Pentax DA* 200mm lens review

Derridale · 04-12-2008, 04:30 PM

Pentax DA* 200 lens - review here:

Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Review / Test Report

or in TinyURL form:

http://tinyurl.com/48zhvz

Main problem seems to be the rather large degree of purple fringing in backlit, high contrast scenes. The review also makes an interesting point that this may spring from the fact that the design is basically 15 years old, based on the FA* lenses.

Does anyone have personal experience with this lens yet?

Actually, the one I'm more interested in is the 300mm - any comments on that one would also be appreciated.

JJJPhoto · 04-12-2008, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by Derridale

Does anyone have personal experience with this lens yet?

Yes, I've had several weeks of personal experience with this lens. I even had my review published:

Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 Lens Review

In short, anyone claiming the DA* 200mm has problems with purple fringe either had a bad copy of the lens or they don't know what purple fringe is.

I had to work hard to get any purple fringe to show up with my DA* 200mm lens ... and even when I was able to get an image that had purple fringe it only showed up when I viewed the image at 200 or 400 percent magnification.

In other words: In my experience this lens does not have any issues with excessive purple fringing.

Here are a couple of samples:

ivoire · 04-12-2008, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by Derridale

Pentax DA* 200 lens - review here:

Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Review / Test Report

or in TinyURL form:

http://tinyurl.com/48zhvz

Main problem seems to be the rather large degree of purple fringing in backlit, high contrast scenes. The review also makes an interesting point that this may spring from the fact that the design is basically 15 years old, based on the FA* lenses.

Does anyone have personal experience with this lens yet?

Actually, the one I'm more interested in is the 300mm - any comments on that one would also be appreciated.

i've never read any review of the f* or fa* "older" designed lenses having purple fringing. perhaps the reviewer had a little purple haze. for those of you with $900 to spare you can get it here with warranty and 30 day return policy:

Pentax smc DA 200mm F2.8 ED(IF) SDM Lens with Pentax USA Warranty | BuyDig.com, The Internet's Digital Superstore

Derridale · 04-13-2008, 05:00 AM

Good info, thanks. Encouraging. If you look at the review at the link I posted, there is a sample of the purple fringing - admittedly in a very high contrast backlit situation. As you point out, maybe the lens was faulty.

Anyone with any experience with the 300? That's the one I'd be thinking of getting.....

selar · 04-13-2008, 05:13 AM

[QUOTE=JJJPhoto;218397]Yes, I've had several weeks of personal experience with this lens. I even had my review published:

Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 Lens Review

In short, anyone claiming the DA* 200mm has problems with purple fringe either had a bad copy of the lens or they don't know what purple fringe is.

I had to work hard to get any purple fringe to show up with my DA* 200mm lens ... and even when I was able to get an image that had purple fringe it only showed up when I viewed the image at 200 or 400 percent magnification.

In other words: In my experience this lens does not have any issues with excessive purple fringing.[/QUOTEJ

None of your photos have the harsh contra lighting that produces purple fringing!

JJJPhoto · 04-13-2008, 05:38 AM

Originally posted by selar

None of your photos have the harsh contra lighting that produces purple fringing!

Here is a link to a photo with harsh contrasting lighting that should have produced purple fringing but didn't (except under 400+ percent magnification).

Here is a link to a test photo where I was TRYING to create purple fringing (and I'm not exactly sure why anyone would do something like this). As you can see, there is some fringing but it's not visible in images that have been resized for the web.

However, here is the same image with purple fringing after a 10-second correction in Photoshop. My point is that purple fringing is an easy fix. Chromatic aberration is what can't be easily fixed ... and there's none of that with the DA* 200.

John Kovarik · 04-13-2008, 06:29 AM

jjj, excellent review which mirrors my (amateur) experience. It is a wonderful lens. I'm also awaiting delivery of the DA 300, which I am confident will be as good, just longer .....

selar · 04-13-2008, 06:51 AM

Originally posted by JJJPhoto

Here is a link to a photo with harsh contrasting lighting that should have produced purple fringing but didn't (except under 400+ percent magnification).

Here is a link to a test photo where I was TRYING to create purple fringing (and I'm not exactly sure why anyone would do something like this). As you can see, there is some fringing but it's not visible in images that have been resized for the web.

Again, I don't see harsh contra lighting in your photos. The first has none, the second a little, but the contra lighting is muted.

JJJPhoto · 04-13-2008, 07:38 AM

Originally posted by selar

Again, I don't see harsh contra lighting in your photos. The first has none, the second a little, but the contra lighting is muted.

I don't know why this is such a big deal for you to see. Here's a sample taken with the DA* 200mm with HARSH contra lighting. No post processing.

As you can see ... no serious issue with purple fringing with my copy of the DA* 200mm.

I don't know what else I'm supposed to say or show you to satisfy your needs. If you don't believe what I'm saying and think the images I've shown aren't good enough examples of how this lens handles purple fringing then you might want to consider buying the lens and finding out for yourself.

mauricio · 04-13-2008, 08:07 AM

The lens does have some purple fringing. I have it just for a couple of weeks now and still no serious work with it. But the day I got it I went outside trying to reproduce the problem and it's there. I don't think it's a reason for not buying the lens since it seems very very good...but saying that the problem doesn't exist is not true. But then again, you need some serious contrast on the image, not the optimal conditions to photograph anyway...not for me at least.

This is a 100% crop. It's a leaf with overcast sky, taken a few minutes ago.

jsherman999 · 04-13-2008, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by mauricio

The lens does have some purple fringing. I have it just for a couple of weeks now and still no serious work with it. But the day I got it I went outside trying to reproduce the problem and it's there. I don't think it's a reason for not buying the lens since it seems very very good...but saying that the problem doesn't exist is not true. But then again, you need some serious contrast on the image, not the optimal conditions to photograph anyway...not for me at least.

This is a 100% crop. It's a leaf with overcast sky, taken a few minutes ago.

Um - serious question, does a lens exist that would *not show some PF at 100% crop in that situation? Basically shooting into a white light-emitting background against high contrast green at 100% crop - maybe NASA has some optics in orbit that wouldn't PF in that situation, but I'll bet B&H doesn't

.

mauricio · 04-13-2008, 11:58 AM

Well, the only thing I said was that the purple fringing is there. Didn't compare it with any other lens, although I can do that later if I want. I think that's the kind of image where you can test a photo for PF, not the kind of pictures posted above. Remember, I paid 1000 euros for this lens, so I have no reason to say it's bad...but come on...which lens would show PF on the pictures above?

selar · 04-13-2008, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Um - serious question, does a lens exist that would *not show some PF at 100% crop in that situation?

Olympus, Voigtlander APOs, even the Samsung kit lenses, Sigma 14 EX, etc.

k100d · 04-13-2008, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by selar

even the Samsung kit lenses

and by extension the Pentax kit lenses?

FastPhotography · 04-13-2008, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Um - serious question, does a lens exist that would *not show some PF at 100% crop in that situation? Basically shooting into a white light-emitting background against high contrast green at 100% crop - maybe NASA has some optics in orbit that wouldn't PF in that situation, but I'll bet B&H doesn't

.

hahaha, right you are!
at first I thought my tak 300/4 was horrible at showing PF. then i realized what i was shooting: birds in trees with a background of overcast sky

04-12-2008, 04:30 PM	#1
Derridale Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 412	*Pentax DA 200mm lens review** Pentax DA* 200 lens - review here: Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Review / Test Report or in TinyURL form: http://tinyurl.com/48zhvz Main problem seems to be the rather large degree of purple fringing in backlit, high contrast scenes. The review also makes an interesting point that this may spring from the fact that the design is basically 15 years old, based on the FA* lenses. Does anyone have personal experience with this lens yet? Actually, the one I'm more interested in is the 300mm - any comments on that one would also be appreciated.

04-12-2008, 06:57 PM	#3
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	Originally posted by Derridale Pentax DA* 200 lens - review here: Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Review / Test Report or in TinyURL form: http://tinyurl.com/48zhvz Main problem seems to be the rather large degree of purple fringing in backlit, high contrast scenes. The review also makes an interesting point that this may spring from the fact that the design is basically 15 years old, based on the FA* lenses. Does anyone have personal experience with this lens yet? Actually, the one I'm more interested in is the 300mm - any comments on that one would also be appreciated. i've never read any review of the f* or fa* "older" designed lenses having purple fringing. perhaps the reviewer had a little purple haze. for those of you with $900 to spare you can get it here with warranty and 30 day return policy: Pentax smc DA 200mm F2.8 ED(IF) SDM Lens with Pentax USA Warranty \| BuyDig.com, The Internet's Digital Superstore Last edited by ivoire; 04-12-2008 at 07:17 PM.

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04-12-2008, 05:18 PM	#2
JJJPhoto Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 419	Originally posted by Derridale Does anyone have personal experience with this lens yet? Yes, I've had several weeks of personal experience with this lens. I even had my review published: Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 Lens Review In short, anyone claiming the DA* 200mm has problems with purple fringe either had a bad copy of the lens or they don't know what purple fringe is. I had to work hard to get any purple fringe to show up with my DA* 200mm lens ... and even when I was able to get an image that had purple fringe it only showed up when I viewed the image at 200 or 400 percent magnification. In other words: In my experience this lens does not have any issues with excessive purple fringing. Here are a couple of samples:

04-13-2008, 05:00 AM	#4
Derridale Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 412 Original Poster	Good info, thanks. Encouraging. If you look at the review at the link I posted, there is a sample of the purple fringing - admittedly in a very high contrast backlit situation. As you point out, maybe the lens was faulty. Anyone with any experience with the 300? That's the one I'd be thinking of getting.....

04-13-2008, 05:13 AM	#5
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	[QUOTE=JJJPhoto;218397]Yes, I've had several weeks of personal experience with this lens. I even had my review published: Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 Lens Review In short, anyone claiming the DA* 200mm has problems with purple fringe either had a bad copy of the lens or they don't know what purple fringe is. I had to work hard to get any purple fringe to show up with my DA* 200mm lens ... and even when I was able to get an image that had purple fringe it only showed up when I viewed the image at 200 or 400 percent magnification. In other words: In my experience this lens does not have any issues with excessive purple fringing.[/QUOTEJ None of your photos have the harsh contra lighting that produces purple fringing!

04-13-2008, 05:38 AM	#6
JJJPhoto Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 419	Originally posted by selar None of your photos have the harsh contra lighting that produces purple fringing! Here is a link to a photo with harsh contrasting lighting that should have produced purple fringing but didn't (except under 400+ percent magnification). Here is a link to a test photo where I was TRYING to create purple fringing (and I'm not exactly sure why anyone would do something like this). As you can see, there is some fringing but it's not visible in images that have been resized for the web. However, here is the same image with purple fringing after a 10-second correction in Photoshop. My point is that purple fringing is an easy fix. Chromatic aberration is what can't be easily fixed ... and there's none of that with the DA* 200.

04-13-2008, 06:29 AM	#7
John Kovarik Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	jjj, excellent review which mirrors my (amateur) experience. It is a wonderful lens. I'm also awaiting delivery of the DA 300, which I am confident will be as good, just longer .....

04-13-2008, 06:51 AM	#8
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Originally posted by JJJPhoto Here is a link to a photo with harsh contrasting lighting that should have produced purple fringing but didn't (except under 400+ percent magnification). Here is a link to a test photo where I was TRYING to create purple fringing (and I'm not exactly sure why anyone would do something like this). As you can see, there is some fringing but it's not visible in images that have been resized for the web. Again, I don't see harsh contra lighting in your photos. The first has none, the second a little, but the contra lighting is muted.

04-13-2008, 07:38 AM	#9
JJJPhoto Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 419	Originally posted by selar Again, I don't see harsh contra lighting in your photos. The first has none, the second a little, but the contra lighting is muted. I don't know why this is such a big deal for you to see. Here's a sample taken with the DA* 200mm with HARSH contra lighting. No post processing. As you can see ... no serious issue with purple fringing with my copy of the DA* 200mm. I don't know what else I'm supposed to say or show you to satisfy your needs. If you don't believe what I'm saying and think the images I've shown aren't good enough examples of how this lens handles purple fringing then you might want to consider buying the lens and finding out for yourself.

04-13-2008, 08:07 AM	#10
mauricio New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Viseu, Portugal Posts: 20	The lens does have some purple fringing. I have it just for a couple of weeks now and still no serious work with it. But the day I got it I went outside trying to reproduce the problem and it's there. I don't think it's a reason for not buying the lens since it seems very very good...but saying that the problem doesn't exist is not true. But then again, you need some serious contrast on the image, not the optimal conditions to photograph anyway...not for me at least. This is a 100% crop. It's a leaf with overcast sky, taken a few minutes ago.

04-13-2008, 11:16 AM	#11
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by mauricio The lens does have some purple fringing. I have it just for a couple of weeks now and still no serious work with it. But the day I got it I went outside trying to reproduce the problem and it's there. I don't think it's a reason for not buying the lens since it seems very very good...but saying that the problem doesn't exist is not true. But then again, you need some serious contrast on the image, not the optimal conditions to photograph anyway...not for me at least. This is a 100% crop. It's a leaf with overcast sky, taken a few minutes ago. Um - serious question, does a lens exist that would *not show some PF at 100% crop in that situation? Basically shooting into a white light-emitting background against high contrast green at 100% crop - maybe NASA has some optics in orbit that wouldn't PF in that situation, but I'll bet B&H doesn't .

04-13-2008, 11:58 AM	#12
mauricio New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Viseu, Portugal Posts: 20	Well, the only thing I said was that the purple fringing is there. Didn't compare it with any other lens, although I can do that later if I want. I think that's the kind of image where you can test a photo for PF, not the kind of pictures posted above. Remember, I paid 1000 euros for this lens, so I have no reason to say it's bad...but come on...which lens would show PF on the pictures above?

04-13-2008, 02:24 PM	#13
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Originally posted by jsherman999 Um - serious question, does a lens exist that would *not show some PF at 100% crop in that situation? Olympus, Voigtlander APOs, even the Samsung kit lenses, Sigma 14 EX, etc.

04-13-2008, 02:40 PM	#14
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by selar even the Samsung kit lenses and by extension the Pentax kit lenses?

04-13-2008, 03:02 PM	#15
FastPhotography Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kansas, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 123	Originally posted by jsherman999 Um - serious question, does a lens exist that would *not show some PF at 100% crop in that situation? Basically shooting into a white light-emitting background against high contrast green at 100% crop - maybe NASA has some optics in orbit that wouldn't PF in that situation, but I'll bet B&H doesn't . hahaha, right you are! at first I thought my tak 300/4 was horrible at showing PF. then i realized what i was shooting: birds in trees with a background of overcast sky