Cameraville's comparison between DFA* 70-200 and Tamron 70-180

BarneyL · 05-31-2020, 01:32 AM

You Tube

Seems like the Pentax star doesn't shine as it should.

pschlute · 05-31-2020, 02:11 AM

Originally posted by BarneyL

Seems like the Pentax star doesn't shine as it should.

I would ask the reviewer why he is using raw (unprocessed ?) files to do a comparison ?

Oh , and don't shoot landscapes at f2.8 folks.

Seriously, his issue could be simply that the lens and camera need a bit of AF/FA

Not a Number · 05-31-2020, 02:13 AM - **1 Like**

There are such things as "bad" copies, even with a * lens. That's why Modern/Popular Photography would obtain for their tests three copies of a lens from three different sources (and never directly from "Brand" or distributor to avoid cherry picking).

BarneyL · 05-31-2020, 02:19 AM

Guy says in the comments, it's his 4th sample of the lens.

I have this lens, and I'm not too bothered by focus breathing. The sharpness at wide open is OK, I'm not blown away by it, but I don't see it as soft. Plus it has quite nice rendering.

pschlute · 05-31-2020, 03:46 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BarneyL

it's his 4th sample of the lens

All of which could be fine, but his camera needs adjusting. My K1 requires between +6 and +10 for AF/FA with all my lenses. It is the k1 sensor that needs the adjustment.

repaap · 05-31-2020, 05:46 AM - **1 Like**

I have also *70-200. My copy is quite nice even wide open. Have to say that Tamron is sharp, yes. That onionring bokeh is just plain ugly. They should not have done that. As has been said before. Sharpness is not the only criteria of a good photo. Move on!

---------- Post added 05-31-20 at 15:49 ----------

Originally posted by pschlute

All of which could be fine, but his camera needs adjusting. My K1 requires between +6 and +10 for AF/FA with all my lenses. It is the k1 sensor that needs the adjustment.

You can see in those two boring shots that in Pentax sample greens at the front are in focus, where Tamron is Oof. Especially from 2,8-4. What is remarkable is that it is so in every photo..

Now that I think of it, that was the issue with his previous video about DFA*70-200 vs. Something also.

HarisF1 · 05-31-2020, 06:53 AM

The DFA* is super sharp from wide open. Clearly the reviewer has an issue on his end.

And I'm surprised at his approach to this review. Normally he's kissing Pentax's tripod mount but this time it's the complete opposite. I sense he's also annoyed at the fact that he's gone through 4 copies.

**ffking** · 05-31-2020, 07:33 AM - **1 Like**

He seems to have consistently have had problems with this lens, from the first review - like Northrup, he makes too big a deal of focus breathing, but he's never got the image quality out of the lens that mine gives - maybe I'm just lucky!

repaap · 05-31-2020, 07:48 AM

To me it looks like this lens has problem with him. I also have sharp copy..

pschlute · 05-31-2020, 08:21 AM - **1 Like**

He also has a very annoying style. Cannot bear watching him.

**sbh** · 05-31-2020, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by HarisF1

The DFA* is super sharp from wide open. Clearly the reviewer has an issue on his end.

And I'm surprised at his approach to this review. Normally he's kissing Pentax's tripod mount but this time it's the complete opposite. I sense he's also annoyed at the fact that he's gone through 4 copies.

I went through 3 copies and all suffered from decentering in different variations even at f/8. The seller refused to send me another copy and I also lost interest in this lens as I already have the 60-250 debaffled. But from what I saw, I can imagin that it is an excellent lens when you have a good copy.

stevebrot · 05-31-2020, 10:25 AM - **1 Like**

Question...why not shoot both lenses on the Sony? Cameraville is well-known for being sloppy in both their reviews and comparisons. Oh, and in regards to focus breathing...if you have internal focus, you are going to have focus breathing.

Steve

repaap · 05-31-2020, 12:11 PM - **5 Likes**

Here is basically first shot with my 70-200 wide open. (bought it from Shanghai)

I have plenty of these. I know it is small photos, but even from there you can see that @ 2,8 already it is sharp, beautiful colour, and no onionbokeh. That alone would be dealbreaker for me. I knew about focusbreathing(actually one can read it even from technical spec list, before buying, but who looks at these things anyway)... I understand if onehas bad copy. One thing what is possible is that camera has to be re-calibrated, with the lens/lenses at the factory. I'm lucky wiht my K-1 in that way. none of my lenses had to be send back so far. Some oldies suffer from a lot of things(which is normal me thinks), but none of these new ones I bought new.

**ffking** · 05-31-2020, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by repaap

Here is basically first shot with my 70-200 wide open. (bought it from Shanghai)

Nice!

repaap · 05-31-2020, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by ffking

Nice!

Thanks

IMHO it is superb lens. Sure it has weaknesses, like any other lens has. But for me it is perfect for what it is, I still want/use other lenses for other things.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
the CameraVille Compares K-1, D810, and A7r	FozzFoster	Pentax DSLR Discussion	4	05-22-2020 07:38 AM
The CameraVille image quality comparison K-1 vs K-1 MKII	alpheios	Pentax K-1 & K-1 II	31	04-04-2020 05:28 PM
For Sale - Sold: Sigma 180/3.5 Macro, Tamron 180/2.5, FA300/4.5, DA60-250/4(FF modified) and more	Greyser	Sold Items	48	10-27-2019 05:07 PM
Dilemma: Portrait Shooting between DFA 24-70 or DFA 70-200	Gerard_Dirks	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	22	10-05-2017 04:34 PM
Dfa 70 200 vs tamron 70 200	sjyoon20904	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	22	03-23-2016 04:05 PM

05-31-2020, 02:11 AM	#2
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,202	Originally posted by BarneyL Seems like the Pentax star doesn't shine as it should. I would ask the reviewer why he is using raw (unprocessed ?) files to do a comparison ? Oh , and don't shoot landscapes at f2.8 folks. Seriously, his issue could be simply that the lens and camera need a bit of AF/FA

05-31-2020, 02:13 AM - 1 Like	#3
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	There are such things as "bad" copies, even with a * lens. That's why Modern/Popular Photography would obtain for their tests three copies of a lens from three different sources (and never directly from "Brand" or distributor to avoid cherry picking).

05-31-2020, 02:19 AM	#4
BarneyL Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 899 Original Poster	Guy says in the comments, it's his 4th sample of the lens. I have this lens, and I'm not too bothered by focus breathing. The sharpness at wide open is OK, I'm not blown away by it, but I don't see it as soft. Plus it has quite nice rendering.

05-31-2020, 03:46 AM - 1 Like	#5
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,202	Originally posted by BarneyL it's his 4th sample of the lens All of which could be fine, but his camera needs adjusting. My K1 requires between +6 and +10 for AF/FA with all my lenses. It is the k1 sensor that needs the adjustment.

05-31-2020, 05:46 AM - 1 Like	#6
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	I have also 70-200. My copy is quite nice even wide open. Have to say that Tamron is sharp, yes. That onionring bokeh is just plain ugly. They should not have done that. As has been said before. Sharpness is not the only criteria of a good photo. Move on! ---------- Post added 05-31-20 at 15:49 ---------- Originally posted by pschlute All of which could be fine, but his camera needs adjusting. My K1 requires between +6 and +10 for AF/FA with all my lenses. It is the k1 sensor that needs the adjustment. You can see in those two boring shots that in Pentax sample greens at the front are in focus, where Tamron is Oof. Especially from 2,8-4. What is remarkable is that it is so in every photo.. Now that I think of it, that was the issue with his previous video about DFA70-200 vs. Something also.

05-31-2020, 06:53 AM	#7
HarisF1 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 543	The DFA* is super sharp from wide open. Clearly the reviewer has an issue on his end. And I'm surprised at his approach to this review. Normally he's kissing Pentax's tripod mount but this time it's the complete opposite. I sense he's also annoyed at the fact that he's gone through 4 copies.

05-31-2020, 07:33 AM - 1 Like	#8
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	He seems to have consistently have had problems with this lens, from the first review - like Northrup, he makes too big a deal of focus breathing, but he's never got the image quality out of the lens that mine gives - maybe I'm just lucky!

05-31-2020, 07:48 AM	#9
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	To me it looks like this lens has problem with him. I also have sharp copy..

05-31-2020, 08:21 AM - 1 Like	#10
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,202	He also has a very annoying style. Cannot bear watching him.

05-31-2020, 10:10 AM	#11
sbh Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Black Forest, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 849	Originally posted by HarisF1 The DFA* is super sharp from wide open. Clearly the reviewer has an issue on his end. And I'm surprised at his approach to this review. Normally he's kissing Pentax's tripod mount but this time it's the complete opposite. I sense he's also annoyed at the fact that he's gone through 4 copies. I went through 3 copies and all suffered from decentering in different variations even at f/8. The seller refused to send me another copy and I also lost interest in this lens as I already have the 60-250 debaffled. But from what I saw, I can imagin that it is an excellent lens when you have a good copy.

05-31-2020, 10:25 AM - 1 Like	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Question...why not shoot both lenses on the Sony? Cameraville is well-known for being sloppy in both their reviews and comparisons. Oh, and in regards to focus breathing...if you have internal focus, you are going to have focus breathing. Steve

05-31-2020, 12:11 PM - 5 Likes	#13
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Here is basically first shot with my 70-200 wide open. (bought it from Shanghai) I have plenty of these. I know it is small photos, but even from there you can see that @ 2,8 already it is sharp, beautiful colour, and no onionbokeh. That alone would be dealbreaker for me. I knew about focusbreathing(actually one can read it even from technical spec list, before buying, but who looks at these things anyway)... I understand if onehas bad copy. One thing what is possible is that camera has to be re-calibrated, with the lens/lenses at the factory. I'm lucky wiht my K-1 in that way. none of my lenses had to be send back so far. Some oldies suffer from a lot of things(which is normal me thinks), but none of these new ones I bought new.

05-31-2020, 12:18 PM	#14
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	Originally posted by repaap Here is basically first shot with my 70-200 wide open. (bought it from Shanghai) Nice!

05-31-2020, 12:24 PM	#15
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Originally posted by ffking Nice! Thanks IMHO it is superb lens. Sure it has weaknesses, like any other lens has. But for me it is perfect for what it is, I still want/use other lenses for other things.