[TaiChiTom]

I received this lens this passed Thursday morning after having waited for it on pre-order for almost a year. I bought it to complete a walking around kit with my FA 43 and 77. Size wise it is a monster… bigger and heavy than I anticipated, but still portable. Construction-wise it is really solid and I like the non extension when zooming and focusing. I’ve used only primes for some years so it will take some getting used to. At the same time as the lens arrived I was hit with a bad cold. So, my testing has been limited to around the house and a couple quick turns outside. I am not technically oriented so my experiences with it have been shots of dirty dishes in the sink and a few around my flat and pointing it toward the park outside. I must say I am really pleased with it so far. I did a simple comparison of it at the long end with my Zeiss 35. Although not quite as sharp as the Zeiss it faired well in my eyes. Focusing is really fast and silent and seems accurate so far in my limited experience. So far it is definitely a keeper.

[DennisH]

I'm also returning mine. Most of the time it takes good pics; image quality is quite good. Mine front focuses a bit, but more importantly, I found it overexposes often on my K-3. Is that possible? I don't seem to have issues with other lenses.

[ppeter]

I've had my 18-35 for about a week and am very happy with it. No apparent issues so far. Finding it focuses fast and is sharp.

All shot with K3 and out of camera jpegs with no post processing but nothing very artistic !




19mm f1.8 1/500 sec ISO 800



18mm f11 1/100 sec ISO 400



18mm f1.8 1/500 sec ISO 400



35mm f5.6 1/50 sec ISO 400



35mm f5 1/8000 sec ISO 800



31mm f3.2 1/2000 sec ISO 250



28mm f3.5 1/2 sec ISO 1600



18mm f8 1/1000 sec ISO 400



18mm f1.8 1/160 sec ISO 400



24mm f1.8 0.6 sec ISO 100

[RainMan]

Very nice indeed, keep them coming! Anyone run some video yet? Would be good to see stabilized DOF ranging.

[curlednoodles]

Mine arrived a few days ago. Using it on my K30 and loving it! Great lens

A few samples: https://www.flickr.com/photos/63892866@N03/sets/72157645761859813/

[gryphongryph]

Interesting MJS- I am interested in the D810 that is coming out. But with my investment with Pentax products, I was putting off changing systems. But looks like you have given me an idea and excuse to buy the D810 sometime!

I am in the same frame of mind, just got my K3, and indeed it is a nice upgrade from my K5 although I think the build of the K5 is slightly better, I am really longing for a full frame K? Slightly bigger body, much bigger viewfinder, maybe with a built in battery grip/2 versions!
And the idea to use longer glass with the K3, and below 105mm with the full frame, seams like a very nice idea, the Nikon D810 looks really nice, I just worry a bit about quality, and dust always landing on the sensor, also is the weather resistant body as good as the K family?
Where I live it rains a lot and I am not sure how the 810 and the lenses hold up in bad weather!.
Other vice it looks like a stellar camera for landscape and now with the updated tracking algorithm from the D4s should be good for a bit of action stuff also. Just so very expensive with a 24-70 2.8 ugh....

[Stagnant]

Anyone run some video yet? Would be good to see stabilized DOF ranging.

I did some videos but I am abroad now, so I can't upload anything due to the slow internet.

[RainMan]

Great news to hear Stagnant, look forward to some samples as connections permit.

RM-

[Stagnant]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8INe0_VKyQ8ckgxQ2NpQkZCUzA/edit?usp=sharing - link to the video. Shot in the dark club, using F1,8 from tripod. Download the file, instead of watching it from google.

[choong_dc]

hi guys, can i have feedback if this lens has the FF/BF issues? My DA*16-50mm has some issues and its not sharp at the corners wide open. This lens sharp at the corners wide open? Using it for weddings... and thanks for any updates!

[Stagnant]

My copy does not have any FF/BF issues. The lens is sharper in the corners compared to 16-50.

---------- Post added 08-03-14 at 02:39 PM ----------



21 mm, F 1,8 1/80 ISO 100. Processed in Lightroom 5,5 with "sharpen - scenic". Click to see the fullsize image.

[RainMan]

My copy does not have any FF/BF issues. The lens is sharper in the corners compared to 16-50.

---------- Post added 08-03-14 at 02:39 PM ----------



21 mm, F 1,8 1/80 ISO 100. Processed in Lightroom 5,5 with "sharpen - scenic". Click to see the fullsize image.

Looks like it is performing very well in the corners, video as well. Thank you.

[gosman]

Thinking of getting into real estate photography. This would probably be the perfect lens for that?

[RainMan]

Thinking of getting into real estate photography. This would probably be the perfect lens for that?

Exterior commercial architecture, maybe a tad wider and as fast as you can afford, interior commercial architecture, I think it would be a solid option.

Just my .02 worth.

RM-

[scole]

So I got my copy on Friday and Saturday took it out for my first use. I bought the lens pretty much for night landscape/astrophotography and it's going to replace my older Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 in those situations. A few thoughts-

• Like others have mentioned, it's heavy
• Focus motor is QUIET. You won't hear much to verify focus so keep that in mind.
• The focus ring is firm with just enough resistance. In other words, it's not sloppy & excessively free turning. This was great since there's a narrow range for focusing wide open.
• The f1.9 really lets in the light so even it you're stopped down to f2.8, using Live View to focus at night was MUCH easier than with my Sigma 17-70 at the same f2.8

I've seen some other observations of lens flare when wide open. I experienced this as well. Here are a couple shots:

6s @ f2.8, ISO800, 18mm


This is a huge improvement over my Sigma 17-70. Due to the "supermoon", I wasn't able to take any good shots of the night sky & stars so that will have to wait for the near future. All in all, I'm really impressed with the lens so far.

8s @ f4, ISO800, 28mm


Neither image has been processed. Both are just "save as" straight from the RAW DNGs. I'm a little bummed about the lens flare but oh well. If I recomposed, minus the actual moon, the flare disappeared. The last thing I'll note is how sharp it is! This is a 100% crop from the right center edge of one of the previous photos: