Pentax-DA* 200mm F2.8 Review

Value

Currently, the Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM is priced at 1196.95 USD. Although we do not consider this pricing to be excessive for a lens of this caliber, it is unfortunate that this price constitutes about a 20% increase compared to before the recent policy change in Pentax's pricing.

In regards to value, we first have to consider that the DA* 200mm f/2.8 has no real competitors in current production, either from Pentax or third parties. This is due to a lack of modern telephoto prime lenses in K mount. The only indirect competition that this lens might have are large aperture full-frame telephoto zooms, such as the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 or the various incarnations of Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8. Another K mount telephoto zoom in current production that might be considered is the  Pentax DA*60-250mm f/4, in which additional reach is achieved at the expense of the aperture being a full stop smaller.

The DA* 200mm f/2.8 might seem significantly more expensive than the above mentioned options (while simultaneously lacking the flexiblity of a zoom), but it has a lot of strengths that a lot of users will consider valuable and well worth the price difference. In our opinion, the most notable features of this lens are it's superb build quality, excellent weather/dust sealing, and optical performance. As can be seen in the test portions of this review, the optical performance needs no further introduction, while the weather sealing has become a very unique Pentax feature, which goes along very well with  Pentax' recent emphasis on outdoor adventure shooting.

When compared to large aperture full-frame telephoto zooms, the DA* 200mm f/2.8 has the distinct advantage in compactness and weight. We have used this lens extensively for traveling, and we have found its size and weight to be clearly a positive. Being a prime lens, it also renders excellent bokeh and sharpness, which are a few more advantages over a zoom lens.

While we did enjoy extensively the usage of this lens, we must consider that it also has it's weakenesses. The most prevalent one is the autofocus speed, or to be more specific, the latency in the SDM action. While this might not be a deal breaker for most users, we do find this aspect to be disconcerting in a lens of this class. Other weaknesses, such as the purple fringing, might be noticed sometimes in high specific situations, but they are not as unsettling as the autofocus latency. Also we must warn the reader that, while SDM failures in the DA* 200mm f/2.8 are not unheard of, its occurrences are very rare. 

We have presented in this review, the various strengths and weaknesses of the DA*200mm f/2.8. Although we determine that the performance and crafting of this lens is well worth its price, it is the user who ultimately determines the value of this lens and its suitability for his/her shooting application.