| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2016 Posts: 127
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 19, 2018 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | takes photos like a prime | | Cons: | slow AF | | New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3
| |
This lens makes gorgeous pictures. On a crop sensor, it's the coveted 70-200 focal range. I use mine for all my portrait work and the photos are always lovely. But in a quick movement or needed candid sometimes it won't autofocus in time. The AF is just slow. My SDM still works but I still might convert it to screwdrive. I originally wanted it for work where I needed quiet autofocus (weddings and the like) but I end up doing manual focus in those instances anyway, so at least screwdrive would give me some speed. This lens is easy to use, not overly heavy and takes photos like a prime. Even with fears of SDM failure, I recommend.
 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 228
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $999.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Great image quality | | Cons: | Auto Focus (died) | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5IIs; K3
| |
I bought the lens in 2013. I also got a 3 year extended warranty due to all of the reports I read here about the auto-focus failing. With a month to go on the warranty, the auto-focus failed.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 29
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 15, 2016 | Not Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 3 |
| Pros: | Beautiful, clear shots of stationary objects, when it doesn't backfocus | | Cons: | Not for use with objects or people in motion, especially in unfavorable lighting | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 1
Handling: 7
Value: 1
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-50, K200D
| |
When it takes focuses, it frequently takes gorgeous shots and, in some lighting situations, it is the only lens I have that will take nice shots. However, that depends greatly on whether it will focus. People talk about sports shooting, as if that's the only type of action which can befuddle a camera. I tried to shoot a talent show tonight with stage lighting. If people weren't moving, it could be coerced into focusing and taking some nice enough shots. But, if anyone in the frame was moving at all, the AF would not work at all. I missed a lot of shots watching the lens hunt. I should have gone to manual much sooner, although, given the lighting, that wasn't easy either. It was very frustrating. In fact, by the end of the night, I was almost ready to throw over Pentax completely. Awful AF is really the only problem with the lens, but, unfortunately, it has the power to render its strengths useless. If you plan to buy this lens, plan on using manual focus a lot.
Update: the SDM motor never worked well and eventually died completely. I had a Forum member fix it by overriding the silent, non-focus system for just $30. At first, it worked fine. Using it to shoot a church service on Sunday, after less than an hour, the AF quick completely. It did come back later, but I expect much more.
Unless you always manually focus or don't mind a lot of frustration, find something else.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2012 Posts: 47
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 28, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Good for indoor events | | Cons: | Stay away from this lens built prior to 2012 SDM failure | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 6
Value: 7
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5
| |
People are selling off DA* lens because of the release of K1. So price dropped quite a bit. But use caution before you buy an used copy. SDM failure rate was high before 2012 redesign. Check the SN and compare with the forum's database to determine the manufacture date.
Otherwise this is a good lens on APS-C for wedding and alike. Not suit for sports because of the slow AF and reach limits.
Also it's quite heavy at 1.5lbs. You don't want to carry it all day unless you have to use it to make money. | | | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2015 Posts: 10
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 13, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Image quality, Out of focus areas, build quality, internal zooming | | Cons: | AF a bit on slow but enough for me so far | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3 and K3 II
| |
I found a great deal for this lens when buying a K3 II for my partner, after all done I have paid 150 euros for the lens new!!! I wanted to buy it for a long time but I was not willing to pay what it costs new nowadays.
I don't have the lens for a very long but so far I have been impressed with the image quality at all focal lengths from wide open! The autofocus is a bit slow but I use it mainly for landscapes or wildlife scenes where I don't need tracking or extremely fast focus, so for me it has been working ok! However I have been shooting it for less than a month therefore I can't say to much about it. But for now I would recommend this lens to anyone looking for something on this range. I will update the review in the near future.
happy shooting.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2013 Posts: 341
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 18, 2015 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-7
| |
The only drawback of the lens is the accuracy of the autofocus in low light. This lens delivers very sharp images with good color and contrast. The image quality is superb throughout the zoom range, unlike other zooms I have owned. The autofocus works great in most situations, low light can be a slight drawback. Overall excellent value, perhaps best lens I have ever owned.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: September, 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,591
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 16, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, 2.8, Size, FL Range, Ruggedness | | Cons: | AF speed, Not FF (not really a negative but many DA lenses are compatible with FF) | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3, K-5, K-5ii, K-01
| |
This lens and the DA*60-250 are a big part of what keeps me with Pentax. I hike and backpack a lot and the 50-135 is a great companion on those trips. It is small and light enough to be comfortable to carry, yet it gives close to prime quality on most shots. It works great with the 1.4tc.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: August, 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 33
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 1, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $900.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | One of the best in terms of range and IQ | | Cons: | Overpriced in Recent Years, SDM Reliability | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-30
| |
The DA* 50-135 is a fantastic lens in ALMOST every way. Until I ran into reliability issues with the silent focus motor on two separate copies forcing me to switch over to the discontinued but very similar Sigma 50-150 as my "go-to", I used the DA* 50-135 almost exclusively for portraits, artistic work, photographing live events and more and never had any major complaints. The 50-135 is well built and handles nicely despite being somewhat "dense" from having so much glass packed into such a small package. Aesthetically, the 50-135 looks and feels like a premium "Pentax" lens should. I rarely use a tripod for the type of shooting I typically do, but have had no issue hand-holding the lens on longer shoots. In low-light AF situations coupled with fast-moving subjects, the 50-135 delivered excellent results both wide open and at distance. Plus, the Weather Resistance (WR) of the Pentax affords much needed peace of mind to an active photographer like me, who lives in a dusty desert and likes to travel. The Sigma, on the other hand, is not weather sealed, which limits the conditions I feel comfortable using it in. Also, compared to the Sigma, I prefer the color rendering of the Pentax by a small margin, as it offered a bit more warmth and depth of contrast, no doubt due to the unique blend of pixie dust Pentax uses in their amazing lens coatings! I have heard of the 50-135 delivering "prime-like" IQ throughout most of its zoom range and feel that this is a fairly reasonable description. The image quality is stellar and certainly among the absolute "best of the best" when it comes to modern zooms. Unfortunately, what ultimately killed the enjoyment of this lens for me was the SDM motor issue. The Sigma has proven to be significantly more reliable in my case. In the end, as my second DA* 50-135, which I purchased brand new at Christmas 2012 from an authorized dealer, began to develop the dreaded SDM noise and intermittent function issues after barely a month of light use (shortly after my first 50-135's SDM from around 2010 completely quit on me and had to be repaired to the tune of $200+), I opted to return the Pentax and keep the Sigma. More than a year later, I'm still shooting the Sigma regularly and have had zero issues with its performance or reliability. I only wish I could have said the same for my DA* 50-135, because it really is an incredible lens deserving of the "Star" heritage in ALMOST every way. If you get a good copy with a reliable motor, it will be the best lens you ever own. However, I still see reports of SDM failures on lenses purchased as recently as late 2103, so the problem obviously hasn't been fixed, despite many claims by Pentax over the past few years. I love the lens enough that I've strongly considered giving it another chance, but prices have been rather steep over the past couple years compared to what these lenses originally sold for. Regardless, if you're in the market for a professional quality zoom in this range, it's hard to do much better than the DA* 50-135 on any platform. Just make sure to buy new from an authorized retailer so you have the peace-of-mind of a factory warranty in case your copy ends up with an unreliable focusing motor like mine and many others.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: Rome (Italy) Posts: 16
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 9, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, constrution quality | | Cons: | none (a little slow autofocus) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5II
| |
The DA 50-135mm is a fantastic lens !
He made a spectacular portraits, already at f/2,8, with a great bokeh. I use it at every studio session for fashion, glamour, etc.
Its sharpness is also wonderful for photos of architectural details, animals, nature, sports.
It's lightweiht enough to be a telephoto, and on aps-c provides a focal range really optimal for portrait and architecture.
Its weak point is the auto-focus, sometimes slow, but still good.
If I had to choose only 1 objective out of all, I would choose this one!
Highly recomended !
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 135
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 26, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $565.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size and weight, built quality, overall IQ, WR | | Cons: | Extremely slow focusing, some CA and geometric distortion, sharpness wide open, min. focus distance | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax k-5II
| |
This would be a really nice lens if it weren't for the lethargic focusing speed.
Good built, perfect size and weight, WR, overall IQ, focus ring doesn't turn in AF mode and is perfectly usable on manual.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: New Berlin, WI Posts: 528
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 17, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $900.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Superb IQ: Sharp, smooth bokeh, color rendition | | Cons: | known for SDM failure, | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-3, K-5
| |
Wonderful image quality. Ultimate sharpness at f5.6. Sharpness drops from excellent to very good at the long end and f2.8. Otherwise it's prime quality under all settings.
The autofocus is not very fast so not good for sports but definitely fast enough for portrait, which is what this lens is for.
This lens is known for SDM failure, so even though the issue should be resolved with newer copies, I strongly suggest you get an extended warranty with this lens.
Wonderful portrait lens.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 726
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 20, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Fast, sharp (for a zoom), WR | | Cons: | Slow focus, focussing distance | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5 and K-r
| |
This is one of the lenses I wanted most for the longest time. I've read reviews upon reviews about it, all saying stuff like "It's just like having prime lenses from 50mm to 135mm" But after a week with it, I am a bit disappointed.
The lens is very sharp, especially for a zoom but not at f/2.8. Between f/4 and f/11 it is great. At first I thought it was my copy which wasn't perfect so I went and tried a couple more getting similar results.
CA and fringing is not great either, manageable but not DA* great.
Focussing is just awful, god is it ever slow. If your subject is not close to being in focus and the lens has to move from one end to the other, better go get a cup of coffee. Good thing it has quick-shift focus so you can easily pre-focus. It also has a very hard time focussing in lower light (where my other slower lenses have no issues).
Handling is however very enjoyable, well balanced on a K5 and a K-r and both the zoom and focus rings are nice and smooth. It's well built and it's relatively compact if you take it's range and aperture size into account.
It may not be "apples to apples" but I believe the Sigma or the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 are much sharper. I also don't feel like the IQ and the extra sharpness is worth the difference in price with the 18-135. But this is just my two cents.
Even with all the negatives I listed, this lens is on one of my cameras almost all the time, it is the best zoom I have and at f/4 it does take some very pictures, colors are great and bokeh is pretty nice. For me, it's a very handy portrait lens.
Good lens, maybe a bit overrated and not worth the price if bough new (~$1300). If you get it used or cheap, you'll like it but you should know that there are better alternatives.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2011 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 582
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 5, 2014 | Not Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 4 |
| Pros: | Sharp, small | | Cons: | Horrible, Horrible AF | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 2
Handling: 9
Value: 6
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-3
| |
I bought this lens to compliment my 16-45. The first time out with it was shooting moving motorcycles.
It is truly tack-sharp, but don't think about using it in any action scenario as the AF speed is just truly woeful. It's like the AF motor is trying to move through sludge; it really is that bad.
It could possibly make a decent portraiture lens, but I do so little of that I just cannot justify spending that much money on it.
I've since replaced it with a Tamron 70-200 2.8 and will be reconsidering the 16-45 with a something-70mm.
It's a shame, because the focal length provided is a wonderful range and it is wonderfully sharp - but it just completely let down by the auto-focus speed.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,448
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 20, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | IQ is superb | | Cons: | SDM Focusing is horribly slow/Min focusing distance is 3+ feet | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 3
Handling: 4
Value: 7
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5iis
| |
This lens will garner a mixed review from me, which is why I eventually sold it in favor of a lens better suited to my shooting needs.
First the positive aspects:
The image quality is amazing. Resolution is great, colors, bokeh, all that stuff is pro quality. I can see why wedding photographers, and others who specialize in portrait type images love this lens. At f2.8 you get really great shallow DOF at 135mm.
The cons:
The focusing is horribly slow, frustratingly slow. I would not recommend this for any kind of action photography unless it's a snail race. I take that back, with it's overly long minimum focusing distance of 3+ feet, (even at 50mm) the snails would be too small in the frame to be meaningful.
Obviously, this lens was not suited for my subject matter of sports, wildlife or anything moving, but even to that end, its image quality was so good I still debated a long time before finally selling it.
For its price, make sure you know this lenses strengths and weaknesses, because the resale market has hit rock bottom. Chances are you won't be able to recoup your investment should you decide it's not right for you.
| | | | |
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 4, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | WR, sharpness, contrast, ergonomics, bokeh | | Cons: | AF isn't Canon fast | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5
| |
This lens is a 9.5.
I wish the AF was faster. Someone from the Canikon AF engineering divisions needs to be cherry picked by Pentax. Other than that, what's not to like? (unless you had SDM issues, which I didn't)
I didn't own this lens for a long time, mainly because I eventually wound my way to a 60-250 for the extra telephoto reach, and primes for everything else. My shooting needs and budget dictated I couldn't own both, or I would have.
The 50-135 is the perfect apsc version of the full-frame 70-200/2.8. Yet it weighs half as much, uses smaller filters, and also costs half as much. Isn't this one of the great benefits of the cropped sensor system? Here is a prime (er, zoom) example of that. All you might miss is the depth of field latitude of a larger frame.
Here's another very Pentaxian type thing. It's unique. Other than the Sigma (bigger, no WR, probably lower long-term value) nobody else is making a lens like this. Not Canikony. At all. It's a reason alone to use Pentax. If they'd get their SDM and general AF business sorted out, there would be very little to complain about.
I didn't find a shot at any length where I felt bad about the sharpness or clarity of the images, even at the long end. The colour is great, the flare and aberrations are well handled. I'd say it isn't super contrasty, and depending on your taste that's a plus or minus. I liked it. The images had a real smoothness to them that didn't feel overly "digital". So for me, that's a big plus.
Inner focussing, quiet focussing, accurate focussing, just not lightning fast focussing. But within Pentax, it's about as good as it gets.
Relative to its class of lenses, this is actually quite a small and light lens, very hand-holdable. Heck it's lighter and smaller than the big full-frame 24-70/2.8 lenses? Almost shorter too!
I found mine used here on the forum and it was a good purchase. Picking up a black Friday sale would also make it great value. Retail prices a tougher sell these days (and who knows when it'll change again), but still a high value lens.
Top notch in every way, optically, mechanically and ergonomically. Re-reading my review, I'm tempted to go pick one up again if shooting needs and budgets allow.
Don't hesitate to get one if you think the focal length and aperture speed is what you want. | | |
![SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM Review RSS Feed](https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/images/rss/rss_feeds14x14.gif)
![SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM](https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/data/43/221200712935.jpg)
![SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM](javascript:update('https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/data/43/221200712935.jpg');)
![SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM](javascript:update('https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/data/43/smc_Pentax-DA_50-135_2_8_EDIF_SDM_star_optics.jpg');)
![Buy the SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM](https://www.pentaxforums.com/content/camerapics/pentax-button.gif)
![Read our SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM in-depth review!](https://www.pentaxforums.com/content/homepage/pflensseal.gif)
![Add Review of SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM](https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/images/digitalvb/pentax_red/buttons/addreview.gif)
![Buy the SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM](https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/images/digitalvb/pentax_red/buttons/buylens.png)
