DPReview manages to do a negative review of the DFA*50

ChristianRock · 08-09-2018, 01:22 PM - **1 Like**

Hands-on with the Pentax HD FA* 50mm F1.4 (for real this time): Digital Photography Review

So they don't try at all to dwell on the lens sharpness, contrast, beautiful colors... all they want to talk about is the lens longitudinal CA in harsh light. As if it wasn't an f/1.4 design and easily exceeding any other 50 1.4 design with the possible exception of the Zeiss Otus in that regard...

Oh and at the end they basically say it's a rebadged Tokina, and from the comments section, people buy into it and someone even says they wouldn't buy it because it's not a real Pentax lens...

(The only positive thing that can come out of this is that we'll exceed our posts target for the K-1 giveaway much more easily... lol)

**jpzk** · 08-09-2018, 01:24 PM - **2 Likes**

Isn't that expected ?
DPR is totally "Doomed" !

**UncleVanya** · 08-09-2018, 01:51 PM - **2 Likes**

I guess what bugs me isn't the fact that some people think this is a Tokina lens - the tone of the article, "Almost certainly..." but that they accept this without any proof and then demand proof that it is in fact a Pentax original design. I'm really at a loss as to the combative nature of the writer in the comments about this also.

Beyond that the comments are ... interesting. The references to the K-1 as a sluggish brick were hard to swallow.

**kiwi_jono** · 08-09-2018, 01:54 PM - **4 Likes**

I'm honestly not going to read the DPR review this time. They do enough unjustified damage to the brand without needing to upset me.

The other reviews I have seen so far of the DFA*50 have been completely glowing!

IgorZ · 08-09-2018, 01:55 PM

They did mention that their experience with Pentax gear in bad weather has been very reassuring, as well as saying that overall the lens gives excellent performance and makes nice sun stars... But you are right, they mostly talk about longitudinal CA. If I were not looking for positives I'd probably conclude that it was a bad lens... After all, it's much easier to miss the 5 words "overall the lens gives excellent performance" than the 3 pages of talking about longitudinal CA.

**UncleVanya** · 08-09-2018, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by kiwi_jono

I'm honestly not going to read the DPR review this time. They do enough unjustified damage to the brand without needing to upset me.

The other reviews I have seen so far of the DFA*50 have been completely glowing!

The tone more than the stated facts are where it goes wrong. I skimmed it and read every comment. The elements of a good review are there but the emphasis seems to have been placed on the negatives.

**jhaji** · 08-09-2018, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

(The only positive thing that can come out of this is that we'll exceed our posts target for the K-1 giveaway much more easily... lol)

There always is a silver lining

**monochrome** · 08-09-2018, 02:09 PM - **7 Likes**

I recently learned that when an English longbowman was captured the middle finger of his right hand was removed.

Mine is present.

Here it is, DPR.

**BarryE** · 08-09-2018, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by kiwi_jono

I'm honestly not going to read the DPR review this time. They do enough unjustified damage to the brand without needing to upset me.

The other reviews I have seen so far of the DFA*50 have been completely glowing!

I'm actually gonna stop reading this thread for the same reason, let alone the DPR review ;-)

**clickclick** · 08-09-2018, 02:17 PM - **1 Like**

I was actually expecting worse. While I think they are over playing the CA, which I think most audiences outside of knowledgeable photographers won't even see, they did do a page complimenting the starburst and another the bokeh. Where I think the author and the posters in the review miss the boat is no mention of the Aerobright coatings. This sets Pentax apart from everyone else, and is especially important when getting into the Tokina cabal

**BigMackCam** · 08-09-2018, 02:23 PM - **4 Likes**

I don't think it's a particularly negative review - especially considering the source. I'd agree that they don't spend much (any?) time on the most impressive aspects of the IQ, and - IMHO - spend way too long on the relatively-inconsequential longitudinal CA "issue". It's hardly a fanfare review, but overall I read it as quite positive... I don't think we can expect much better from those guys, in all honesty.

**beachgardener** · 08-09-2018, 02:23 PM - **1 Like**

DPR, what? They are rubbish I never go there at all

They have no credibility what so ever.

**Cerebum** · 08-09-2018, 02:33 PM - **3 Likes**

DPR is brilliant! The quality of the paper means it doesn't deteriorate when you rip it into strips and hang it on a nail in the outside loo

johnkrumm · 08-09-2018, 02:38 PM - **5 Likes**

Whatever CA there is, and I don't doubt it's there, it's not obvious enough to bother me at all with my images. This is my best corrected lens. Plus, it has lovely contrast and color. Despite its size I find myself looking for reasons to go out and use it. I'm taking more photos and having more fun.

**BigMackCam** · 08-09-2018, 02:44 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by johnkrumm

Whatever CA there is, and I don't doubt it's there, it's not obvious enough to bother me at all with my images. This is my best corrected lens. Plus, it has lovely contrast and color. Despite its size I find myself looking for reasons to go out and use it. I'm taking more photos and having more fun.

That's pretty much all the review this lens needs, in my view. Well said, sir.

08-09-2018, 01:22 PM - 1 Like	#1
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	*DPReview manages to do a negative review of the DFA50** Hands-on with the Pentax HD FA* 50mm F1.4 (for real this time): Digital Photography Review So they don't try at all to dwell on the lens sharpness, contrast, beautiful colors... all they want to talk about is the lens longitudinal CA in harsh light. As if it wasn't an f/1.4 design and easily exceeding any other 50 1.4 design with the possible exception of the Zeiss Otus in that regard... Oh and at the end they basically say it's a rebadged Tokina, and from the comments section, people buy into it and someone even says they wouldn't buy it because it's not a real Pentax lens... (The only positive thing that can come out of this is that we'll exceed our posts target for the K-1 giveaway much more easily... lol)

08-09-2018, 02:09 PM - 7 Likes	#8
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I recently learned that when an English longbowman was captured the middle finger of his right hand was removed. Mine is present. Here it is, DPR. Last edited by monochrome; 08-12-2018 at 12:26 PM.

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08-09-2018, 01:24 PM - 2 Likes	#2
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Isn't that expected ? DPR is totally "Doomed" !

08-09-2018, 01:51 PM - 2 Likes	#3
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,385	I guess what bugs me isn't the fact that some people think this is a Tokina lens - the tone of the article, "Almost certainly..." but that they accept this without any proof and then demand proof that it is in fact a Pentax original design. I'm really at a loss as to the combative nature of the writer in the comments about this also. Beyond that the comments are ... interesting. The references to the K-1 as a sluggish brick were hard to swallow.

08-09-2018, 01:54 PM - 4 Likes	#4
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	I'm honestly not going to read the DPR review this time. They do enough unjustified damage to the brand without needing to upset me. The other reviews I have seen so far of the DFA*50 have been completely glowing!

08-09-2018, 01:55 PM	#5
IgorZ Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,735	They did mention that their experience with Pentax gear in bad weather has been very reassuring, as well as saying that overall the lens gives excellent performance and makes nice sun stars... But you are right, they mostly talk about longitudinal CA. If I were not looking for positives I'd probably conclude that it was a bad lens... After all, it's much easier to miss the 5 words "overall the lens gives excellent performance" than the 3 pages of talking about longitudinal CA.

08-09-2018, 01:56 PM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,385	Originally posted by kiwi_jono I'm honestly not going to read the DPR review this time. They do enough unjustified damage to the brand without needing to upset me. The other reviews I have seen so far of the DFA*50 have been completely glowing! The tone more than the stated facts are where it goes wrong. I skimmed it and read every comment. The elements of a good review are there but the emphasis seems to have been placed on the negatives.

08-09-2018, 01:59 PM	#7
jhaji Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,141	Originally posted by ChristianRock (The only positive thing that can come out of this is that we'll exceed our posts target for the K-1 giveaway much more easily... lol) There always is a silver lining

08-09-2018, 02:15 PM	#9
BarryE Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,653	Originally posted by kiwi_jono I'm honestly not going to read the DPR review this time. They do enough unjustified damage to the brand without needing to upset me. The other reviews I have seen so far of the DFA*50 have been completely glowing! I'm actually gonna stop reading this thread for the same reason, let alone the DPR review ;-)

08-09-2018, 02:17 PM - 1 Like	#10
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	I was actually expecting worse. While I think they are over playing the CA, which I think most audiences outside of knowledgeable photographers won't even see, they did do a page complimenting the starburst and another the bokeh. Where I think the author and the posters in the review miss the boat is no mention of the Aerobright coatings. This sets Pentax apart from everyone else, and is especially important when getting into the Tokina cabal

08-09-2018, 02:23 PM - 4 Likes	#11
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,646	I don't think it's a particularly negative review - especially considering the source. I'd agree that they don't spend much (any?) time on the most impressive aspects of the IQ, and - IMHO - spend way too long on the relatively-inconsequential longitudinal CA "issue". It's hardly a fanfare review, but overall I read it as quite positive... I don't think we can expect much better from those guys, in all honesty.

08-09-2018, 02:23 PM - 1 Like	#12
beachgardener Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,842	DPR, what? They are rubbish I never go there at all They have no credibility what so ever.

08-09-2018, 02:33 PM - 3 Likes	#13
Cerebum Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lancaster Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,828	DPR is brilliant! The quality of the paper means it doesn't deteriorate when you rip it into strips and hang it on a nail in the outside loo

08-09-2018, 02:38 PM - 5 Likes	#14
johnkrumm Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 141	Whatever CA there is, and I don't doubt it's there, it's not obvious enough to bother me at all with my images. This is my best corrected lens. Plus, it has lovely contrast and color. Despite its size I find myself looking for reasons to go out and use it. I'm taking more photos and having more fun.

08-09-2018, 02:44 PM - 1 Like	#15
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,646	Originally posted by johnkrumm Whatever CA there is, and I don't doubt it's there, it's not obvious enough to bother me at all with my images. This is my best corrected lens. Plus, it has lovely contrast and color. Despite its size I find myself looking for reasons to go out and use it. I'm taking more photos and having more fun. That's pretty much all the review this lens needs, in my view. Well said, sir.

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