Substandard Copies?

NecroticSoldier · 04-02-2010, 09:19 PM

How consistent are the DA lenses (specifically 55-300) in terms of quality? Is the QC good for Pentax?

SpecialK · 04-02-2010, 10:28 PM

I like mine, though it gets the blue (not purple) fringe sometimes at the long end.

How would we be able to know about the QC unless we had several samples to compare?

SOldBear · 04-02-2010, 11:46 PM

Originally posted by NecroticSoldier

How consistent are the DA lenses (specifically 55-300) in terms of quality? Is the QC good for Pentax?

The DA 50-300 is one of the most-liked Pentax lenses.

Unless there is a disaster in QC, noone can even guess the answer to the question "Is the QC good for Pentax?" Pentax, or any other manufacturer, never publishes QC data.

sterretje · 04-03-2010, 01:26 AM

I have not seen complaints on this forum about its quality and I'm very happy with mine (DA, not DA-L).

rockmaster1964 · 04-03-2010, 06:01 AM

I am happy with mine.

timo · 04-03-2010, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by NecroticSoldier

How consistent are the DA lenses (specifically 55-300) in terms of quality? Is the QC good for Pentax?

I would say totally inconsistent. I bought one soon after they came out and it's been back to Pentax twice, and they said it is 'within spec'. At 300mm you have to stop down to f11 to get a decent shot.

I have just bought a K-x with a two-lens kit including the DA L 55-300. This lens behaves quite differently - good throughout at the centre, but bad at the edges (worst on the left at around 200mm).

OK so it's a cheap lens and you get what you pay for. But for reliable edge-to-edge sharpness for landscapes, architecture and even panos, I would put more trust in my faithful old M200/4 - with a prime, even one like this that's regarded as unglamorous, life is more predictable.

NecroticSoldier · 04-03-2010, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by SpecialK

I like mine, though it gets the blue (not purple) fringe sometimes at the long end.

How would we be able to know about the QC unless we had several samples to compare?

Yeah that's true. ;( I should start some tests, but I don't know anyone else around here with DA 55-300s or any other lenses I own. Okays, I'll test my luck, I probably wouldn't be able to tell anyways.

04-02-2010, 09:19 PM	#1
NecroticSoldier Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Scarborough, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 488	Substandard Copies? How consistent are the DA lenses (specifically 55-300) in terms of quality? Is the QC good for Pentax?

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04-02-2010, 10:28 PM	#2
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	I like mine, though it gets the blue (not purple) fringe sometimes at the long end. How would we be able to know about the QC unless we had several samples to compare?

04-02-2010, 11:46 PM	#3
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Originally posted by NecroticSoldier How consistent are the DA lenses (specifically 55-300) in terms of quality? Is the QC good for Pentax? The DA 50-300 is one of the most-liked Pentax lenses. Unless there is a disaster in QC, noone can even guess the answer to the question "Is the QC good for Pentax?" Pentax, or any other manufacturer, never publishes QC data.

04-03-2010, 01:26 AM	#4
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	I have not seen complaints on this forum about its quality and I'm very happy with mine (DA, not DA-L).

04-03-2010, 06:01 AM	#5
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382	I am happy with mine.

04-03-2010, 06:52 AM	#6
timo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: former Arsenal football stadium Photos: Gallery Posts: 431	Originally posted by NecroticSoldier How consistent are the DA lenses (specifically 55-300) in terms of quality? Is the QC good for Pentax? I would say totally inconsistent. I bought one soon after they came out and it's been back to Pentax twice, and they said it is 'within spec'. At 300mm you have to stop down to f11 to get a decent shot. I have just bought a K-x with a two-lens kit including the DA L 55-300. This lens behaves quite differently - good throughout at the centre, but bad at the edges (worst on the left at around 200mm). OK so it's a cheap lens and you get what you pay for. But for reliable edge-to-edge sharpness for landscapes, architecture and even panos, I would put more trust in my faithful old M200/4 - with a prime, even one like this that's regarded as unglamorous, life is more predictable.

04-03-2010, 07:43 AM	#7
NecroticSoldier Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Scarborough, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 488 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpecialK I like mine, though it gets the blue (not purple) fringe sometimes at the long end. How would we be able to know about the QC unless we had several samples to compare? Yeah that's true. ;( I should start some tests, but I don't know anyone else around here with DA 55-300s or any other lenses I own. Okays, I'll test my luck, I probably wouldn't be able to tell anyways.