| Latest Review Posted | SMC Pentax-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM
I believe this to be a great buy-used lens. Incredibly high built quality, for sure.
FOCUS: The in-depth review mentioned a slow focusing motor. In my experience, most of the subjects for a 200mm lens will be somewhat far away, so focusing will stay in a similar distance, making short and quick adjustments. It's not SNAP fast, but it's pretty quick. If you are going from infinity to closest, then yes, it'll take more than a second.
SHARPNESS: It's not a light lens, so it is hard to focus properly. Most of my blurry images have been user error. The sharpest images I get is when I find a way to rest the lens on a stable surface. And wide open, the DoF is narrow, so it's very easy to miss the focusing point. While its sharpness is very very good, it's also not the sharpest thing in the planet. My FA 50 1.4 is sharper.
PURPLE FRINGE: Yup, it's there. It's annoying. There is PP for that, but shouldn't be there on a high-end lens. Doesn't make it unusable though.
HANDLING: Lots of people complain that this lens needs a collar. I don't know where they would put a collar, and I don't think it's balanced properly for a collar. It's not large or heavy enough. I use a battery grip on my K-3, so the weight leans to the camera, not the lens. Maybe because my hands are quite large, and I'm used to the 70-200 2.8 I had, I don't mind it. To focus properly I have to find a way to rest the lens, or to shoot with very short exposure. I imagine that with 200mm, something's gotta give.
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