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DFA*f2.8 70-200mm

RobL
Posted 01/06/2020 - 18:32 Link
Has anyone else seen the latest YouTube from Cameraville? Not for the first time he rips into this lens for focus breathing and inaccuracy at 200mm claiming it is more akin to 135mm, also lacking sharpness compared to a similar Tamron lens. He claims to have had four copies so his experience isn’t of a poor version. Normally he speaks some sense but he is now claiming this is one of the worst lenses Pentax has made. I don’t know about you but I find this to be a superb lens and has given me some great results; I don’t know about the focus breathing whatever that is but I get excellent sharpness and as for for the short focal length I will try a comparison with a couple of other zoom lenses at 200mm although the clincher would be the 200mm prime.

Your views anyone?
stub
Posted 01/06/2020 - 20:28 Link
What I would like to see is a comparison against the Tamron 70-200. And what we actually get for double the price ? Never been convinced its a lot but name...
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Stuart..
HarisF1
Posted 01/06/2020 - 21:42 Link
stub wrote:
What I would like to see is a comparison against the Tamron 70-200. And what we actually get for double the price ? Never been convinced its a lot but name...

Wasn't there one when the lens was first released?

Look around, I'm very sure there may have been one on PF.

Edit: I also wanted to add that it seems he's got a calibration issue if 4 copies of the lens have been poor for him. My only copy was very good.
And complaining about focus breathing in 2020? Grow up ffs.
All the gear with no idea
Edited by HarisF1: 01/06/2020 - 21:43
pschlute
Posted 01/06/2020 - 23:10 Link
Apart from the annoying presenting style the content is rubbish.

1. He is using unprocessed raw files as a comparison.

2. the focus point in the two comparisons are not the same.

3. if he has tried 4 copies and gets the same results then clearly the camera is in need of AF/FA calibration.

Amateurville
Jonathan-Mac
Posted 02/06/2020 - 08:55 Link
That guy is really, really annoying. So annoying that I don't care what he says as I can't force myself to stick around to listen to it.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
ilovesaabs
Posted 02/06/2020 - 10:13 Link
Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VR2 also focus-breathes - never bothered me.

Not had the opportunity to use my D-FA* determinedly yet thanks to lockdown, but I won't let these 'experts' ruin my enjoyment of the lens.
AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
robbiec
Posted 03/06/2020 - 10:19 Link
I think we should convince Mr Riley to create a YouTube channel - the only reason Cameraville is where it is, is because he had a captive Pentax user base jumping on any sort of review. Or maybe a Pentaxuser channel?
Plenty of really experienced photographers here with vast amounts of knowledge to pass on.
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Edited by robbiec: 03/06/2020 - 10:19
RobL
Posted 03/06/2020 - 10:38 Link
robbiec wrote:
I think we should convince Mr Riley to create a YouTube channel - the only reason Cameraville is where it is, is because he had a captive Pentax user base jumping on any sort of review. Or maybe a Pentaxuser channel?
Plenty of really experienced photographers here with vast amounts of knowledge to pass on.

Well Robbie here is your chance!
robbiec
Posted 03/06/2020 - 10:55 Link
If I had perhaps a 1/4 of the skill / talent that I know exists here I'd consider it. I've been through a lens journey for sure and what I like does not necessarily equate to the broader Pentax fold. Saying that I'd be open to collaboration if someone could advise me on how to test a lens. To me, what I'm looking for in a lens is something that has decent resolution, strong micro contrast and excellent handling of OOF transitions. Then you have the intangibles, the stuff you can really measure but you can see in the image, the pixie dust, the 3D pop. So would say the audience here agree with that?
And then it'd be a case of dialling down the strong Irish accent
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Edited by robbiec: 03/06/2020 - 10:56
johnriley
Posted 03/06/2020 - 12:11 Link
There's some great ideas being mulled over in this thread, although like everything else it all takes time and somebody has to do lots of work to make things happen.

One thing that I do think is that the lens in question is definitely worth buying and if the buyer didn't like the copy they received then they just send it back. Nothing could be easier these days as we have so much consumer protection. I would never advocate just returning a thing for no good reason though, it has to fair for buyer and seller alike.

I'd also say that for me, as a personal thing, I would prefer to buy the f/4 version. It is smaller, lighter, costs less, and the difference of one stop isn't a deal breaker. So, whatever is said in reviews be it on YouTube or elsewhere it still all depends on the requirements of the individual photographer.
Best regards, John
robbiec
Posted 03/06/2020 - 12:58 Link
Out of curiosity John, how long does it take you on average to create the MTF data for an Ephotozine test?
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Edited by robbiec: 03/06/2020 - 12:59
johnriley
Posted 03/06/2020 - 13:24 Link
I'm in the process of doing two lenses now. The first has taken up most of the morning for a prime lens. The zoom will be done by lunch tomorrow. So a day and a half for those two, perhaps with other things in beteen.
Best regards, John
robbiec
Posted 03/06/2020 - 13:35 Link
Thanks, pretty involved then as you would be well versed in the process. So someone starting out, effectively triple or quadruple that time.
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Mike-P
Posted 04/06/2020 - 09:45 Link
I have had the DFA 70-200mm f/2.8 for about 12 months now and have to agree with him up to a point. Having had the Canon MKII version I would say the Pentax (Ricoh?) lens is lacking in contrast slightly and it's certainly not as sharp as the Canon wide open.

Having said that it's all easily rectified in post but I do think it should be better considering the price.

I have no interest in focus breathing, it is what it is.
Edited by Mike-P: 04/06/2020 - 09:48
davidtrout
Posted 06/06/2020 - 10:19 Link
I didn't see the original 'crit' on this lens on You Tube but I do own a DFA*70-200mm f2.8 and its without any doubt the 'best' Pentax lens I've ever used - and that includes even my beautiful DA*50-135mm 2.8 zoom. Seemingly the You Tube reviewer compares it unfavourably with the similarly specified Tamron. Well its certainly heavier than the Tamron and more expensive but I think the Pentax, at least my copy, edges ahead on quality. A generous friend of mine allowed me to borrow his Tamron before I made a final decision on which lens to buy and the Tamron is certainly a fine lens but I reckon the Pentax is better.
David
Edited by davidtrout: 06/06/2020 - 10:26

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