| Author: | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2022 Posts: 30
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 2, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $630.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | 'Stack-of-primes' like. | | Cons: | Hefty. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K1ii
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Handling is a b***h because of it's weight. This gets a 9 for handling due to the weight. Reminds me of a bullpup rifle especially when using the tripod mount as a carrying handle.
There are only two primary lenses in my full frame inventory and it is this and the D FA* 50mm f1.4. The images generated feel like the same smoothness and 'pop' of 50mm f1.4 except down the entirety of 70-200mm.
As a result - when doing some closer range wildlife/birding at the 200mm ish focal length you can be confident of getting superb image quality/doubling up as a 300mm on an APS-C albeit restricted to the 15MP output of the K1ii in cropped sensor mode. (My hunch is it will do very well on a K3iii which I have yet to sample.)
For all the other technical/MTF figures based comparison - look elsewhere. I severely discounted the CameraVille's review opinions due to the steal price of 630USD (being an ex display unit) in this instance and say it for the record - STAR designation is not something handing out lightly is my subjective conclusion. This is the yardstick of a digital pro lens.
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: May, 2017 Location: London Posts: 68
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 18, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $1,600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Edge-Edge sharpness wide open, fast and accurate AF, handling, zoom ring, bokeh, price (if second-hand) | | Cons: | Perhaps weight but balances extremely well with K-1, slightest purple fringing wide open against strong light | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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WOW! I just got this lens in used condition from a great seller and I can only say one thing: It really really is the best pentax lens for the modern age.
I just cannot believe how rugged, ridiculously and flatteringly sharp it is wide open edge-edge, how fast it grabs focus (make sure you do the fine af adjustment at 70mm and 200mm to find the sweetspot).
I have never been able to take the K-1, set it to autozones with 33 AF points and hope for the best but somehow this lens and the K-1 are such an intelligent pair that everything that focused on by the camera is so right. I mean I just can't believe how I can capture birds in flight an hour after sunset at ISO 6400. Just ridiculous.
For portraits of any animal, human or not, the bokeh is simply delicious. Anyways just have a look at the photos. They're by no means great photos but I love the rendering and that lovely 3D pop the magnificent microcontrasting gives.
Pretty much the only thing to point out as a slight negative, but this is really reaching, is that it's a weighty son of a... if you need to have it out for many hours, say for a wedding shoot. But to be quite honest I'm used to hand-holding the DFA 150-450mm and so my arms are well prepared for something that weighs 300g less - trust me that 300g makes a huge difference. This lens feels so light compared to the 150-450  (which is another legendary lens by the way).
Again I cannot stress how fantastic this lens is at f2.8 in terms of pop and sharpness and colours. Not sure why Li at Cameraville had such bad luck with his copies. He says he tried 3 copies and he saw blurry images. I have no idea what on earth happened there. Just look at the sharpness on mine...
Finally, Please bear in mind that PentaxForums does not display the true sharpness of these photos. The one of the pigeon and the crow, for example, you can see the actual fine lines so clearly on my computer and laptop. Yeah, just worth bearing in mind anyhow. But any of you that have experienced seeing your photos after uploading them on here know the tradeoff anyhow.
Enjoy! And please get this lens!! 
Morning Stretch ------- @ f/2.8
Stroll ------- @ f/2.8
Self-hug ------- @ f/4.5
 | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 6,581
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 28, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $1,350.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp and contrasty, precise focusing, usable between f/4 and f/16. | | Cons: | Heavy, expensive, had to be repaired. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K3 III, K3, K1
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First images with a K3 (FL equivalent to 100-300 mm on APSc). More tests will be added later.
 70 mm @ f/6.3
 100 mm @ f/6.3
 140 mm @ f/6.3
 200 mm @ f/6.3
Lens is large and heavy. It is hand-holdable but will benefit from the use of a tripod. Imaging tests I have seen indicate its best apertures are f/5.6 and f/8. Focusing is totally silent and seems very accurate. Straight lines remain straight, an indication distortion is almost nonexistent. I'll have to proceed to more testing to form an "enlightened" opinion about its sharpness, contrast and resistance to flare.
 70 mm @ f/11
 100 mm @ f/11
 200 mm @ f/11
 70 mm @ f/6.3
 100 mm @ f/5.6
 200 mm @ f/11
 200 mm @ f/6.3
 200 mm @ f/6.3
First image with the zoom on the K1 below : 1/800 sec @ f/8 and 200 mm FL, handheld. SHARP !
Another image with the K1 at 200 mm FL and f/5.6.
K1 at 100 mm FL and f/8 below.
Below : 4 images of the Batiscan River from 70 mm to 200 mm with the K1, all @ f/8 on a tripod. MAGNIFICENT SHARPNESS !
 70 mm
 100 mm
 140 mm
 200 mm
 160 mm @ f/6.3
P.S. The AF stopped working this morning : one of the little metal tabs on the lower part of the inner mount that transmits the electrical signal between the lens and the body had fallen out of position. I put it back "delicately" in its place and AF returned to normal. This flimsy electrical contact will certainly become defective again. I will consult my trusted local repairman to have the issue resolved before the little copper tab breaks for good.
I left my DFA* lens at Service Camera Pro today. The chief technician thinks it should be easy to fix this electrical problem. They simply glued the loose copper tab into place and kept it pressed overnight so as to get a perfect fit. They "polished" the exterior of the lens and gave me back a "like-new" lens, removing all traces of use by the previous owner.
First new picture with the repaired DFA 70-200 mm f/2.8 + K1 :
 200 mm @ f/7.1 resized
Best aperture opening range extends from f/5.6 to f/11 for landscape purposes. ABSOLUTE OPTIMUM : f/8
 @ f/7.1
 @ f/7.1
Three images taken with my new K3 III below :
 @ f/8
 @ f/8
 @ f/7.1
Series below taken with the new K3 III @ f/8 on tripod : 70 mm, 100 mm, 140 mm and 200 mm. Colors are superb and sharpness amazing !!
Below : K3 III + DFA* 70-200 mm @ f/11 and 150 mm FL. Heavy and difficult to handhold in hurricane-force winds.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2018 Posts: 12
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 24, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $1,500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, weatherproof | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3 ii
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Oh my giddy aunt but this is a whopper. Big, heavy and super-sharp.
At 100 it beats my 100 f2.8 D FA Macro easily. on sharpness, speed of focus, everything.
No distortion or CA at any length or any aperture. Just stellar resolution. The much overused 'bag of primes' is apt for this lens.
But do try handling one before buying - 'heavy' doesn't do it justice. If you can hand-hold it, you'll be rewarded with a really great lens. If you can't it'll stay in your cupboard.
Judging by my example it's built like a brick outhouse, so I daresay would be a good second hand buy.
 | | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: August, 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 3
8 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 6, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Super Sharp, outstanding construction | | Cons: | for me...None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1 Mark II
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I've had this lens about 6 months, and I can say is WOW!! this is my baby, my go too lens. It is solid and very well made, focuses very quickly and quietly, takes gorgeous pictures, the zoom and focus rings operate smoothly, and it feels great on my K-1 Mark II. I have tried to think of something I don't like about this lens, but I can't. If you don't have this one...GET IT!!!!
   | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2007 Location: Toronto/Victoria Posts: 460
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 4, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $1,400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Amazing IQ, good AF, well built | | Cons: | Large and heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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I have had the FA80-200/2.8 for nearly 10 years and this is a worthwhile upgrade. IQ is better in every way, but especially because the sharpness combined with the punchy colour make for vibrant images even excluding post processing.
However, it has also gained quite a bit of weight in the process; it is a very chunky lens. The tripod collar is vastly improved over the FA80-200/2.8; in particular the foot is wider and the collar rotates with click stops at useful intervals (I believe every 90 degrees). The manual focus feels very smooth and well damped; better than the DA* and FA* lenses.
The DC autofocus is also much more confident than the screwdrive. Sometimes screwdrive AF can get stuck making a series of fine adjustments (and a bunch of click noises to go along with it) which I do not notice on the DFA70-200 which is confident and quiet.
The published dimensions don't really make it easy to assess how large/heavy this lens is. It is naturally much larger and heavier than the relatively compact DA*60-250, but I was also surprised comparing it to the FA80-200/2.8.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2018 Posts: 44 | | Review Date: November 1, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $1,180.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp and good build | | Cons: | Bit heavy to carry around whole day | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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Found it against a killer price online, couldn't believe it was this lens for that price.
Got it for a day now and i can't tell you something new about it... Sharp and pretty fast. Well build BUT a bit heavy.
must say the boket is really awsome full open!
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2017 Posts: 10
7 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 20, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very very sharp, extremely well built | | Cons: | heavy, but you get used to it | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1
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I'm so happy with this lens. Bought it recently, together with my first full frame camera, the Pentax K1. Never been so happy about an aquisition and I previously owned many cameras, throughout the years.
The lens is extremely well built, it feels solid in the hand, pro equipment nonetheless. I've been using it for portraits and some nature photography. The sharpness in this lens is absolutely amazing across the frame! You can't ask for anything better than this. It's expensive, yes but the satisfaction you get from it it's quite unique.
The only negative thing about it, it's that it's quite heavy. I found it difficult to handle it, at the beginning but I got used to it.
I would recommend it to every Pentax K1 owner and not only. This lens is a must have!   | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2017 Location: Si Chiang Mai. Nong Khai Province Posts: 358 | | Review Date: April 20, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $2,122.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | comfortable to hold TOP quality | | Cons: | NONE | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: pentax k1
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I bought this with the 15-30 last month I am super impressed I bought the 28-105 with the k1 last year so i will not be buying the 24-70, overall the lenses are expensive in Thailand but the quality is more than adequate for anything I will ever do, carry on RICOH\PENTAX top quality. Ian
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2014 Location: St Petersburg Posts: 402
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 15, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, Controls, Great with HD1.4TC, Smooth QF | | Cons: | Weight, Weight, Weight... | | New or Used: New
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A true *Star series lens. Built like a tank, IQ off the charts good, exceptional in every way, unfortunately much heavier than FA* 80-200. Extensively tested with LensCal and Yves' calibrators. At both ends of zoom range and using LensCal stand offs and Yves' lengths, as well as a close-up. All were dead zero +- .1. My DA*s (50-135 and 60-250) were not this good. Both were AF Calibrated at +2 and -3 respectively...
Colors, Sats, in the field also quite nice. would have preferred ring location swap (focus and zoom). Silky smooth through, a Rolls Royce of lenses...
Typical *Star Pentax IQ, needs wheels though 
PS: LensCoat is now making the covers for this lens (4/28/17). I sent mine to them for a pattern so covers will be available. I received the cover today 100% LensCoat Quality...They used my FA*300/F2.8 and DFA150-450 for patterns as well. Great products...
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 1,799
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 16, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,797.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Focus limiter, tack sharp, quiet/quick AF | | Cons: | Price, weight | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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My favourite lens at the moment.
Pros:
- 77mm filter thread means moving up from Pentax DA* APS-C glass isn't as painful as it could be
- Incredibly sharp from wide open. So sharp that I have to lower the clarity in Photoshop/Lightroom for portraits. Sharpest at f5.6, which is great for telephoto landscapes.
- Focus limiter keeps AF snappy. Minimum focusing distance is 1.2m. DC autofocus is quiet and usually accurate.
- Abberations are unusually well controlled. Lens corrections are often completely unnecessary on both the wide and long end.
- Bokeh isn't overly busy, but not particularly special.
- The construction of the lens is very solid; the tripod foot release is well designed.
- The case it comes with is better quality than the usual Pentax cases.
Cons:
- I don't see these coming on to the used market very often, so the price is likely to remain high.
- This can do a number on your shoulder.
- Fitted on the K-1, this won't fit attached to the camera across the length of my ClikElite Probody Sport + CS Sleeve backpack.
The lens leaves me with a dilemma: I want a version of this lens in 24-70, but I'm not sure whether the Tamron designed D FA 24-70 will meet the high expectations this lens has set.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Posts: 292 | | Review Date: October 12, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,796.95
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, color, bokeh | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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It's more of opinion than a review.
I've been using this lens for the last 3 months. Like it very much.
Yes, it's big and heavy.
Optically it's great: it's sharp, especially in f/4-8 range. It produces very pleasant colors and bokeh is excellent.
Mechanically it's very solid, it withstood some sprays of salt water and light drizzle. I didn't noticed any focus breathing. AF speed is OK.
I'd recommend it to anyone without hesitation.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038 | | Review Date: October 11, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, very rugged, AW, quick-shift design,Pentax original | | Cons: | expensive, heavy, focus -breathing @ 200mm (not issue for me, but for some) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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Such a go to lens that I find myself looking for situations to use it rather than selecting it for a particular shot. Great IQ across the frame - a real treasure.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2016 Location: Roi-et, Thailand Posts: 773
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 24, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $2,500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, bokeh, colour saturation, prime like at all focal lengths | | Cons: | AF should be quicker for this type of lens | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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If you have only one lens for your K-1, this one's it. Other PF'ers have mentioned it's a "bag full of primes". Well, I have the FA Limited's, the 2.8/100 Macro WR, Carl Zeiss ZK's . . . and I can say the D-FA* 2.8/70-200 produces the same quality . . . at any focal length.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/56053365@N07/27806655854/in/dateposted/
Doesn't have in-lens stabilisation, but I haven't found this to be an issue.
It's heavy no question, all 2.8/70-200's for full frame are the same. The only downside is the AF could be quicker and quite honestly, should be quicker, especially on the K-1. It's not dire, it's just slightly shy of really giving me confidence it'll nail the shot. No big deal, but this is the critical area Pentax needs to improve. Focus accuracy is sublime however.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/56053365@N07/28346318861/in/album-72157668433790253/
Pricey, but then all high end full frame 2.8/70-200's are, unless you opt for a third party offering.
Overall, I wouldn't be without this lens.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,843
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 10, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,664.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, nice bokeh, AW, internal focus | | Cons: | weight, size, excessive price premium over Tamron 70-200 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K1
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If you ever wondered what Pentax could produce if they didn't have one arm tied behind their back trying to attain "compact" or fit under a budget, well, this may be it. The D FA* 70-200 f/2.8 seems to be the biggest and heaviest of its class out there. It's a beast ... but an impressive beast.
I've only been out with this lens (on the K1) a few times so far, and am still learning how to get the best out of it. I bought a monopod especially for it. It came in handy for an extended shoot yesterday, but the lens is certainly hand-holdable in good light, for a while at least.
I have seen chromatic aberration, but it is fully corrected in LR quite easily.
Focus seems very fast and sure, but it occasionally misses for moving targets. That is probably my fault, using AF.S. I should try out AF.C. At this stage I'm still getting used to the K1 as well, and not yet getting the near-100% in-focus rate with all lenses I get with the K3.
Nguyen Nam, in these reviews, has already shown how beautifully it renders portraits (I wish I had such a willing model). I will show some shots and crops illustrating other characteristics. No extra sharpening (beyond the LR default) has been applied to any image in pp.
First, here's a Silver Gull @200mm, f/5.6, ISO100:
but now let's crop down to the bird's head:
Look at the sharpness of the eye and the beak, and the smoothness of the bokeh!
Now, here is a shot taken wide open (100mm, f/2.8, ISO100):
and a crop:
I find that amazing for wide-open! Note that the shiny chrome rod at the bottom was very purple until corrected in LR.
Now a shot (sic) at 100mm, f/7.1, ISO100:
and a crop of the sights:
Finally, a shot that displays bokeh at 200mm, f/11, ISO200:
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