Junior Member Registered: March, 2014 Location: 48599 Gronau Posts: 26 | Review Date: April 29, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $580.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | very sharp for it's age at F8 and F11 | Cons: | heavy and unballanced | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 6
Value: 8
Camera Used: K 7
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This is no lens for beginners! It's heavy, unballanced and a challange, when you are interested in long lens photography. You will need a strong setup with the best you can get ( tripod and head ) . I use a berlebach tripod and a gimbal head. A ballhead will do no good, cause the lens is heavy and the wheight is at the front. But if you are willing to learn about long lens work, if you are able to slow down your work , you will get amazing results! I use the lens with a long Novoflex macroplate and the Castell Q focussing system. This makes work precise and easier. PF may be an issue, but it is no problem , if you remind yourself in basics of photography. Alltogether, this is not a cheap lens, but you get high quality for your money.
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Veteran Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,432 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: November 17, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Great color, good bokeh, Sharp wide open | Cons: | Heavy, some severe CA | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
| | Have owned this lens for about a month, and am still learning its capabilities/limitations. My old eyes are still having difficulty with manual focus, but this lens gives some very sharp results!
Here are a few examples: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/80467-nature-sample-shot...135-600-a.html
Have been very pleased with the color rendition and overall IQ. It's also handy to have the constant aperture as you zoom. The lens is very heavy, takes a strong tripod and a strong back to haul down the trail!
This lens shows some strong (and sometimes amazing-looking) CA, especially wide open and backlit. But not too hard to correct in PP.
All in all, a fine piece of equipment!
Edit - Have recently upgraded from KM to K20D, and notice that there appears to be far less CA with this lens on the newer body.
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