[hinman]

May I ask if the subject and setting is illuminated by...

1. unfiltered sunlight, or...

2. artificially lit?

If artificial, is it possible the "CA" you see might actually be a true color added to the setting on purpose? If the color is included for a reason by the lighting designer and the lens faithfully picks it up, is it fair to say the lens design is faulty?

Just curious...

Cheers!

Hi Michael, there is no external light source other than sunlight and I took the picture right around 3:30pm when the sun light is harsh. I did not have any optical filter on. I wonder if a circular polarizer will help in such a situation. The CA in the Komine series 1 zoom is not just noted from me and it is shared with few other people too in previous discussions. I won't say it is severe to avoid the lens but it is there in the highlight that one has to take note. The series 1 zoom is quite a zoom to have, all not-so-good pictures actually come from me in NOT trying to hide its weaknesses, I could have paid attention to the highlight or preview after the shot to make another angle.

I shot the same place after work around sunset using the same lens in another occasions

A tall statue in a Catholic Church

In the adaptall site, there is some quote mentioning about off-aix CA that are better in the Tamron SP adaptall 70-210mm f/3.5

So, we are sure you are curious about how well the Tamron SP 70-210 lens stacks up against the various "famous" Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm zooms? Quite simply, the Tamron blows them all away. The following link (automatically opens in a new window) provides Modern Photography's test results for the first three versions of Vivitar's very popular lens:

Vivitar 70-210 Series 1 Zooms — A very nicely done web page by Mark Roberts which documents the various Vivitar Series 1 70-210 zoom lenses.

Once you examine the test results, you will see that the Tamron SP is definitely superior.

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Last edited by hinman; 01-23-2009 at 12:03 PM.

[hinman]

Hi Hin -

I've got a Tamron Adaptall (1) 70-150mm zoom that I like a lot. It's not light, and it is pretty long, but it does have a nice built in hood. And it will go down to 1:2.5 macro at 70mm. I've never had a DA* lens, but given that you can get one of these from KEH for under $20 (plus shipping) and given that I am cheap, I probably never will.

Nick, you and I are in the same boat. Some older manual lens are great when we have the stamina for MF. I almost get a copy of the Tamron 70-150mm in adaptall mount. It is also in the $30 range. I suspect that the adaptall lens share similar quality to the Kiron 70-150mm f/3.8. And close up in 1:2.5 is great for a $20 find as I would love the DA* 50-135 to have similar close-up. Just imagine a $700 lens has no close up but a $20 with good close up in 1:2.5 which is great for flowers.

Again, I am NOT playing down on the DA* zoom, it is the best money can buy and I find NO alternative to fill its shoes.

But there are decent alternatives for the budget minded who don't mind the challenge with lesser quality gear. It can be limiting with MF and slower speed if you think on the negative, but it is quite fun to consider the price and the challenge as positive side of the coin.

I just got my Tamron SP adaptall 28-135mm f/4.0-4.5 from Ryan S and I have a good feeling about that lens already.

Thanks,
Hin

[hinman]

Have you ever considered the SMC Pentax-A 35-105/3.5? It is a quite highly regarded zoom, but doesn't take you quite as far as the 135mm of the DA* zoom. It is also a 2-touch zoom which you seem to be in favor of.

I'd also put in a word for the SMC Pentax-A 70-210/4 zoom. Very nice handling in my opinion (even though it's 1-touch), but not necessarily the smallest of the bunch. I have really enjoyed using the one I have.

Thank you for the pointers. A lot of people love the two MF zooms that you mentioned.

[volosong]

Some test shots from the Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron

I "love" my 70-150/3.8 and purchased it new in 1976 along with my MX. Also purchased the "Matched Multiplier", the optically matched 2x teleconverter. I was so disappointed to discover it would not mount on my Ds (nor subsequent Pentax digitals) due to the extra wide aperture guard pin. Last year, I sent it out to a lens repair shop and he modified the rear mount so that now it mounts just fine. The thing is heavy for its size. All metal and glass. It would hurt someone if it were hurled at them.

For the price they go for these days...get one! Be sure it has the correct mount first, or expect to pay another 50 or so to have it modified (unless you want to do so yourself, which many have).

[hinman]

I "love" my 70-150/3.8 and purchased it new in 1976 along with my MX. Also purchased the "Matched Multiplier", the optically matched 2x teleconverter. I was so disappointed to discover it would not mount on my Ds (nor subsequent Pentax digitals) due to the extra wide aperture guard pin. Last year, I sent it out to a lens repair shop and he modified the rear mount so that now it mounts just fine. The thing is heavy for its size. All metal and glass. It would hurt someone if it were hurled at them.

For the price they go for these days...get one! Be sure it has the correct mount first, or expect to pay another 50 or so to have it modified (unless you want to do so yourself, which many have).

Thanks for the comment. I actually have the same issues on the K version and I simply remove the baffle and grind it down with Dremel tool and a file for smoothing out the edges.

After few months of going back and forth. I am keeping my Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 as I can't find anything like it. I did three Dog and puppy portraits solely on the zoom. My other portrait lens in Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 couldn't provide the longer range that I used in the shooting.

DA* zoom On Dog Portrait



DA* zoom On Puppies

The other strangest thing is I have also decided to keep the alternative that I found in Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron in M42 mount. Of course, the IQ and color can't match that in the DA* zoom, but the small and lightweight in the Kiron zoom appeals to me for street shooting in a small package. The Kiron 2x matched doubler is used quite good with my other M42 lens. With the adapter, the short zoom can go from 70mm to 300mm.

Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron in M42 mount

I am a lens junkie and I like all good lens and I always make the excuse to keep them. While others debate on limited 77mm vs DA* 50-135, or 70-210mm vs 50-135mm. I end up buying them all as I see great value in each of them.

Thanks,
Hin

[Jewelltrail]

Gokenin: "The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. "
Friedrich Nietzsche

That is vintage Nietzsche and works well with the Pentax brand if you ask me. Thanks.

[tim71]

As for the heaviness of the 50-135mm, try the new Sigma/Tamron 70-200mm, which are
heavier than the 50-135mm. Haven't taken the Sigma HSM for any walk yet, it's
hard to hold it firm for some considerable time...

Pinwu

Come on

Pentax DA* 50-135 f/2,8 - 685g
Tokina AT-X 535 PRO - 845g
Sigma AF 70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM - 1345g

It should be obvious, that almost any 70-200 f2,8 lens would be heavier, but Tokina's 50-135 is also heavier body being made of metal (otherwise Tokina 50-135 is the closest match to DA*50-135 as these are made in a process of co-design).

Of course "feeling heavy" is a relative thing, but I myself find it hard to think of DA* 50-135 as heavy. Even if we try to substitute the DA* with a set of Limited primes, we may end up with more weight to carry along.

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Last edited by tim71; 05-23-2009 at 01:13 PM.

[hinman]

The silent AF in the DA* zoom turns out to be important in the last weekend when I get close to the squirrel. I call him a Squirrel with a green tongue in the picture.

#1



#2



#2

I do wish the Pentax DA* 50-135mm a bit longer for reach. It would have been perfect if the focal range are like Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6. I know I am asking too much. If there is a DA* 50-200mm f/2.8, I would be upgrading. Hope the DA* 60-250mm f/4.0 can come down in price similar to the DA* 50-135mm f/2.8.

Out of all the alternative choices with AF, I find Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6 to be the closest choice with AF that resemble the DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 and it comes in the lightest package. With 'WR' version in k-7, that would be a closest alternative with weather seal costing a fraction of the DA* zoom.

Thanks,
Hin

[Class A]

I am trying to get hold of Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5

Minus: Heavy as hell (860g), MF, requires 62mm filters
Plus: Sharp, good close focusing, AV mode with PK/A adapter, parfocal, one-touch

[XATN3q]

How about a Sigma 50-150 f2.8 ??? does anybody here have a chance to use it ?? is it good ?

[hinman]

Minus: Heavy as hell (860g), MF, requires 62mm filters
Plus: Sharp, good close focusing, AV mode with PK/A adapter, parfocal, one-touch

I have that Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (19AH). It is a bit heavy but extremely well built. It is harder to use than the first three versions of Vivitar Series 1 zoom. In terms of IQ and value, the Tamron is a better over-all lens when used with a Tamron adaptall-2 p/k-a adapter.

Though very different focal range with some overlapping with the DA* zoom, that Tamron manual focus lens is quite a competent lens for budget minded. But I do run into moderate PF that is easily seen in high contrast area. Sharpness and focusing ring is the best in that Tamron SP adaptall-2 zoom. It is an odd ball lens that will grow upon more usage. It is a difficult lens to use due to its long length and weight -- it takes me some time to get used to it and I love it more with usage.

Thanks,
Hin

[hinman]

Out of all the alternatives that I have tried. At this moment, I can' find a close replacement for the DA* 50-135mm zoom. There isn't any lens like it except the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8. Unless the SDM fails on me, it is an highly recommended lens from me. It is the best that I have used.

Out of all the funky and odd ball manual lens that I have tried, used and swapped from one to the next wanting to find something that is similar to the DA*, there isn't any that come close. But I have to say that when I want something smaller that does most the job that my DA* zoom does, the cheap Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron in 2-touch zoom is what I will recommend as a knock-out cheapo m42 lens that I can always rely on as a backup to the DA* zoom with a small form factor and weight. I also find the Kiron matching 2x multiplier of great value that add flexibility for the lens into 140mm - 300mm lens.

That Kiron lens is quite sharp even wide open and it has a beautiful focal range for portraits. Had it started at 50mm like the DA*, it would be a no brainer to get by the dozens and kept them as gift for buddies.

Some recent test shots in wide open f/3.8 aperture indoor

1/60 sec, f/3.8, 150mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
off-focus as I aim at the mouth



1/50 sec, f/3.8, 150mm, iso 400, 0 Ev



1/50 sec, f/6.3, 70mm, iso 400, 0 Ev



1/40 sec, f/8.0, 70mm, iso 200, 0 Ev



1/60sec, f/8.0, 70mm, iso 160, 0 Ev


Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron in 2-touch zoom

[Nick Siebers]

Here's a couple from my Tamron Adaptall 70-150mm f/3.5 zoom. The macro mode comes in handy - I was carrying the lens for other types of shooting when these two fellas came along.

[hinman]

Here's a couple from my Tamron Adaptall 70-150mm f/3.5 zoom. The macro mode comes in handy - I was carrying the lens for other types of shooting when these two fellas came along.

Nick, very lovely close up. Any lens with a good close up from 1:2 to 1:4 is a plus in my book. Those are lovely shots, sharp and with vivid color. There is an expensive version or your lens with Tamron SP 70-150mm f/2.8 soft focus and Canikons bid these up quite often to a high price. For day use, the f/3.5 is quite sufficient and the size and weight should be reasonable to use.

Thanks,
Hin

[Spock]

]Please share the alternatives that you know for the DA* 50-135 that you have thought about.[/B]

How about the well-regarded FA28-105 F3.2-4.5?

Very light, compact, relatively fast and with good IQ. Aspherical element(s), internal focusing, ghostless coating.