| Showing all 26 reviews by Adam | |
| Review of: HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR by Adam on Wed June 1, 2016 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 167117
Reviews: 41
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This lens puts all film-era consumer zoom lenses to shame. It even holds its ground well against the D FA 24-70mm, which is softer than the 28-105mm at longer focal lengths. As I tend to favor primes over fast zooms, this lens is perfect for me as a supplement to my kit of primes, and as a viable travel option.
The main issue with this lens is vignetting, which is quite pronounced overall and noticeably darkens the viewfinder. Stopping down by an additional two stops is what I'd recommend. That's not to say that the corners or edges are soft, though: in fact, especially with lens corrections on, the overall image quality is superb in other aspects.
Thanks to the DC motor, focusing is quick, though faster performance in low light will of course be possible with wider lenses.
The D FA 28-105mm may look like just like the APS-C 18-135mm, but on the inside, it's a completely different lens that prioritizes image quality and compactness at the expense of aperture speed. For $500, it's a bargain in my opinion.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 XS by Adam on Thu April 19, 2012 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 205348
Reviews: 49
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This lens is an excellent performer and delivers the same sharp images as the DA40mm limited at a fraction of the price!
The only complaints I have about this lens is that the AF is relatively noisy, and that it lacks quick shift (which the limited version has). It's also a bit hard to mount at times, due to its small size.
The DA 40mm XS lens is a great fit for the K-01 as well as any Pentax DSLR if you're looking to keep things compact!
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-F* 250-600mm F5.6 ED [IF] by Adam on Sat February 11, 2012 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 48787
Reviews: 2
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First off I'd like to mention that I believe I got a pretty good deal on this lens back in the day- seeing that the FA* 250-600mm (which has the same optical construction as this lens) now goes for $6-7k, I would expect the typical price range for this to be about the same, and thus I am only giving the lens a 7 for value.
The F* 250-600mm lens is extremely sharp and is a pleasure to use. At over 12 pounds, however, it is quite heavy and cannot be hand-held even if you try, due to its size. You'll need an appropriately-sized monopod/tripod for it, and you will need to exercise caution while mounting it, as the lens is front-heavy.
It uses a single ring to control both the zoom and the focus. You can slide the ring back to convert into into a focusing ring, and forward to make it control the zoom. The lens also features a focus limiter which can be configured to a number of settings covering just about every distance range, but interestingly, it also has a "manual focus" setting. Thus, in order to disengage the AF shaft, it is not only necessary to slide the ring back, but also to set the limiter to manual focus, making it very inconvenient to manually override the lens's focus in the field. This is one feature upon which the FA* version of the lens improved - on that one, sliding the (dedicated) focusing ring back disengages the AF shaft and allows you to control the focus right away.
As long as you stick to AF, however, this isn't a problem, and that's when the limiter itself really comes in handy. On top of that, the AF is quite fast thanks to the lens's internal focusing technology.
One thing I really like about this lens is how short the zoom throw is. You barely need to turn the zoom ring in order to go from 250 to 600mm (thanks to the internal zoom construction)! While power zoom would be nice, my primary complaint is it doesn't have separate rings for focusing and zooming.
The image quality, as would be expected of any professional telephoto zoom lens this long, is superb. Aberrations are minimal on digital and sharpness is top-notch. The price you have to pay with this lens is the loss of one stop of light compared to the 600mm F4, though I usually find myself shooting closer to 250mm than 600mm when on ASP-C cameras, meaning that if it were a prime, it would be borderline useless most of the time as I wouldn't get the shot I wanted. So, in other words, it's much better to have the F5.6 zoom than an F4 prime. If I had the chance to swap lenses for free, I wouldn't- the zoom is just too convenient!
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR by Adam on Thu August 11, 2011 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 622784
Reviews: 140
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This lens quickly became one of my favorites because of its versatility. Not only can it be used outdoors in bad weather, but it also covers a very nice zoom range and has the fastest AF of any Pentax SDM lens currently out there. As such, when I don't want to carry around my other large and heavy lenses, or when image quality isn't a priority when I'm traveling, I pick this lens.
Its image quality isn't bad, but it isn't perfect, either. It's what you would expect from any lens with such a long zoom range. I would rate the overall IQ slightly better than that of the 18-55mm WR kit lens and the 18-250mm superzoom. This lens is certainly capable of producing good results, but if you're used to shooting with primes, you'll see a difference right away. Considering what I use this lens for, however, its image quality doesn't bother me at all.
Overall, I can highly recommend this lens for anyone that needs a all-in-one walkaround lens.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited by Adam on Sat July 3, 2010 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 411865
Reviews: 103
| B&H Photo was generous enough to loan us this lens for an official PentaxForums.com review! It is currently offered for $499 - click here to buy!
After spending a couple of weeks with this lens, we were quite impressed, especially when comparing it with the SMC-A 15mm F3.5 full-frame lens. The DA 15mm seemed sharper at F4 and F5.6, and frequently produced better-exposed images in P mode.
We found that this lens is very sharp in the center, and therefore an amazing choice for close-up shots. There was no loss in resolution when text was photographed from a distance of 3 to 6 feet. At a distance, and to the naked eye, there was no noticeable difference in overall sharpness between this lens, the A 15mm, and the DA 12-24mm zoom. 15mm is a pretty wide focal length, and therefore something like this is to be expected.
Pentax's modern coatings as well as the built-in hood do a pretty good job with flare control, so that impressed us as well. AF speed was very fast, and throw and stiffness were both above average for this kind of lens. Like all DA limited lenses, the DA 15mm features a very elegant all-metal finish.
The only negatives we could identify were that the screw-in cap was a pain to use, and that the lens was somewhat hard to hold on to when mounted. An extra stop of light would also sometimes come in handy, but we can't complain about considering the lens's tiny size and weight. For those needing a faster lens, there's always the SMC Pentax-DA 14mm F2.8, which is considerably larger.
If I were more of a wide-angle shooter, I would have held onto this lens in a heartbeat! I strongly recommend it for anyone who enjoys taking landscapes, panoramas, or wide close-ups!
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA* 200mm F4 Macro ED [IF] by Adam on Mon May 31, 2010 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 93091
Reviews: 7
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The FA* 200mm Macro is hands-down the sharpest lens I own, followed by the 300/2.8 and 85/1.4.
Anything put in front of this lens will end up razor-sharp and crystal clear, with some of the smoothest bokeh you'll ever see from a lens. Colors are also rendered very accurately.
This is not a fantastic shot by any means, but clearly illustrates what I'm talking about: http://www.mosphotos.com/Adam/main.php?cmd=imageview&var1=2010+Galleries%2FSenecaParkZoo%2FIMGP2813.JPG
This lens is rarely listed in our marketplace (where I acquired mine) or on online auction sites, but it you do see one, take advantage of the opportunity immediately!
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| Review of: SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 by Adam on Wed January 14, 2009 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 106314
Reviews: 14
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This telephoto lens is a solid performer, considering its reach and low cost. Optically, it is the same as its screwmount Takumar counterpart. It works very well with the 1.4x-L converter, and is quite sharp. The only downside is that CA is quite severe and can rarely be avoided, especially at wide aperture settings.
Apart from that, this sample shot says it all:
Pentax K10D | SMC K 500mm F4.5 | Pentax A 1.4x-L Teleconverter (100% crop)  | |
| Review of: Rear Converter-A 1.4x-L by Adam on Mon September 15, 2008 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 45683
Reviews: 8
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This is a superb and relatively compact teleconverter, that when coupled with a tele such as the 300mm FA* or 500mm K, provides excellent image quality. Unfortunately, it can't be used with most tele zooms, so its use is very limited.
Here's a sample photo taken with the K 500mm F4.5 (effectively a 700mm F6.3 with the teleconverter on), followed by a 100% crop, which just about says it all:
I'd recommend this teleconverter to anyone who frequently shoots tele. Since it lacks autofocus, however, it's not as useful for action shots or birding, but the loss of one and a half F stops is definitely a good trade-off considering the sharpness and added reach it offers.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax 400-600mm Reflex by Adam on Tue July 29, 2008 | Rating: 5 | View more reviews | |
Views: 60197
Reviews: 9
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About the only thing you can do with this lens is fool around; because of its slow speed (F8-F12), mirror consturction, and lack of tripod mount, its practical use is very limited. Its image quality isn't anything worth mentioning, and neither is its bokeh (obviously). I've used it for close-ups and landscape when on a tripod, though the setup was barely sturdy enough for the long shutter speeds the lens requires. I'd also say it's quite expensive and definitely does not pay off. It's a great collector's item, however!
If you're looking for a tele lens for birding or action shots, you'd be much better off with any 200 or 300mm along with a teleconverter.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA* 85mm F1.4 [IF] by Mo on Fri January 11, 2008 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 193118
Reviews: 35
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This is by far one of my favorite prime lenses! It makes its way into my photo bag on nearly all trips and events.
First of all, this is an FA* lens, and like other members of the series, it boasts a sturdy all-metal construction which makes its very easy to hold and use. The focusing clamp optimizes AF speed and make manual focusing a breeze. This 85mm produces some of the sharpest photos I've seen, and if stopped down to F4 or greater, the results are truly breathtaking. It's a great travel lens for the more serious photographer, and also a great portrait lens, so if image quality is one of your top priorities, your should definitely try to acquire it. It's truly a joy to use- last summer, over half of my total photos were taken with it. Some may think that a focal length of 85mm is not practical when used on a DSLR, but I disagree since I find myself using it so often.
I can't say anything negative about the optical performance or physical construction of this lens, but one thing that bothers me is the large lens hood. Although it makes the lens look nice when attached, it is very difficult to reverse-mount for storage, and thus, this lens is a pain to store when packing for longer trips, especially since the lens itself fits in most small lens pouches without the hood.
This lens features a different, and arguably better optical construction than the A* 85mm, which is already superb to begin with.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A 35-105mm F3.5 by Mo on Fri June 15, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 343094
Reviews: 79
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I used this lens as my main walkaround on my SuperProgram- it proved useful in almost all situations, from macro to landscape. A wider focal length than 35mm would be nice, but I can't complain about this lens at all because of the amazing sharpness and bokeh that it renders.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA* 300mm F2.8 ED [IF] by Mo on Tue May 29, 2007 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 99945
Reviews: 11
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In my opinion, the FA* 300mm F2.8 is the ultimate AF telephoto lens by Pentax, aside from the 600mm, of course.
It features an extremely sturdy and easy-to-hold all-metal barrel with a 112mm filter thread in the front. The lens comes with a dedicated 112mm PF filter from the factory to protect the front element, and a set of six 43mm filters, as described by Marc above, is also included. These filters can easily be slid into the back of the lens, even while in the field.
This 300mm boasts a focus limiter with 3 settings (useful for action photography) and a rotating tripod mount that allows you to turn the lens any way you want.
Optically, this lens is the best of the best. Even wide-open, it is tack-sharp and shows only the slightest hints of aberration. AF is lightning-fast even without the limiter.
The lens itself isn't that large, but its weight distrubition and the heavy front element make it hard to control when mounted on a tripod or monopod. It can be hand-held if you absolutely insist, but you'll always need to carry a tripod if you plan on using it in the field.
If you take off (or reverse-mount) the hood, its S135-340 soft case can even accomodate your camera!
Overall, this lens is a pure joy to use. It's build quality and optical excellence are unrivaled by any other AF 300mm out there! Unless you really need the tripod mount, the extra 1.5 stops, and the focus limiter, however, you might be be better off getting the lighter and more affordable FA* 300mm F4.5.
One more thing- this lens works wonders with any Pentax teleconverter. I've achieved stunning sharpness with both the F 1.7x converter and the A 2.0x-L converter. Although I haven't tried stacking teleconverters, I doubt that photos would ever turn out bad, unless you use one of those $5 Soligor ones...
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro by Mo on Sun February 11, 2007 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
| Review of: SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 by Mo on Sat February 10, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 106314
Reviews: 14
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This 500mm was never produced in a future series by Pentax, but it's a great telephoto nevertheless. It performs very well wide-open, and it's ideal for moon shots. The manual diaphragm also makes metering a bit easier on DSLRs, and the photos it produces are tack-sharp overall :D
Its low price and relatively fast aperture make it one of the best manaul extreme-telephoto lenses out there; it features a very sturdy and elegant build.
Now, for the negatives:
I won't complain about its size (44cm long) and weight (3.4kg), but this makes it rather hard to transport and use in the field (you'll always need a tripod). It's also prone to CA, and finally, although it has a want-to-be front filter thread, it only accepts 49mm filters in the back.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA* 80-200mm F2.8 ED [IF] by Mo on Fri February 9, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 135060
Reviews: 21
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If I had to live with only a single lens, this is the one I'd choose. It boasts unmatched sharpness, bokeh, and overall color rendition, as well as the Pentax-exclusive power zoom function. Image quality is like that of a prime.
In addition to incorporating four ED (extra-low dispersion) glass elements, it has internal focusing and internal zooming! Add to that a dedicated tripod mount! The usual AF/MF clutch makes autofocus lightning-fast, while the 9 aperture blades produce smooth and natural bokeh.
The above features make this lens ideal for close-ups, landscape shots, and sports photography. I've heard that only about 1,400 units were ever produced, so I'd highly recommend it if you can find a copy!
Weighing in at just over 1.5kg, the FA* 80-200mm is my second-heaviest lens. Its power zoom is slightly slower than that of other lenses, but it is nevertheless useful because of the overall weight. This lens can be steadily hand-held for a short while, but your arms will start hurting after a few minutes. Physically, however, this lens is not that large and will easily fit in most mid-sized photo bags.
Sample Shots: http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery114/images/IMGP1781.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery114/images/IMGP1783.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery114/images/IMGP1773.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery114/images/IMGP1775.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery114/images/IMGP1786.jpg | |
| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 20-35mm F4 AL by Mo on Sun February 4, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 191800
Reviews: 41
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This lens is great for close-ups as well as landscapes, and it provides a very useful zoom range.
Although it's one stop slower than the FA 20 and 2 stops slower than the FA 35, it's a great compromise if you don't want to carry around two lenses.
Because it's light and compact, it can easily make it onto any trip, and it produces very sharp photos for a zoom.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA* 28-70mm F2.8 AL by Mo on Sun February 4, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 146898
Reviews: 20
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This lens impressed me after just two sample shots, and I can now easily say that it's the best zoom I've ever used.
The first thing I noticed was its extremely accurate color reproduction, as well as its AF speed: it snaps from infinity to close-up in fractions of a second. The sharpness and bokeh is also top-notch, as you can see in the sample photos.
For me, one of its most useful features, in addition to the fast aperture, is power zoom support. Although the only DSLR that can make use of it is the K10D (update: any newer high-end pentax DSLR also supports power zoom), power zoom is well worth it. Instead of using energy to zoom with the same hand that's supporting the lens, you can focus on holding it steady while taking the shot. Power zoom also allows for fine incrementing as well as advanced features, such as zoom clipping, on PZ series bodies. When you turn your camera off, the zoom is automatically reset to bring the lens as far in as possible (around 60mm). I'll also add that the power zoom on this FA* is much quieter than that of the regular FA lenses.
This is the only FA* lens that doesn't have [IF] (internal focusing), but at the same time it boasts an extremely useful zoom range. The front element rotates on the inside of the lens hood, so in reality, the lack of [IF] won't bother you unless you use circular polarizing filters.
This lens weighs 800g and features a very sturdy and elegant build. Its size is cumbersome, but it's well worth it for the pictures that come out of your camera. It can also come down to 1:4 magnification, which is very useful for close-ups. Like all FA* lenses, it also has an AF/MF clutch that makes focusing quick and easy.
Overall, this is a truly spectacular lens. Its speed and useful zoom range makes in invaluable in many situations, and it look marvelous when mounted on a camera: http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/633/imgp0502bn8.jpg. It takes amazing photos, so I'd recommend this "big gun" to anyone who can get an eye on it.
More sample photos:
http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery113/images/IMGP1556.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery113/images/IMGP1561.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery113/images/IMGP1562.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery113/images/IMGP1598.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery113/images/IMGP1605.jpg http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery113/images/IMGP1608.jpg
I can't help but give it a high rating, despite its size and price.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 70-200mm F4-5.6 by Mo on Sat February 3, 2007 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 95368
Reviews: 9
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Personally, I think that this lens is frequently underrated.
It produces clear tele and landscape shots, and I can't complain about bokeh, either. You won't find many zoom lenses that have 9 aperture blades like this one, so the only downside would have to be its relatively small zoom range compared to other lenses in its class.
It is very light and lots of fun on a power-zoom film body.
Here's an unedited sample shot, at 70mm:
http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery113/images/IMGP1572.jpg | |
| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 35mm F2 AL by Mo on Mon January 15, 2007 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 329889
Reviews: 82
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This frequently unnoticed lens deserves a lot of recognition.
Its color reproduction matches up to that of the FA* 24mm. It is sharp at all apertures, and, best of all, it's light and compact. This lens will easily make its way onto every trip!
This 35mm is especially useful on DSLRs since it corresponds to a 50mm standard lens. It's also very quick to focus, and the fast aperture comes in handy for night landscapes.
It also comes with a plastic bayonet hood. A must-have for every serious hobbyist!
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-FA* 24mm F2 AL [IF] by Mo on Wed January 10, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 211441
Reviews: 43
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Before I even start commenting on this lens, I just want to state that it has true-to-life color reproduction that can't be matched by any other lens in its class.
Since it's a star-series lens, it features a sliding AF/MF clutch, among other things. This one of Pentax's better innovations, as it allows for easy MF and faster AF. Add to this the beautiful design, solid metal construction, and included bayonet hood.
Although this 24mm is heavier than similar lenses like the FA 20mm/2.8 and 35mm/2, it's very, very easy to hold and is simply a pleasure to use.
It's sharp at all apertures, incidentally being the fastest of all Pentax 24mm's. Landscape photos are crisp and very clear, and haze is reduced to a minimum. I can't complain about close-ups, either, since vignetting doesn't occur.
Obviously, this lens is more useful as a wide-angle on film SLRs, but it's a great little gem nevertheless. Highly recommended for any serious photographer! It produces great photos on all bodies!
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL by Mo on Tue January 9, 2007 | Rating: 6 | View more reviews | |
Views: 170142
Reviews: 97
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I purchased this lens solely for the sake of my DA collection, and I've only used it a few times. I doubt it'll find its way into my bag again :(
I must say that for this cost, I can't expect anything better of a new lens. Images, especially at the longer end, are generally clear. Wide-angle shots could be sharper, and they present unfortunate vignetting. Also, the slow speed of 5.6 at 55mm isn't very practical.
The most disappointing thing about this lens IMO is its construction. It feels very light, cheap, and plasticky (the glass is fine). The focusing ring is made entirely of plastic, and my copy even had imperfectly-cut edges.
Despite all this, I'd also agree that this is one of the better digital kit lenses out there, so that's why I'm recommending it.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2 by Mo on Tue January 9, 2007 | Rating: 7 | View more reviews | |
Views: 250564
Reviews: 73
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Since this lens is optically identical to the M 50mm F2, there's not much more to say about it. It takes fine pictures, but the plastic built is degrading.
I'm barely recommending it, but it loses 1 rating point because of the plastic.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited by Mo on Tue January 9, 2007 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 576025
Reviews: 148
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This second "pancake" was my first DA lens. The AF makes up for its lack of the aperture ring when compared to the original M version.
It makes it onto almost every one of my trips since it fits into the side-pockets on even my smallest bag. Although it just about transforms your SLR into a weird-looking compact camera, it's great to have when size matters.
It's very fast-focusing, and it lets you take full advantage of DOF effects with its 9 aperture blades. I can't complain about the hood, either, since it's also compatible with film bodies.
Here's one of my favorite shots that perfectly demonstrates this lens's capabilities:
http://themotec.com/Ole/WEB_Gallery24/images/5Cactus.jpg | |
| Review of: SMC Pentax A* 200mm F2.8 ED by Mo on Tue January 9, 2007 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 86196
Reviews: 9
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The A* 200mm is sharp wide-open, and it also possesses great color rendition. It delivers truly amazing photos- they're always crisp and clear.
Here are two unedited tele shots that simply say it all.
 
The lens can be hand-held, but it is a bit too heavy for its short physical length, making it harder to hold than most other teles.
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| Review of: SMC Pentax-M 50mm F2 by Mo on Mon January 8, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 367687
Reviews: 101
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This well-built metal lens served as a nice and compact kit lens for manual Pentax SLR bodies.
I found it to take great pictures at all aperture, and I prefer it over the A version because of its metal body (the A-series version is mostly made of plastic).
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| Review of: SMC Pentax 15mm F3.5 by Mo on Sun January 7, 2007 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 95452
Reviews: 14
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This lens is rare, but it surfaces on eBay from time to time. It is invaluable on film bodies, but not so useful on crop DSLR's because Pentax produced the DA 12-24 and DA 14 lenses, both of which are better optically.
I still know one thing: I'll never part with it.
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