Pentaxian Registered: April, 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,496 | | Review Date: May 13, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Compact, cheap | | Cons: | Not super-sharp, low contrast, very limited range | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 5
Value: 5
Camera Used: K-3
Focusing: 7
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I owned one of these for a while until I got the superior SMC version. I didn't use it much because it didn't usually produce very good photos and on APS-C the focal range is not that useful. I suspect my copy front or back focused a bit so I used live-view but even then the images tended to be dull, lacklustre.
I'd recommend waiting a bit more or spending a bit more to get the SMC version, which I now own and, though I haven't used it much yet, is sharper with much better contrast.
A couple of sample images.
IMGP2103a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
2017-11-10_08-26-49 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
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New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: November 11, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | excellent performer for this few money / bon copain pour peu d'argent | | Cons: | few CA's wide open and closed in the corners with APS-C | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5, k-s1, k-x, k200d, Ricoh x-rp, Fuji x.e1 , x-t100
Focusing: 9
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++ phantastic close ups (flowers) - even with achromatic macro lens element or small extension tube / fleurs magnifiques - aussi avec lentille macro achromatique ou petite bague d'extension 
++ very nice results with excellent center sharpness between f 6,3 and f 13 / résultats formidables avec un piqué extraordinair entre f 6,3 et f 13
++ very good color rendition and few flare / couleurs excellentes et peu de flou
+ fine bokeh / bokeh agréable
+ good contrast / bon contraste
 
O unfortunately some CAs in the extreme corners (visible on big magnifications) / malheureusement quelques aberrations chromatiques dans les coins extrèmes (visibles à extrèmes agrandissments)
8.5 points (for portraits landscapes, macro photos a.s.o./ 8,5 points (pour portaits, paysages, macro photos etc.)  | |
Pentaxian Registered: January, 2012 Location: Tokyo Posts: 2,751 | | Review Date: March 30, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small, good IQ, value, useful macro function | | Cons: | Poor focus ring, limited range, front element rotates | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-20D, K-01
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I have both the Takumar-F version of this lens, which I got first and seems to be more readily available in Japan, and the SMC version. I didn’t realise there were two versions at first. I liked the Takumar-F version, so when I found out that there was a supposedly superior SMC version, I got that too. I haven’t been able to detect any real-world differences between the two lenses, even when testing them side by side. The reflections on the surface of the front element look different, so I don’t doubt there is a difference in the coating, but it just doesn’t seem to affect image quality much. This picture shows the differences in markings between the two lenses (Takumar-F on the left, SMC Pentax on the right).
I’ve used this with a K20D and a K-01, and all comments relate to my experiences on APS-C cameras.
It’s a very interesting lens. The zoom range may seem to be limiting, but it's actually very good for pictures of people at outdoor events. I often carry this lens in a very compact kit with a K-01 and a DA21 for any wide-angle shots. It also has a macro function, so it's pretty versatile overall.
It's remarkably small and unobtrusive, no bulkier than a prime, but it’s fairly weighty (more than a 18-55 kit lens). The 49mm thread means that it can share filters with the DA limiteds lenses, but note that the front element rotates, so C-PL filters are a pain. The surface plastic feels cheap to the touch, especially the focus ring, but I think it’s pretty solidly made inside. It focuses very quickly and accurately, but it’s the noisiest lens I’ve tried in operation.
In terms of image quality, it's surprisingly sharp stopped down a little. Bokeh is usually nice enough and you can get some decent separation between subject and background at 70mm for portraits. There’s a bit of CA, but I’ve seen worse on FA lenses. Flare can affect shots quite badly. I find the screw-on hood for the DA40 works very well with this lens.
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