Originally posted by Cambo The Sigma 18-125 zoom gets a 2.5 optically, but the FA* 24 gets a 2....
I rest my case.
Cameron
You are comparing a consumer zoom lens performance against a professional quality prime lens. That should be like comparing apples with oranges. Aside from that, look at the resolution test; you would expect a pro quality prime lens would outperform a consumer zoom lens at every level but clearly, that's not happening here. The FA* has great centre sharpness but fairly mediocre borders, the Sigma at 35mm has better border sharpness than the FA*. Judging the FA* based on resolution test numbers, I'd say Photozone was spot on when it awarded 2 stars for the FA* 24/2.0. As for price/performance, it seems a good thing the FA*20/2.0 is discontinued.
I have also heard just about every refrain about Photozone's less than favourable review of Pentax lens' performance: Either the test procedure is flawed or the test sample was bad. If you believe a not so favourable review is flawed, then you have to also discard all of the positive results, because the test procedure is the same for both. If the test sample is a lemon, I'd say the vaunted Pentax quality control is a nothing but a myth.
Back to the 18-135; for a briefest instant I thought about getting one when it was announced last year, until the sticker shock kicked in. $600.00 to gain an extra 10mm over my $150.00 Sigma 18-125, I'd have to be rolling in dough-re-mi to do that.
Thanks,