Pentax DA* 60-250mm F4 Review

Conclusion

To summarize, we really like this lens! It is an excellent tool with many perks and no real faults.  The DA* 60-250mm is arguably one of the best lenses in the current high-end Pentax lens lineup due to its versatility and stellar optical performance.

A key selling point of this lens is that it's good enough for wide-open shooting at just about every focal length.  Performance does peak after being stopped down, but this won't stop you from getting great image quality at F4 if you need the background blur or the extra stop of light.  Aberrations are well controlled at all apertures, degrading marginally towards longer focal lengths. The bokeh is surprisingly good (and a differentiating characteristic when compared to other similar offerings). Vignetting is a non-issue except at the tele end at F4. In short, it is a lens well-suited for use at wide apertures, which is desirable for a fast tele.  In general, the optical performance is better at the wider end of the zoom range, but it remains perfectly-acceptable at the tele end.

The SDM autofocus system is silent, accurate, and quick to micro-adjust, although the most recent iteration of the Sigma 70-200mm HSM is certainly faster. Using a modern body like the K-5, K-5 II, or K-3 will provide the best AF performance with this lens.

The build is flawless, with a visible attention to details. It is obvious that Pentax engineers put a lot of thought into every aspect of the lens design. It is a tool very well tailored to its intended purpose. It is a tad lighter and smaller than the Sigma and Tamron 70-200mm lenses (its direct competitors), except when zoomed to the tele ende.  The lens's weather sealing, removable tripod foot, and hood window are all great perks.

Photographers used to smaller lenses like the Pentax 50-200mm or 55-300mm will be put off by the size and weight of the 60-250mm. At more than one kilogram, it is heavier than most camera bodies. Handholding it must be done with care to avoid putting too much stress in the lens mount. When mounted on a tripod or monopod, the balance is superb, even with the lens extended. Handholding the lens at 250mm is easily feasible, since most of the weight remains near the camera body, but certainly presents a challenge because of the overall length and weight of the camera and lens combo. Each photographer's tolerance will influence how long it can be handled before tiring.

Some users will dismiss this lens because it loses one stop when compared with Tamron or Sigma's 70-200mm lenses. In some cases that extra stop is indeed necessary, but we hold that at F4, the 60-250mm is optically better than either 70-200mm alternative at F2.8. The 60-250mm also extends by a fair length when zooming, which could again annoy some people. However, those are the only two critiques that we can formulate against this lens. Pentax decided to provide more reach at the expense of maximum aperture and internal zooming, an interesting choice that will suit many, though not all, photographers. 

If you are looking for a relatively compact premium telephoto lens and are not yet invested in any camera system, this Pentax lens should not be overlooked alongside the Canon, Nikon, or Tokina 70-200mm F4.  But what about stabilization?  Since Pentax DSLRs feature in-body stabilization, none is necessary within the lens itself.  This means that you can still get up to 3.5 stops of stabilization when you pair the 60-250mm with any modern Pentax DSLR.

If you're a current Pentax user and you're looking to upgrade a current consumer telephoto zoom such as the DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 or an older 70-210mm F4-5.6, the difference between your old lens and the DA* 60-250mm will be like night and day.  If you're debating between this lens at the Pentax DA* 50-135mm, we recommend getting the 60-250mm for its superior optical performance unless you need the extra stop or are concerned about size and weight.

At $1399, the lens has the same price as the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8, without factoring any applicable rebates.  We find the pricing to be fair given that the 60-250mm lens has added reach, weather sealing, and higher image quality and the expense of just one stop of light.

In short, for everyday use the DA* 60-250mm is a superb lens, easy to use and consistently delivering great results.  Its focal length and image quality is well-suited for sports and close-ups, even if Pentax's autofocus isn't class-leading.  Its build quality is excellent and it handles well overall. If the price doesn't turn you off, this is a purchase well worth making. The DA* 60-250mm F4 is a must-have for any serious Pentax shooter! Click here to get your 60-250mm today

 Pros

• Excellent image quality wide-open
• Sharp
• Very few aberrations for a zoom
• Excellent build quality
• Several sensible and unique design elements
• Weather sealing
• Silent autofocus
• Very convenient zoom range
• Internal focus
• Quick-shift full-time manual focus override (and a well-designed focus ring)

Cons

• No internal zooming (barrel extends significantly)
• AF somewhat slow for sports
• Just barely hand-holdable
• Expensive
  

Rating