| Latest Review Posted | HD Pentax-D FA* 70-200mm F2.8 ED DC AW
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. |
