Pentax D FA* 70-200mm first impressions

bwDraco · 02-08-2017, 01:23 PM

Exchanged.

Still a bit soft wide open, but centering is a bit better. I guess it's normal.

AF is hit-and-miss; there's not much that can be done about it. +9 seems to be best on this copy, which is a rather large adjustment.

...or maybe it's +5. It's way too inconsistent. This is probably a camera body issue, not a lens issue.

Draco

Last edited by bwDraco; 02-08-2017 at 02:16 PM.

DimC · 02-08-2017, 02:33 PM

I tried to do what you asked for Draco.

From top to bottom : /f2,8, /f3,2, /f3,5, /f4,0 and /f8
I had to use a flash because it's too dark on this wall.
Im at about 5m from the wall, camera on a tripod with 2 sec delay. These are 100% crop.
I noticed that if I can stand at about 10m it's of course a lot better at /f2,8. But I can't do that with this textured wall, not enough room.

In the field I've been using mainly /f3,5 or /f3,2 with this lens, still I think it's a little too soft at /f2,8 for my taste and this price tag.
What do you guys think ? Ill be glad to read your feedback.

bwDraco · 02-08-2017, 03:40 PM - **1 Like**

Looks about normal.

The biggest issue I'm having is AF accuracy. It's just too inconsistent; I'm leaning towards a camera body issue here. Is anyone else having AF accuracy issues with this lens?

Draco

Edit: Never mind. I think I've sorted out the AF accuracy issue.

DimC · 02-08-2017, 03:59 PM

AF is the best I've experienced on a Pentax camera. My previous reference was the sigma 70-200mm HSM but the Pentax is faster and more accurate to me.
I've got a couple studio sessions this weekend I'll see the potential for this lens i guess.

zapp · 02-09-2017, 10:55 AM

I like my Pentax 70-200 a lot, but weight is 1755g
The new Nikon is 1430g
The new Tamrons is 1490g
The Canon II is 1490g
... somehow Pentax needed a lot more glass and metal even without optical image stabilization, ... someone is having trouble developing large diameter lenses
Small primes all is fine, but I am curious about any news in large diameter lenses.

bwDraco · 02-10-2017, 04:21 PM - **1 Like**

It's only halftime in the first game of a basketball double-header, and I just have to say wow. The autofocus is on a completely different level.

The D FA* 70-200 is extremely fast, decisive, and accurate when tracking moving subjects. Wide open, images have this otherworldly "wow" factor that optical tests simply don't show.

My keeper rate has never been higher.

Draco

DimC · 02-10-2017, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by bwDraco

It's only halftime in the first game of a basketball double-header, and I just have to say wow. The autofocus is on a completely different level.

The D FA* 70-200 is extremely fast, decisive, and accurate when tracking moving subjects. Wide open, images have this otherworldly "wow" factor that optical tests simply don't show.

My keeper rate has never been higher.

Draco

Hey Draco, Im very happy for you! Enjoy your heayweight 70-200mm Champion

As you said, sometimes optical tests doesnt render true justice to a lens.
I've been doing my first Studio Shoot with this lens today, I just finished editing some pictures, and I've got the same WOW factor.
This lens is simply superb.

Enjoy your game

**lithedreamer** · 02-10-2017, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by bwDraco

It's only halftime in the first game of a basketball double-header, and I just have to say wow. The autofocus is on a completely different level.

The D FA* 70-200 is extremely fast, decisive, and accurate when tracking moving subjects. Wide open, images have this otherworldly "wow" factor that optical tests simply don't show.

My keeper rate has never been higher.

Draco

Yay! I'm glad you persevered and ended up with a superb copy.

**ffking** · 02-11-2017, 12:44 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by zapp

I like my Pentax 70-200 a lot, but weight is 1755g
The new Nikon is 1430g
The new Tamrons is 1490g
The Canon II is 1490g
... somehow Pentax needed a lot more glass and metal even without optical image stabilization, ... someone is having trouble developing large diameter lenses
Small primes all is fine, but I am curious about any news in large diameter lenses.

I'm no lens designer, but my suspicion would be that this has something to do with the the much remarked on evenness across the frame - they possibly used bigger glass elements so less bending of light was necessary. Just a guess, and I've no idea whether the result justifies the weight, as I've not used any of the others you mention

bwDraco · 02-11-2017, 07:01 PM

...and a quick AF test:

Youtu.be

Draco

bwDraco · 02-11-2017, 09:21 PM

One more thing: I reran the same optical tests on the new lens and I do not get the same spherical aberration at 200mm wide open (although slight decentering is still detectable). The previous lens was definitely defective.

Draco

zeitlos · 02-27-2017, 11:31 AM

Can you show your latest results => wide open at f2.8 and so on? Would be very interesting for me to see how a perfect copy performs. Thanks!

02-08-2017, 03:40 PM - 1 Like	#33
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071 Original Poster	Looks about normal. The biggest issue I'm having is AF accuracy. It's just too inconsistent; I'm leaning towards a camera body issue here. Is anyone else having AF accuracy issues with this lens? Draco Edit: Never mind. I think I've sorted out the AF accuracy issue. Last edited by bwDraco; 02-10-2017 at 04:24 PM.

02-11-2017, 12:44 AM - 1 Like	#39
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	Originally posted by zapp I like my Pentax 70-200 a lot, but weight is 1755g The new Nikon is 1430g The new Tamrons is 1490g The Canon II is 1490g ... somehow Pentax needed a lot more glass and metal even without optical image stabilization, ... someone is having trouble developing large diameter lenses Small primes all is fine, but I am curious about any news in large diameter lenses. I'm no lens designer, but my suspicion would be that this has something to do with the the much remarked on evenness across the frame - they possibly used bigger glass elements so less bending of light was necessary. Just a guess, and I've no idea whether the result justifies the weight, as I've not used any of the others you mention Last edited by ffking; 02-11-2017 at 02:31 AM.

02-11-2017, 09:21 PM	#41
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071 Original Poster	One more thing: I reran the same optical tests on the new lens and I do not get the same spherical aberration at 200mm wide open (although slight decentering is still detectable). The previous lens was definitely defective. Draco Last edited by bwDraco; 02-11-2017 at 10:02 PM.

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02-08-2017, 01:23 PM	#31
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071 Original Poster	Exchanged. Still a bit soft wide open, but centering is a bit better. I guess it's normal. AF is hit-and-miss; there's not much that can be done about it. +9 seems to be best on this copy, which is a rather large adjustment. ...or maybe it's +5. It's way too inconsistent. This is probably a camera body issue, not a lens issue. Draco Last edited by bwDraco; 02-08-2017 at 02:16 PM.

02-08-2017, 03:59 PM	#34
DimC Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 813	AF is the best I've experienced on a Pentax camera. My previous reference was the sigma 70-200mm HSM but the Pentax is faster and more accurate to me. I've got a couple studio sessions this weekend I'll see the potential for this lens i guess.

02-09-2017, 10:55 AM	#35
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	I like my Pentax 70-200 a lot, but weight is 1755g The new Nikon is 1430g The new Tamrons is 1490g The Canon II is 1490g ... somehow Pentax needed a lot more glass and metal even without optical image stabilization, ... someone is having trouble developing large diameter lenses Small primes all is fine, but I am curious about any news in large diameter lenses.

02-10-2017, 04:21 PM - 1 Like	#36
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071 Original Poster	It's only halftime in the first game of a basketball double-header, and I just have to say wow. The autofocus is on a completely different level. The D FA* 70-200 is extremely fast, decisive, and accurate when tracking moving subjects. Wide open, images have this otherworldly "wow" factor that optical tests simply don't show. My keeper rate has never been higher. Draco

02-10-2017, 04:45 PM	#37
DimC Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 813	Originally posted by bwDraco It's only halftime in the first game of a basketball double-header, and I just have to say wow. The autofocus is on a completely different level. The D FA* 70-200 is extremely fast, decisive, and accurate when tracking moving subjects. Wide open, images have this otherworldly "wow" factor that optical tests simply don't show. My keeper rate has never been higher. Draco Hey Draco, Im very happy for you! Enjoy your heayweight 70-200mm Champion As you said, sometimes optical tests doesnt render true justice to a lens. I've been doing my first Studio Shoot with this lens today, I just finished editing some pictures, and I've got the same WOW factor. This lens is simply superb. Enjoy your game

02-10-2017, 05:08 PM	#38
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by bwDraco It's only halftime in the first game of a basketball double-header, and I just have to say wow. The autofocus is on a completely different level. The D FA* 70-200 is extremely fast, decisive, and accurate when tracking moving subjects. Wide open, images have this otherworldly "wow" factor that optical tests simply don't show. My keeper rate has never been higher. Draco Yay! I'm glad you persevered and ended up with a superb copy.

02-27-2017, 11:31 AM	#42
zeitlos Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: In the middle of Bavaria - Germany Posts: 282	Can you show your latest results => wide open at f2.8 and so on? Would be very interesting for me to see how a perfect copy performs. Thanks!

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