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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-18-2015, 05:44 AM
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Good description, Lowell. It is interesting since this thread got active at about the same time as the one I started on the 50-135. The underlying difference of opinion in both seems to be the importance of criteria other those related to optical performance. However, the purpose of a lens is to help you take good photos. That involves many, many factors, with optical performance being an important one, but by no means everything.
A case in point is the SMC K 500/4.5. That FL and that speed for a few hundred dollars with good optical performance that works well with the 1.4x-L to get to 700mm--what a deal!. Why should I pay $5k for a DA 560/5.6 or a Sigma 500/4.5? After I used it a couple of months, I went back and rated it lower than after the first few weeks. I really did not realize how often the size and weight, lack of any aperture automation, lack of focus closer than 10m, etc. would contribute in practice to bird photos (my primary need) which are not as good as a DA*300, with 1.4x DA converter or shots with an A 400. I knew intellectually of the issues, but using them is another education. People who read a review should get the benefit of the practical experience.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-15-2015, 07:09 PM
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Agreed. How can people be underrating lenses which all seem to fall in the 8-10 range? When did someone give a lens a three?
Also, I would add that I have been a member of this forum since a few months after I bought my K10d in 2008. I recognize less than half of the reviewers. We all know how to judge a review on Amazon, and we need to just accept that a good chunk of the reviews here are about the same. I don't get too worked up about that.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-10-2015, 10:36 AM
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I find the use of the word "ding" odd in this context. What is the total score supposed to mean? Is this a contest or just a buying aid? The reality as far as I can see is that most lenses do not get "dinged" enough--lots of very high ratings on the overall part, which do not correspond to the sum of the ratings for individual aspects.
To me, the score is someone's opinion as to how desirable this lens may be compared to other options. For a DSLR user (probably most of the readers), an M lens which is unusable with P-TTL, cannot use program mode well and gives unreliable exposure readings with some digital bodies is less desirable than an A lens which does not have those disadvantages. If I am looking for a lens for my LX, not having an aperture dial or smoothly damped focus is a big minus. The structure of having an "overall" score not connected to individual scores is inherently subjective. It is what it is, and I can't get too upset about it.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-09-2015, 06:19 PM
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I'll offer a differing point of view, and everyone can dump on me instead of the review. A user review is not about the "fault" of a lens. It is not about whether its designers in 1980's did a bad job or whether it was in fact a superb piece of engineering for its time.
To me, user reviews are about the practical pros and cons of owning and using this lens compared to others. I have shot Pentax for more than 40 years and have quite a few M, K and A lenses, but I do not expect that everyone else knows all the ramifications of an "M" lens. The degree of difference between and M lens and an A lens is not nearly comparable to whether a K5 is a film camera, especially in a line which prides itself on the usability of older lenses on current bodies.
A "con" is not an insult. A "pro" is not a compliment. It is just information. Maybe I don't need some of that information, but many, many people look at reviews on this site who have far less familiarity with the history of Pentax lenses.
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