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Reportage · 10-10-2010, 09:34 PM

Like a bar, gymnasium and so on?

how fares the AF of SDM lenses in this aspect example the pentax 50-135mm against "non-motorised" lens like tamron 28-75mm, sigma 24-70?

and how is the accuracy at that speed?

Last edited by Reportage; 10-11-2010 at 04:01 AM.

Rupert · 10-11-2010, 06:59 AM

Well, I can't answer that with any authority, but I can tell you that my DA*50-135 hunts like an old coon dog with arthritis..........and in very low light it just lays own and goes to sleep!

My Sigma 10-20 and 17-70 HSM lenses are fast, accurate and quiet....no comparison to the Pentax.
Having said this....the DA* 50-135 is such a spectacular performer in IQ that I would want it if it was a full manual lens...it is that good!
Regards!

Reportage · 10-11-2010, 07:05 AM

Originally posted by Rupert

Well, I can't answer that with any authority, but I can tell you that my DA*50-135 hunts like an old coon dog with arthritis..........and in very low light it just lays own and goes to sleep!

My Sigma 10-20 and 17-70 HSM lenses are fast, accurate and quiet....no comparison to the Pentax.
Having said this....the DA* 50-135 is such a spectacular performer in IQ that I would want it if it was a full manual lens...it is that good!
Regards!

arrgh..the answer i dreaded.

dgaies · 10-11-2010, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by Reportage

Like a bar, gymnasium and so on?

how fares the AF of SDM lenses in this aspect example the pentax 50-135mm against "non-motorised" lens like tamron 28-75mm, sigma 24-70?

and how is the accuracy at that speed?

As Rupert mentioned, the DA*50-135 isn't the best performer (in terms of AF) in low-light. My Tamron 28-75 fares a bit better. The fastest lens I've every owned in terms of AF in low-light was the DA40. That thing was fast and could lock in near darkness.

jaieger · 10-11-2010, 10:41 AM

Agreed with above, the DA40 is infallible in almost every respect. It's even faster than my FA50/1.7 which theoretically should be faster due to the AF sensor getting more light (the FA tends to second guess itself though :/). I shot with the DA40 at a concert which had pretty variable lighting, from pitch dark to blindingly bright, and never did I have to worry about it locking autofocus. The drunk lady behind me, on the other hand...

axl · 10-11-2010, 11:03 AM

From the lenses I've tried: DA40 and F50/1.7. Both of them extremely fast and the F50 bit more accurate with over 1 stop advantage. But for bars I have tried both on K10D and would be happy to recommend!

Jasvox · 10-11-2010, 11:10 AM

Depending on the size of where I plan to be, when KNOWING there will be low lighting and the need for speed, I grab my FA50/1.4 or my FA35/2. Usually, the 50 get's the nod and set at 1.8, is very very nice.

Jason

audiobomber · 10-11-2010, 11:45 AM

I own FA 50, DA 40mm and FA 35mm. I've written them down in order of low light focussing ability. The FA 50 1.4 is the fastest to lock on, and least likely to hunt.

Wheatfield · 10-11-2010, 12:03 PM

The DA* 55/1.4 is pretty uncanny. It still has good contrast wide open (better than the FA50/1.4) which does make life easier on the AF system.

dgaies · 10-11-2010, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

The DA* 55/1.4 is pretty uncanny. It still has good contrast wide open (better than the FA50/1.4) which does make life easier on the AF system.

I've been eying the DA*55 but was under the impression that the AF was on the slow side. Not to the point of being unusable or anything, but just relative to the FA50/1.4.

twitch · 10-11-2010, 02:44 PM

Although I don't own one, I'd expect a DA*200 to be reasonably fast.

All my DA primes (21/40/70) are very fast at AF'ing. My DA*50-135 is not, but then as others have said, the stunning IQ of the 50-135 means I can forgive it's sluggish AF behavour. It's not terribly slow (no worse than the 55-300 I think), but yeah, it's no DA40.

deadwolfbones · 10-11-2010, 02:47 PM

DA40 is probably the fastest.

Reportage · 10-11-2010, 03:47 PM

how about 3rd party primes like the sigma 30mm f/1.4 and so on?

Wheatfield · 10-11-2010, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by dgaies

I've been eying the DA*55 but was under the impression that the AF was on the slow side. Not to the point of being unusable or anything, but just relative to the FA50/1.4.

If you compare how long it takes for the lens to travel from nearest to farthest focus, the 50/1.4 is a little faster, but in normal picture taking situations, it's a bit of a toss up.
There is less hunting with the DA.

dgaies · 10-11-2010, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

If you compare how long it takes for the lens to travel from nearest to farthest focus, the 50/1.4 is a little faster, but in normal picture taking situations, it's a bit of a toss up.
There is less hunting with the DA.

Thanks for the info. Regardless, I'm sure if I bought the DA* it would focus a lot faster than the lens it would be replacing... the A50/1.2

10-10-2010, 09:34 PM	#1
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	Which Pentax mount zoom or prime is fastest when hunting in low light? Like a bar, gymnasium and so on? how fares the AF of SDM lenses in this aspect example the pentax 50-135mm against "non-motorised" lens like tamron 28-75mm, sigma 24-70? and how is the accuracy at that speed? Last edited by Reportage; 10-11-2010 at 04:01 AM.

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10-11-2010, 06:59 AM	#2
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Well, I can't answer that with any authority, but I can tell you that my DA50-135 hunts like an old coon dog with arthritis..........and in very low light it just lays own and goes to sleep! My Sigma 10-20 and 17-70 HSM lenses are fast, accurate and quiet....no comparison to the Pentax. Having said this....the DA 50-135 is such a spectacular performer in IQ that I would want it if it was a full manual lens...it is that good! Regards!

10-11-2010, 07:05 AM	#3
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739 Original Poster	Originally posted by Rupert Well, I can't answer that with any authority, but I can tell you that my DA50-135 hunts like an old coon dog with arthritis..........and in very low light it just lays own and goes to sleep! My Sigma 10-20 and 17-70 HSM lenses are fast, accurate and quiet....no comparison to the Pentax. Having said this....the DA 50-135 is such a spectacular performer in IQ that I would want it if it was a full manual lens...it is that good! Regards! arrgh..the answer i dreaded.

10-11-2010, 07:07 AM	#4
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by Reportage Like a bar, gymnasium and so on? how fares the AF of SDM lenses in this aspect example the pentax 50-135mm against "non-motorised" lens like tamron 28-75mm, sigma 24-70? and how is the accuracy at that speed? As Rupert mentioned, the DA*50-135 isn't the best performer (in terms of AF) in low-light. My Tamron 28-75 fares a bit better. The fastest lens I've every owned in terms of AF in low-light was the DA40. That thing was fast and could lock in near darkness.

10-11-2010, 10:41 AM	#5
jaieger Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 586	Agreed with above, the DA40 is infallible in almost every respect. It's even faster than my FA50/1.7 which theoretically should be faster due to the AF sensor getting more light (the FA tends to second guess itself though :/). I shot with the DA40 at a concert which had pretty variable lighting, from pitch dark to blindingly bright, and never did I have to worry about it locking autofocus. The drunk lady behind me, on the other hand...

10-11-2010, 11:03 AM	#6
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	From the lenses I've tried: DA40 and F50/1.7. Both of them extremely fast and the F50 bit more accurate with over 1 stop advantage. But for bars I have tried both on K10D and would be happy to recommend!

10-11-2010, 11:10 AM	#7
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	Depending on the size of where I plan to be, when KNOWING there will be low lighting and the need for speed, I grab my FA50/1.4 or my FA35/2. Usually, the 50 get's the nod and set at 1.8, is very very nice. Jason

10-11-2010, 11:45 AM	#8
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	I own FA 50, DA 40mm and FA 35mm. I've written them down in order of low light focussing ability. The FA 50 1.4 is the fastest to lock on, and least likely to hunt.

10-11-2010, 12:03 PM	#9
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	The DA* 55/1.4 is pretty uncanny. It still has good contrast wide open (better than the FA50/1.4) which does make life easier on the AF system.

10-11-2010, 12:05 PM	#10
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by Wheatfield The DA* 55/1.4 is pretty uncanny. It still has good contrast wide open (better than the FA50/1.4) which does make life easier on the AF system. I've been eying the DA*55 but was under the impression that the AF was on the slow side. Not to the point of being unusable or anything, but just relative to the FA50/1.4.

10-11-2010, 02:44 PM	#11
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Although I don't own one, I'd expect a DA200 to be reasonably fast. All my DA primes (21/40/70) are very fast at AF'ing. My DA50-135 is not, but then as others have said, the stunning IQ of the 50-135 means I can forgive it's sluggish AF behavour. It's not terribly slow (no worse than the 55-300 I think), but yeah, it's no DA40.

10-11-2010, 02:47 PM	#12
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451	DA40 is probably the fastest.

10-11-2010, 03:47 PM	#13
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739 Original Poster	how about 3rd party primes like the sigma 30mm f/1.4 and so on?

10-11-2010, 04:02 PM	#14
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by dgaies I've been eying the DA*55 but was under the impression that the AF was on the slow side. Not to the point of being unusable or anything, but just relative to the FA50/1.4. If you compare how long it takes for the lens to travel from nearest to farthest focus, the 50/1.4 is a little faster, but in normal picture taking situations, it's a bit of a toss up. There is less hunting with the DA.

10-11-2010, 04:10 PM	#15
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by Wheatfield If you compare how long it takes for the lens to travel from nearest to farthest focus, the 50/1.4 is a little faster, but in normal picture taking situations, it's a bit of a toss up. There is less hunting with the DA. Thanks for the info. Regardless, I'm sure if I bought the DA* it would focus a lot faster than the lens it would be replacing... the A50/1.2

Which Pentax mount zoom or prime is fastest when hunting in low light?

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