistance, short throw, but that's consumer AF nowadays, and good for the speed), generally feels like a nice lens (apart from the inner lens tubes).
AF speed is generally very good. The main issue is focus at the longer focal lengths (50-70mm), where AF often is very 'unsure', and fails to lock. This happens even if AF is very close to spot-on, and usually after the lens tries to adjust focus (the famous 'Pentax double AF check') a couple of times. First, I thought it was a general problem, and sent the lens in for a service. It got a bit better, then I understood that the reason why the camera fails to lock focus, is that the "focus steps" are too large and fails to lock focus after trying two different "steps" back and forth.
I don't remember if I found it myself or read it on this forum, but found that adding a tiny bit of resistance helps the lens focussing.
This behaviour is experienced by at least a couple of users, and is caused by the lack of resistance in the focus system. Roughly, it's a bit like lifting a bike up on one wheel and then try to rotate the other wheel some degrees by kicking it. You won't be precise due to the wheel rotating pretty much freely.
This is actually a serious flaw with the lens (judging from other users having the same problem), and pretty much ruins the benefits of fast AF.
Moving on from the flaws, this lens actually offers very good image quality for a zoom, and the focal length range is very useful for most situations. IQ has never been an issue with this lens, and I've used it on vacation in Egypt, at well-lit conserts and as a walk-around lens.
It gets a bit soft at 70mm, but not really bad. Also very good at short focus distances, and offers a 1:~3 mag. ratio, very useful for flower shots and the like.
Although the lens design is very complex (even more elements than the DA*16-50), the flare resistance is good, and without loss of contrast.
As we're in the middle of lens paranoia, the SDM itself hasn't failed in the one and a half year it was used, and I've understood that few failures are reported (even considering the limited user base for this lens).
It is quite expensive for such a zoom, as faster (third-party) lenses are available cheaper, both with or without SDM.
Without the focus problem, it's actually a very good lens, but problems like these really make the lens a pain to deal with, which takes the fun away. Without the flawed AF, a bit refinement in the build quality (maybe even adding WR), this lens would easily get 9.
All in all, this lens should be tried before buying, or bought at a store which offers returns.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: March 8, 2010 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $479.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, image quality, focal length | | Cons: | size | |
Great all around lens with a good focal range. Seems a tad large and somewhat heavy on my Pentax K-x. Probably be a fantastic lens on a larger body, so I may have to acquire a K-7! Just have to make sure other body can take advantage of the SDM.
All in all ... very nice lens!
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