[Bauie]

I'm thinking of buying this lens for an upcoming trip to Europe. In the reviews quite a few say it's soft. I'm wondering if these reviewers are saying this after using it wide open. I ask this because I have a 55mm - 300mm DA lens. At apertures other than f8 this lens is pretty ordinary, but at f8 this lens is superb. I will be using the 28-105 on an elderly K-x and want to travel with just one lens. If anyone has a 28-105 can you tell me if it has a sweet aperture?

[maidenfan84]

I use mine on a k1 ll and I have to say it’s probably one of the best lenses available at its price. Is it the sharpest thing out there? No. Is it the softest lens out there. Nope. At least on the K1 ll body, it’s certainly sharp enough for photos. I usually try to keep it around f8 at all focal lengths at it seems to be a general happy medium for them all. If you can only take the one lens, it’s definitely a great choice!

[mattt]

I’m curious. Why buy a 28-105 for your K-x? The 18-135 has a bigger range and delivers on much of the same features as the DFA zoom. All in a similar sized package for a lesser price.

I have both. I like both. I have never had a complaint about softness. I suggest for travel you will appreciate the extra bit on the wide end, and the extra reach. 18-135 is a favourite and I’m glad to have an APS-C body again to shoot it with.

[allanmh]

It is entirely your choice, of course, but the 28-105mm would not be my first choice for one-lens travel. I have done this kind of travel over much of the world, and my lens of choice on an APS-C camera have invariably been an 18-something mm. The 28-105 will be a 42-157mm on your K-x. Especially if you intend to visit some of the old, medieval towns and cities of Europe, you will really miss the wide-angle focal lengths. My recommendation would be either the 18-135mm, or the 16-85mm, or something like the 18-250mm, or the 18-270mm. In my experience, most zooms have their sweet-spot around f8, so you might want to consider one of the 'plastic fantastic' lenses, the 35mm/2.4, or the 50mm/1.8, for low-light photos.
Whatever you choose, happy trip and happy shooting

[Kozlok]

A budget choice is the v1 Sigma 17-70; the screwdrive one. It's actually one heck of a lens; and available used quite cheaply. If WR and/or silent focusing wasn't a concern, I'd take that over my 16-85 most of the time. The 18-135 is also a great choice with more range, but slightly worse IQ (but of course it's silent AND WR). The V2 Sigma is about the same IQ, but silent focus for a bit more money.

[Bauie]

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't know about the 18-135mm lens. As some have pointed out, wider is better in narrow European streets. It is selling for very low prices from the camera guys from Japan on eBay. I'm an old film photographer so excuse my ignorance but what is a IQ when referring to lenses?

[chrism888]

IQ is the abbreviation for image quality

[RICHARD L.]

The DFA 28-105 mm becomes "extremely sharp" starting @ f/6.3 with an optimum @ f/11 on Full-Frame (like a K1). It is true you may find it somewhat "longish" on an APSc sensor but it would perform brilliantly. A better adapted lens to a small sensor would be the DA 18-135 mm ED which performs best @ f/11 (please go see the "Lens Reviews" section on the Forum).

DA 18-135 mm ED on APSc (f/11)





DFA 28-105 mm ED on Full-Frame (f/11)

[mikesbike]

The DFA 28-105mm will provide no wide angle at all on an APS-C size sensor body as is your K-x. Far more suitable, and with exceptionally good AF (autofocus), is the DA 18-135mm lens. I have both, with the DFA lens being used on my full frame (FF) DSLR, the Pentax K-1 II, meaning it has the same size sensor as a 35mm film frame, for which this lens is designed, and with which the lens WILL provide wide angle. Both lenses are very well-built quality lenses with WR (weather resistant) construction.

The DA 18-135mm is an excellent choice for the needs you describe. Scroll down to take a look at the thread in this section of the forum- "DA 18-135mm WR, Show us what it can do" where you will find many images showing its capabilities. It can even do good closeups. Go to the last page first (most recent) and work backwards.

I can also tell you, this lens is so good, if you should go for a substantial camera upgrade, the results you will get with this lens will show that upgrade in image quality. It is that good. Coming from the K-x, and being an old film shooter, the best camera upgrade for you would be the KP, beyond a doubt. I have that too. The upgrade would indeed be substantial. Better IQ and better low noise/higher ISO performance, better system of controls, and a much better build quality, yet still compact. With your 35mm film experience, you are probably familiar with the slimmer bodies of most from Pentax, so getting used to handling a KP should be easy for you, and the quickness of making changes with its controls very gratifying.

[Kiwizinho]

I have a D-FA 28-105 that I use on an APS-C body. I ruled out the 18-135 based on reviews that seem to indicate IQ is good but not fantastic, and needs to be stopped down a bit.
The DA 16-85 seems to get better reviews and probably would have been my choice on an APS-C body, but a D-FA 28-105 came up at a price considerably less than it would cost me to buy the DA 16-85, so I decided to give it a go, and I've been very happy with it. Sure, I'd like something a bit wider at the wide end, but 28mm on APS-C is equivalent to 42mm on 35mm, which is still a bit wider than 50mm or 'standard' lens on 35mm, so if you're happy to live without wide angle, then it's a perfectly useable zoom range even on APS-C.
If you're buying new, it might be better to go for the DA 16-85 as it is more or less the APS-C equivalent to the 28-105 on full frame.

Here are some examples with the D-FA 28-105 on the K-70 which is APS-C

[Paul the Sunman]

On APS-C I prefer the DA 16-85, but that's because I use the wide end a lot. The 28-105 is the workhorse on my K1. Sharpness is absolutely not an issue. If the focal length range suits you, go for it, and have no concerns.

[bdery]

In the reviews quite a few say it's soft.

Who said that? They're wrong

As others pointed out, with an APS-C body a 18-135 or 16-85 would be better choices, but in itself, the 28-105 is an excellent lens.

[RICHARD L.]

A couple of images on an APSc K3 + DFA 28-105 mm ED zoom :

Very sharp, if a little "longish" (28 mm FL isn't much of a wide-angle in APSc).

[acoufap]

2019 I visited Berlin. Asked a Ricoh rep at a fair if I should take the DFA28-105 or DA18-135 with me. Camera would be the KP and the additional lenses DA*11-18 and DA55-300PLM. He said clearly I should go with the DFA28-105. It was a great choice.

If you really want to take only one lens I’d use the 18-135 and if possible the compact DA15 Ltd as a wider option. Together with the K-5 this was my kit for many years.

If I’d travel with the K-1 I‘d take the DFA28-105 and DFA21Ltd with me - latter I‘d have to buy. ;-)

[vector]

When compared to my prime lenses, I find the 28-105mm to be ordinary and if you pixel peep compared to good primes it is not as bitingly sharp, but I wouldn't call it soft or unsharp. It is for it's design (a general purpose zoom) pretty good. For a walk about lens around Europe it's probably 95% of what you want on a K1. The last bit could be covered by bringing a fast prime so you have an option for dim indoors situations or the occasional wide open bokeh shot.

The 18-135mm is also a good option and if you have an APSC camera, it's the better choice. Between the 2 I would personally say the 18-135 is less sharp with slightly more CA, but it also offers a lot more zoom and it's still pretty good for a compact super zoom. Convenience for travelling light is usually a big factor for a trip like this.

My only real complaint with these lenses is that I dislike variable aperture lenses (see first world problems and spoiled by fast primes). But for a sight seeing trip around Europe they are the perfect options. Most of what you shoot will likely be outdoors so you can just stop down a little and never worry if it's going to be sharp enough, it will be. Like I said bring 1 or 2 small fast primes if you want some options, but I bet you don't even use them.