Your DA* experiences

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 11-04-2008, 12:57 AM

Originally posted by rfortson

DA*50-135
I also had this lens with the K10D and I've always liked it. I know others say this is a slow focusing lens, but to me, it's very quick. Image quality is outstanding, even when cropping heavily. It's just a joy to use. I also used this at a race on my K20D and out of over 50 shots, maybe two were out of focus (mainly due to a wrong focus point). And when I say "in focus", I mean so sharp I could read the fine print on the runners' bibs! This lens is amazing! IQ for me is so good that I sold my 77Ltd since I wasn't using it enough. (Again, I'm not saying the 50-135 is absolutely better than the 77Ltd. I'm just saying that in my uses, the 50-135 is at least close enough that I just didn't need the 77Ltd.)

Can only second that. DA*50-135 is amazing for a zoom. It's not necessarily sharper than the best primes, but it is very good for a zoom. It also has a "temperament" to it which I like, a combination of how colors come out and the bokeh that gives very nice results. As for AF speed: it is a long way around from zero to infinity (which makes it a joy for MF), so of course it is slow in a test from zero to infinity. But over more realistic distances, like following a moving kid, bike, car... it appears to work very fast and very exact.

During October-November I'm doing a little shoot out of the DA*50-135 against the best primes of the A generation (which is sort of my personal reference since that is when I got into Pentax): A50/1.7 + A*85/1.4 + A100/2.8 + A*135/1.8

borno · 11-04-2008, 04:13 AM

I'm diggin' my DA*300

from yesterday;

rfortson · 11-04-2008, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden

As for AF speed: it is a long way around from zero to infinity (which makes it a joy for MF), so of course it is slow in a test from zero to infinity. But over more realistic distances, like following a moving kid, bike, car... it appears to work very fast and very exact.

I suspect you've hit on the complaint. Again, I don't do staged tests so I'm not measuring absolute AF speed. My real-world experience shows the AF speed is quick and snappy for whatever subject I point it at.

Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden

During October-November I'm doing a little shoot out of the DA*50-135 against the best primes of the A generation (which is sort of my personal reference since that is when I got into Pentax): A50/1.7 + A*85/1.4 + A100/2.8 + A*135/1.8

Yes, I know. What are you doing posting here?? Get to posting those shots! Just because I don't do staged tests doesn't mean I don't like seeing them.

Conan · 11-15-2008, 06:24 AM

What I discovered lately from DA* lenses is their susceptibility to flairing. Check this, flair from a candle using my 50-135!

apemen · 11-16-2008, 11:15 AM

I am very satisfied with my DA* 200mm as of yesterday.

You can see some shots here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/41863-my-first-some-birds.html

Hand-held, continuous focus was very successful.
I must add birds were close.

vizjerei · 11-16-2008, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by Conan

What I discovered lately from DA* lenses is their susceptibility to flairing. Check this, flair from a candle using my 50-135!

Do you have a filter on your lens?

Conan · 11-16-2008, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by vizjerei

Do you have a filter on your lens?

Nope, I don't have any filters for my DA* lenses.

legacyb4 · 11-16-2008, 05:34 PM

Just finished my first stint with my DA* 50-135 on the K10D and I can say I'm more than pleased with my purchase. Not quite as long (physically) as my Tokina 80-200 and far lighter to boot so walking around with it is pretty easy. I do feel that you need the grip to balance out the lens for easy zooming but overall, a joy to use.

apeman · 11-16-2008, 06:40 PM

I have the DA * 50-135/f2.8 and it is simply amazing. The only issues that I have had with it are my lack of skill in working with a long fast lens

With such a shallow depth of feild wide open, focus is critical.

I've never had a lens reveal so much detail, and its very sharp.

soccerjoe5 · 11-16-2008, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by rfortson

I suspect you've hit on the complaint. Again, I don't do staged tests so I'm not measuring absolute AF speed. My real-world experience shows the AF speed is quick and snappy for whatever subject I point it at.

My experience on the 50-135 is that it's quite quick in good light on my K20D. In low light though it was quite sluggish, even with the AF-assist lamp from the 540 flash. I had a hard time catching those fast and spontaneous moments at the last wedding I shot.

Very nice lens, but is quite behind in AF speed to catch up to the Nikkor 70-200 lens I used to use. That lens and the Canon variant would literally just "snap" onto focus pretty much the moment you half-press. But then again, that's a lens that costs 2-3x more.

I like the 50-135. Very good optics, great build, sealed, great handling, fast enough in in most situations, all at a very good price.

**Eaglerapids** · 11-17-2008, 05:48 AM

DA* 300/4

Wulifou · 11-17-2008, 05:57 AM

I have DA* 16-50 and DA* 50-135 for only a week now, so maybe it's not long enough to be aware of some potential flaws. I mainly use 50-135 and it's simply fantastic. Only complaint I could have is that it is sometimes a little short. That's why DA* 200 is next on my wishlist.

gkopeliadis · 11-17-2008, 06:14 AM

No DA* lens I ever came accross to use cought me so as to buy it

although I had a close call with the 50-135

Marcus · 11-17-2008, 09:44 AM

The only odd thing on the 50-135 is that you can turn the focus ring forever. That does seem rather cheap. I was surprised. When I found out, I remember saying to myself, "Huh?"

legacyb4 · 11-17-2008, 10:11 AM

Technically speaking, that's not a fault of the lens itself, right?

Agree though that 135mm feels a bit "short", especially if you've gotten used to 200mm on a DSLR. Still, I love getting the difference on the 'short' side of the lens (50~70/80) which really makes the lens more useful as a walkabout lens.

Originally posted by Wulifou

Only complaint I could have is that it is sometimes a little short. That's why DA* 200 is next on my wishlist.

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11-04-2008, 12:57 AM	#16
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374	Originally posted by rfortson DA50-135 I also had this lens with the K10D and I've always liked it. I know others say this is a slow focusing lens, but to me, it's very quick. Image quality is outstanding, even when cropping heavily. It's just a joy to use. I also used this at a race on my K20D and out of over 50 shots, maybe two were out of focus (mainly due to a wrong focus point). And when I say "in focus", I mean so sharp I could read the fine print on the runners' bibs! This lens is amazing! IQ for me is so good that I sold my 77Ltd since I wasn't using it enough. (Again, I'm not saying the 50-135 is absolutely better than the 77Ltd. I'm just saying that in my uses, the 50-135 is at least close enough that I just didn't need the 77Ltd.) Can only second that. DA50-135 is amazing for a zoom. It's not necessarily sharper than the best primes, but it is very good for a zoom. It also has a "temperament" to it which I like, a combination of how colors come out and the bokeh that gives very nice results. As for AF speed: it is a long way around from zero to infinity (which makes it a joy for MF), so of course it is slow in a test from zero to infinity. But over more realistic distances, like following a moving kid, bike, car... it appears to work very fast and very exact. During October-November I'm doing a little shoot out of the DA50-135 against the best primes of the A generation (which is sort of my personal reference since that is when I got into Pentax): A50/1.7 + A85/1.4 + A100/2.8 + A*135/1.8

11-04-2008, 04:13 AM	#17
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	I'm diggin' my DA*300 from yesterday;

11-04-2008, 09:58 AM	#18
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden As for AF speed: it is a long way around from zero to infinity (which makes it a joy for MF), so of course it is slow in a test from zero to infinity. But over more realistic distances, like following a moving kid, bike, car... it appears to work very fast and very exact. I suspect you've hit on the complaint. Again, I don't do staged tests so I'm not measuring absolute AF speed. My real-world experience shows the AF speed is quick and snappy for whatever subject I point it at. Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden During October-November I'm doing a little shoot out of the DA50-135 against the best primes of the A generation (which is sort of my personal reference since that is when I got into Pentax): A50/1.7 + A85/1.4 + A100/2.8 + A*135/1.8 Yes, I know. What are you doing posting here?? Get to posting those shots! Just because I don't do staged tests doesn't mean I don't like seeing them.

11-15-2008, 06:24 AM	#19
Conan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Philippines Posts: 99	What I discovered lately from DA* lenses is their susceptibility to flairing. Check this, flair from a candle using my 50-135!

11-16-2008, 11:15 AM	#20
apemen Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ankara, TURKEY Posts: 181	I am very satisfied with my DA* 200mm as of yesterday. You can see some shots here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/41863-my-first-some-birds.html Hand-held, continuous focus was very successful. I must add birds were close.

11-16-2008, 11:29 AM	#21
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Originally posted by Conan What I discovered lately from DA* lenses is their susceptibility to flairing. Check this, flair from a candle using my 50-135! Do you have a filter on your lens?

11-16-2008, 04:46 PM	#22
Conan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Philippines Posts: 99	Originally posted by vizjerei Do you have a filter on your lens? Nope, I don't have any filters for my DA* lenses.

11-16-2008, 05:34 PM	#23
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Just finished my first stint with my DA* 50-135 on the K10D and I can say I'm more than pleased with my purchase. Not quite as long (physically) as my Tokina 80-200 and far lighter to boot so walking around with it is pretty easy. I do feel that you need the grip to balance out the lens for easy zooming but overall, a joy to use.

11-16-2008, 06:40 PM	#24
apeman Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 29	I have the DA * 50-135/f2.8 and it is simply amazing. The only issues that I have had with it are my lack of skill in working with a long fast lens With such a shallow depth of feild wide open, focus is critical. I've never had a lens reveal so much detail, and its very sharp.

11-16-2008, 08:50 PM	#25
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	Originally posted by rfortson I suspect you've hit on the complaint. Again, I don't do staged tests so I'm not measuring absolute AF speed. My real-world experience shows the AF speed is quick and snappy for whatever subject I point it at. My experience on the 50-135 is that it's quite quick in good light on my K20D. In low light though it was quite sluggish, even with the AF-assist lamp from the 540 flash. I had a hard time catching those fast and spontaneous moments at the last wedding I shot. Very nice lens, but is quite behind in AF speed to catch up to the Nikkor 70-200 lens I used to use. That lens and the Canon variant would literally just "snap" onto focus pretty much the moment you half-press. But then again, that's a lens that costs 2-3x more. I like the 50-135. Very good optics, great build, sealed, great handling, fast enough in in most situations, all at a very good price.

11-17-2008, 05:48 AM	#26
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,619	DA* 300/4

11-17-2008, 05:57 AM	#27
Wulifou Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: France and Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 73	I have DA* 16-50 and DA* 50-135 for only a week now, so maybe it's not long enough to be aware of some potential flaws. I mainly use 50-135 and it's simply fantastic. Only complaint I could have is that it is sometimes a little short. That's why DA* 200 is next on my wishlist.

11-17-2008, 06:14 AM	#28
gkopeliadis Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ATHENS, GREECE Posts: 308	No DA* lens I ever came accross to use cought me so as to buy it although I had a close call with the 50-135

11-17-2008, 09:44 AM	#29
Marcus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 187	The only odd thing on the 50-135 is that you can turn the focus ring forever. That does seem rather cheap. I was surprised. When I found out, I remember saying to myself, "Huh?"

11-17-2008, 10:11 AM	#30
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Technically speaking, that's not a fault of the lens itself, right? Agree though that 135mm feels a bit "short", especially if you've gotten used to 200mm on a DSLR. Still, I love getting the difference on the 'short' side of the lens (50~70/80) which really makes the lens more useful as a walkabout lens. Originally posted by Wulifou Only complaint I could have is that it is sometimes a little short. That's why DA* 200 is next on my wishlist.