HD PENTAX-D FA ★ 70-200mm F2.8 at 5th February?

**monochrome** · 03-30-2015, 12:30 PM

Originally posted by Nicolas06

Sould like very logical! They know they need to update their line-up ! And when the FF line will be good, they'll need to update the APSC line-up too. I think in particular of SDM motors and slow AF of DA*...

Lenses are designed (in the economic sense) to have a ten year design life before they are replaced or redesigned. While that standard isn't perfect, using the original year of issue it can give us an idea of when DA* lenses can be economically redesigned (not just refreshed with HD coatings) or replaced with a wholly new design. SDM is essentially already replaced - they won't use SDM as we know it in the future.

romeck · 03-30-2015, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

BMC isn't a good gauge of currency equivalency. Article on The Big Mac Index from The Economist.

O, thanks, i did not know... Now, the BMI (BMC) is like urban legend.

So, mayby.... 0,5l vodka?

=
A guarantee of my K-5IIs is ending on december 2015 and really thinking about K-ff.....(and counting!)

**mamethot** · 03-30-2015, 02:01 PM

Hey kenspo, What firmware do you have on your K-3? Do you have a beta with the new lenses support and some new features?

rawr · 03-30-2015, 03:01 PM

I don't have a great understanding of MTF graphs, but I noticed that Roger Cicala recently did a post on his blog ('Just the lenses - the great 200mm shoot-out') where he showed some MTF test results for some 200mm primes, then the top-end Canon and Nikon 70-200 f2.8's, as well as some other 70-200's at 200mm.

This is the LensRental MTF chart showing the Canon and Nikon flagship 70-200's at 200mm:

This got me curious about how the new Pentax D FA* 70-200 f2.8 would compare. On the Pentax web site they have MTF charts for that lens:

Unless I am mistaken, at 200mm it certainly looks like the new Pentax D FA 70-200 will give the Canon and Nikon zooms some serious competition.

asahi man · 03-30-2015, 03:06 PM

The first real life tests are showing a quality between the Nikon and little bit better Canon one.
That´s our finding.
Best regards.

rawr · 03-30-2015, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by asahi man

The first real life tests are showing a quality between the Nikon and little bit better Canon one.

That's very promising. The top Nikon and Canon 70-200's are superb lenses.

**Stavri** · 03-30-2015, 04:09 PM

The MTF curve on the pentax 70-200 shows better performance than the Nikon/Canon equivalents, but that looks to be measured on the Aps-C from the nature of the curve. On FF he falloff should be greater. The camera sensor plays a role on the mapping of said performance. Pitting the K3 vs D810 is not an optimal comparison, we have to wait for the FF to truly know which is the best optically.

rawr · 03-30-2015, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by Stavri

The camera sensor plays a role on the mapping of said performance.

True. But the LensRental MTF tests were not camera based (hence the title of their tests: 'Just the lenses'...). The rig below was used, as well as some other fancy gear:

I would wager that Pentax has access to similar lens testing gear.

Perhaps like LensRental, they just measured their lens from edge to edge, and are leaving it up to users to assess how it might perform on either FF or APS-C.

Last edited by rawr; 03-30-2015 at 04:28 PM.

**Stavri** · 03-30-2015, 04:41 PM

That's impressive, if that's the case then pentax MTF measurements make it theoretically an outstanding performer.

dane.dawg · 03-30-2015, 05:08 PM

Since we are comparing MTF graphs here is the Tamron 70-200mm VC that costs 1049.00 CAD which equals about 850.00USD.
Maybe Tamron and Sigma will take Pentax more seriously in the next couple of years,.

**Winder** · 03-30-2015, 08:37 PM

Maybe by June or July this beast will be shipping and we can see some more images from it. Its going to take a lot of pixie dust to sell a $2,300 5 pound lens.

rawr · 03-30-2015, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by Winder

Its going to take a lot of pixie dust to sell a $2,300 5 pound lens.

It can be done. Ask Canon, Nikon or Sony.

1755g is only ~200g more than the Nikon (1530g) or Canon (1490g) equivalents.

**kenspo** · 03-31-2015, 12:46 AM

Originally posted by Winder

Maybe by June or July this beast will be shipping and we can see some more images from it. Its going to take a lot of pixie dust to sell a $2,300 5 pound lens.

I will post a few different ones later this week.

---------- Post added 03-31-15 at 09:47 AM ----------

Originally posted by rawr

It can be done. Ask Canon, Nikon or Sony.

1755g is only ~200g more than the Nikon (1530g) or Canon (1490g) equivalents.

But it feels more heavy, and its bigger..its a beast!

i will post comparing pics of it beside other lenses later today!

**kenspo** · 03-31-2015, 02:06 AM - **1 Like**

200, 300, 70-200 and 150-450 side by side without hood on. So you can see some comparison

Cynog Ap Brychan · 03-31-2015, 02:09 AM

What I would like to know is whether the 70-200 focus breathes like the Nikon, or does it more resemble the Canon in this respect?

03-30-2015, 05:08 PM	#490
dane.dawg Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,436	Since we are comparing MTF graphs here is the Tamron 70-200mm VC that costs 1049.00 CAD which equals about 850.00USD. Maybe Tamron and Sigma will take Pentax more seriously in the next couple of years,. Last edited by dane.dawg; 03-30-2015 at 05:13 PM.

03-31-2015, 02:06 AM - 1 Like	#494
kenspo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oslo Posts: 2,123	200, 300, 70-200 and 150-450 side by side without hood on. So you can see some comparison Last edited by kenspo; 06-30-2015 at 12:24 AM.

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03-30-2015, 12:30 PM	#481
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kirkwood (St. Louis) MO USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,964	Originally posted by Nicolas06 Sould like very logical! They know they need to update their line-up ! And when the FF line will be good, they'll need to update the APSC line-up too. I think in particular of SDM motors and slow AF of DA... Lenses are designed (in the economic sense) to have a ten year design life before they are replaced or redesigned. While that standard isn't perfect, using the original year of issue it can give us an idea of when DA lenses can be economically redesigned (not just refreshed with HD coatings) or replaced with a wholly new design. SDM is essentially already replaced - they won't use SDM as we know it in the future.

03-30-2015, 01:25 PM	#482
romeck Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Piekary Śląskie Photos: Albums Posts: 156	Originally posted by monochrome BMC isn't a good gauge of currency equivalency. Article on The Big Mac Index from The Economist. O, thanks, i did not know... Now, the BMI (BMC) is like urban legend. So, mayby.... 0,5l vodka? = A guarantee of my K-5IIs is ending on december 2015 and really thinking about K-ff.....(and counting!)

03-30-2015, 02:01 PM	#483
mamethot Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Greater Montreal Area Posts: 736	Hey kenspo, What firmware do you have on your K-3? Do you have a beta with the new lenses support and some new features?

03-30-2015, 03:01 PM	#484
rawr Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: GMT +10 Photos: Albums Posts: 11,090	I don't have a great understanding of MTF graphs, but I noticed that Roger Cicala recently did a post on his blog ('Just the lenses - the great 200mm shoot-out') where he showed some MTF test results for some 200mm primes, then the top-end Canon and Nikon 70-200 f2.8's, as well as some other 70-200's at 200mm. This is the LensRental MTF chart showing the Canon and Nikon flagship 70-200's at 200mm: This got me curious about how the new Pentax D FA* 70-200 f2.8 would compare. On the Pentax web site they have MTF charts for that lens: Unless I am mistaken, at 200mm it certainly looks like the new Pentax D FA 70-200 will give the Canon and Nikon zooms some serious competition.

03-30-2015, 03:06 PM	#485
asahi man Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 304	The first real life tests are showing a quality between the Nikon and little bit better Canon one. That´s our finding. Best regards.

03-30-2015, 03:16 PM	#486
rawr Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: GMT +10 Photos: Albums Posts: 11,090	Originally posted by asahi man The first real life tests are showing a quality between the Nikon and little bit better Canon one. That's very promising. The top Nikon and Canon 70-200's are superb lenses.

03-30-2015, 04:09 PM	#487
Stavri Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,731	The MTF curve on the pentax 70-200 shows better performance than the Nikon/Canon equivalents, but that looks to be measured on the Aps-C from the nature of the curve. On FF he falloff should be greater. The camera sensor plays a role on the mapping of said performance. Pitting the K3 vs D810 is not an optimal comparison, we have to wait for the FF to truly know which is the best optically.

03-30-2015, 04:23 PM	#488
rawr Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: GMT +10 Photos: Albums Posts: 11,090	Originally posted by Stavri The camera sensor plays a role on the mapping of said performance. True. But the LensRental MTF tests were not camera based (hence the title of their tests: 'Just the lenses'...). The rig below was used, as well as some other fancy gear: I would wager that Pentax has access to similar lens testing gear. Perhaps like LensRental, they just measured their lens from edge to edge, and are leaving it up to users to assess how it might perform on either FF or APS-C. Last edited by rawr; 03-30-2015 at 04:28 PM.

03-30-2015, 04:41 PM	#489
Stavri Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,731	That's impressive, if that's the case then pentax MTF measurements make it theoretically an outstanding performer.

03-30-2015, 08:37 PM	#491
Winder Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,000	Maybe by June or July this beast will be shipping and we can see some more images from it. Its going to take a lot of pixie dust to sell a $2,300 5 pound lens.

03-30-2015, 10:04 PM	#492
rawr Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: GMT +10 Photos: Albums Posts: 11,090	Originally posted by Winder Its going to take a lot of pixie dust to sell a $2,300 5 pound lens. It can be done. Ask Canon, Nikon or Sony. 1755g is only ~200g more than the Nikon (1530g) or Canon (1490g) equivalents.

03-31-2015, 12:46 AM	#493
kenspo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oslo Posts: 2,123	Originally posted by Winder Maybe by June or July this beast will be shipping and we can see some more images from it. Its going to take a lot of pixie dust to sell a $2,300 5 pound lens. I will post a few different ones later this week. ---------- Post added 03-31-15 at 09:47 AM ---------- Originally posted by rawr It can be done. Ask Canon, Nikon or Sony. 1755g is only ~200g more than the Nikon (1530g) or Canon (1490g) equivalents. But it feels more heavy, and its bigger..its a beast! i will post comparing pics of it beside other lenses later today!

03-31-2015, 02:09 AM	#495
Cynog Ap Brychan Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Gloucester Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,096	What I would like to know is whether the 70-200 focus breathes like the Nikon, or does it more resemble the Canon in this respect?