[TYOsborn]

I haven't seen much talk about the Pentax SMCP-DA* 200mm f/2.8 as compared to the Tamron or Sigma. Are they comparable?

[egordon99]

Really? I've seen tons of chatter about this lens. Just search around here and I'm sure you'll find lots of threads...

[Photomaximum]

I have not used this lens, but I used to own the "A" 200/2.8 ED lens. I bet optically they are very similar. I think the glass here is superb. I also owned the green star 300/4 lens which did not have the ED glass. While nice it was no match for the 200/2.8 which was great wide open.

If you are using the Pentax SMCP-DA* 200mm f/2.8 on a crop body like the K20D etc then it will act like a 300/2.8? Being able to shoot wide open and still get good IQ is a huge plus.

[egordon99]

As opposed to using it on the Full Frame K1D?

If you are using the Pentax SMCP-DA* 200mm f/2.8 on a crop body like the K20D etc then it will act like a 300/2.8?.

[Photomaximum]

Not sure what you mean by that. I really am not up to speed on the Pentax digital bodies though. I thought all of them were crop bodies?

I am really into FF bodies. I need them for the work I do. But a good 200mm lens is great on a good crop body. Its a cheap way of getting that 300/2.8 look without the cost or bulk of a real 300/2.8.

I think there are a lot of users wanting Pentax to come out with a FF body, but Pentax would have to revamp their whole line of lenses.

But getting back to the OP's question : I bet you will love the Pentax 200/2.8

[egordon99]

uh, it was a joke. There are NO digital full frame Pentax bodies, so if you are mounting the DA* 200mm on a digital body, it is going to be a crop body

And although the 200mm f/2.8 will have the equivalent Field-of-view as a 300mm lens mounted on a film body, the depth-of-field will NOT be that of a 300mm f/2.8 (assuming you frame the two shots the same)

[Photomaximum]

uh, it was a joke. There are NO digital full frame Pentax bodies, so if you are mounting the DA* 200mm on a digital body, it is going to be a crop body

Got it.

I am mulling over the idea of getting a Pentax DSLR. But in the meantime I will look into getting some classic Takumar glass.

One of the nice things about Pentax is its backwards compatibility. It opens things up as Pentax has a great history in making fine lenses.

But the issue of buying specific lenses that will only work on a specific lineage of crop bodies is for me a thorny one. That is why the Canon 5D was such a revolutionary camera: it opened up the world of full frame image quality (for non pros) and retained the normal focal length of a wide range of lenses. Countless people upgraded from the 1.4x and 1.6x bodies and never looked back.

I wonder what would happen if Pentax came out a FF camera? Would the large group of DA lens owners support such a camera? The more that time passes and the more established the DA lenses become the more I think Pentax will not jump into the FF arena. It would be interesting to see Pentax with a FF camera. But most of the current modern line of lenses are all DA. I am sure Pentax would prefer to sell new lenses rather than have excited FF fans buy older lenses on ebay etc. Its a tough spot really...

Max

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Last edited by Photomaximum; 10-21-2008 at 10:55 AM.

[TYOsborn]

Really? I've seen tons of chatter about this lens. Just search around here and I'm sure you'll find lots of threads...

I must not be using the search function right. Keeps telling me nothing matches. I wondered if the Pentax is better or as good as the Tamron or Sigma versions. I have a K200 which I love so far, but I want a lens that will do great indoors at school events... choir. Christmas programs etc.. I'd rather not dish out $700 - $1000 and not like the results if I can help it. Since the Tamron seems to be continually out of stock, I started looking at the Pentax SMCP-DA* 200mm f/2.8.

[kristoffon]

I don't know about the others, but the Pentax lens seems to be pretty good.

Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Review / Test Report

Do you mean to compare this lens to Tamron/Sigma primes or zooms? I don't know about their primes but the Tamron 70-200/2.8 is a real temptation - doesn't seem to lose much over the Pentax prime except SDM.

[danielchtong]

Not sure what you mean by that. I really am not up to speed on the Pentax digital bodies though. I thought all of them were crop bodies?

I am really into FF bodies. I need them for the work I do. But a good 200mm lens is great on a good crop body. Its a cheap way of getting that 300/2.8 look without the cost or bulk of a real 300/2.8.

I think there are a lot of users wanting Pentax to come out with a FF body, but Pentax would have to revamp their whole line of lenses.

But getting back to the OP's question : I bet you will love the Pentax 200/2.8

You can rest assured that DA200mm is a full frame lens as it has exactly the same optical formula of the old FA*200mmF2.8 except that it is weather-sealed and SDM equipped.

I do post quite a few images of the lens in this and other forum and I love it part. its bokeh and its sharpness. You really need to tone it down somewhat for protrait

Some recent images taken last weekend.















Daniel

[lbam]

Nice pics Daniel, although she looks a little hungry...

[gkopeliadis]

I don't know about the others, but the Pentax lens seems to be pretty good.

Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Review / Test Report

I followed the link and by what I red there I would never buy this lens

[creampuff]

I have not used this lens, but I used to own the "A" 200/2.8 ED lens. I bet optically they are very similar.

The A* 200mm f/2.8 ED is quite different from the FA* and DA* 200mm in terms of number of elements/groups and minimum focusing distance. The specifications of the FA* and DA* are identical in these two areas (9 elements/8 groups, 1.2m).

[creampuff]

I followed the link and by what I red there I would never buy this lens

Unfortunately Photozone used the discontinued K10D to test the lens.
I've tried it on the K20D and I'm pretty impressed by the images I've got.

[danielchtong]

Unfortunately Photozone used the discontinued K10D to test the lens.
I've tried it on the K20D and I'm pretty impressed by the images I've got.

I skipped K10D in my body upgrade path. I test DA200mm with K100D, K100D Super and K20D.

Basically the lens is a rerun of the old FA*200mm. The new DA*200mm has long hood to deal with the issue of pf in extreme lighting condition. That is about it.


Daniel