HD Pentax-D FA 70-210mm F4 ED SDM WR

Conclusion

The Pentax D FA 70-210mm F4 has been planned for quite a while on the Pentax roadmap. It had garnered interest from the community and has generated a lot of discussions in our forums.

Many see it as a lighter alternative to the widely popular D FA* 70-200mm F2.8 and that is certainly one of its roles. Others see it as an update to the DA* 60-250mm, and that can also be true. It is hard to avoid comparisons with similar lenses, but we must also look at the 70-210mm on its own.

Despite a plastic finish and the lack of the refinement associated with a Pentax star lens, the 70-210mmm is very well-made. The body is tightly assembled, with no wobbling or loose parts. Weather sealing gives a sense of security. Internal zooming and focusing improve usability. The lack of a tripod foot is not a hindrance thanks to the moderate weight of the lens. Tamron's own accessory foot fits the lens perfectly, but adds a noticeable heft to the assembly. Both control rings operate well, but we do lament that the hood, when reversed, prevents zooming entirely. In use, this has often made us forego the use of the hood.

Autofocus on the 70-210mm can be blazingly fast, among the fastest we have tested. This requires the use of the viewfinder. With live view and in good light, AF is fast enough, but in low light the lens is slower and is more likely to struggle to achieve a lock.

Optical performances are made of many highs and a few lows.

Center sharpness, in particular, is a definite perk; it is excellent in all circumstances. Edges and corners are close at wider apertures, but at 210mm they lag when compared to the center. The lens will be best for subject isolation at the long end.

Colors are true to the Pentax ethos, with beautiful rendering, nice gradations and no harsh contrasts.

Distortion is not bad, but not particularly impressive either. Again, the worst culprit is 210mm where the effect will often be noticeable. The wider end gives better results.

While present, chromatic aberrations will not be disturbing in use, except again at 210mm. PF is absent from our tests. Vignetting is present, particularly at F4 of course, but not overwhelming. Those two elements are easiest to correct via post-processing. Flare and ghosting can occur for light sources close to corners, and can be quite prominent in specific circumstances.

Bokeh is probably where the 70-210mm is the most disappointing. The lens is strongly influenced by the background texture and bokeh can become busy in some cases.

Of course many readers will be interested to know how the D FA 70-210mm compares with the D FA* 70-200mm F2.8 and the DA* 60-250mm.

Optically, the 70-200mm is a superior lens in every way. This lens is currently the top zoom from Pentax, so any lens comparing to it is likely to fall short. However, the 70-210mm has a few things going for it. It is about half the weight, significantly smaller, it preserves excellent center sharpness while focusing even faster.. All that with a small sacrifice of one stop of aperture. The best lens is the lens you have with you, and in that regard the 70-210mm can be, for many people, a better choice.

Comparing to the 60-250mm is also interesting. The DA* lens is not officially a full frame lens and requires a user modification to operate with a full frame sensor. By doing this, the user loses built-in corrections and can void the warranty. The 60-250mm is heavier, wider but a bit shorter, and zooms externally. It has star-quality craftsmanship, but the 70-210mm is no slouch.

The two lenses have different qualities. The 70-210mm is sharper in the center, focuses much faster and at closer distances. The 60-250mm has more even sharpness, generally handles aberrations better and produces better bokeh.

In conclusion, despite some optical imperfections, the D FA 70-210mm F4 is a welcome new element in the Pentax line-up. Its numerous qualities, in particular regarding center sharpness and AF, make it a compelling choice for many.

Pros

• Blazing fast AF using the viewfinder
• Focus limiter
• Excellent center sharpness
• Light and compact
• Solid build quality
• Pleasing rendering and colors
• Low vignetting on APS-C
• Close minimum focus distance

Cons

• Visible vignetting on full frame
• CA, flare and distortion present
• Weaker optical performances at 210mm
• Bokeh can be busy

Pricing

The D FA 70-210mm F4 can be purchased for $1096.95 in April 2020.

Rating

Ratings are format-specific. Handling will be influenced by the lens dimensions and weight, in particular for smaller APS-C camera bodies.

APS-C

Full Frame

Who is it For

As a compact alternative to the D FA* 70-200mm F2.8, the new D FA 70-210mm F4 will be a worthy choice for anyone who wish for a lighter and more compact option. Thanks to its high performances vs size ratio, it is a good choice for travel, handheld photography, and long photo sessions. Its fast autofocus makes it a good choice for sports, kids, animals or other moving subjects.

The Bottom Line

It is good to see Pentax flesh out the list of lenses available for full frame, and for the K-mount in general. The D FA 70-210mm F4 is a worthy part of the lineup. Pentax users often lament the perceived slowness of the AF system; this lens is one way to put those worries to rest.

Despite its few optical weak points, the D FA 70-210mm has many qualities and will serve its users well.

Be sure to check the user reviews or post your own if you already own this lens.