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01-23-2020, 09:16 AM - 3 Likes   #1
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New lens HD Pentax-D FA 70-210mm -- Pentax Special Content

(This is a re-post from a long thread in the News and Rumors section. I think it's worthy of highlighting in a new thread in the Lens section)

I think that several other posts have mentioned that the new lens is the subject of a 'Special Content' page at the Ricoh Imaging .jp site.

I'd just like to highly recommend taking a look at it and reading through the technical descriptions and comments from several photographers. Ricoh is really emphasizing the portability of the lens, and they present some examples of the weight (mass) reductions made possible with this lens plus a K-1 II or KP. I think they want to clearly to distinguish the new lens from the much-heavier and bulkier DFA* 70-200, and their Special Content makes a case for both lenses on their own strengths: "Pursuit of Image Quality" with the 70-200 and "Emphasis on Portability" with the 70-210.

The descriptions are typical of Pentax -- straightforward, positive, fairly objective, not overstated.

Featured03?HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mmF4ED SDM WR? | About HD Coating / Lenses / Products | RICOH IMAGING

- Craig



01-23-2020, 09:31 AM   #2
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Thanks for the link, it's a well-done promotional piece. I'm a bit puzzled by this bit:

QuoteQuote:
Captured images are really sharp. But they aren’t overly crisp, and retain the graceful ambience you expect from PENTAX lenses. Those images aren’t merely the result of pursuing pixel-based resolution, but I would rather describe them as the reproduction of natural texture perfect for scenic and portrait photography.
Anyway, this is certainly a lens of interest to me.
01-23-2020, 09:51 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by baro-nite Quote
Anyway, this is certainly a lens of interest to me.
That is nice to hear. Before it appeared, there were so many naysayers claiming that it was a lens without a market. I too might be interested


Steve
01-23-2020, 09:54 AM   #4
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I must say that I'm taking a serious look at this lens. I have the wonderful DFA*70-200 and have gotten great results with it but...it's very heavy and that's a problem when I travel. So...I'm going to keep an eye on hands on reviews of this.

01-23-2020, 09:57 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by baro-nite Quote
Thanks for the link, it's a well-done promotional piece. I'm a bit puzzled by this bit:

Quote:
Captured images are really sharp. But they aren’t overly crisp, and retain the graceful ambience you expect from PENTAX lenses. Those images aren’t merely the result of pursuing pixel-based resolution, but I would rather describe them as the reproduction of natural texture perfect for scenic and portrait photography.
That makes it sound like the coatings do more than just reduce flare...
01-23-2020, 10:09 AM - 3 Likes   #6
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I am a bit puzzled by the discussion of macro capabilities...

QuoteQuote:
Thanks to a minimum focusing distance of 0.95 meters and a maximum magnification of 0.32 times, the HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm F4ED SDM WR can be used as a telephoto macro lens to expand your freedom of expression...When mounted on an APS-C-format camera, the maximum magnification is increased to approximately 0.48 times in the 35mm format.
Change of crop does not change the optical magnification. It remains 0.32x for both 24x36mm FF and APS-C.


Steve

(...expecting credit for not using the "E" word...)
01-23-2020, 10:27 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by baro-nite Quote
Thanks for the link, it's a well-done promotional piece. I'm a bit puzzled by this bit:



Anyway, this is certainly a lens of interest to me.
He is saying: The lens has character.
I am waiting for the next lens release.

01-23-2020, 10:48 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by c.a.m Quote
'Special Content' page at the Ricoh Imaging .jp site.
Image samples look really good.
01-23-2020, 11:00 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by ffking Quote
That makes it sound like the coatings do more than just reduce flare...
For a couple months I shot with both HD and SMC versions of the DA Limiteds, and I felt as though some textures (rock surfaces, tree bark) were rendered a bit more distinctly with the HD versions. I won't swear to it, as I did not shoot the lenses back-to-back with the same subject matter and light, but that is my impression.
01-23-2020, 11:15 AM - 1 Like   #10
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I noticed in the comparison of max magnification between the two lenses that Ricoh/Pentax basically admitted to significant focus breathing with the 70-210/2.8. Such is not unusual for modern designs, but admission by the maker is unexpected.

QuoteQuote:
By using the middle optical-element group for focusing, this lens provides a broader angle of view for a given focusing distance in close-range photography. Because of this, its maximum magnification is limited to 0.13 times.
Translation? FOV is wider than expected when focusing close (focus breathing) with the D FA* 70-200/2.8. The lack of such on the D FA 70-210/4.0 is a pleasant surprise.


Steve

Last edited by stevebrot; 01-23-2020 at 11:41 AM.
01-23-2020, 11:57 AM - 1 Like   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
I am a bit puzzled by the discussion of macro capabilities...



Change of crop does not change the optical magnification. It remains 0.32x for both 24x36mm FF and APS-C.


Steve

(...expecting credit for not using the "E" word...)
I think they mean to say that compared to using it on a FF camera you get 0.48 magnification (0.48 being 0.32 x 1.5). It's not the actual definition of magnification and it's poorly worded - the only reason it "works" is that current APS-C cameras have more pixel density so they can "get closer" by extra cropping.
01-23-2020, 12:38 PM   #12
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No tripod collar!!!????

Surely to goodness that's just the pre-production model.

Cheers,
Cameron
01-23-2020, 12:46 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Serkevan Quote
I think they mean to say that compared to using it on a FF camera you get 0.48 magnification (0.48 being 0.32 x 1.5). It's not the actual definition of magnification and it's poorly worded - the only reason it "works" is that current APS-C cameras have more pixel density so they can "get closer" by extra cropping.
The "magnification" in this case is simply the ability to fill the frame without cropping further and is analogous to the extra reach claimed for APS-C vs 24x36mm FF. My K-3 may throw 24Mpx to the task, but that only buys larger potential print size vs. crop mode on the K-1.


Steve
01-23-2020, 12:50 PM - 1 Like   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by Cambo Quote
Surely to goodness that's just the pre-production model.

Cheers,
Cameron
Tamron makes one that fits for $117.77 USD. It is not included with their product either.

Tamron A034TM Tripod Collar Mount for 70-210mm f/4 Di VC A034TM

With any luck there are 3rd-party equivalents at some point.


Steve

Last edited by stevebrot; 01-23-2020 at 01:30 PM.
01-23-2020, 12:56 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
The "magnification" in this case is simply the ability to fill the frame without cropping further and is analogous to the extra reach claimed for APS-C vs 24x36mm FF. My K-3 may throw 24Mpx to the task, but that only buys larger potential print size vs. crop mode on the K-1.


Steve
The page has some really nice photos -- nice enough to make me think about a lens like this. It also has a lot of weight comparisons based on equivalents using KP and K-1 cameras. I think the long story short is that you can get nice shots with this lens and a KP camera and that it is not as heavy as a DFA *70-200 and K-1 would be, but otherwise, I can't make a whole lot of sense of them.
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