Pentax 60-250 mm

normhead · 01-18-2021, 08:08 PM - **1 Like**

Definitely a bad copy. It's excellent all the way through it's range, the worst I gets is at 60mm ƒ4, excellent centre, very good edges.

**caliscouser** · 01-18-2021, 08:35 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Kobie

Has anyone found their 60-250 is really soft at F/4? I have one on loan and verified with the owner that at F/4 it's really soft, but 7.1 and 8 is razor sharp.
I'm just wondering if it's this copy, or if others have had this issue as well. And before you ask, yes, even in live view at F/4 it's very soft so it's not a focus issue.
It's just something I was not expecting for a * lens.

Here is a sample pic from my copy at 250mm f/4. K-5iis JPG SOOC.

Full-size image (resized for the web) then a 100% crop.

Mine performs in line with the charts Norm posted. Sharp enough at f/4, sharper at f/5.6, sharpest at f/8.

I've used it with the HD DA 1.4x teleconverter and it is sharp with that as well, particularly if you stop it down a notch to f/6.3

Is it as sharp as the DA*300? Not quite, but that is prime and optically is one of the best 300mm lenses out there.

**UncleVanya** · 01-19-2021, 08:31 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Kobie

Has anyone found their 60-250 is really soft at F/4? I have one on loan and verified with the owner that at F/4 it's really soft, but 7.1 and 8 is razor sharp.
I'm just wondering if it's this copy, or if others have had this issue as well. And before you ask, yes, even in live view at F/4 it's very soft so it's not a focus issue.
It's just something I was not expecting for a * lens.

No. Mine is pretty sharp wide open.

**steamloco76** · 01-24-2021, 05:37 AM

Originally posted by Kobie

Has anyone found their 60-250 is really soft at F/4? I have one on loan and verified with the owner that at F/4 it's really soft, but 7.1 and 8 is razor sharp.
I'm just wondering if it's this copy, or if others have had this issue as well. And before you ask, yes, even in live view at F/4 it's very soft so it's not a focus issue.
It's just something I was not expecting for a * lens.

Your lens is definitely out of spec. Mine is very good at f4, better at f5.6 and outstanding from f6.3 to f11. The SDM goes to sleep at rather inopportune times, so I manually focus on moving targets. Other than that, no complaints with the 60-250

**volley** · 01-24-2021, 05:53 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jatrax

Minuses:
- slow focusing. Totally fine for landscape and reasonable normal shots but forget any kind of action / movement

So not for shots like this , I guess??

**jatrax** · 01-24-2021, 09:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by volley

So not for shots like this , I guess??

Correct, those are quite impossible with the 60-250. So is this one:

**sergysergy** · 01-24-2021, 09:51 AM

Originally posted by jatrax

Correct, those are quite impossible with the 60-250. So is this one:

wow, what a beautiful shot

01-18-2021, 08:35 PM - 1 Like	#32
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	Originally posted by Kobie Has anyone found their 60-250 is really soft at F/4? I have one on loan and verified with the owner that at F/4 it's really soft, but 7.1 and 8 is razor sharp. I'm just wondering if it's this copy, or if others have had this issue as well. And before you ask, yes, even in live view at F/4 it's very soft so it's not a focus issue. It's just something I was not expecting for a * lens. Here is a sample pic from my copy at 250mm f/4. K-5iis JPG SOOC. Full-size image (resized for the web) then a 100% crop. Mine performs in line with the charts Norm posted. Sharp enough at f/4, sharper at f/5.6, sharpest at f/8. I've used it with the HD DA 1.4x teleconverter and it is sharp with that as well, particularly if you stop it down a notch to f/6.3 Is it as sharp as the DA300? Not quite, but that is prime and optically is one of the best 300mm lenses out there. Attached Images Last edited by caliscouser; 01-18-2021 at 09:17 PM.*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature Isle aux Coudres @ 28 mm, 45 mm and 63 mm FL with DFA 28-105 mm HD and f/16.	RICHARD L.	Post Your Photos!	6	02-25-2022 05:25 AM
Is Pentax DA* 60-250 mm f/4 a good landscape MANUAL telephoto lens?	Coven	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	17	05-15-2020 06:16 AM
DA* 60-250 owners: How do you carry your 60-250 at the ready?	apisto	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	25	12-30-2017 01:49 PM
Pentax DA* 60-250 MM Price drop?	sumitkar1971	Pentax DSLR Discussion	5	09-04-2015 08:30 PM
For Sale - Sold: Brand New FA 31 mm, FA 77 mm, DA* 60-250 mm, DA* 300 mm	ppkkcao	Sold Items	14	11-02-2014 08:42 PM

01-18-2021, 08:08 PM - 1 Like	#31
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Definitely a bad copy. It's excellent all the way through it's range, the worst I gets is at 60mm ƒ4, excellent centre, very good edges.

01-19-2021, 08:31 AM - 1 Like	#33
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Originally posted by Kobie Has anyone found their 60-250 is really soft at F/4? I have one on loan and verified with the owner that at F/4 it's really soft, but 7.1 and 8 is razor sharp. I'm just wondering if it's this copy, or if others have had this issue as well. And before you ask, yes, even in live view at F/4 it's very soft so it's not a focus issue. It's just something I was not expecting for a * lens. No. Mine is pretty sharp wide open.

01-24-2021, 05:37 AM	#34
steamloco76 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,710	Originally posted by Kobie Has anyone found their 60-250 is really soft at F/4? I have one on loan and verified with the owner that at F/4 it's really soft, but 7.1 and 8 is razor sharp. I'm just wondering if it's this copy, or if others have had this issue as well. And before you ask, yes, even in live view at F/4 it's very soft so it's not a focus issue. It's just something I was not expecting for a * lens. Your lens is definitely out of spec. Mine is very good at f4, better at f5.6 and outstanding from f6.3 to f11. The SDM goes to sleep at rather inopportune times, so I manually focus on moving targets. Other than that, no complaints with the 60-250

01-24-2021, 05:53 AM - 1 Like	#35
volley Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Springe Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,693	Originally posted by jatrax Minuses: - slow focusing. Totally fine for landscape and reasonable normal shots but forget any kind of action / movement So not for shots like this , I guess??

01-24-2021, 09:51 AM	#37
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,170	Originally posted by jatrax Correct, those are quite impossible with the 60-250. So is this one: wow, what a beautiful shot