[Greyser]

Greyser, any sharpening or post processing applied to the pics?

Yes. I posted all final products. The only no PP applied ducks example is posted on page 2.

[yyyzzz]

I have been shooting more with this lens and I am getting better results over time. I have taken 300 more pictures mostly at 250mm at f4, just for the sake of testing.

Several reasons for better results:
1. It takes a bit time to get used to. My early posts were done in a rush.
2. Kx is not the best with AF, especially if the target is moving. Since I do not know exactly where it was focused, it took me a while to learn new focusing tricks.
3. My Kx needs more AF adjustment for this lens than originally dialed in.
4. Due to very short focusing throw, it was hard to manually focus. BTW, I love MF.
5. I have used my tripod and monopod more during the testing.
6. Lighting is much better.
7. My subjects are largely moving ones.

In the end, I would still rate IMQ at 250mm f4 as good. It is certainly better than anything that I have. The key issue is expectation, especially after shelling out so much money. While all the reviews are true, I might have expected too much after reading all the rave reviews.

The bottomline is that my first copy was clearly defective and the current one is much better. PF does exist in extremely rare situations.

250mm f4


1:1crop

[Greyser]

It is definitely better.

2. Kx is not the best with AF, especially if the target is moving. Since I do not know exactly where it was focused, it took me a while to learn new focusing tricks.
3. My Kx needs more AF adjustment for this lens than originally dialed in.

2. I had K-x for a year and used central focusing exclusively. It helps to get better target acquisition. The technique is very simple: focus and then re-compose.
3. My DA*60-250 required +3 adjustment on my K-5.

[Nitrok]

I've been testing this lens now for couple of weeks and I have noticed strange softness or glow effect at f/4. As soon as I stop down to f/4.5 the effect disappears.
I have never had this kind of problem on my DA* 300.

I have also fine adjusted the AF and but with no luck.

Below is example of this glow effect (click to view full image):
Left: f/4 - Right: f/4.5


And here is another one (click to view full image):
Left: f/4 - Right: f/4.5


Should I sent it for warranty repair?

[bossa]

DA*60-250 60mm @ F/4 (This is from my own lens)






The following are from a lens I tried at a local store.

[Nitrok]

Thanks bossa for your photos.
I forgot to mention that this ghost or glow thing happens mostly when shooting @ 200-250mm. I see there's no ghosting on your last photo.

[simdavid]

Hi Nitrok,

In your 2 examples above, what is the distance between the camera and subject?

[Nitrok]

Hi Nitrok,

In your 2 examples above, what is the distance between the camera and subject?

Distances were about 10-15 meters. Why do you ask?

[joe.penn]

I've been testing this lens now for couple of weeks and I have noticed strange softness or glow effect at f/4. As soon as I stop down to f/4.5 the effect disappears.

This could possibly be caused by slight decentering...

[Nitrok]

This could possibly be caused by slight decentering...

Well I tried to test the lens for any decentering using these instructions.

(Click to view full image)

[Greyser]

Well I tried to test the lens for any decentering using these instructions.

Well, have you seen the note: This does not work on the Pentax K-5 and, I suspect, other Pentax DSLRs. at the end of the article?

[Nitrok]

Well, have you seen the note: This does not work on the Pentax K-5 and, I suspect, other Pentax DSLRs. at the end of the article?

Yes and this one too

If you want it correctly - do it with a tripod and take a picture with LiveView AF and check the result (this does, of course, work with Pentax DSLRs).

[bossa]

Before I bought this 60-250 I tried a Sigma 70-200 OS at the local distributors offices and it did the exact same 'glow' thing at F2.8. When I got home I called the guy and he did another series of shots from his own K-5 and they were pin sharp and with no glow. I have no proof that it was even the same lens so I can't say what the issue may have been, but in my case it did look like a combination of camera shake, slight OOF and possible the SR system moving the sensor in the wrong direction as well. I did a couple of brick wall shots though and found that they were grossly OOF. Maybe turn OFF SR on the camera and try a manual focus using Live View on a tripod to see if this still happens. That glow thing would usually be caused by an optical issue though as it's appears to be contrast issues like you get with a very fast F1.4 lens. Is there any sloppy movement in the lens barrel?

Its morning here and in an hour or so te hsun will be high enough for me to take some shots in bright light at 200mm outside.. I'll try a couple more shots for you.

[Greyser]

Recently I purchased (and sold) two Sigma 100-300/4: one APO EX and another - APO EX DG. I found my DA*60-250 sharper even when it was extra cropped to match 300 FL. Also you can crop output from DA*60-250 more aggressively.

[simdavid]

Hi Nitrok,

The first time I encounter this glow problem was that I was shooting at the MFD of my Sigma 100-300 F4 at 300mm f4, stopping down to 4.5 or f5 solve it. Further testing into the problem reveal that it could be a front focus issue combined with shallow DOF using camera auto focus. I shot 2 sets of pic today and the top pic with the glow problem is shot using AUTO focus. The bottom pic with no glow is shot using using MANUAL focus. Both set pics are shot with the same settings. Pics are only crop and resized, nothing else is applied. If you need the original image, PM me your email address that can accept minimum13mb attachment. Hope this helps.

Set 1: 300mm, F4, ISO6400, Shutter 1/1600




Set 2: 300mm, F4, ISO6400, Shutter 1/400




Set 2, bottom pic. The focus point is on no.19 (center of the pic and plane of focus). The calender is not level and slope downwards towards no.4 (top row and slightly out of plane of focus) and there is VERY VERY slight glow on the top row which may or may not be discernible for some people.