Compare DA 70 with DFA* 70-200 @ 70

Nicolas06 · 10-02-2016, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

DA70 is tiny in comparison. The DFA70-200 is heavy zoom but as good as the best of DA ltd primes (my DA70 was the sharpest of the DA ltd I owned).

+1, not the same use. Would be interresting to compare bokeh. Does the prime design help the DA70 here?

D1N0 · 10-03-2016, 01:28 AM

More interesting would be a shoot out with the DA* 200mm F2.8

Nicolas06 · 10-03-2016, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

More interesting would be a shoot out with the DA* 200mm F2.8

This is more the other thread for that discussion: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/330641-da-2...use-k-1-a.html

GeneV · 10-04-2016, 01:38 AM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

DA70 is tiny in comparison. The DFA70-200 is heavy zoom but as good as the best of DA ltd primes (my DA70 was the sharpest of the DA ltd I owned).

I always remembered the 70 as touted almost universally as one of the sharpest of the DA limited series, and it never disappointed me. I'll be interested to see how it stacks up to the Tamron 70-200/2.8 which I use with the K1.

reeftool · 10-05-2016, 07:19 PM

To me, the results don't really say much about either lens. Landscape shots of reeds, tall grass, and trees at f/5.6 on a windy day with a 70mm? Would I ever take that shot? Nope. Maybe at f/11 or f/16 and an ISO high enough to get me a 1/1000 shutter speed or higher. To my eye, neither shot looks very good. A large portion of the shot is out of focus due to DOF and the wind is causing motion blur because the shutter speed is too slow. I'm assuming the dock is the intended focus point but zooming in on the full sized shots, It doesn't look particularly good with either lens so it's likely the camera's AF was struggling, probably due to the reeds interfering in the foreground.

A better comparison would be people shots or portraits, the kind of shots you would doing a lot of with a 70mm or a 70-200. Focus on the eyes and compare the edges by zooming in on the fabric of the clothing, hair, jewelry, etc.

normhead · 10-06-2016, 05:54 AM

Originally posted by RGlasel

As a decent photographer once said, sharpness is a bourgeoisie concept.

Exactly, you put the lens on your camera, if it's good enough, you use it. If it's not you find something else. The lens that renders the nicest photos isn't always the sharpest one.

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10-02-2016, 10:55 PM	#16
Nicolas06 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 4,854	Originally posted by biz-engineer DA70 is tiny in comparison. The DFA70-200 is heavy zoom but as good as the best of DA ltd primes (my DA70 was the sharpest of the DA ltd I owned). +1, not the same use. Would be interresting to compare bokeh. Does the prime design help the DA70 here?

10-03-2016, 01:28 AM	#17
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	More interesting would be a shoot out with the DA* 200mm F2.8

10-03-2016, 09:52 AM	#18
Nicolas06 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 4,854	Originally posted by D1N0 More interesting would be a shoot out with the DA* 200mm F2.8 This is more the other thread for that discussion: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/330641-da-2...use-k-1-a.html

10-04-2016, 01:38 AM	#19
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by biz-engineer DA70 is tiny in comparison. The DFA70-200 is heavy zoom but as good as the best of DA ltd primes (my DA70 was the sharpest of the DA ltd I owned). I always remembered the 70 as touted almost universally as one of the sharpest of the DA limited series, and it never disappointed me. I'll be interested to see how it stacks up to the Tamron 70-200/2.8 which I use with the K1.

10-05-2016, 07:19 PM	#20
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	To me, the results don't really say much about either lens. Landscape shots of reeds, tall grass, and trees at f/5.6 on a windy day with a 70mm? Would I ever take that shot? Nope. Maybe at f/11 or f/16 and an ISO high enough to get me a 1/1000 shutter speed or higher. To my eye, neither shot looks very good. A large portion of the shot is out of focus due to DOF and the wind is causing motion blur because the shutter speed is too slow. I'm assuming the dock is the intended focus point but zooming in on the full sized shots, It doesn't look particularly good with either lens so it's likely the camera's AF was struggling, probably due to the reeds interfering in the foreground. A better comparison would be people shots or portraits, the kind of shots you would doing a lot of with a 70mm or a 70-200. Focus on the eyes and compare the edges by zooming in on the fabric of the clothing, hair, jewelry, etc.

10-06-2016, 05:54 AM	#21
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by RGlasel As a decent photographer once said, sharpness is a bourgeoisie concept. Exactly, you put the lens on your camera, if it's good enough, you use it. If it's not you find something else. The lens that renders the nicest photos isn't always the sharpest one.