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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.

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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

[UncleVanya]

I just realized I forgot to post this here.

It's the very carefully controlled and processed series of before and after vignette shots of the DA* 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM rear baffle mod. Hopefully it's the definitive series for anyone with questions.

Also... not shown is that I also did another series with no rear baffle at all. Those results were indistinguishable from the modded configuration so I didn't include them.

As far as sharpness and aberration control goes, it does deteriorate a little (especially CA) at the edges, but overall, perfectly usable.

Did you do tests at multiple focal lengths? I couldn't tell looking quickly at the site.

[jbondo]

Did you do tests at multiple focal lengths? I couldn't tell looking quickly at the site.

All tests were done to produce the maximum vignette, which happened to be infinity focus at 250mm. So the photos you see are the absolute worst case you will encounter. It was actually much better at shorter focal lengths and at closer focus. Sorry, I didn't take any "best case" photos. The reasoning being that I didn't want to get anyone over optimistic about what to expect. I figured worst case was the way to go.

[Scorpio71GR]

DA*60-250 on the K-1 with modified baffle I 3D printed. The first set are the 60-250 and the second set are the Tamron 70-200 both on the K-1. The Tamron is included for comparison.

60-250 60mm F4


60-250 135mm F4


60-250 250mm F4


Tamron 70-200 70mm F2.8


Tamron 70-200 130mm F2.8


Tamron 70-200 200mm F2.8


These are the two baffles I made along with the original. I used the one with the cutout.


In the lens before I painted it.

[seanteng1955]

K-1 and DA 16-45mm, at 16mm, 1:1 mode, no hood
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NLDTYTxRmktnz6Pa8

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Last edited by seanteng1955; 08-07-2020 at 10:03 PM.

[PiotrKrochmal]

K1 DA* 55 1.4@1.4 it is great lens. AF work nice but sloow. I make direct comparison Canon 6D + ART 50mm 1.4 and K1 + 55mm and canon AF beat K1 as boofed Rick.
Picture is uncropped to show how huch vignette there is:

[MikeyBugs95]

If the DA 35mm AL works on full frame, I wonder if the DA 50mm 1.8 would as well? Anyone try it yet?

[Sandy Hancock]

Yes, I gather that the DA50/1.8 "works" on full frame. It covers the 36x24 frame, but with significant loss of light and image quality in the corners.

Whether or not that is considered to be acceptable is a matter of opinion.

[jamin-b]

Anyone have experience with the limited 20-40mm on full frame (film). Trying to figure out a travel.kit using K-70 plus a film camera (such as Pentax ZX) with minimal lenses. It looks like there is some small blockage on lengths of 24mm and wider, and no AF, but otherwise it seems to function fine, including focus confirmation. I haven't developed a roll yet and am wondering what to expect.

[angerdan]

With the FF K-1 approaching, new official data about FF compatibility of DA lenses starts to trickle in.
According to Full Frame by PENTAX | RICOH IMAGING (fetched today Xmas 2015 Dec 25), the following lenses support the FF image circle:

- DA* 55/1.4
- DA* 300/4
- DA* 560/5.6

DA* 55mm cover the 35mm image circle, but isn't officially listed for 24x36 compatibility (because the lens hood has to be slightly modificated)
DA* 200mm is officially FF
All DA primes longer than 35mm are usable on FF

[dreyes]

DA* 55mm cover the 35mm image circle, but isn't officially listed for 24x36 compatibility (because the lens hood has to be slightly modificated)

Would you know what those modifications need to be?

[angerdan]

Would you know what those modifications need to be?

The outer cover can be removed and then the inner hood can be slightly shortened. After that the outer cover can be mounted without any visible change besides the shorter hood.

[UncleVanya]

The outer cover can be removed and then the inner hood can be slightly shortened. After that the outer cover can be mounted without any visible change besides the shorter hood.

By "outer cover" are you talking about the rubber on the hood at he end?
By "inner hood" you mean the plastic part inside this rubber?
Do you know how much needs to be taken off?

[angerdan]

Exactly. I'd only read about it by a forum member who did it.

[Scorpio71GR]

By "outer cover" are you talking about the rubber on the hood at he end?
By "inner hood" you mean the plastic part inside this rubber?
Do you know how much needs to be taken off?

I purchased a universal 58mm petal hood that works very well. If you want to modify a hood you can buy a hood for the DA 55-300. They have the same mounting style. Then you can shorten that hood back till it no longer causes vignetting. The hood for the DA*55 is difficult to find and expensive. I really do not recommend modifying it, especially if you still plan on using it on ASP-C.

[angerdan]

$38 for the original DA* 55mm PH-RBH58:

Pentax (PH-RBH58,38764 ) | eBay)