2 comments about Pentax 70mm f/2.4 DA Limited Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras.

1. I'm extremely happy with this lens. The speed is decent enough at f2.4 and the autofocus works fast with the K100D. Apart from film size advantages, one of the reasons medium format is such a good portrait format has to do with the 'normal' lens being in the 70-85mm zone. You get just the right perspective and DOF.
   
   This lens is good to use across the room, as you can concentrate on one or two people at a time. On digital the detail and color resolution is very natural, not over done as with some. The smooth transition to really good bokeh is another advantage.
   
   Even though Pentax does not recommend the DA lenses for film bodies, I tried it out with good results on a ZX-10 camera. No vignetting and decent sharpness across the field. There is no aperture ring on the lens, so you'd need a body that works with that.
   
   Overall I recommend this lens as an excellent optic, well made and compact.



2. A lot of people have a tough time choosing between DA 70mm Limited and the FA 77mm Limited. Both lenses have their merits, but I ended up going with the DA 70mm for a few reasons...
   
   DA 70mm pros:
   - Much faster autofocus.
   - Much less CA (chromatic aberrations) and purple fringing.
   - Much cheaper.
   - Still works on film bodies, but you need a body that supports aperture controls.
   
   FA 77mm pros:
   - About 1 stop faster (f/1.8 vs f/2.4).
   - Has an aperture ring so it works on all Pentax 35mm film bodies as well as digital.
   - General consensus that the bokeh is better.
   - Slightly longer reach.
   
   Both lenses are sharp and render images beautifully, so as you can see, it really depends on what you want from the lens.
   
   Since I wanted this lens for candid portraits, I needed the much faster autofocus capabilities. I also figured that I wouldn't shoot at f/1.8 much anyways since I find it difficult to work with such a small depth of field when shooting portraits. While most people find the FA 77mm's bokeh to be better, the 70mm still produces very pleasing bokeh. It's just different.
   
   All in all, the DA 70mm seemed like a much better deal to me and I don't regret buying it over the FA 77mm at all.

3 comments about Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 ED AL (IF) Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR's.

1. The main problem with the APS-C sensor is the fact that to get a very wide angle of view, you need a special lens. My old 20mm lens, which has served me for many, many, years, is just a moderate wide on the digital sensors.
   
   With a few doubts, I sprang for this super-wide zoom.
   
   WHAT A SURPRISE! This lens is AMAZING!
   
   Low or no distortion (you can get away without correcting for distortion in Photoshop - quite a feat - unless you have a fanatical lunatic architectural client). CA hard to see. Very sharp, sharper wide open than any zoom has a right to be!!
   
   Flare is so well controlled, I shot right into th sun and did NOT get the usual string of circles, just one ghost. How do they DO that???
   
   The constant aperture is a blessing (I still refuse to buy a zoom with a variable aperture).
   
   All modern lenses are polycarbonate. Supposedly, it's more dimensionally stable than metal under temperature extremes. Maybe so, but I still have some of the older K and M lenses and some Limited lenses. I guess I'm just old fashioned.
   
   But with the APS-C sensor, you need a VERY wide lens. This is the one that will save your hide on any assignment where you need ultra-wide angle of view.
   
   Penatx has always been known for their glass. With this lens, they continue to impress those who know that the glass is what counts!



2. Pop Photo (Apr-06) praised this lens as a "Wide Winner" for spectacular performance on bench testing: excellent image sharpness and contrast; imperceptible distortion ["best of breed"]; and barely notable vignetting at the short end. I can add breathtaking color, crisp contrast and ruler-straight linearity to that list. At first glance, a 2X zoom doesn't sound impressive these days - until you realize that this parafocal zoom sweeps an incredible 100 to 60 degree viewing range, that's just perfect for cramped interiors, group pictures or landscapes. This zoom is a landmark of stellar engineering: combining extra-dispersion glass and aspheric lens elements into flagship "great glass".
   
   But a finely-tuned optical engine performs optimally only if all cylinders fire in unison ... at daylight trial, I noted a hideous 'purple fringing' [chromatic aberration] of trees and power lines outlined against an overcast sky -- something was badly remiss. Rather than returning the lens, I packed it up for warranty service so as to alert the manufacturer to quality control slippage. Irreparable misalignment [probably from rough shipping/handling] was acknowledged; replacement with a brand-new lens was hassle-free as well as timely.
   
   Should you detect distortion (run some test shots before starting a formal shoot!), fear not -- Pentax service was knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful. To their great credit, exchange was virtually painless, and the new replacement lens at last performs flawlessly. Although the initial unit turned out to be a glass lemon, Pentax made good (try that with a new car!); I have nothing but praise for the fair and decisive warranty follow-through.
   
   Tip: the bulbous cyclops snout of the forward element is close to the surface, begging for scratches and smudges. Protecting the front end with a haze or UV filter in essence adds an unproven 14th glass element to a balanced optical design -- buy the high quality multi-coated filter (mounted in a thin WA ring) this star performer deserves to minimize glare, internal reflection and corner vignetting.



3. This lens is savvier, more perfect than I expected. I don't need to say about pros because lots of people already say about that in review. But this lens' weight is quite heavier compared with other Pentax lens.

1 comments about Pentax D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras.

1. this is an excellant lens . works perfectly with the camera that I bought...I love the pentax products

3 comments about Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 Ultra Compact Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras.

1. The Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 Ultra Compact Lens for Pentax *ist Digital SLR Cameras is a great prime lens. Gave me nice clean, clear photos with excellent detail and color reproduction. Comes with a lens pouch and a lens cap that also doubles as a lens hood.



2. After using the old Pentax-M 40mm pancake for a while, I decided to get this DA Limited version. 40mm on a Pentax dSLR is a great focal length for portraits and for regular walk-around use. The 1.5x multiplier of Pentax dSLRs makes the focal length work out to the equivalent of 60mm on a 35mm film camera.
   
   The f/2.8 aperture is nice and fast, especially if you're coming from the kit lenses. It's fast enough to take pictures indoors (shake reduction doesn't hurt either) and creates a pretty narrow depth of field for portraits.
   
   The super compact size makes my K100D feel very light and easy to carry around. It's perfect for outings where you'll end up taking pictures of people and close objects.
   
   The autofocusing is super fast and I haven't seen it hunt around like my DA 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses.
   
   Pros:
   - Very fast autofocus. Doesn't seem to hunt around like the kit lenses.
   - f/2.8 makes it pretty fast and very usable, especially with shake reduction. The sharpness is decent at f/2.8.
   - Super compact and light. It makes my K100D a lot easier to carry around all day.
   - Great focal length for portraits.
   - "Limited" means that it's all metal in construction, which definitely helps this diminutive lens feel nice and solid.
   - Works great on some film bodies! See below.
   
   Cons:
   - The lens is so small that there's nothing to hold on to. I often find myself gripping the focus ring while the lens is trying to autofocus.
   - I've seen a good amount of purple fringing with this lens wide open. Stopping down a bit quickly clears it up though.
   
   Overall, this is a great lens for traveling. The cons that I listed can easily be fixed with some practice and good technique.
   
   Edit 11/27/07: One interesting thing to note is that this lens works on film bodies without vignetting. However, keep in mind that this is a DA lens so there is no aperture ring! Cameras like the ZX/MZ-5n, ZX-10, etc. don't have a dial to control the aperture so this lens is really only useful in full auto or Tv modes. This lens works perfectly on the *ist film, ZX-L/MZ-6, MZ/ZX-7, PZ-1(P) or any other Pentax film body that has a dial for aperture control.



3. For pentax digital body users, for standard fixed focal length lens
   
   most popular choice would be a FA35mm f2.0 and this DA40(for this price-under $300! it's good!)
   
   DA40 is surely better as it is small and light. The image quality was
   
   satifactory. It is a bit dark(f2.8) but I had no problem to take picture
   
   of my 2 year old baby in the room(night) without flash.
   
   I trashed the carton box of the lens - After use, I realized that I have
   
   no reason to sell this lens to someone else. Yes, I'll keep it until I have a pentax body.

2 comments about Pentax 21mm F/3.2 AL Limited Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras.

1. Without getting into the optical qualities in detail, I can only say that I find the drawing and color properties pleasing. Focus is fast, and the build quality is excellent.
   
   Combined with the Pentax K10D, this is my sketchpad -- the kit I carry when I don't carry much.



2. I love this lens. The focal length is directly in the "sweet spot" for street photography, indoors, landscapes and even aerial photos. It focuses amazingly close for dramatic macro-like effects, and when you combine this with a small aperture you can get a very wide depth-of-field, as well. Overall, a very well-made "stealth" lens that is a versatile must-have!

No comments about Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras.

1 comments about Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras.

1. I'm a former pro photographer for a newspaper & now freelance my skills for special events & corporate needs. The original kit lens was quite good for general use and serves well for newspaper shots, but not up to pro standards for high resolution work. Enter the AL II designed for the newly introduced high resolution Pentax K20D:
   
   The new AL II has improved the resolution across the entire focal range, from corner to corner. Border softening is dramatically reduced, and the original lens vignetting is all but eliminated. Pentax has made a very good kit lens noticably better.

5 comments about Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED Lens for Pentax and Samsung DSLR Cameras.

1. Light weight construction and could be better with a 300mm zoom but for the price is a good quality lens. Pictures come out clear and focus is quick.



2. If you need something that reaches out a bit without burning a hole in your wallet go for this lens. Stop it down a bit and you'll get great pictures. Not recommended for low light.



3. Small, lighweight and sharp as a tack. This is a fine zooom lens for Pentax digital SLRs. Matched with the standard kit that comes with most Pentax digital SLRs and you have a smooth range of focal lengths from about 27mm to 300mm (35mm film equivalent). What else can I say? I carry it with me all the time.



4. This is a nice lens for the money especially if you need is smaller and lighter as a priority. Backpacking, wildlife on the run, sports, anywhere that you might carry the camera for a long time, you will like the weight and flexibility of the lens. We use it on a K10d an produce some great results.
   
   Only issue is that you may develop some edge distortion depending on the focal range and setting, and at 52mm it does suffer a bit in low light conditions. Overall - it works for great for the price!



5. WOW! This lens is so easy to use and makes good "shots" GREAT PICTURES! I recently bought the Pentax DSLR camera so I'm not really proficient yet, but after using manual focus lenses for years, it's wonderful to have an auto focus! The ease of "fine tuning" manually with this lens is awesome!
   One thing I've learned, the hard way, is to match your lens with the camera. Pentax allows the use of Pentax manual lens on their digital cameras. I have 3 lenses that are not Pentax and I can't use them on my Pentax DSLR camera.
   The price for this lens was also perfect. I saved hundreds over buying the most recent lens.

5 comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens.

1. I have the K20 and this has worked great! So sharp and fun to use. Great for low light situations. I recommend this to anyone looking for a sharp inexpensive lens.



2. This might be the best lens (for the money) I've ever purchased. Smooth bokeh, lightning fast, and an amazing price. Pentax has done it again. With a sensor (crop) factor of about 1.5 for Pentax DSLRs, the 50mm focal length act like an invaluable 75mm prime. My K20D has never been happier.



3. This is probably my favorite lens for any indoor shooting. Sure, it's not a zoom, so I have to get up and actually move around, but with the speed of this lens and not having to use a flash or the awful built-in flash to wash everything out, this lens is well worth the exercise.



4. This is a great lens. Beautiful pictures, great build quality, everything you want in a lens. If you don't have one, buy one. You won't be disappointed. I'm serious! Listen to the person on the internet and spend sub-$200 on this lens. I'll understand if you'll forget to thank me later, really; you'll be so busy shooting with this you'll forget I even told you to buy it. But if you do remember to thank me, you're welcome. Enjoy this beautiful piece of glass.



5. If you're still running around with your K10D kit lens, you don't know what you are missing, especially if you like to shoot people. This purchase made a world of difference. Looking back, I have rarely even used my kit lens since I purchased this one - unless I want to take a wide angle shot. Otherwise, the clarity and speed (f/1.4) of this lens are incredible. For the price, I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Pentax DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL IF Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras.

1. They've put the "fun" back into photography, for me! In the first week with my Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only) and this lens I've taken some of the most beautiful photos I've ever taken in my life! The colors are brilliant, and the detail is great. I love that the wide angle produces brilliant detail with both close and far objects in focus. I take mostly landscape and wild life shots, so wide angle and zoom are important to me. I've had a difficult time finding a camera that could take satisfying pictures of the Kansas Flint Hills. (This is a "VAST" expanse of hilly grassland where you can see a very long distance and in the past, with my Minolta 35mm film camera, it had been very difficult to do it justice with only 2 dimensions.) But, this lens and the K10D can do it time and tima again, with less effort and beautiful results. It also does great out of focus background shots which make the in-focus object "pop" off the printed page. I'm not a professional photographer. I just do it as a hobby. But, in the past couple of weeks I've taken some excellent photos that would not be out of place beside those from a pro, using the K10D and this lens. Yeah, it does have a loose barrel, so you have to either lock it, hold it, or use it at right angles, to keep it from sliding. But, the sharpness and brilliant colors you get are absolutely amazing! So, that's only a small annoyance that you can quickly get used to.



2. This lens covers a lot of territory (focal length) and after getting used to it could very easily become the main "walking around" lens to keep on your DSLR. I love the 14x optical zoom and it brings in things very close; the downside at full zoom is even with shake reduction on, you have to be rock steady holding the camera to get a blur free picture.
   
   The only slight negative in my mind is that the zoom feature on this lens seems to be a tad loose and once you set it, if the lens is not horizontal, you may experience "zoom creep". There is a lock for the lens, but it is only engageable at 18mm; so I use the lock when the lens is on my camera and stowed in the bag.
   
   Overall another winner for Pentax.



3. I now have a quality lens that I can use for just about all my photo shots. Nice not to have to change lenses for different photo compositions. Focus is fast and sharp. It is the lens I now keep on my K10D.



4. I received this lens one day before my sisters wedding. I had no time to take any practice shots because of how hectic things were. I couldn't have been happier with the results from this lens. I was able to capture across the room shots with limited lighting and no added flash with a few adjustments to the wight balance and f-stop. My family was more impressed with what I was able to capture than the paid photographer. For the money I don't think that any other lens on the market could perform this well. The only other lens I carry is the Pentax FA50 F1.4 which is with out a doubt the best lens possible for the Pentax camera.
   
   I was actually talked into the Pentax at the store as I inquired about the Cannon and Nikon lines. The sales rep informed me of the cost savings in the Pentax line and I thought I would give it a shot. I am very pleased to have gone with Pentax and have taken several fantastic photos right from the start.



5. Pentax DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL IF Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras
   This is the ONE lens you need for almost all shooting - The Auto focus does not perform quite as well at the 250mm setting, however the 18mm angle to 200mm is so good we still give it FIVE stars - We highly recommend this lens for all around shooting. It will produce excellent picture quality and at an affordable price for amateur photo shooting - We paid $429.00 through Amazon from Willoughbly's for this lens - Pentax got this one just right!