Pentax D FA 70-200 2.8 Reviewed Ephotozine

zoolander · 04-21-2015, 02:22 PM

The Pentax D FA 70-200 2.8 and D FA 150-450 have been reviewed recently by Ephotozine. If anybody is interested in this sort of thing, here are the links.

70-200 review:

Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW Review

150-450 review:

Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW Review

They both look they tested really well and are "Highly Recommended" by Ephotozine.

To cross check the performance of the 70-200 against the Canon 70-200 2.8 ii L :

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens Review

Looks like the Pentax 70-200 fairs really well.

bwDraco · 04-21-2015, 02:33 PM

Impressive results. Well done, Ricoh.

—DragonLord

**crewl1** · 04-21-2015, 03:00 PM

I am keen on the 70-200 lens for sure. The results look very good, hopefully the FW update addresses any AF issues they mentioned.

normhead · 04-21-2015, 03:34 PM

The 150-450 appears to be as good. at 450mm as the DA*300 but with more CA, but then, it is a zoom. . That is impressive.

**kiwi_jono** · 04-21-2015, 04:44 PM

Looking at 150-450:
Sharpness looks very good - looks significantly better than the Sigma for sure. CA look pretty reasonable to me too (even at 450).

Bokeh a bit nervous at long end but thats a common problem with these long zooms.

JacekPSUr1 · 07-04-2015, 07:28 AM

It's great to see Pentax finally make a 70-200 2.8 lens, but at $2,300 USD.....it's too pricey! I wonder how many of you guys will jump on this. Adorama is currently taking pre-orders. Does anyone know when it will be available for shipment?

**crewl1** · 07-04-2015, 07:40 AM

The price in range of similar offerings except the old Tamron at $800.
I think the others stack up like this:
New Tamron $1500
Old Canon $1500
New Canon $2100
Nikon $2400
Sony $3000
Sigma $2000

normhead · 07-04-2015, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by JacekPSUr1

It's great to see Pentax finally make a 70-200 2.8 lens, but at $2,300 USD.....it's too pricey! I wonder how many of you guys will jump on this. Adorama is currently taking pre-orders. Does anyone know when it will be available for shipment?

Honestly, for the amount I'd use a 70-200, I can't imaging it. APS-c 50-135 makes much more sense than FF 70-200. And I don't own a DA* 50-135. What is happening now, is what happened before. Pentax is planning to make a small number of expensive lens for the pro market. Of the FF, 70-200 and 150-450, I might be able to afford one of those, and it's very likely to be the 150-450, which is a very useful focal length on APS-c.

**Rondec** · 07-04-2015, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by normhead

Honestly, for the amount I'd use a 70-200, I can't imaging it. APS-c 50-135 makes much more sense than FF 70-200. And I don't own a DA* 50-135. What is happening now, is what happened before. Pentax is planning to make a small number of expensive lens for the pro market. Of the FF, 70-200 and 150-450, I might be able to afford one of those, and it's very likely to be the 150-450, which is a very useful focal length on APS-c.

I think there are plenty of people who will buy a 70-200 f2.8, even at a steep price -- particularly when there is a full frame camera coming out. This is a bread and butter full frame zoom, but there are probably more sold to folks shooting APS-C than are shooting full frame.

If the 50-135 had faster auto focus, it would be a better option, but it just struggles to keep up with even slowish moving action.

normhead · 07-04-2015, 02:50 PM

I'm sure plenty of people will buy it... no problem there. Just not old retired guys like me, who have a choice between a lens, and a trip somewhere I can take pictures. If I was still working, this would be pocket change. AN FF one month, the 70-200 six months later. But it's been 8 years since I was working, even though it feels like yesterday, and I still dream about being in school teaching classes quite often.

04-21-2015, 02:22 PM	#1
zoolander Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Gold Coast Photos: Albums Posts: 351	Pentax D FA 70-200 2.8 Reviewed Ephotozine The Pentax D FA 70-200 2.8 and D FA 150-450 have been reviewed recently by Ephotozine. If anybody is interested in this sort of thing, here are the links. 70-200 review: Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW Review 150-450 review: Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW Review They both look they tested really well and are "Highly Recommended" by Ephotozine. To cross check the performance of the 70-200 against the Canon 70-200 2.8 ii L : Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens Review Looks like the Pentax 70-200 fairs really well.

04-21-2015, 04:44 PM	#5
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Looking at 150-450: Sharpness looks very good - looks significantly better than the Sigma for sure. CA look pretty reasonable to me too (even at 450). Bokeh a bit nervous at long end but thats a common problem with these long zooms. Last edited by kiwi_jono; 04-21-2015 at 04:49 PM.

07-04-2015, 07:42 AM	#8
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,448	Originally posted by JacekPSUr1 It's great to see Pentax finally make a 70-200 2.8 lens, but at $2,300 USD.....it's too pricey! I wonder how many of you guys will jump on this. Adorama is currently taking pre-orders. Does anyone know when it will be available for shipment? Honestly, for the amount I'd use a 70-200, I can't imaging it. APS-c 50-135 makes much more sense than FF 70-200. And I don't own a DA* 50-135. What is happening now, is what happened before. Pentax is planning to make a small number of expensive lens for the pro market. Of the FF, 70-200 and 150-450, I might be able to afford one of those, and it's very likely to be the 150-450, which is a very useful focal length on APS-c. Last edited by normhead; 07-04-2015 at 07:55 AM.

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04-21-2015, 02:33 PM	#2
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071	Impressive results. Well done, Ricoh. —DragonLord

04-21-2015, 03:00 PM	#3
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	I am keen on the 70-200 lens for sure. The results look very good, hopefully the FW update addresses any AF issues they mentioned.

04-21-2015, 03:34 PM	#4
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,448	The 150-450 appears to be as good. at 450mm as the DA*300 but with more CA, but then, it is a zoom. . That is impressive.

07-04-2015, 07:28 AM	#6
JacekPSUr1 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lansdale, PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 55	It's great to see Pentax finally make a 70-200 2.8 lens, but at $2,300 USD.....it's too pricey! I wonder how many of you guys will jump on this. Adorama is currently taking pre-orders. Does anyone know when it will be available for shipment?

07-04-2015, 07:40 AM	#7
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	The price in range of similar offerings except the old Tamron at $800. I think the others stack up like this: New Tamron $1500 Old Canon $1500 New Canon $2100 Nikon $2400 Sony $3000 Sigma $2000

07-04-2015, 12:38 PM	#9
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,650	Originally posted by normhead Honestly, for the amount I'd use a 70-200, I can't imaging it. APS-c 50-135 makes much more sense than FF 70-200. And I don't own a DA* 50-135. What is happening now, is what happened before. Pentax is planning to make a small number of expensive lens for the pro market. Of the FF, 70-200 and 150-450, I might be able to afford one of those, and it's very likely to be the 150-450, which is a very useful focal length on APS-c. I think there are plenty of people who will buy a 70-200 f2.8, even at a steep price -- particularly when there is a full frame camera coming out. This is a bread and butter full frame zoom, but there are probably more sold to folks shooting APS-C than are shooting full frame. If the 50-135 had faster auto focus, it would be a better option, but it just struggles to keep up with even slowish moving action.

07-04-2015, 02:50 PM	#10
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,448	I'm sure plenty of people will buy it... no problem there. Just not old retired guys like me, who have a choice between a lens, and a trip somewhere I can take pictures. If I was still working, this would be pocket change. AN FF one month, the 70-200 six months later. But it's been 8 years since I was working, even though it feels like yesterday, and I still dream about being in school teaching classes quite often.

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