| Author: | | New Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: Dallas, TX, USA Posts: 21
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 8, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $125.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Ideal film SLR walkaround. Great value for money | | Cons: | loses wideness (28 becomes 42) on DSLR, | |
I bought this as the "kit lens" for my Z1 in Singapore when they both first came out. I was probably one of thefew users of the power-zoom aspects of this lens and I missed it when I switched to the *istD. (It's back with the K10D.)
This polycarbonate body lens has taken litterally thousands of pictures and only gave me one minor problem (one of the aspects of powerzoom that the K10D does not support) that Pentax fixed quickly under warrantee.
If you avoid both extremes of the zoom range, it has quite good optical qualities. Balances very nicely on the K10D and anti-shake makes it even better.
Larry in Dallas
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 514 | | Review Date: June 20, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good sharpness, nearly ideal for court action, cheap, rugged | | Cons: | Heavy, | |
This is my walk around lens and seems ideal for the task. Mid range it is nearly as sharp as some primes. From what I've been reading this is one of the best efforts from Pentax in this focal range. In some situations, the colors seem to be a bit washed, but that may be the tough lighting I get into...
I'm going to pick up a PZ film camera just so I can explore the potential of the features it offers. Great stuff!
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 260 | | Review Date: September 26, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Built Quality, PowerZoom, Nice Range | | Cons: | Slow, | |
I got this zoom with my Pentaz MZ-5. It's been around for years and has taken a lot of abuse. Once it drop (with camera and tripod) because of the wind, lens firts into concrete. The lens just had a minor scratch, the plastic barrel broke and the filter ring was also damaged and broken (I cannot use filters anymore), but the lens kept working and I still use it today with my K20D.
Optical quality is good for this price, a grat walk-around lens with nice size and weight. It's a little dark when looking on the viewfinder but I still can get very good results when printing large sizes.
PowerZoom function still surprises my Canikon friends.
| | | | | | | | Review Date: December 8, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very sharp and contrasty lens | | Cons: | Kind of slow but but great in good light | |
I bought this lens when I got my PZ way back when and it has been a great lens, and one of my favorites as a walk around lens. I have some 16x20" prints from this lens that are extremely sharp even close up using Kodachrome Slide film.
I have used the newer version of this lens and found it to be far less sharp and with less contrast than the PowerZoom version. I always used the PowerZoom on my PZ, along with some other features no longer available on the newer DSLR's and never had any problems with it.
Great lens, my daughter just got one used and loves it on her K10D too!
Tom
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 9
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 1, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, good colour & contrast, inexpensive, very good range | | Cons: | a bit slow, some fringing, maybe a bit soft @ 105, big and heavy, front element rotates, comes with no hood | |
I bought this lens here on the marketplace. The lens is bigger and heavier than I'd like, and I don't like the fact that the front element rotates while focusing, but apart from that it's very very sharp and it's definitely a very worthy upgrade from the kit lens. It's slowly becoming my main walkaround lens when I just want to go around taking random photos. @105 it becomes a little soft and it's a bit prone to fringing, at shorter focal distances it's ok. Recommended if you want a good walkaround lens, don't want to spend much and don't mind the extra bulk and weight
EDIT (29/06/2010):
I'm revising the original review a few months after the first one since I now believe it was a little too enthusiastic (before it was a 9, now I think a 7 would be more appropriate). Don't get me wrong: the lens IS nice, but after a while I realized that the size and bulk outweigh its optical qualities, and I simply rarely choose it to mount on the camera when I go out to take some pictures (in fact I'm more and more leaning towards primes). It all boils down to personal shooting styles and preferences though: if'you're looking for a good do-it-all zoom, it's a very good choice.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: Rayong Province Posts: 1 | | Review Date: March 23, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Excellent Color,Sharp,Cheap | | Cons: | heavy,few noise | |
Lens optical quality is good for this price, a walk-around lens. I alway use its when i go to travel. I think,This is a Fantastic lens. It's now out of production, but if you can get one don't hesitate. | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,064 | | Review Date: December 9, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $115.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great intense , color like from a film camera | | Cons: | has some CA fixable on Photoshop. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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I always wanted a 28-105 Pentax but they stopped making them.
Recently I thought about finding one of the older models but did not
want the Tamron built model.
Tried shooting flash indoors but lens not as suitable as my 16-45, so I'll use the 28-105 outdoors.
My first pictures taken outdoors were delightfully good, with really intense color similar to the filmy color I used to get from my Canon 28-105 USM lens.
I was able to shoot skylines with my new lens with better sharpness than my
other lenses and loved the results. The model I bought is the powerzoom model. Powerzoom doesn't work with modern cameras but I'm fine with manual zooming. It was originally made for film cameras. It is generally considered a better lens than the non-powerzoom models floating around.
There is sometimes CA to deal with but Photoshop easily handles it.
All in all I think I have a real bargain in this sweet little baby. (I shouldn't say baby because it is rather heavy, l lb., but fits nicely in my camera bag.)
I like the weight because it helps keep my K100D camera steady. Seems very
well made and the copy I got is excellent. I did have to buy a lens hood and
lens cap which cost me about an additional $15. The seller did not have those
with the camera as sold to me. I recommend this lens and I intend to have fun with it and know I'll come up with some really great shots. P.S. since this review I had several awards for photography with the lens. And at that time I hadn't taken more than 100 shots.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2010 Posts: 23 | | Review Date: December 13, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness; Color rendition | | Cons: | Front rotating element; heaviness | |
PZ stands for Power zoom. The lens is made in Japan, with 9 blade diaphragm and 58mm filter rim. Unlike the DA series Pentax lenses, this lens (or other lenses prior to DA series) does not has Full-Time Manual (FTM) focus (or called clutch system), which is a bit less convenient when trying to override the autofocus. Luckily, the autofocus is quite accurate on this lens. Although having autofocus functionality, the lens has auto/manual aperture ring, which is very convenient for Canon/Nikon users shooting in manual mode. However, the front element rotates when zooming and is therefore inconvenient for Polarizer filter users. The barrel is made of polycarbonate plastic and the body is heavy due to the power zoom mechanism. This is one of sharp, walk around zoom lenses made by Pentax. The lens has been highly rated by many other users and I found their statements are quite true. I wish the zoom range could be a bit longer, such as 28-135mm, but who cares as long as the lens is sharp.
The maximum aperture ranges from f/4 to f/5.6, which is not a fast lens. To be able to take indoor pictures hand held, a flash is usually required. The images are surprisingly sharp for a zoom lens like this. Color rendition and contrast are quite pleasant and would not get washed out like some of single-coating lenses. Note that, for the Canon/Nikon users, the adapter ring with AF confirmation could not fit onto the lens mount, due to the conflict with the additional electrical contact for the power zoom. To fit the lens in the Canon/Nikon cameras, you need to make compromise to use the adapter without the AF confirmation. If you could not live without AF confirmation, an alternative choice would be the non-PZ but IF (Internal Focus) version, which is lighter and usually made in China or assembled in Vietnam. The non-PZ version has a larger front element (62mm in filter size). The IF feature is nice, but the users have found it far less sharp and less contrast than the PZ version.
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 43 | | Review Date: February 19, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, build, contrast, quick focus, durability | | Cons: | slow aperture, focus ring rotates in AF, CA at full zoom sometimes | |
I got lucky when I bought a lightly used K10D. This is the lens the guy threw in with it. I got it + the lens for less than the K10D body alone cost at the time
This lens is excellent for daytime photography and edge to edge sharpness for high resolution prints. Indoor events would require something else or a flash. The power zoom works but I frankly I find it useless so I leave it turned off.
Having been spoiled by Canon L glass, this lens matches in IQ aside the CA and slight softness at the 105mm focal length.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2010 Location: Manila Posts: 2,185
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 18, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $147.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | FL, color rendition, sharpness, build, and long focus throw | | Cons: | rotating front element, slow and heavy! | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-x
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It's been for several months with me now and I've had great projects with it. Time for a cumbersome review!
Introduction:
The FA 28-105 f4-5.6 PowerZoom is an old lens. There are no new ones out there, the latest copy probably produced by the end of the 90's. Not as old as other lenses, but considering its plastic shell, it's one tough lens. It's a substantial chunk of plastic and metal which now most parts are unusable due to PZ functions somewhat being obsolete. Nevertheless, its nice focal length, unprecedented sharpness and color rendition make it an excellent outdoor portrait lens.
Per aspect
=================================
Sharpness: (9.1/10)
Of all its features, this is probably most underrated. It's dang sharp stopped down by a half or one full from wide open (f/8~f/11). While it is true that such a peak aperture so small, still it's excellent for a budget lens and at this focal length. Wide open, the images are still usable but might be a tad soft for most photographers. Can't compare it to a prime of course, but the edges are sharp enough also at f/8 and beyond. Little vignetting too. Color is excellent, sometimes even giving a 3D effect with vibrance pumped up a bit.
It's also a bit soft at 105.
Sample:
Aberrations: (8.8/10)
CA is well controlled by this lens, I don't know why. Maybe it was the camera doing it for me, but for the CA to really come out you'd have to do a really bad exposure of a brightly-lit subject.
(photo to be inserted here)
Bokeh: (6.2/10)
Ugly from 28-50. Even with a 9-blade diaphragm, the bokeh produced by this lens is far from creamy, especially at shorter focal lengths. Round, sure, but looks very busy. Only from 70mm to 85 does it start to look smooth. It takes some practice learning how to use the FL to smoothen the bokeh.
this photo was softened through pp, only because I also wanted the bokeh to look a little less nervous. This was shot at 100mm, f6.3
Autofocus: (8.1/10)
As with all AF screwdrives, it's noisy and hunts at low light. Nothing remarkable, but given its wide range, it's pretty fast. It's great for manual focusing too, though it doesn't have an MF clutch or the Pentax Quick-Shift feature.
Handling: (8.4/10)
So-so. It's sturdy and strong and all, but because of the PZ motor it's too heavy for superlatives. For some reason the weight helps me balance the lens for manual focusing at 105mm though, so I'm not complaining a lot. The front element also rotates, so using petal hoods won't work.
Value: (8.8/10)
Bought a copy from a local Pentax user for Php6,300 ($147). It's pricier than I expected or hoped, but it's quite worth it. The copy was in very nice condition, showed little sign of wear. I guess aside from being taken care of a lot by the previous owner, its tough build shines through.
All in all, it's a performer. I replaced my 28-70 f4 lightweight lens with this, and I don't regret it. The former's bokeh might look better than this lens, but in color and sharpness the FA 28-105 PZ performs better. Setting aside weight issues and the rotating front element. If this was a constant f2.8, it's probably going to bomb other lenses. That would, in effect though, change the optical design altogether and compromises would have to be met.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2012 Posts: 1
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 18, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $215.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, low price, constructive. | | Cons: | Hard, soft on the long end of the open aperture. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-x
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Good and not expensive lens with a wide range.
Good replacement whale primarily because of the greater range of focal lengths, the field kit is superior, but not much, at least in comparison to my instance. Constructs in very good. Only one drawback - heavy.
Sample photos
https://picasaweb.google.com/113830004396908134834/SMCPentaxFA28105mmF456PZ?...eat=directlink | | | | | Senior Member Registered: September, 2012 Posts: 100 | | Review Date: November 24, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Builf quality, PZ, Pentax color, nice macro, cheap | | Cons: | soft at wide open, slow, no bokeh, heavy, rotate hood. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 7
Camera Used: K5
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Like other Pentax gear, i have some issue about AF in tungsten light. Althought adjustment the AF in body, still back focus when use macro.
However, it's a good lens for 75$
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 17
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 4, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Beautiful colour and very sharp | | Cons: | Rather bulky, and front element rotates; could wish it were faster | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Samsung GX20, Pentax K-X
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This lens currently occupies the middle slot in my auto-focus range, between the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 Di II AF and the Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG AF. If I am going for a walk around town during the day, I would usually put this on the Pentax K-X, and the Tamron on the Samsung GX20, because the K-X high ISO is superior to the GX20, but it works well on either.
I own (LBA) the Pentax F 35-70mm f3.5-4.5, the F 28-80mm f3.5-4.5, the FA 28-70mm f4, the FA-J 28-80 f3.5-5.6 and the FA 28-90mm f3.5-5.6, and in terms of image quality I find this to be superior to all of them. Wide open it is as sharper, or sharper, than any of the others when they are wide open (though some of the others are a little faster) and in terms of colour only the FA 28-90mm f3.5-5.6 gets close.
The F 28-80mm f3.5-4.5, is nearly as sharp, but the FA 28-105mm PZ has better colour, less CA, is less affected by flare, and focuses closer.
The FA 28-90mm f3.5-5.6 almost matches FA 28-105mm f4-5.6 PZ's colour rendition, but the 28-90mm is slightly less sharp, and is less contrasty.
The F 35-70mm is as sharp, but the colours come out less saturated, and the zoom range is by comparison limited.
I have not found the bokeh to be a problem; in my pictures it is pleasantly blurred, and not busy at all. I imagine that the 9 bladed aperture is important, because in bright sunlight and Auto mode the lens is usually stopped down.
I have never mastered the Power Zoom (it works on the Samsung GX20). When I have tried to use it, I have hunted for the Zoom level I wanted; short, long; short, long ... So I leave it switched off.
On a sunny day, it is fast enough.
Indoors I get good results with a 'bounce' flash.
So what's not to like? Well, it is a bit large for my holster, and objectively it is large and heavy for its zoom range and slow speed. It would be nice if it went to 24mm at the short end. And the front element rotates, which might be a bit of a pain with a polarising filter and my screw-in petal hood. However, when I'm using the polarising filter I am likely focused far away, so once initially set up neither the hood nor the filter need much tweaking.
The final judgement; when I leave it at home, because I am chasing wild-life or having to use natural light in semi-darkness, or simply because I fancy a change, and then put the FA 28-105mm f4-5.6 AF Power Zoom back on the camera, and take a picture, I always look at the next image I take, and exclaim Wow! It's really that good.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: July, 2010 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 2,091
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 9, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great color, focal length, 3D appearance | | Cons: | Not too much, perhaps physical size | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: PZ-1P and K30
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This is a very good lens, especially for the price you can pick one up for. It is sharp with good color. It's not the fastest or lightest lens available but it produces excellent results in the right circumstances. It's certainly not up to a prime but it's a nice walk around lens, especially given it's focal length.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: Slovenia Posts: 73
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 21, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Sharp to 90mm, good colours, fast AF | | Cons: | Heavy, bulky, soft wide open, CA | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 6
Value: 7
Camera Used: K-7
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This lens offers a good walkaround range on APS-C with pretty good image quality in terms of colour saturation and sharpness (stopped down), but it has some drawbacks:
- it's big a heavy for such a slow lens
- soft above 90mm even stopped down
- cyan colour fringes visible in high contrast scenes
- rotating front element makes filter use difficult
All-in-all a very decent lens when used within it's limitations.
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