Hi everybody,

I would like to open up a thread dedicated to one topic:

DA lens on Full Frame: a sticky test shots thread.

This thread shall be dedicated to test shots of a DA lens mounted to a full frame body (e.g., a film camera body). By test shot, I mean shots dedicated to evaluate the performance. Shots of ordinary subjects aren't suitable to this task, normally, and should not be posted. So, these are the rules:

• K mount lens dedicated to the APS-C form factor is used.
• Image is taken full frame 36mm x 24mm.
• Lens hood was removed.
• And ideally, no filter is mounted.
• The aperture used is specified (note that film cameras don't record EXIF...).
• Sample image shows the entire field of view.
• Sample image(s) show(s) corner, border and center performance at 10MP-100% (multiple crops, or single not-resized image).
• The subject is such that resolution and vignetting at the borders can be compared to the center.

The idea behind this thread is obvious: To compile enough data to assess the spectrum of available lenses for a forthcoming full frame DSLR in K mount.

#################################################

Table of results as obtained in this thread (updated regularly):

SMC Pentax-DA primes...

• DA 14mm F2.8: - (clawhammer)
• DA 15mm F4.0: - (Zav)
• DA 21mm F3.2 Limited: - (Boris Liberman)
• DA 35mm F2.4 AL: +++ (aurele ;like FA35/2.0 and no vignetting) (frank)
• DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro: 0 (ryno), + (@ 1.15 crop)
• DA 40mm F2.8 Limited: +
• DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM: +++ (aurele)
• DA 70mm F2.4 Limited: +
• D FA Macro 100mm F2.8 WR: +++ (officially specified FF by Pentax)
• DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM: +++? (common belief, but is it true?)
• DA* 300mm F4 ED [IF] SDM: ++ (officially rated "designed for FF" by Pentax patent US7715116)

SMC Pentax-DA zooms...

• DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF]: FE, see #59, #61, #94. 10mm: heavy vignette / 14mm: almost no vignette / 17mm ++ (Reps, froeschle, Gooshin)
• DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL [IF]: - (below 16mm, xitek.com), o (at 18mm, architorture), + (at 20mm, architorture), ++ (at 24mm, architorture)
• DA 16-45mm F4: - (below 21mm, Nesster)
• DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM: - (xitek.com)
• DA 17-70mm F4 AL [IF] SDM: - (KjetilH)
• DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL: - (at 18mm, Spongefingers; below 23mm, xitek.com)
• DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II: missing
• DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF]: - (xitek.com)
• DA 50-200mm ED: -
• DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM: - (elho_cid)
• DA* 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM: ++ (officially rated "designed for FF" by Pentax patent US7489452) probably good on full frame but evaluation still missing; the rating is +++ with a baffle modification, + without)
• DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED: 0 (+, ++ at tele end, viking79)

Sigma K mount DC...

• Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC: -
• Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 DC: - (below 14mm, Gooshin)
• ...

Tamron K mount Di-II...

• ...

Overall rating scale:
+++: no significant difference between APS-C and FF corners
++: difference but usable at full aperture with a small loss in corner IQ only
+: usable staring at f/4~f/5.6, with no or a small loss in corner IQ only
o: usable at f/11 or with big loss in corner IQ only
-: not usable

[pz1fan]

There was mention of an upcoming comparison of the FA 300 and DA 300. Did anyone ever have time to do this? Thanks,

[falconeye]

There was mention of an upcoming comparison of the FA 300 and DA 300. Did anyone ever have time to do this? Thanks,

Not me. I did most of the test shots but cannot find the time to write it all up

[Kerrowdown]

available lenses for a forthcoming full frame DSLR in K mount.

You know something I don't ?

I know all my A lenses will be OK.

[aurele]

i confirm that the DA 18-55 AL is vignetting heavily at 18mm and reduce up to 24mm.

Did i miss the post talking about the DA*50-135 ? i can't find any test of it, or i haven't look good ?

[falconeye]

Did i miss the post talking about the DA*50-135 ? i can't find any test of it, or i haven't look good ?

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/352948-post69.html

elho_cid talked about it and he had black corners throughout the range. Which made me give it a "-" in my opening summary.

[aurele]

i didn't read carefully, then.

Thank !

[elho_cid]

elho_cid talked about it and he had black corners throughout the range. Which made me give it a "-" in my opening summary.

That's correct. I saw dark corners in viewfinder and didn't bother trying on film. I have a cheap film loaded in the Z-1 currently so I may take few testing shots to assess the problem more precisely. I just need to wait for the 50-135 owner to return from trip to south america.

[drougge]

I've tried putting my 50-135 on my MZ-S (92% finder). Wide open I see obvious corner darkening up to about 90mm, stopping down to f/22 I see corner darkening throughout the range. Worst around 65mm, best at 135mm. (And yes, I did remember to remove the hood.)

Tests on film might tell us if it's good enough on APS-H. (I'm not planning on doing that test though.)

[mrmentera]

Yes, there have been earlier reports that it doesn't vignette (as I cite in the OP), at least not at f/8. But I think, a final confirmation at full aperture and for corner sharpness is still out. And because it is a new optical design, I'd rather see the evidence. Having said this, I would be surprised to learn that the DA*55 is anything but a genuine full frame lens.

In these days of awakaned hope for Pentax FF it would be great if someone tested the DA*55 thoroughly att large apartures.
A direct compare to the FA 50 and Sigma 50/1,4 on FF would also be very interesting.

I post this to remind of this thread and because I start looking for a fast fifty. Look forward to read the results.
Thanks for all work done so far, Falk and others.

[beholder3]

DA*55 mm crude test:



That was not at open aperture and obviously not done with any special quality in mind.

But at least there is no obvious vignetting.

[beholder3]

Pentax has confirmed the DA*60-250/4 to be full frame.
...
So, this is the official confirmation from Pentax that the DA*60-250/4 lens is a full frame lens indeed.
...
I updated the opening post of this thread accordingly.
(I am giving it a "++" rating which is temporary until it is tested.)

That generally is true, but on the long end it has shaded corners:

60mm:


250mm:

[beholder3]

Some more stuff here. All done with MZ-5N. Always without hoods.

The shadows on the lower left side were not caused by the lens.

To me the happy part is that the Sigma 8-16 seems usable from 15-16mm. The corner vignetting there seems software controllable.

Sigma 17-50 mm / F2.8:

17mm:


50mm:


Pentax-DA* 16-50 / F2.8:

16mm:


50mm:


Pentax-DA 18-55 WR:

18mm:


24mm:


35mm:


55mm:


Sigma 8-16mm:

12mm:


14mm:


16mm:


Sigma 70-300 OS:

70mm:


300mm:


Pentax DA* 50-135mm:

50mm:


135mm:


Pentax DA 70mm:



Pentax DA 50-200 mm:

50mm:


200mm:


Sigma 50 mm F1.4:



Pentax DA 15 mm:


Pentax DA 21 mm:



Pentax DA 35 mm F2.8 Ltd.:



Pentax DA 40 mm:

[aurele]

nice test done here !

good to have exemple for some nice lens like the 50-135 !

[jsherman999]

Some more stuff here. All done with MZ-5N. Always without hoods.

The shadows on the lower left side were not caused by the lens.

Pentax DA 35 mm F2.8 Ltd.:


[SIZE=5][U]

Any way you can take a shot with the 35ltd at infinity? My 35 f/1.8G on D700 shows slight vignetting near MFD, but the vignetting increases with distance.

.

[mrmentera]

DA*55 mm crude test:



That was not at open aperture and obviously not done with any special quality in mind.

But at least there is no obvious vignetting.

Thanks beholder!
Se that you have the Sigma 50/1,4 also. It could serve as a reference if you make more tests. Its a good FF-lens with great sharpness and contrast at large apertures.

The DA*55 seem to have a weaker right edge but it looks as light reflects more on that side. Its glossy. However, the Sigma 50 handles it better. Wich aperture is it?

It would be perfect if you could set up a test between those two with a good enough test design.
Anyone on the thread that can give good advice about that?