560mm review posted!

Adam · 03-28-2013, 10:26 AM - **1 Like**

Here's our review of the Pentax 560mm lens - enjoy!

Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW - Introduction - PentaxForums.com

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)

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calculator01 · 03-28-2013, 10:34 AM

I can only imagine what my neighbours would think of me if they saw this mounted on a tripod looking through their windows

kent · 03-28-2013, 10:39 AM

Price/performance ratio is not impressive.

Sinister · 03-28-2013, 10:48 AM

Thanks for the review! I can't judge due to the lack of experience in that area (and comparison to the competitors) - but to me it looks good.

Anvh · 03-28-2013, 11:08 AM

Nice review once again.

One thing i didn't like was the Bokeh part, many things where brought out as "facts" while the whole idea about bokeh is the character of the blur, so there is no wrong or right or good or bad.
Saying that because the aperture is almost round that the bokeh is still pleasing at smaller apertures is simply not hitting any truths at all sadly enough.

ogl · 03-28-2013, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by Adam

Here's our review of the Pentax 560mm lens - enjoy!

Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW - Introduction - PentaxForums.com

F22 is usable. Interesting...I'd say F22 is really working aperture.

**mattb123** · 03-28-2013, 11:12 AM

Looks nice. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to own one.

goubejp · 03-28-2013, 11:16 AM

Looking at the iso test charts, I have the impression that the FA*600 is sharper. I have conducted the same tests with iso chart and I have the impression that the 600 images are sharper at F8. At F5.6 it is no brainer, the FA*600 is definitively sharper cause it has the advantage of being stopped.
There is some purple fringing on the sample image contra light with duck and on the water too. I think I'll stick with the FA*600 even if it is so heavy

solar1 · 03-28-2013, 11:36 AM

$5629 at Optics Planet
Pentax HD PENTAX DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW Super-Telephoto Lens FREE S&H 22180. Pentax DSLR Camera Lenses. Caveat, shipping estimated at 22-32 days.

as I noted three weeks ago Lowest price atm? $5,629 - DA560/5.6: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Adam · 03-28-2013, 11:41 AM

In Japan this lens goes for about $5700. But then you get no us warranty.

stormtech · 03-28-2013, 12:00 PM

Very nice review - kudos to the author! I was glad to see the real life image examples with crops - they mean much more to me than charts.

french_mike · 03-28-2013, 12:43 PM

Big thanks you for the review

Did you try it on film camera ?

macTak · 03-28-2013, 12:49 PM - **1 Like**

Adam, I enjoyed the review, but this statement under optics is just plain false: "but you can expect image quality to improve as the light rays have fewer lens surfaces to travel". Bearing in mind identical lens coatings, transmission will improve, but "image quality" most certainly need not. I hardly need to state a case for that (or else all our lenses would have but one element), but generally it takes more elements to better correct for abberations which diminish image quality (e.g. an achromatic doublet versus a singlet, an apochromatic triplet versus an achromatic doublet).

**Kerrowdown** · 03-28-2013, 12:56 PM

Thanks for the review, it's not the type of lens I would or need to use, but I can see the appeal it will have for many.

derekkite · 03-28-2013, 01:13 PM

I noticed the shots seemed a bit noisy at 400 iso. Cropping exacerbates noise. I'm wondering if the IIs has different characteristics, or the lens. When I got my DA*300 i was surprised how I could go higher iso and get decent results compared to my older manual tamrons. Are the DNG's available somewhere to see how they process?

When the review says that you enjoyed using it, could you elaborate? This is purely subjective, but I'm interested in what you mean by that.

Thanks very much for the review. Well done and very informative.

03-28-2013, 10:26 AM - 1 Like	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	560mm review posted! Here's our review of the Pentax 560mm lens - enjoy! Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW - Introduction - PentaxForums.com Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

03-28-2013, 11:36 AM	#9
solar1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Calif Posts: 565	Lowest price at this point may be $5629 $5629 at Optics Planet Pentax HD PENTAX DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW Super-Telephoto Lens FREE S&H 22180. Pentax DSLR Camera Lenses. Caveat, shipping estimated at 22-32 days. as I noted three weeks ago Lowest price atm? $5,629 - DA560/5.6: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

03-28-2013, 11:41 AM	#10
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594 Original Poster	In Japan this lens goes for about $5700. But then you get no us warranty. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

03-28-2013, 12:49 PM - 1 Like	#13
macTak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 759	Adam, I enjoyed the review, but this statement under optics is just plain false: "but you can expect image quality to improve as the light rays have fewer lens surfaces to travel". Bearing in mind identical lens coatings, transmission will improve, but "image quality" most certainly need not. I hardly need to state a case for that (or else all our lenses would have but one element), but generally it takes more elements to better correct for abberations which diminish image quality (e.g. an achromatic doublet versus a singlet, an apochromatic triplet versus an achromatic doublet). Last edited by macTak; 03-28-2013 at 12:56 PM.

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03-28-2013, 10:34 AM	#2
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	I can only imagine what my neighbours would think of me if they saw this mounted on a tripod looking through their windows

03-28-2013, 10:39 AM	#3
kent Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 344	Price/performance ratio is not impressive.

03-28-2013, 10:48 AM	#4
Sinister Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Berlin Posts: 1,045	Thanks for the review! I can't judge due to the lack of experience in that area (and comparison to the competitors) - but to me it looks good.

03-28-2013, 11:08 AM	#5
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Nice review once again. One thing i didn't like was the Bokeh part, many things where brought out as "facts" while the whole idea about bokeh is the character of the blur, so there is no wrong or right or good or bad. Saying that because the aperture is almost round that the bokeh is still pleasing at smaller apertures is simply not hitting any truths at all sadly enough.

03-28-2013, 11:12 AM	#6
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by Adam Here's our review of the Pentax 560mm lens - enjoy! Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW - Introduction - PentaxForums.com F22 is usable. Interesting...I'd say F22 is really working aperture.

03-28-2013, 11:12 AM	#7
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Looks nice. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to own one.

03-28-2013, 11:16 AM	#8
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	Looking at the iso test charts, I have the impression that the FA600 is sharper. I have conducted the same tests with iso chart and I have the impression that the 600 images are sharper at F8. At F5.6 it is no brainer, the FA600 is definitively sharper cause it has the advantage of being stopped. There is some purple fringing on the sample image contra light with duck and on the water too. I think I'll stick with the FA*600 even if it is so heavy

03-28-2013, 12:00 PM	#11
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	Very nice review - kudos to the author! I was glad to see the real life image examples with crops - they mean much more to me than charts.

03-28-2013, 12:43 PM	#12
french_mike Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ireland and France Posts: 167	Big thanks you for the review Did you try it on film camera ?

03-28-2013, 12:56 PM	#14
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Thanks for the review, it's not the type of lens I would or need to use, but I can see the appeal it will have for many.

03-28-2013, 01:13 PM	#15
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	I noticed the shots seemed a bit noisy at 400 iso. Cropping exacerbates noise. I'm wondering if the IIs has different characteristics, or the lens. When I got my DA*300 i was surprised how I could go higher iso and get decent results compared to my older manual tamrons. Are the DNG's available somewhere to see how they process? When the review says that you enjoyed using it, could you elaborate? This is purely subjective, but I'm interested in what you mean by that. Thanks very much for the review. Well done and very informative.