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Showing all 5 reviews by Bertrand3000

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 50mm F1.8 by Bertrand3000 on Mon December 30, 2019 | Rating: 8 View more reviews 
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Views: 428386
Reviews: 74
This lens is the second Plastic Fantastic (the first one being the DA 35 F2.4). This lens is very similar on the outside compared to the first Plastic Fantastic, but it is "improved" with its greater maximum aperture, front element being recessed when focused to infinity (lack of hood is less problematic), 7 rounded blades diaphragm, and center-pinch front cap. Indeed, the F1.8 maximum aperture is the strongest point of this lens (which is also the cheapest Pentax lens available!). Pentax do not offer many lenses that can do F1.8. Add this with the 7 rounded blades aperture and you get really creamy bokeh ; it's the most interesting aspect of this lens, ideal for portraits, and this is a good thing since this lens is made for that usage. Like the first Plastic Fantastic though, you have no distance scale, no quick-shift and no hood. That said, as much as I love my DA 35 F2.4, this one is so-so for me. Image quality is good, but, to my eyes, subpar to both DA 35 F2.4 and DFA 50 Macro. The DA 50 closed down to F2.8 (more than 1 stop) has a lesser image quality than the DFA 50 Macro at F2.8 (wide open). Still, I recommend this lens, since it is cheap and the DFA 50 Macro does not have such a beautiful bokeh nor such a high maximum aperture.

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.4 AL by Bertrand3000 on Mon December 30, 2019 | Rating: 9 View more reviews 
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Views: 765250
Reviews: 157
The Plastic Fantastic (this lens!) is extremely light, has a good look (even if it does not look like premium), and has an excellent image quality. Furthermore, 35mm on APS-C is more or less the "human eye point of view", this means that even if it is a prime, it can almost do everything as long as you zoom with your feet. Only wide landscapes and astrophotography will be out of reach with this lens. You can see that "Fantastic" is not a too strong word when it comes to this lens. This lens is cheap (second cheapest of Pentax lens line) and have a really good image quality, so it is not a surprise that cost measures have been taken : no quick shift, no distance scale, no hood. The front cap is rather annoying. Instead of the common center-pinch cap, here you have to put your fingers on the edge of the cap and press the buttons in order to remove the cap. It's taking a longer time and I am always worried to put my fingers on the front element. The DA 50 F1.8 (the Other Plastic Fantastic) does not have this problem. I replaced the original cap with a cheap generic 2 € center-pinch one. Bottom line, if you want a prime for greater image quality, greater maximum aperture or just for the sake of trying prime, this one is probably the first one you should buy. And you will probably keep it and love it, like me. Well, until you buy a Limited of course. ;)

Review of: SMC Pentax-D FA 50mm F2.8 Macro by Bertrand3000 on Mon December 30, 2019 | Rating: 10 View more reviews 
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Views: 236980
Reviews: 39
The DFA 50 Macro is a jewel. It will deliver unmatched image quality, for macro but also for general use as a short telephoto and portrait lens. Every image it produces has this "thing" that fills me with joy. For me, this lens has the highest keepers for non-macro shooting. Yes, it is really -that- good. When it comes to macro, well of course you will have to deal with extremely shallow depth of field, but this is the case for all macro lens. Beware of the minimum focusing distance of 20cm. Its 20cm -from- the sensor ; in practical reality it will be only at a few cm of the lens front element, so you will be very close to your subject and this might impact lighting (because of shadow of the lens, lens hood, or camera body). Focusing ring does not turn during autofocus, and quick shift is always available. Unfortunately, it is screw driven (rather noisy, and a bit slow in live view). It has the clamp switch. Clamp on will greatly increase friction on the focusing ring, but in reality, this completely lock the focus (forcing the focusing ring will not change focusing distance), and will put the lens in MF mode, allowing you to use the "Catch-in Focus" option of your body. This option allows you to fully press the shutter button, focusing by moving the camera closer or farther, and the camera will take the shot only when your subject will be exactly in focus. You cannot do that with the DFA 100 macro WR because it has neither Clamp or AF/MF button. The hood feels metal (and quality) in your hands, and will be attached to the lens body (NOT the front element). Therefore, the hood will not move while focusing, despite the front element extending quite a lot when focusing close. At maximum magnification, the front element will be at the same level as the hood edge ; the hood is therefore a good indicator of how close you can get from your subject. The lens itself is pleasing to look at and to feel in your fingers. You really have the feeling to have a professional tool in your hand, and certainly not a plastic toy. Really, it's an excellent lens. I only have a few drawbacks to note : - Bokeh could be better ; I could easily notice its hexagonal shape due to its 8 blades. It's a pity. - Front cap is the same type than the one found on the DA 35 F2.4 : you need to push the buttons on the edge on the cap in order to remove it ; not only is much less practical than the center-pinch cap found most other lenses, but it is very difficult to remove the cap properly when the hood is already mounted. I replaced the original cap with a cheap generic 2 € center-pinch cap to get rid of this issue. - It is rather difficult to mount or detach the lens from the camera with the hood reversed since the hood is almost as long as the lens itself. - Minimum focusing distance when doing macro is really short ; you may scare living subject, or shadowing your subject, or bump into your subject with the front element. A longer focal length (and thus longer minimum focusing distance) would have been better in that regard. Bottom line : if you have doubts, buy this lens. You won't be disappointed.

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF] by Bertrand3000 on Sun October 13, 2019 | Rating: 10 View more reviews 
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Views: 305433
Reviews: 101
I've seen several photos of FishEye effect, including on the official Ricoh website, something that was supposed to attract customers into buying this lens. Most were with a subject in the center, heavily distorted. But those kind of photos are really unappealing for me. In my little head I thought I would never buy or need such a lens. I have never been so wrong about something. This lens is truly a gem, a lens that every photographer should have in his or her bag. Why such a drastic change of mind, you may ask? Well, first, this lens is in fact 3 lens in one : - A true fisheye at 10mm, with 180° field of view - An almost rectilinear ultrawide angle at 17mm (equivalent in terms of field of view of a 10mm rectilinear wide angle, like the Sigma 10-20 f/3.5 at 10mm) - A proxy photo capable lens at 17mm and close focus (0.39x magnification) Besides, you are completely free to dose the FishEye, in different ways : - The zoom ring (most at 10mm, minimal at 17mm and of course all the intermediate settings) - Composition (fisheye effect is especially visible on the sides, and also in the center if the subject is close) - The way you tilt your camera (upwards, downwards, leftward and rightward) You can really make all kind of photos with all those parameters. Distorted, or not. Even at 10mm, one can make a photo with the fisheye effect almost invisible by clever composition. On the other hand, you can really make weird shots by tilting and composing carefully, while being far from the classical well-known FishEye effect. You can use this lens for most photos, except portraits and wildlife. Of course you'll need to be careful how you use it, it's not a point-and-shoot lens. When I take my K-S2, I always wonder if I really need another lens, or if the DA 10-17 FishEye will be the only one. About other characteristics, the lens has OK Bokeh, but that's not something important for an ultra wide angle. Focus is screw-driven, not really noisy. The distance scale is nice, and Quick Shift is nice to have, even if it's not really that important on an ultrawide. At 10mm there are chromatic aberrations on the side of the image, and the image is less sharp, but do not forget that the lens is trying to put 180° of field of view on your tiny sensor.

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA L 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR RE by Bertrand3000 on Sun October 6, 2019 | Rating: 9 View more reviews 
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Views: 73659
Reviews: 20
I've got this lens with the K-S2. The body costed less with the lens than without, so it was a no-brainer to choose this one. I have been surprised to the general image quality of this little lens. Really, people should not push this one aside because it is a "kit lens". This one can really do wonders despite its low price. Its autofocus is fast and silent, and it is still my only WR lens (among my 7). The retractable system could be better, but when you get used to it, it is perfectly safe to use, as long as you don't try to retract in or out while not mounted on a body. The most irritating part is the "focus by wire" system. There is a very noticeable delay between turning the focusing ring and the effect ; besides, there is no way to know if we reached the minimal range or infinity, no way to know in which direction I should turn the ring to reach infinity. Really, forget about manual focus with this lens.



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