noobie lens question

pete_pf · 03-11-2008, 07:45 AM

i want to get either a 200mm or 300mm but was wondering if i could get some help

PENTAX DA 50-200MM F4-5.6 ED LENS FOR DL2 K100D K10D

PENTAX FA J 75-300MM F4.5-5.8 ED LENS F/ DL2 K100D K10D

what exactly do the "DA & FA J" and "for DL2" mean?

Gooshin · 03-11-2008, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by impete82

i want to get either a 200mm or 300mm but was wondering if i could get some help

PENTAX DA 50-200MM F4-5.6 ED LENS FOR DL2 K100D K10D

PENTAX FA J 75-300MM F4.5-5.8 ED LENS F/ DL2 K100D K10D

what exactly do the "DA & FA J" and "for DL2" mean?

DA is part of the new age lenses developed specificaly for the digital sensor

FA is the older stuff

both will auto-focus and auto-meter

i dont know what the J really stands for, but my own personal hunch is that it stands for "Junk"

, as people have reported these lenses to be poor performers

however my own personal tests of cheap equipment revealed that there isnt really such a thing as a bad lens, just that one could be better than another.

pete_pf · 03-11-2008, 08:01 AM

sweet... so the 200mm it is :P .... i don't want old crap lol

Kguru · 03-11-2008, 08:02 AM

DL2 refers to one of the *Ist series before it went K10/100 ...
FA are lenses released back in film camera days. DA lenses are meant for dSLRs, with smaller image circle for the smaller APS-C sensor. Not sure about J.

Having said that, it has been shown DA40 & DA70 work ok on film.

Gooshin · 03-11-2008, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by impete82

sweet... so the 200mm it is :P .... i don't want old crap lol

if you can live without the auto-focus

go to Henry's on queen (check out both stores) and pick up a used Tokina 80-200mm that they have in the back for like 40-50 bucks (you can talk the price down)

just to experiment if you like that focal range or not.

Buddha Jones · 03-11-2008, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by impete82

sweet... so the 200mm it is :P .... i don't want old crap lol

Carefull, not much of Pentax old is crap, most of Pentax old is gold.

aegisphan · 03-11-2008, 08:25 AM

"J" stands for consumer grade zoom. Thus, they don't have as high quality as a prime or other pro grade one.

Gooshin · 03-11-2008, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by aegisphan

"J" stands for consumer grade zoom. Thus, they don't have as high quality as a prime or other pro grade one.

i was right, "Junk"

JCSullivan · 03-11-2008, 04:41 PM

It is NOT junk. It is affordable. Perhaps some of us can only afford FAJ lenses.

Mechan1k · 03-11-2008, 05:09 PM

FA-J = from the film era, auto focus ... no aperture ring on lens.

I have seen some average images with the FA-J 75-300mm. I have the lens ... and I can say it's not as bad as people make out it is.

It is harder to get better images from it ... but it really comes down to the person behind the camera really (Isn't that always the way).

My keeper rate isn't as high as some of my other lenses ... but it still does produce some OK images for the reach.

03-11-2008, 07:45 AM	#1
pete_pf Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 599	noobie lens question i want to get either a 200mm or 300mm but was wondering if i could get some help PENTAX DA 50-200MM F4-5.6 ED LENS FOR DL2 K100D K10D PENTAX FA J 75-300MM F4.5-5.8 ED LENS F/ DL2 K100D K10D what exactly do the "DA & FA J" and "for DL2" mean?

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03-11-2008, 07:55 AM	#2
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by impete82 i want to get either a 200mm or 300mm but was wondering if i could get some help PENTAX DA 50-200MM F4-5.6 ED LENS FOR DL2 K100D K10D PENTAX FA J 75-300MM F4.5-5.8 ED LENS F/ DL2 K100D K10D what exactly do the "DA & FA J" and "for DL2" mean? DA is part of the new age lenses developed specificaly for the digital sensor FA is the older stuff both will auto-focus and auto-meter i dont know what the J really stands for, but my own personal hunch is that it stands for "Junk" , as people have reported these lenses to be poor performers however my own personal tests of cheap equipment revealed that there isnt really such a thing as a bad lens, just that one could be better than another.

03-11-2008, 08:01 AM	#3
pete_pf Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 599 Original Poster	sweet... so the 200mm it is :P .... i don't want old crap lol

03-11-2008, 08:02 AM	#4
Kguru Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Perth - WestAust Posts: 602	DL2 refers to one of the *Ist series before it went K10/100 ... FA are lenses released back in film camera days. DA lenses are meant for dSLRs, with smaller image circle for the smaller APS-C sensor. Not sure about J. Having said that, it has been shown DA40 & DA70 work ok on film.

03-11-2008, 08:02 AM	#5
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by impete82 sweet... so the 200mm it is :P .... i don't want old crap lol if you can live without the auto-focus go to Henry's on queen (check out both stores) and pick up a used Tokina 80-200mm that they have in the back for like 40-50 bucks (you can talk the price down) just to experiment if you like that focal range or not.

03-11-2008, 08:14 AM	#6
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	Originally posted by impete82 sweet... so the 200mm it is :P .... i don't want old crap lol Carefull, not much of Pentax old is crap, most of Pentax old is gold.

03-11-2008, 08:25 AM	#7
aegisphan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 815	"J" stands for consumer grade zoom. Thus, they don't have as high quality as a prime or other pro grade one.

03-11-2008, 08:25 AM	#8
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by aegisphan "J" stands for consumer grade zoom. Thus, they don't have as high quality as a prime or other pro grade one. i was right, "Junk"

03-11-2008, 04:41 PM	#9
JCSullivan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada Posts: 3,056	It is NOT junk. It is affordable. Perhaps some of us can only afford FAJ lenses.

03-11-2008, 05:09 PM	#10
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	FA-J = from the film era, auto focus ... no aperture ring on lens. I have seen some average images with the FA-J 75-300mm. I have the lens ... and I can say it's not as bad as people make out it is. It is harder to get better images from it ... but it really comes down to the person behind the camera really (Isn't that always the way). My keeper rate isn't as high as some of my other lenses ... but it still does produce some OK images for the reach.