A Comparison of 400mm lenses on the K-1

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 05:43 PM - **5 Likes**

Takumar lens cap at 40 metres. The two outer caps are about a metre forward and back of the centre one to aid focusing. All lenses wide open
No surprises here - I knew the K 400mm was a great lens.
Well - actually one surprise! that hanimar 400 is a plastiky piece of crappola. I expected it to be worst of the bunch.
I think the worst is the lighter Soligor. Typical of Soligor it is beautifully engineered with mediocre optics. It is the preset one in the reviews.

Attached Images

**Bob 256** · 08-28-2021, 06:16 PM - **1 Like**

Thanks for this review. It's not common to see this group of lenses compared in one review and with such interesting results. That label card was a really useful target to show chromatic issues in these lenses (not much in the mirror lens as you would expect). Good Show!

Haenzel · 08-29-2021, 01:18 AM

Isn't the focus on some pictures more on the red deck chair, causing CA on other objects?

zapp · 08-29-2021, 01:32 AM

Center performance is not great for any lens… now what about off-center results… maybe I am just missing the gold standard here.

**GUB** · 08-29-2021, 02:43 AM

Originally posted by Haenzel

Isn't the focus on some pictures more on the red deck chair, causing CA on other objects?

The red chair is a little further away than the rearmost (left hand) cap. If you were right the left hand cap would be noticeably sharper than the centre one. It is interesting tho the the better result images have the chair sharper. I would have thought a dull lens would just affect the very sharpest plane but apparently not.

**GUB** · 08-29-2021, 02:45 AM

Originally posted by zapp

Center performance is not great for any lens… now what about off-center results… maybe I am just missing the gold standard here.

Naa - too much work and complicated layout. And for almost all my photography sharpness drop off is not an issue on the whole.

Haenzel · 08-29-2021, 04:26 AM

Originally posted by GUB

The red chair is a little further away than the rearmost (left hand) cap. If you were right the left hand cap would be noticeably sharper than the centre one. It is interesting tho the the better result images have the chair sharper. I would have thought a dull lens would just affect the very sharpest plane but apparently not.

Well, in my opinion certainly not on the last picture. The left hand cap IS sharper in spite of not being near centre...It is hard to judge though.
Thanks for posting.

I'm about to try some old lenses on my K1 as well..

**GUB** · 08-29-2021, 05:41 AM

Originally posted by Haenzel

Well, in my opinion certainly not on the last picture. The left hand cap IS sharper in spite of not being near centre...It is hard to judge though.
Thanks for posting.

I'm about to try some old lenses on my K1 as well..

Try using a takumar lenscap the same way. Mine are 49mm caps and the font makes the "Pentax" 35mm long. (There are several fonts)
Set up the camera 100 x the focal length from the target cap. (10 metres from a 100mm lens)
And when wide open see if you can resolve the little triangle in the "A" of "Pentax"

**GUB** · 08-29-2021, 05:47 AM

Originally posted by Haenzel

Well, in my opinion certainly not on the last picture.

Perhaps the FA 400 is back focused a little. But the difference between the left and the centre is not enough for the focus to be behind the left one.
But I might repeat the FA and the K ones. I thought the FA would have been best of the two.

**GUB** · 08-29-2021, 05:55 AM

Originally posted by zapp

Center performance is not great for any lens

The experiment is repeatable - put some of your shiny new lenses to the challenge.
And anyway how can you state "Center performance is not great for any lens" when there is no objective measurement of the result.? The experiment is for comparative purposes.

**roberrl** · 08-29-2021, 08:27 AM - **1 Like**

Interesting test although I worry about the axe on what looks like an old tractor seat.
Let's hope nobody sits down without checking first. ;-)

torashi · 08-29-2021, 03:48 PM

It certainly seems the soligor on the last pic was focused on the red chair, too.
Did you use live view magnified to that specific crop to focus?

**GUB** · 08-29-2021, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by torashi

It certainly seems the soligor on the last pic was focused on the red chair, too.
Did you use live view magnified to that specific crop to focus?

Yes I think you might be right with this one. I had made a poor choice .
Here is the next exposure - obvious really - I should be making the choice at least partly based on the amount of fringing on the white paper. I think I had felt this one was a little front focused. I use live view magnified and centred on the centre lens.

**GUB** · 08-29-2021, 04:53 PM

Had a run off this morning with the FA 400 up against the K 400. Took 5 plus shots from each and chose the best. The K definitely has more fringing.
Also walked out another 40metres and set up the old Soligor 800mm f8 long focus lens. Only two elements. Of course it is going to fringe like heck (that is what extra elements are about) but quite an acceptable result.

Soligor 800mm f8 long focus lens. T mount - PentaxForums.com

brianmquinn · 08-29-2021, 05:35 PM

Nice total lack of chromatic aberration with the 400-600mm lens (as expected). To tell you the truth I prefer a softer image without the PF to a sharper one with it.

08-28-2021, 05:43 PM - 5 Likes	#1
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760	A Comparison of 400mm lenses on the K-1 Takumar lens cap at 40 metres. The two outer caps are about a metre forward and back of the centre one to aid focusing. All lenses wide open No surprises here - I knew the K 400mm was a great lens. Well - actually one surprise! that hanimar 400 is a plastiky piece of crappola. I expected it to be worst of the bunch. I think the worst is the lighter Soligor. Typical of Soligor it is beautifully engineered with mediocre optics. It is the preset one in the reviews. Attached Images

08-29-2021, 04:15 PM	#13
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by torashi It certainly seems the soligor on the last pic was focused on the red chair, too. Did you use live view magnified to that specific crop to focus? Yes I think you might be right with this one. I had made a poor choice . Here is the next exposure - obvious really - I should be making the choice at least partly based on the amount of fringing on the white paper. I think I had felt this one was a little front focused. I use live view magnified and centred on the centre lens. Attached Images

08-29-2021, 04:53 PM	#14
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Had a run off this morning with the FA 400 up against the K 400. Took 5 plus shots from each and chose the best. The K definitely has more fringing. Also walked out another 40metres and set up the old Soligor 800mm f8 long focus lens. Only two elements. Of course it is going to fringe like heck (that is what extra elements are about) but quite an acceptable result. Soligor 800mm f8 long focus lens. T mount - PentaxForums.com Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pentax A 400mm F5.6 vs Pentax FA*400mm F5.6	Driline	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	24	03-25-2021 01:35 PM
A comparison between modern digital lenses vs analog vintage prime lenses.	interested_observer	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	03-13-2021 02:50 AM
comparison of 400mm lenses	csa	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	19	09-08-2015 08:52 AM
Tokina 80-400mm vs. Sigma 135-400mm	Buddha Jones	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	13	02-02-2008 04:53 PM

08-28-2021, 06:16 PM - 1 Like	#2
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,378	Thanks for this review. It's not common to see this group of lenses compared in one review and with such interesting results. That label card was a really useful target to show chromatic issues in these lenses (not much in the mirror lens as you would expect). Good Show!

08-29-2021, 01:18 AM	#3
Haenzel Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 151	Isn't the focus on some pictures more on the red deck chair, causing CA on other objects?

08-29-2021, 01:32 AM	#4
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,388	Center performance is not great for any lens… now what about off-center results… maybe I am just missing the gold standard here.

08-29-2021, 02:43 AM	#5
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by Haenzel Isn't the focus on some pictures more on the red deck chair, causing CA on other objects? The red chair is a little further away than the rearmost (left hand) cap. If you were right the left hand cap would be noticeably sharper than the centre one. It is interesting tho the the better result images have the chair sharper. I would have thought a dull lens would just affect the very sharpest plane but apparently not.

08-29-2021, 02:45 AM	#6
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by zapp Center performance is not great for any lens… now what about off-center results… maybe I am just missing the gold standard here. Naa - too much work and complicated layout. And for almost all my photography sharpness drop off is not an issue on the whole.

08-29-2021, 04:26 AM	#7
Haenzel Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 151	Originally posted by GUB The red chair is a little further away than the rearmost (left hand) cap. If you were right the left hand cap would be noticeably sharper than the centre one. It is interesting tho the the better result images have the chair sharper. I would have thought a dull lens would just affect the very sharpest plane but apparently not. Well, in my opinion certainly not on the last picture. The left hand cap IS sharper in spite of not being near centre...It is hard to judge though. Thanks for posting. I'm about to try some old lenses on my K1 as well..

08-29-2021, 05:41 AM	#8
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by Haenzel Well, in my opinion certainly not on the last picture. The left hand cap IS sharper in spite of not being near centre...It is hard to judge though. Thanks for posting. I'm about to try some old lenses on my K1 as well.. Try using a takumar lenscap the same way. Mine are 49mm caps and the font makes the "Pentax" 35mm long. (There are several fonts) Set up the camera 100 x the focal length from the target cap. (10 metres from a 100mm lens) And when wide open see if you can resolve the little triangle in the "A" of "Pentax"

08-29-2021, 05:47 AM	#9
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by Haenzel Well, in my opinion certainly not on the last picture. Perhaps the FA 400 is back focused a little. But the difference between the left and the centre is not enough for the focus to be behind the left one. But I might repeat the FA and the K ones. I thought the FA would have been best of the two.

08-29-2021, 05:55 AM	#10
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by zapp Center performance is not great for any lens The experiment is repeatable - put some of your shiny new lenses to the challenge. And anyway how can you state "Center performance is not great for any lens" when there is no objective measurement of the result.? The experiment is for comparative purposes.

08-29-2021, 08:27 AM - 1 Like	#11
roberrl Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 346	Interesting test although I worry about the axe on what looks like an old tractor seat. Let's hope nobody sits down without checking first. ;-)

08-29-2021, 03:48 PM	#12
torashi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322	It certainly seems the soligor on the last pic was focused on the red chair, too. Did you use live view magnified to that specific crop to focus?

08-29-2021, 05:35 PM	#15
brianmquinn Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cincinnati Photos: Gallery Posts: 79	Nice total lack of chromatic aberration with the 400-600mm lens (as expected). To tell you the truth I prefer a softer image without the PF to a sharper one with it.