D FA28-105 vs the other 3 Pentax 28-105 lenses

**ramseybuckeye** · 03-03-2019, 07:20 AM

I've not used the DFA version so I have no experience with it. I have had two Sigma version, neither were very good. I had a PZ version which was good shooting under 20 feet, after that it lost IQ, and it was very heavy. I've had four Tamron versions, that were all identified as "smc PENTAX-FA 28-105mm F4-5.6 [IF]" in EXIF. They were all pretty good, although cheaply made. If I wanted a 28-105 right now, and could afford it, I would want the DFA. It is weather sealed which to me shows better construction, and has the newer coatings. If I couldn't afford it I would find an smc PENTAX-FA 28-105mm F4-5.6 [IF] (or Tamron version) and use that. Of course this is all theoretical, I don't have a K-1 and don't have a burning desire to get one at this time.

steephill · 03-03-2019, 07:28 AM

Some comments on older Pentax lenses on this legacy site Stan's Pentax Photography

Oops! Just saw this was linked earlier.

**UncleVanya** · 03-03-2019, 07:34 AM

I think it is a worthwhile question. A shootout would be great. Locating a number of the older lenses shouldn't be too hard.

normhead · 03-03-2019, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I think it is a worthwhile question. A shootout would be great. Locating a number of the older lenses shouldn't be too hard.

Maybe where you live, where I live it would be darn near impossible.

**UncleVanya** · 03-03-2019, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Maybe where you live, where I live it would be darn near impossible.

Lol. But I lack the required k-1 and DFA 28-105.

normhead · 03-03-2019, 09:13 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Lol. But I lack the required k-1 and DFA 28-105.

Nice try... but you're not getting mine. I don't want to see the comparisons that bad.

ZombieArmy · 03-03-2019, 11:21 AM

Slightly unrelated, but how does the 28-105 work on APSC? I ask because it's my most used range.

normhead · 03-03-2019, 11:25 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

Slightly unrelated, but how does the 28-105 work on APSC? I ask because it's my most used range.

Tess has started calling it her lens. She uses it on her K-5. Her new favourite, taking over from the Tamron 17-50, although her all time favourite is still the Tamron 90. But at 90mm that Tarmron 90 is better than my DA* 60-250, so it's going to be hard to knock off it's perch.

**Just1MoreDave** · 03-03-2019, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Lol. But I lack the required k-1 and DFA 28-105.

In the interest of science, someone should really send you those.

I have an FA 28-105 PZ that I can lend to someone if they want to test. It would be interesting to know how it compares, but even if it or one of the others is as good or better, in most cases I'd just buy the DFA for WR, coatings, DC AF and the hood. Maybe a prime only user who never needs WR would be OK with the old lens just in case.

**monochrome** · 03-03-2019, 11:57 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by thazooo

If you're looking for some opinions of the older 28-105 glass go here Stan's Pentax Photography
Old site and opinions only. I run the FA 28-105 IF version and it's a decent lens. Love the colors produced.

IMO those old Pentaxians' opinions on their contemporary lenses carry a lot of weight. They were dedicated users, knowledgeable and generous with their knowledge. They established and contributed to PDML - a global List_Serve Forum of Pentax users and decided of their own accord to keep the brand alive when times were really tough. Not tough like now, but tough like is Pentax going away tough. Many of the remaining resources we take for granted, like (what was) Boz's K-mount Page, Stan's website, Yoshihiko Takinami 's sharpness tests, J Colwell's Pentax Lens Price Tracking and Information site, Asahi Optical Historical Club, others unnamed in this post or now dark, and (I suspect) even the idea for PentaxForums came from a thread on the Pentax Discuss Mailing List in which the backbone users agreed to build internet resources to support the brand and preserve the history of its products in case it ever went away. A few of those people wrote or had written books we revere today. Some of those men have passed on. A few of them are silent members here but helped Adam and Ole behind the scenes here in the early days building many of the databases we enjoy today. I've bought lenses and cameras from many of them, items that I hope go in my casket.

Their opinions are as important today as they were twenty years ago. [/SIZE][SIZE=3]We owe those 'opinion' people a deep debt of gratitude.

Originally posted by rawr

Pre-AF, let's not also forget lenses like the Pentax A 35-105 f3.5. It's generally well regarded around here, and has great sharpness and rendition.

My only gripe about the current DFA 28-105 is that it isn't a constant f4. But I have no issues with it's optical performance.

Yes - a classic. The original Stack of Primes. Permanent part of my collection.

rawr · 03-03-2019, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by normhead

Variable aperture is a more efficient use of glass.

True enough. A by-product of this is that a constant f4 in the same range - eg the Sigma Art 24-105 f4 (a nice lens that I have used on Nikon) - weighs a hefty 880g and has a 82mm filter size. The prospect of walking around with it for a day or night gives you pause before taking it out for an event. By contrast, DFA 28-105 is a much lighter 460g w. compact 62mm filter, and WR too, which are all big usability wins.

Sandy Hancock · 03-03-2019, 02:01 PM - **6 Likes**

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

Slightly unrelated, but how does the 28-105 work on APSC? I ask because it's my most used range.

On my Argentina/Antarctica trip, when I had the DFA15-30 on the K-1 the 28-105 usually lived in my KP. It worked a treat.

rawr · 03-03-2019, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Yes - a classic. The original Stack of Primes. Permanent part of my collection.

I agree. Mine's a keeper too. But the compactness + AF of the DFA 28-105 means it gets more use here.

**monochrome** · 03-03-2019, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by rawr

I agree. Mine's a keeper too. But the compactness + AF of the DFA 28-105 means it gets more use here.

I've just sold the fat zooms - I'm just too old to enjoy handling that stuff. The 28-105 and DA* equivalents will do well enough on KP. I will use manual lenses and a few AF e.g. 28-105 with K-1 for slower, more deliberate and enjoyable photographing.

lesmore49 · 03-03-2019, 02:57 PM

I like my D FA 28-105 that I bought new with my K1. Great lens, like the focal length...although I do wish it was 24mm...but really 28 more than does the job, so no big deal for me in my actual photography.

It reminds me an awful lot of one of my all time favourite lenses....my old Pentax A 35-105 Macro Zoom. Of course the build quality of the 35-105 is hard to beat, but then so is the corresponding extra weight..of the 35-105.

But the photographic result that both these lenses can produce, IMO are top notch. Also the moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto are the focal lengths that I use mostly in my walk abouts...as our friends in Australia say.

I have a fair number of primes and love them, but I do like the convenience of a zoom.

I'm a fan of my modern 28-105, invariably it is attached to my K1. Hmmnn, come to think of it, my 18-135 is attached to my K series ASP-C bodies.

03-03-2019, 07:28 AM	#17
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Albums Posts: 590	Some comments on older Pentax lenses on this legacy site Stan's Pentax Photography Oops! Just saw this was linked earlier. Last edited by steephill; 03-03-2019 at 07:30 AM. Reason: Oops! Just saw this was linked earlier.

03-03-2019, 11:57 AM - 2 Likes	#25
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by thazooo If you're looking for some opinions of the older 28-105 glass go here Stan's Pentax Photography Old site and opinions only. I run the FA 28-105 IF version and it's a decent lens. Love the colors produced. IMO those old Pentaxians' opinions on their contemporary lenses carry a lot of weight. They were dedicated users, knowledgeable and generous with their knowledge. They established and contributed to PDML - a global List_Serve Forum of Pentax users and decided of their own accord to keep the brand alive when times were really tough. Not tough like now, but tough like is Pentax going away tough. Many of the remaining resources we take for granted, like (what was) Boz's K-mount Page, Stan's website, Yoshihiko Takinami 's sharpness tests, J Colwell's Pentax Lens Price Tracking and Information site, Asahi Optical Historical Club, others unnamed in this post or now dark, and (I suspect) even the idea for PentaxForums came from a thread on the Pentax Discuss Mailing List in which the backbone users agreed to build internet resources to support the brand and preserve the history of its products in case it ever went away. A few of those people wrote or had written books we revere today. Some of those men have passed on. A few of them are silent members here but helped Adam and Ole behind the scenes here in the early days building many of the databases we enjoy today. I've bought lenses and cameras from many of them, items that I hope go in my casket. Their opinions are as important today as they were twenty years ago. [/SIZE][SIZE=3]We owe those 'opinion' people a deep debt of gratitude. Originally posted by rawr Pre-AF, let's not also forget lenses like the Pentax A 35-105 f3.5. It's generally well regarded around here, and has great sharpness and rendition. My only gripe about the current DFA 28-105 is that it isn't a constant f4. But I have no issues with it's optical performance. Yes - a classic. The original Stack of Primes. Permanent part of my collection. Last edited by monochrome; 03-03-2019 at 06:34 PM.

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03-03-2019, 07:20 AM	#16
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	I've not used the DFA version so I have no experience with it. I have had two Sigma version, neither were very good. I had a PZ version which was good shooting under 20 feet, after that it lost IQ, and it was very heavy. I've had four Tamron versions, that were all identified as "smc PENTAX-FA 28-105mm F4-5.6 [IF]" in EXIF. They were all pretty good, although cheaply made. If I wanted a 28-105 right now, and could afford it, I would want the DFA. It is weather sealed which to me shows better construction, and has the newer coatings. If I couldn't afford it I would find an smc PENTAX-FA 28-105mm F4-5.6 [IF] (or Tamron version) and use that. Of course this is all theoretical, I don't have a K-1 and don't have a burning desire to get one at this time.

03-03-2019, 07:34 AM	#18
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459	I think it is a worthwhile question. A shootout would be great. Locating a number of the older lenses shouldn't be too hard.

03-03-2019, 08:49 AM	#19
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by UncleVanya I think it is a worthwhile question. A shootout would be great. Locating a number of the older lenses shouldn't be too hard. Maybe where you live, where I live it would be darn near impossible.

03-03-2019, 09:07 AM	#20
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459	Originally posted by normhead Maybe where you live, where I live it would be darn near impossible. Lol. But I lack the required k-1 and DFA 28-105.

03-03-2019, 09:13 AM - 2 Likes	#21
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by UncleVanya Lol. But I lack the required k-1 and DFA 28-105. Nice try... but you're not getting mine. I don't want to see the comparisons that bad.

03-03-2019, 11:21 AM	#22
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	Slightly unrelated, but how does the 28-105 work on APSC? I ask because it's my most used range.

03-03-2019, 11:25 AM - 2 Likes	#23
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by ZombieArmy Slightly unrelated, but how does the 28-105 work on APSC? I ask because it's my most used range. Tess has started calling it her lens. She uses it on her K-5. Her new favourite, taking over from the Tamron 17-50, although her all time favourite is still the Tamron 90. But at 90mm that Tarmron 90 is better than my DA* 60-250, so it's going to be hard to knock off it's perch.

03-03-2019, 11:33 AM	#24
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by UncleVanya Lol. But I lack the required k-1 and DFA 28-105. In the interest of science, someone should really send you those. I have an FA 28-105 PZ that I can lend to someone if they want to test. It would be interesting to know how it compares, but even if it or one of the others is as good or better, in most cases I'd just buy the DFA for WR, coatings, DC AF and the hood. Maybe a prime only user who never needs WR would be OK with the old lens just in case.

03-03-2019, 01:58 PM	#26
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by normhead Variable aperture is a more efficient use of glass. True enough. A by-product of this is that a constant f4 in the same range - eg the Sigma Art 24-105 f4 (a nice lens that I have used on Nikon) - weighs a hefty 880g and has a 82mm filter size. The prospect of walking around with it for a day or night gives you pause before taking it out for an event. By contrast, DFA 28-105 is a much lighter 460g w. compact 62mm filter, and WR too, which are all big usability wins.

03-03-2019, 02:01 PM - 6 Likes	#27
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Originally posted by ZombieArmy Slightly unrelated, but how does the 28-105 work on APSC? I ask because it's my most used range. On my Argentina/Antarctica trip, when I had the DFA15-30 on the K-1 the 28-105 usually lived in my KP. It worked a treat.

03-03-2019, 02:19 PM	#28
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by monochrome Yes - a classic. The original Stack of Primes. Permanent part of my collection. I agree. Mine's a keeper too. But the compactness + AF of the DFA 28-105 means it gets more use here.

03-03-2019, 02:27 PM	#29
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by rawr I agree. Mine's a keeper too. But the compactness + AF of the DFA 28-105 means it gets more use here. I've just sold the fat zooms - I'm just too old to enjoy handling that stuff. The 28-105 and DA* equivalents will do well enough on KP. I will use manual lenses and a few AF e.g. 28-105 with K-1 for slower, more deliberate and enjoyable photographing.

03-03-2019, 02:57 PM	#30
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	I like my D FA 28-105 that I bought new with my K1. Great lens, like the focal length...although I do wish it was 24mm...but really 28 more than does the job, so no big deal for me in my actual photography. It reminds me an awful lot of one of my all time favourite lenses....my old Pentax A 35-105 Macro Zoom. Of course the build quality of the 35-105 is hard to beat, but then so is the corresponding extra weight..of the 35-105. But the photographic result that both these lenses can produce, IMO are top notch. Also the moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto are the focal lengths that I use mostly in my walk abouts...as our friends in Australia say. I have a fair number of primes and love them, but I do like the convenience of a zoom. I'm a fan of my modern 28-105, invariably it is attached to my K1. Hmmnn, come to think of it, my 18-135 is attached to my K series ASP-C bodies.