| Author: | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: December, 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 2,437
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 15, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $327.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size! Peak and wide open IQ. Build quality. | | Cons: | Audible auto focus? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-5
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I was reluctant to mark it as a ten on the basis that it is possible for a lens to be better (for example silent autofocus). Ideally I would score it as a 9.5 but I feel justified rounding it up given what an amazing balance of size, performance and build this lens strikes.
If you don't care much about size then you might rate it lower (there are faster lenses around including the FA77 and 3rd party offerings) but this lens has an unbeatable strengths to size ratio!
Sharpness is impressive. Peaks at around f5.6 but still good wide open at f2.4 (I have no hesitation using it wide open, which is not the norm for me). In comparison I have a FA50 f1.4 which I like. However I most often stop the FA50 it down to around f2.4 anyway to get the sharpness and improved bokeh (mines a little nervous wide open sometimes). The DA70 is fine at f2.4 and bokeh looks great. Also renders colours that are pleasing.
As just about everyone else has said, the build is fantastic. Mine is second hand, and yes I can feel a very slight play in barrel but I have yet to handle a second hand lens that has significantly less than this. It certainly gives me the impression that it will last and if called upon will take the knocks.
Autofocus is pretty brisk and accurate on my copy. Quick shift is nice. It would be nice if AF was quieter (but then again not if it meant the lens had to be significantly bigger).
Samples: | | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 12,245
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 6, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, buid quality, image quality | | Cons: | 70mm, not fast enough depending on usage, min focus distance | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k-5,K-3
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I appreciated this lens a lot when I was used with the image quality of super zooms, it is small and the image quality is great. But I find this 70mm focal length too long for full body/group portraits, no long enough the head portraits, ok for head and shoulders. For Portraiture, I'd prefer fast lenses with focal length such as 35mm, 58mm and 85mm. However, I use the SMC DA 70 Ltd along with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 and to be honest, the DA70Ltd is as sharp @ f2.4 as the Tamron 70-200 @ 70mm f4.
Pros:
- IQ, colors
- flat homogenous sharpness across the frame
- 100% usable wide open (f2.4)
- size and weight
Cons:
- min focus distance
- focal length for portraiture
- not so fast
- hard to make it render like a FA 77Ltd, but obviously the DA 70 Ltd render like a prime (different from zoom)
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2012 Location: Mission, B.C. Posts: 166 | | Review Date: February 2, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Colours, contrast, size, build quality, sharpness | | Cons: | It's not the 77mm 1.8, minimum focusing distance | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K3
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I bought my 70mm on craigslist for a steal of a deal, it was basically a throw in with another purchase because it was so beat up. The exterior was in very rough shape, with paint flaked off and scratches all over the place, but the glass looked clean. I was a little nervous about buying it, since it looked a bit like someone had used it as a hockey puck, but it still takes phenomenal pictures. I've wanted the 77mm since I started shooting Pentax, and I've rented it a few times, but I can honestly say now that I've got the 70mm, I've been (almost) cured of my desire for the 77mm. Quick shift is awesome, autofocus is fast and accurate, colours, contrast and sharpness are all great, and the build quality of the lens is wonderful. The focus ring is nicely damped, and the lens feels solidly built. It actually feels a lot like an autofocusing M series lens, which I love. It's a joy to use, easy to carry, and takes great pictures.
Oh, I should point out that the minimum focusing distance is pretty long, which can be a bit annoying. Got a little side tracked thinking about how great this lens is and forgot to mention it.  | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 129 | | Review Date: November 27, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Lightweight, metal, hood, contrasty | | Cons: | odd focal length, expensive | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 6
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5
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This is a nice looking lens that takes high contrast pictures with lovely color that are great to look at. I used it less than my other lenses, maybe because of its odd focal length. There can be some purple fringing in bright situations. The auto-focus is fast. Its a good lens and does the job well.
 Sunflower Patch by michaelkchenry, on Flickr
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2014 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: October 1, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Ultra sharp, no CA, colour rendition | | Cons: | slow | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K10D, K30
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Great lens, little slow but razor sharp and great speed AF
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Wild-Nord-East Hungary Posts: 149
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 22, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $490.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small, lightweight, picture quality is excellent | | Cons: | Build quality is not the real; costly | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K - 30 ; K - x, K-3 II
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I use 5 years, most frequently and my favorite lens.
Newly of seemed, very solid building; has now loose, have noticeable wobble; but the image quality despite excellent.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 17, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small, sharp, great colour, quite fast | | Cons: | Minimum focus distance | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K200D
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This is a really great lens. It's small, light, pretty fast and with great IQ. Build quality is great, typical DA limited. Sharpness wide open is fantastic and it only gets better stopping down. The maximum aperture and focal length can give nice shallow depth of field. Colour and contrast are excellent, as is resistance to flare. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just a portrait lens just because of the focal length - it excels as a landscape lens too.
I haven't compared this to the FA 77mm. If I had the money I'd buy it and compare, then decide.
The minimum focus distance could be shorter, though it's not often a problem.
All, in all, I'm very happy with this lens. Together with the 35 and 21 I have a very useful three-lens kit for digital, in a small size and with very high IQ.
IMGP5005a por Jonathan_in_Madrid, en Flickr
IMGP4965a por Jonathan_in_Madrid, en Flickr
IMGP4934a por Jonathan_in_Madrid, en Flickr
Wild deer by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP5264 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP0169a DA70_ltd by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP9612a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Reyes 2016, Segovia by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
IMGP0393a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 2,653 | | Review Date: February 17, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, compact, fast AF | | Cons: | Bokeh fringing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-5ii, K-7
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A brilliant little lens. Excellent build. Great corner-to-corner sharpness even when wide open. AF is fast and reliable. This lens likes people 
Susceptible to bokeh fringing in contrasty shots and wide apertures.
  
  
  
More here | | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 62
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 26, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | compact, metallyc construction, quik-shift, compact lens-hood | | Cons: | no | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-30, K-3
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compact lens gives Cristal clear images, sharpness is also fantastic.
70mm on the 1.5 crop is 105 FL equivalent.
I like it, it is my primary lens.
also so small lens do not scare peoples and children, instead of BIG and long zooms and telephoto-lens. they are filling free and easy.
make possible to print pictures bigger than 30x45 (cm).
I also own DA 40 Lim and dream about "DA 100 Lim f/2" in same form-factor.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2012 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,035 | | Review Date: December 19, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $429.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | sharpness, compact size, autofocus speed for a telephoto | | Cons: | Build Quality concern | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5 and K10D
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This lens is a pure delight to use, it is quick and very sharp, and it looks sharp on my K5 as well. This is a beautifully crafted solid metal lens with the manual focus that is smoother than any other lens I have ever used. On the down side, the lens barrel has a slight wobble which due to the metal construction becomes more obvious since it makes a noticeable clicking sound. This is minor since I use the lens without the hood and the wobble is barely noticeable without the hood attached. It is the hood which is more of a quality issue for me. The threading on the hood is machined in such a way that even if it is not screwed on tightly it freezes on the lens and it requires brute force just to unscrew it. I think this may be why the inner barrel developed the wobble. I tried some filters on the lens and the screw on cap from my DA 15 mm Limited and none of them freeze onto the lens the way the hood does. So the hood goes into my odds and ends drawer and I just use a pinch on CAP. Had I bought the lens new, I would have returned it, but I did buy it used and find it just fine to omit the hood since I got it in pristine condition for a good price. Despite all of this I am very pleased with the lens. It is the pictures it takes that counts the most at the end of the day and that is where it really shines.
Update: This lens produces stellar image quality, as I live with this lens, unfortunately I do not think the build quality is quite as stellar. I now have all 5 limiteds and this one, and this one alone, gives me the most cause for concern. The barrel has a noticeable wobble which with the hood off isn't too bad but the hood on it seems with the slightest movement I hear the inner barrel clicking inside. I am noticing the aperture blades don't seem quite as snappy as with all of my other lenses, especially the other limiteds and they seem looser than the other lenses. Maybe I this is normal but I am not sure. At least the hood/cap combination seems to have loosened up (good thing) and no longer has the binding issue I reported earlier. Now it screws on and off smoothly and easily. The build quality concerns me, so I drop overall rating down to an 8.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Svealand Posts: 172
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 15, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $471.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, light, color rendition etc. | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-5
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One of my real top lenses and also the firs time I own a silver ltd lens. Nothing negative about this lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2012 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 1, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $405.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, "Feel", Looks really Nice on my camera | | Cons: | Quite Exprensive | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5
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By far my favourite lens (my other Digital pentax lenses are DA* 200 and DA 35 2.4). Everything about this lens screams quality, it feels and looks fantastic and the pictures it produces look consistently astounding. The only problem I have with this lens is that it makes me want to replace my DA35 which is a very good lens (especially for the price) so I can enjoy more of this high quality limited goodness.
Obligatory cat picture
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $515.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp IQ, beautiful bokeh, compact, all-metal and luxurious | | Cons: | lens hood doubles size of lens | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-x
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This is very possibly the best lens I own when I take into consideration that it has no weaknesses in any areas. I cannot find a fault in it, with the tiny exception of the rather long minimum focusing distance that makes it a little challenging to use indoors. But the pictures it takes are extraordinary. The autofocus is quick and snappy. The colors are very pleasing and the sharpness is very high. I love the focal length for capturing candid face shots, especially outdoors. This is one of my favorite lenses to take when traveling or for special events like weddings. Strongly recommended!
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 4 | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2013 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: January 30, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp and fast lens with beautiful bokeh | | Cons: | Long minimum focus distance | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax k-5
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It's very nice lens which I used for portaits and landscape photography. For indoors some time focal lenght is too big and I usually used 35mm limited. Beautiful colors and fastness of lens. For that price an excellent lens and I can strongly recommend it, if this focal lenght is ok for You.
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