[FantasticMrFox]

After their somewhat rushed review of the K-1, ePhotozine (one of my two go-to lens review sources, next to Photozone) has reviewed both the D FA 28-105 and D FA 24-70 today. Both received 4.5/5 stars and a 'Highly recommended' badge.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/hd-pentax-d-fa-28-105mm-f-3-5-5-6-ed-dc-wr-lens-review-29352

This is the lowest cost standard zoom for the new Pentax K-1, but it seems that there have been no compromises on performance. There is a more limited aperture range than some of the alternatives, but this also gives us a more compact and lighter optic. The lens performs very well, with an incredible evenness across its range, with centre and edge matching each other in sharpness over most of the apertures and focal lengths. CA values are low, distortion well within acceptable limits, and to that, we add Weather Resistance as well.

An excellent choice of lens to go with the K-1 body.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-hd-pentax-d-fa-24-70mm-f-2-8-ed-sdm-wr-review-29349

Twice the price of the Pentax 28-105mm zoom, but the 24-70mm offers a constant bright f/2.8 aperture and even a slightly higher level of performance. It really is a personal choice, but this lens is a very satisfying one to use and offers lovely results with a very high level of consistency over its entire range.

This is definitely a lens of choice for the Pentax K-1 with its full frame format.

What really surprises me is how much the resolution charts of the D FA 24-70 deviate from those of the Tamron 24-70 on their website. They changed the format of the charts a bit, but it still looks rather different.

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Last edited by FantasticMrFox; 05-17-2016 at 08:19 AM.

[biz-engineer]

What really surprises me how much the resolution charts of the D FA 24-70 deviate from those of the Tamron 24-70 on their website.

:-) that's what I observed practically and posted earlier from a pixel peeping of k1 and k3 comparison. If you mount the 24-70 on a K3 you get slightly sharper per pixel, even on RAW files. If you look at the Tamron 24-70 tested with 36Mp FF cameras, the peak MTF hovers around 3500 lw/ph, and edge MTF values around 2500 lw/ph. With the K1, peak MTF values do not exceed 3000 lw/ph and corner values are also around 2500 lw/ph. However, compared to other FF cam, K1 images are nearly free of any chroma noise, and free of moire patterns for high frequency image components. So, I suggested some forms of filtering being done prior RAW (either in front of the sensor, or preprocessing of the RAW files) in the K1, processing being done in favor of overall image rendering rather than per pixel sharpness, but this idea was rejected by other forum members. BTW, IMO, if Ricoh really did favor overall image rendering versus pixel sharpness, I have no problem with it as I never needed 36Mpixels anyway.

[6BQ5]

The test data for those lenses looks outstanding! Good work, Ricoh! I'm sure the engineering teams at Ricoh and Tamron worked closely together to create a special lens formula. Designs like this don't happen on accident. Based on this data, I think Ricoh is gearing up for a serious fight to gain marketshare.

[y0chang]

The test data for those lenses looks outstanding! Good work, Ricoh! I'm sure the engineering teams at Ricoh and Tamron worked closely together to create a special lens formula. Designs like this don't happen on accident. Based on this data, I think Ricoh is gearing up for a serious fight to gain marketshare.

I wonder if that is because the removal of the Lens stabilization. Pentax has always touted the fact that lens stabilization can compromise optics...guess they were right all along.

[loco]

Thanks for posting. My D FA 28-105 is scheduled to arrive tomorrow and I'm excited to try it out!

[Driline]

I wonder if this lens will be sharper than the DA 16-85?

[WPRESTO]

I have elsewhere posted an image taken with the 28~105 (@105) of a bunch of columbine, together with a crop from the same image file concentrating on just one blossom. The latter could almost pass for a frame-filling shot taken with a macro - not quite, but impressive IQ for a "kit" zoom.

[clackers]

The 18-135, 16-85 and now 28-105 ... Pentax really do make nice walkaround lenses.

[Driline]

16-85 and now 28-105 ... Pentax really do make nice walkaround lenses.

Yep....these two I'm really contemplating getting the 28-105 for my wifes K-50.

[6718HX]

Regarding the Pentax 24-70:

I would really like to so see some plein-air pictures taken @24mm.

The review mentioned above contains one very dark picture @24 mm which gives no clue regarding edge and corner sharpness.

The only tamron 24-70 pictures I have seen were (close to) terrible
Tamron AF 24-70mm f/2.8 SP Di USD VC (Canon EOS) - Full Format Review / Lens Test - Sample Images & Verdict

So I would really like to see a number of quality pictures taken at 24mm confirming that this lens is actually as good as many say it is.

[biz-engineer]

So I would really like to see a number of quality pictures taken at 24mm confirming that this lens is actually as good as many say it is.

Please find below some sample images @ 24mm.

[robjmitchell]

15-30 and 70-200 reviews are up as well.
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-fa-15-30mm-f-2-8-ed-sdm-wr-review-29350
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-hd-pentax-d-fa--70-200mm-f-2-8-ed-dc-aw-review-29351
Quite interesting that both pentax versions show considerably better corner performance than their tamron sisters, along with the expected improvement in flare performance. Then add 5 stops of SR from the K1 plus all the other goodies.

[clackers]

Please find below some sample images @ 24mm.

Well, that answers that, then - they're pretty good! ☺

Rondec has taken great landscapes with this lens, too, some must have been at 24mm.

[biz-engineer]

Well, that answers that, then - they're pretty good! ☺

Thanks, those are reduced in size as you know, I could not post the 28Mb pixel shifted version.

Rondec has taken great landscapes with this lens, too, some must have been at 24mm.

Yes, I know, Rondec has very good landscape ones, but I think he did them with his K3, I don't remember having seen similar landscapes photo taken from him with the K1.

Quite interesting that both pentax versions show considerably better corner performance than their tamron sisters, along with the expected improvement in flare performance.

I can confirm there is not much difference in IQ between the center and corners, at all apertures and all focal lengths. I can also confirm that those lenses are big enough to catch attention in the surroundings.

[biz-engineer]

Here is another one from the DFA24-70, but not at 24mm.