| Author: | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: February, 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,710 | | Review Date: March 13, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, weight, IQ stopped down, used price | | Cons: | sharpness wide open | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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I gave this lens a 9 overall for two reasons, it does exactly what I expected it to do and the price I paid for it in used, but like new condition.
Having been exclusively an aps-c format digital shooter since my Pentax *ist D back in 2004, I finally took the full frame plunge recently by acquiring a used K-1. I had planned on using it with my large collection of SMC-A manual focus lenses, primarily for landscape and architectural subjects. I quickly realized the K-1 would be my go to camera for those subjects and trains, automobiles and people too. So I started looking to obtain a good standard zoom. My K-1 came with a Tamron 28-105 (the same lens as the Pentax FA 28-105). The lens was "OK" but just not sharp enough, requiring lots of help in post production. Reading the reviews of the DFA 28-105, I figured it would be the best bet, especially used. I was correct. A $250, including tax for a slightly used copy, I am extremely pleased. Stopped down to f8-11, there is nothing to complain about image quality wise. The excellent high ISO performance of the K-1 pretty much offsets the slow aperture and need to stop down a bit. So far AF has been very good too. The colors rendered by this lens have slightly less "pop" than my Pentax FA 20-35/4 and DA* 60-250/4, however a slight boost in PP fixes this.
Bokeh is meh. Not great but not terrible. The lens size is perfect on the K-1. Find a good used copy and buy it.
| | | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: December, 2022 Posts: 8 | | Review Date: January 26, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Small, light, weathersealed, cheap to buy used. | | Cons: | Build quality, slowish aperture. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 6
Value: 7
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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As I picked this up as part of a deal with a used K-1 and Sigma 70-300 Macro, I am not going to be overly harsh on the lens. In Australia, these generally go for about $300 US or so in good used condition.
Viewed as a kit lens for general use and walking about, it is fine. Light, easy to use and focuses accurately and fairly quickly. Images are pretty sharp stopped down to f8/11, and perfectly useable wide open with a bit of PP.
I was a bit surprised how light and plasticky it feels, though the weather sealing is a definite plus when it is needed. To be fair, given I am used to Olympus Pro grade build quality, and Tokina ATX lenses on Pentax, any kit lens feels a bit cheap and nasty.
The 28-105 range is very useful, and close up quality seems to be good, too. Edge and corner performance is very good, better than most kit lenses I have used.
With a bit of care, truly excellent results are possible with this lens, so if you can't afford a 24-70 2.8 or similar just yet, this will do fine until you upgrade. You might even decide to keep it long term.
Recommended, especially as part of a kit or used deal.
These shots are full frame and 100% crops, processed from RAW (RawTherapee) with minor sharpening.
      | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 6,173
12 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 26, 2022 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, relatively inexpensive, near pro-quality optics | | Cons: | None of significance | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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This lens is the reason I bought the K-1. Having a compact high quality standard zoom was a must for me. The standard zoom is the most important lens in the landscape kit. It tends to get the most use and is absolutely instrumental when seeking to photograph outdoor scenics. If you're shooting other brands and you want a standard zoom with comparable optics, you have no choice to get something along the lines of a 24mm to 105mm f4 zoom. The 24mm is nice but hardly necessary. And f4 is useless in landscape photography. By starting this lens at 28mm instead of 24mm and making it a variable aperture f3.5 to 5.6, Pentax not only made it smaller than those heavish f4 full frame zooms, but they also dramatically reduced the cost to make the lens and hence the market price. This lens produces images that are almost indistinguishable from those of f4 zooms offered by more cynical brands, even though it costs a half to a third of those far more expensive constant aperture zooms.
It's really quite wonderful to have a full frame zoom lens that is this small and light that performs this well. It has the usually deep, rich contrasty Pentax colors and my copy is sharp edge to edge from 28 mm at least through 70mm when stopped down to typical landscape apertures (f8 - f16). You lose a little bit of edge sharpness at the long end, but that's not all that unusual in zoom lenses of this type. Even those expensive f4 prosumer zooms don't usually perform as well at the long end.
@ 28mm:
@40mm:
@63mm:
@95mm:
@105mm:
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: July, 2022 Posts: 41
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 26, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $496.95
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Excellent image quality stopped down just a little | | Cons: | Viewfinder gets really dark in poor light | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 5
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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I will preface this review by saying that I've mostly used pro and semi-pro standard zooms in the past, either constant aperture 24-120mm (and equivalent) or 24-70mm F2.8 equivalent zooms on various systems. I'm used to getting great versatility and great-to-amazing image quality from my zooms, so I'm a bit picky. For this lens to score a 10 in any of the categories, it would need to match or exceed the other lenses I've used as those are my point of reference.
This is a very versatile walk-around lens under good light. As shot on the K-1, it is usable in relatively poor light if you don't mind bumping the ISO up to 3200 and above. However, note that the viewfinder gets quite dark.
Sharpness and clarity are great stopped down by just one stop (F8 at the longest end), which is decent, but never tack sharp. Compared to something like a FA 50mm macro or FA 20-35mm F4, the DFA 28-105mm is noticeably softer under same conditions. There is noticeable vignetting wide open at all focal lengths, but it's usable in a pinch. In-camera correction does not get rid of it completely on K-1. Distortion is quite pronounced at most settings, but are easy to correct in post (just plain barrel and pincushion distortions). In-camera correction gets rid of it almost completely. I generally find the image quality to be quite good overall. I also have to note that it does not quite have the resolution to max out the 36Mpx K-1 sensor.
It does not have any special character. No nice sunstars or flare here. It's fairly flare-resistant, but when it flares (usually when the light source is just outside the frame) it tends to create the ugly white veil across the frame. Don't lose that hood. 
Build quality is about what I would expect at this price (for a new lens anyway). This lens is relatively light for its size but it's not a feather-weight. You will certainly feel it when you pick it up. The all-plastic build is not confidence-inspiring, and, on my copy, there's a bit of play on the zoom ring. It will supposedly take a bit of rain, but given the aforementioned play, I would not trust it in adverse weather.
Handling is ok, nothing to write home about. I've experienced zoom creep on several occasions (I normally keep my camera slung across my body). Zoom ring is very large, which is typical of modern zooms. I find it has just the right amount of resistance when used normally, but a little bit harder to turn when camera is pointing straight up or down. Focus ring is nice and works well. It has semi-hard (simulated hard) stops on both ends, and while a bit thin, I did not find the ring hard to find and operate. It supports quick override: just turn the ring at any time and manually focus. Supplied petal hood is sometimes hard to attach in reverse, which is a first for me on any zoom. Usually these things go on without issues in either orientation.
Close focusing ability is not bad but not amazing either. It would not replace a macro lens as some of the zooms I've used could, not even for fairly large subjects.
Overall it's not amazing at anything in particular, and it does not go as wide or as long as many similar products, but it does a lot of things well without costing a fortune. If you're only going to use one lens, then this is not a bad choice, price being one of its redeeming qualities. Having said that, since I've obtained different lenses for my K-1, most of them costing a lot less, this zoom has been collecting dust. If this wasn't the first lens I got, I would have probably skipped it.
 | | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: June, 2021 Posts: 304
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 30, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $675.17
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, Build, Light, Cost | | Cons: | Maybe a little soft? AF is a little slow, Manual focus ring does not have a stop | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1 mkII
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I received the 28-105mm together with the K1 mkII so I have listed the price from the same seller but for the lens on it's own.
Before buying the K1 and a new camera in a long time I was recommended this lens by many really great and helpful people on the forum.
At first I was a little concerned because I wanted to go wider as I knew that 28mm would not be wide enough for me.
After using the lens for a while I was seriously impressed!
Unfortunately I cannot compare the lens to other Pentax lenses as I don't have any yet, and the only other lens I can compare to is the Samyang 24mm which I have already reviewed and love to bits 
Between both of them the Samyang is sharper and gives better color vibrance and contrast; basically the overall rendition is much better. However, the 28-105mm has a solid and durable construction and is weather sealed on top. The hood and front lens cover feel much better then the Samyang's and the hood is more compact too.
Of course other then construction it is a little unfair of a comparison as a zoom is a little different from a prime lens.
The 28-105mm is a great starter lens or as the note in the lens description says "a great everyday" lens to walk around with.
If used within the lenses limitations or field of scope it is a very powerful part to what is an excellent tool!
My personal take on this lens is that the minimum focusing distance is quite far making close up work challenging. You can of course step back a little then zoom in which will help a lot.
The AF is a little clunky in that sometimes it struggles to focus though there isn't much hunting involved. My solution is to simply turn it off and use manual focus instead.
It simply cannot 'lock' onto close objects at all unfortunately so that is a limitation.
The manual focus ring however does not have a stop and will continuously spin so you are unaware of the limits of throw. This can make manual focusing a little tricky at times.
There is virtually no lens flare either which can effect the Samyang at certain angles and without the hood, especially when pointing directly towards the sun.
It is very well balanced in the respect of no artifacts or CA or anything that shouldn't be there that I have seen so far.
Overall to sum up this is great lens to learn with and even for experienced users to have as an everyday walk around fun lens.
These are some of what I have managed to achieve after just starting out with my Pentax kit:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lv7PygwGfdCjeXrPWxlqyd2W5B0d8x97/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hAoTr2wQKi3bXaBtv5a-RJNFFfsOajQe/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NROXnWZAMMU6dplMbqXAhCuql-NdJepH/view?usp=sharing
With more images of both Pentax and Samyang lenses in this folder here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q4w4Ofp3aXczeNeILoc0xvD3_hUHbNKf?usp=sharing | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2012 Location: Blenheim Posts: 1,290
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 31, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | WR, lightweight, sharp | | Cons: | Stiff zoom | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-70
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I purchased this lens used with a bit of scepticism, as it's basically a kit lens for the K-1, and I intended to use it on my K-70 where the APS-C crop factor makes it a standard to moderate telephoto zoom.
I wasn't sure how useful the zoom range would be on APS-C nor how good the lens would be, having an older Tamron 28-105 that identifies as a Pentax FA! but isn't particularly sharp.
After over six months with this lens, shooting a variety of subjects, I've had to put my scepticism aside, as I'm very impressed with what's a very reasonably priced lens for what you get.
Sure, it's not overly fast, but for mostly landscapes that I've used it with, I've generally had it stopped down a little anyway, so this has never been an issue.
Although the lens isn't rated as a macro lens, I've been able to get close enough to small subjects at full zoom to not always have to switch to a macro lens.
What I've been most impressed with is the sharpness of the lens across the zoom range. It's not perfect, ie not a prime, but remarkably good, and a noticeable improvement on the kit zooms for APS-C.
Sharpness seems to be good at a range of apertures, but seems to reach its limit at f/9 on the K-70.
I've noticed a very small amount of green or purple fringing on some images, but it's not bad, and easily correct in post processing.
AF is quiet, quick, and accurate.
My one major gripe with the lens is the remarkably stiff zoom. Presumably this is related to the weather sealing. Zoom creep is not something you'll experience with this lens, in fact almost the opposite. You could (not recommended) suspend the camera by the lens, and it won't extend one bit. Turning the zoom ring is like driving a car before power steering was invented, and requires a firm hand. Fortunately there's plenty of grip to hold onto to do so, so it's not a huge issue, but because of zoom stiffness, sometimes zoom movement can be a bit jerky, and it's not easy to do a smooth pan and zoom tracking moving subjects.
Eventually I'd like to compare it with the DA 16-85 which is effectively its equivalent on APS-C and also very highly regarded, however that is also a more expensive lens, and if I'm prepared to live without the wider end, the D-FA 28-105 definitely makes a workable weather sealed walk-around zoom. Interestingly, the D-FA 28-105 is actually slightly lighter than the DA-16-85 at 440g vs 488g.
Would I buy this new rather than the DA 16-85 for an APS-C body? Maybe not, but if one comes up used at a good price, which is quite possible, and you don't already own the DA 16-85 or if you currently own an APS-C body but are considering upgrading to a K-1/ (II) then this is a versatile lens that produces great images.
 | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2014 Posts: 206
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 21, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $280.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Cost, weight, overall IQ | | Cons: | Not as good at the wide or long ends | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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This lens is fantastic.
I had heard enough good things about this lens that I began looking for one shortly after acquiring my K-1, and bought my copy second-hand from another user on the Marketplace. Before this, I had no other zoom lenses for my K-1; only some prime lenses. Overall, I am impressed with it, and have owned my copy since early 2017.
I shoot landscape photography off a tripod - a mixture of portrait orientation, stitched panoramas, long exposures, and a bit of everything in between - and this lens is easily my most-used lens and the one lens I would struggle without. Small and light enough for multi-day hikes, robust enough for changing weather, enough zoom range to cover most of what I'm interested in shooting, cheap enough to almost be considered disposable ( yeah, breaking it would certainly hurt, but breaking a 31Ltd would hurt much, much more ), and IQ that is good enough most of the time.
Wading out in waist-deep water? Check. Shooting at the beach with salt spray and waves splashing? Check. Hiking in the rain? Check. Better this lens than my other, more expensive ones for dangerous situations.
It is quite sharp, and I mostly use it stopped down from f10 to f13 and beyond ( if the situation needs more depth of field ) where it excels ( right where you need it for landscape photography! ). However, regarding sharpness it is NOT prime-quality, and lenses such as the 77Ltd, 50mm macro, and the Sigma Art 35mm are still a notch above. The compelling aspect of the 28-105 is that once it is stopped down, most of the time it doesn't matter - it is usually so close that I will simply shoot with the 28-105 anyway rather than bother changing lenses. This is fairly high praise coming from a pixel peeper! After carrying around a bag of primes and constantly swapping lenses, it has made a lazy photographer out of me!
In balance to this, it is a bit weaker on the short and long ends. I have taken some photos at the wider end and wished that I had taken the time to change out the lens to a prime; if you are going to cut single images into 3:1 panoramas at the wide end of the focal range, you are probably going to be disappointed with the result. The edges will not be perfect, and will be barely acceptable in a lot of scenarios. However, in balance to that, when you are in the moment and the available light is rapidly changing, convenience often trumps absolute image quality.
Aberrations are there, but not really that much worse than any of my other lenses - perhaps aside from the heavily corrected Sigma ART 35mm or my longer telephoto lenses. I have noticed colour fringing is more pronounced on the wider end, but I haven't done a lot of indepth comparison here.
Bokeh. It's nice enough. I'm typicall trying to get everything in focus, so it's not important to me.
I have also been impressed with the resilience of this lens. It boasts Weather Resistance, and as far as I'm concerned it has held that claim quite well. I use the lens a lot on the beach, and it ( along with my K-1 body ) has spent quite a few nights in a ziplock bag full of rice after getting splashed with salt water. Considering it has a double-extending barrel and how light and plasticky the lens feels, it has been suprisingly robust.
Saying this, it is not bullet-proof. I had a wave crash over me on the coast and completely submerge the camera and lens along with soaking me to the skin. I then removed the battery, washed the body and lens off with fresh water, disassembled what I could, opened all the ports and laid it all out to dry. The camera body was fine, but the lens refused to autofocus, and would not communicate with the camera - it simply treated it as an unknown manual focus lens. I still use it and mainly manual focus anyway, and it still produces great images. The autofocus now comes and goes - sometimes it works, sometimes it sticks and locks up. Sometimes the camera can communicate, other times the lens is always listed as "105mm" on Lightroom at whatever focal length I use it at. The lens still has a permanent place in my bag.
I have used the lens quite a lot for stitched panoramas, although it's difficult ( nigh on impossible, really ) to establish just where the nodal point is anywhere in its focal range. The perspective of the image changes quite a bit when focus stacking ( focus breathing? ) but this hasn't caused me any major dramas yet when merging the focus stack. The focus motor is quick enough and fairly accurate using phase detect, but it isn't greased lightning in its speed.
The handling is nice enough, although the focusing ring can feel a little light and flimsy. The hood clicks into place nicely and is quick and easy to fit, and love-or-hate the older style of the lens cap it is super easy and quick to fit without looking ( it is very suprising how much of a difference these two minor issues can make ). Try this on the Samyang 24mm f1.4. After four attempts to get the lens cap on properly and multiple attempts reversing the lends hood to store it, the 28-105 is a breeze! The zoom ring is nice and big for grip, as it does feel like the lens is really fighting to extend and retract those barrel sections.
I haven't owned the 24-70mm, so I can't compare it to that lens. Having a bigger aperture would be nice for cloudy days when walking around. When I first got the lens I was suprised at how much I would sometimes have to crank up the ISO to get the shutter speed up when walking around as a tourist. Having 24mm on the wide end would be nice, but the lens would be much more expensive. I have also become quite fond of the 28mm focal length, and will often try and work with it rather than swap lenses.
Besides this, I still love this lens and will gladly defend its merits while acknowledging its short-comings. Overall for the money, it is fantastic.
Would I buy it again? The 24-70 does tempt me, as I use the longer end of the focal length a lot less than the wide and mid range. If I found a 24-70 at an absolute bargain price, I would probably go with that. Otherwise, I would buy the 28-105 again in a heart beat.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-oceans-edge-59669/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-hidden-horizon-59666/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-mirrored-colours-59667/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-new-life-59665/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-contrast-colour-59664/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-rest-59663/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-alpine-aristocrats-59662/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-mountains-silhouette-59661/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-river-ghosts-59660/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-cascade-59658/&u=71281
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-two-wheels-59659/&u=71281
Edited for spelling.
17-03-2022 Edit
This lens is still seeing heavy use after all the punishment I've put it through. The autofocus doesn't work at all now after the salt water dunking, and the lens now records the focal length as "68mm" for every single photo. Regardless of this, it is still the lens I will normally use for my landscape work, and can (proudly??) say that I've now had it in the snow as well . However; I have become more aware of some of its limitations, and my earlier notes about it being weaker at the short and long ends have extended to including aberrations at the mid-to-outer frame areas. If you have a high contrast area ( such as tree branches against a bright sky ) you will see purple, cyan and orange fringing that may prove difficult to get rid of. I have lowered its rating for aberrations to suit. Is it a result of my treatment of the lens? Maybe - I'm honestly not sure; things may have become slightly decentered inside, but I do see similar results from earlier photos. Still a fantastic lens that I would recommend, but for critical work I would probably swap out for a prime at the wide end or stitch a pano instead.
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6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 19, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $496.95
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Exceptional quality for a lens of this class! | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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I prefer high-quality primes lenses for most of my work but there are good reasons to keep a zoom lens such as this around. Of all the zoom lenses I’ve used with similar ranges (some priced several times higher that this one) , this lens really stands out and impresses me. It exceeded my expectations based on its specifications and price. Highly recommended!
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 255
3 users found this helpful
| | | | | Master of the obvious Registered: June, 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 18, 2019 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, versatile, and fairly small for what it is | | Cons: | Can struggle with infinity focus at 28mm | |
Even though I prefer primes for most situations this is one lens I would not be without. For me it is a splendid travel lens and bad weather lens for the K-1. It is fairly small for a full-frame lens with this zoom range. Most of the time I use it a bit stopped down, which means there is very little vignetting and the sharpness is very good. The bokeh is quite smooth despite the relatively slow apertures.
The main negative thing I have found is that it can struggle with acquiring focus at 28mm (with the K-1, at least). I sometimes have to hunt for contrasty edges to get focus to lock near infinity (but not at shorter range). At times I instead focus on something at half-distance (say 30m/100ft) which most often is good enough with the generous depth of focus at the wide end.
All in all this is by far the best "kit" zoom I have used. I include the quotation marks to indicate that this lens is a level or two above what is usually considered kit lens quality.
28mm f/8
 Blyderivierspoortdam by -savoche-, on Flickr
40mm f/8
 Sogndalsfjøra by -savoche-, on Flickr
58mm f/4.5
 Parked by -savoche-, on Flickr
73mm f/8
 Cabin wall and roof by -savoche-, on Flickr
105mm f/8
 Protea by -savoche-, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2019 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: December 10, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Light, without being cheap, good for light travel. Reasonable sharp | | Cons: | Slow autofocus for street shooting (but accurate) | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1
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Good for general purpose.
Edit: total agree with #savoche above, focus quite hunt at 28mm sometime.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2019 Location: Roma Posts: 10
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 2, 2019 | Not Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | LEGGERO E COMODO | | Cons: | APERTURA SCARSA | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: <pentax K1
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E' UN OBIETTIVO MOLTO PRATICO E FUNZIONALE DA PORTARE IN VIAGGIO, IN ACCOPPIATA CON LA K1 RESTITUISCE OTTIME IMMAGINI. SCARSO IN CONDIZIONI DI POCA LUCE
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2009 Location: Finland Posts: 215
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 20, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $470.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, nice colors, WR, compact | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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I am positively surprised. This lens has a very good reputation but still exceeded my expectations for a good zoom lens. Perfect walk around and hiking lens.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: Telemark Posts: 86
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 7, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $672.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Useful focal range | | Cons: | Not sharp enough, especially in the corners / sides | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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I have 10 650 shots with this lense, so obviously it's a useful focal range. It's also weatherproof and reasonably priced.
But!
The sharpness is often disappointing, especially on wider focal ranges where you have really soft corners. You need very good conditions for this lens to shine.
I have some great shots with it and some shots that have good composition etc but still turned out to a lower quality than what I expected. The primes from Samyang are much better. The Pentax 100 mm macro wr is also a lot sharper.
Edit: I forgot to say! After 2 weeks I got a small dust hair inside the lens, which is not impressive for a WR lens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2019 Location: Geelong, Australia Posts: 341
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 19, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, FF lens, WR seal, Fast Autofocus | | Cons: | Weight, Focus searching. | |
My favorite zoom. I don't need primes when this lens is 95% as good. I love using this on APSC as the pics always have great clarity. My main walk-around lens.
I can not find a difference in sharpness when comparing to my Tamron 90mm SP Di AF Macro which I consider to be extremely sharp.
I highly recommend this lens.
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;)
;)
