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HD Pentax D FA 28-105

JAK
Posted 02/09/2016 - 20:56 Link
McGregNi wrote:
In any case, John, how do you find the other aspects of the lens, handling , and optical performance etc?

The handling and image quality are pretty good for a FF zoom. I've been a bit spoilt with FF already having the Limited 31 & 43 and it isn't in their league, but given you can zoom to fit the subject rather than crop it does even it out a bit. Still finding a tendency to blow the highlights, it's mainly with bright skies

This brings me to joostdh's photos which both show the blown skies. The histogram for image 2 demonstrates this:
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There's space at the left to move the curve to the left without loosing shadow detail.
It does seem to be a 'feature/quirk' of this lens.
JR has overcome it by deliberately underexposing by 1/3 stop which will help with this lens but I haven't found that necessary with other recent lenses. I've never had to do that with any of the DAs on APSC or even the other FAs and DFAs on the K-1.
John K
JAK
Posted 02/09/2016 - 21:15 Link
Last night I had a play around with some of the raw files that I had taken soon after the lens arrived.

This was one of them that on the face of it was disappointing:
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There doesn't seem to be any detail in the sky at all! But with a tiny bit of over-processing I achieved this (sorry its rather OTT!)
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What to make of that!


By the way, I should of said both of joostdh's photos were very good and showed great detail.
John K
Edited by JAK: 02/09/2016 - 21:49
JAK
Posted 02/09/2016 - 22:28 Link
One hayfield deserves another! The view from the bottom of my garden.

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That's a cropped shot from the lens at 105mm, so probably equivalent to around 250mm or longer.
John K
JAK
Posted 03/09/2016 - 00:47 Link
Excuse me hijacking your thread Nigel; another couple from Friday. Raw files processed in Elements:

Hydrangea Flower
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Gulls on Roof
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The definition is actually very good when one looks beyond the camera produced jpegs.

One thing my files aren't picking up with the 28-105 is the lens description. Even trying to pick up the description from the exif in unprocessed out of camera jpegs isn't showing it yet joostdh's files do. Wonder what I need to update?

I was looking to get FA77mm ltd but with this I don't actually feel I need it now. The 77 isn't a particularly sharp lens as it is intended for portraits. I'd be surprised if the resolution of this zoom is any worse than the 77 and it is considerably cheaper (and if I need the faster aperture I've got the 50mm f1.4 to use instead.) Seems this has saved me money and no, it won't be going back!
John K
Edited by JAK: 03/09/2016 - 00:59
McGregNi
Posted 03/09/2016 - 18:06 Link
joostdh wrote:
Nice buy Nigel. I have one too and am very happy with it. Sure, it could be wider, longer or faster but given that it isn’t it is indeed compact and light for a FF lens and it feels very decent, much like the DA 16-85 (which is a step above the DA 18-135).

I find it very dependable in every way (colour, contrast, sharpness, af speed and accuracy, etc.). Vignetting is not really an issue, it’s actually less than many older FF primes. I haven’t noticed an over-exposure tendency myself, actually I been pretty spot on if I recall correctly. I’ll double-check my originals. Sharpness, across the whole frame, is really high. K-1 landscape shots have a lot of detail. Here are two I made a few weeks ago in France.

Enjoy your lens!


Thanks, I'm liking it already, although it will take some getting used to . The qualities you described above are exactly what I am hoping for with this. The images you posted show a nice depth and have a 3D look. I'm encouraged by the reports, including yours, of good sharpness through the range and edge details holding up.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
McGregNi
Posted 03/09/2016 - 18:10 Link
Thanks also John, for those extra images ..... that is some impressive highlight recovery on that blue sky! Probably testimony more to the qualities of your camera, software and editing skills more than the lens, but its good to know that there is hope if the highlights do blow out a little. But I'll certainly keep a close eye on it now you've raised the matter, and keep that little bit of negative EC dialled in ..... I just have to wait for my move to a K1 before I can worry less about shadows, as it doesn't pay to underexpose too much with the K7!
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
McGregNi
Posted 04/09/2016 - 21:48 Link
I've got some first images now from the lens .... there's a selection of them up on the 'Your Photos' Forum here ..... link

Now that I've had a chance to run the shots through my editing and take a close look, I'd say for noe its a case of 'so far so good' ! I'm happy with what I'm seeing so far, and think the lens should give me what I was looking for .....
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
McGregNi
Posted 05/09/2016 - 23:49 Link
At Lennyblokes suggestion I've just carried out some test shots comparing the new D FA 28-105 with the A28 F2.8. So I set up a tripod and a flash in a softbox, with radio manual control to ensure consistent exposures. I used two test items, a beer bottle (now there's one forum member I can think of who approve of that!), and a wooden toy garage..... Just to give an idea, here they are ....

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Using mirror up and remote control I took various shots at different apertures with the zoom at 28mm, and the same images with the A28 also. I used manual focussing using Live View magnification to be sure I was as perfect with focus with both lenses as possible. (I must say what an immpressive focus ring and action the D FA 28-105 has .... its was actually easier and smoother to manual focus than the A28 !

I'll post some specific examples soon with the settings details and some 100% crops for detailed examination ...... but ...... immediate impressions are that there will not be very much in it at all .....
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Edited by McGregNi: 05/09/2016 - 23:51
Algernon
Posted 06/09/2016 - 08:58 Link
You need something with very finely detailed graphics. Even then it will be hard to see much difference. Also try different sharpness settings for the in camera JPG's.

The usual mistake with 99% of lens testing is OOF Almost impossible to do correctly without a focussing rack.

Even the standard 18-55mm is better than the A28mm

Just as a car can only have one of two faults...... electrical or mechanical.... a lens falls into two categories usable or rubbish

This is 100% crop from a 50mm macro lens on a K-5 in camera JPG I now use a higher setting for sharpness which makes pixel peeping look very futile.

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--
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi
Edited by Algernon: 06/09/2016 - 09:04
McGregNi
Posted 06/09/2016 - 13:07 Link
Ha! I knew I'd be getting some advice from you about beer bottles Yes, focussing is an issue, but I tried hard to get equivilent set-ups for the two lenses. Its nothing scientific but I'm happy for my purposes. No, I have NOT found the 18-55 better than my A28 F2.8 ....at least not for the sort of shots I use it for.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
JAK
Posted 12/09/2016 - 15:00 Link
I gave the 28-105 an outing with my K-1 yesterday when I went to the Ryedale Folk Museum which was open free as part of the Heritage open days weekend.

An exterior view:
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100% crop from same the image:
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The 100% crop stands up well in its own right. Obviously that's mainly down to the K-1's excellent sensor but the quality of the 28-105 'ain't too bad' either!
Note, you'll need to click on the image to get the full 100% crop in a separate window as the image is reduced in size on this page.
John K
Edited by JAK: 12/09/2016 - 15:05
MrB
Posted 12/09/2016 - 19:02 Link
These are from a stroll yesterday alongside the River Thames at Maidenhead, taken with the 28-105 on the APS-C K-70:

1. The A4 road bridge at 28mm:
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2. The A4 road bridge at 68mm:
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3. The railway bridge at 48mm:
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4. The Brunel plaque on the rail bridge at 105mm - (this is a centre crop of the image, but not quite 100%):
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5. Riverside houses between the two bridges at 45mm:
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The images were JPEGs from the camera, with some adjustments in PaintShop Pro X8.

Cheers.
Philip
McGregNi
Posted 13/09/2016 - 14:08 Link
Thanks John and Philip for those extra examples , they all look good and reflect my already high opinion of the lens.

John, the sky there looks fine .... Are you finding you still need a negative EC generally?

Philip, some good examples at different focal lengths, I think demonstrating that it's a very consistent lens over its range. That close-up at 105mm is good and sharp, and I'm also very pleased with things that close, and with the excellent minimum focus distance as well.

What's happened to the K-S2 ?? It's not ready for relegation yet, surely?! I can understand you might have fancied a go at Pixelshift however .....
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
JAK
Posted 13/09/2016 - 14:52 Link
Quote:
John, the sky there looks fine .... Are you finding you still need a negative EC generally?

Well that one had no compensation at all and seems fine. It could be because the raw files have sufficient data to sort it out though with that one little was done to it and even the in camera jpeg looks little different. I'm still finding some images get burnt out highlights. Even the boat on the right in Philip's #2 looks like it's gone slightly over! Perhaps I've just become more critical generally having started to use the 31 and 43 limiteds as those don't generally seem to suffer the issue at all.
I will say the resolution of the 28-105 isn't far short of the limiteds, even at the edges, plus it is more convenient than switching lenses in bad weather where normally the highlight issue shouldn't occur anyhow and the extra contrast may be helpful.
It's strange how the quality of the lenses seems so different, maybe time for some direct comparisons to see if its a real difference or just my imagination.
John K
Edited by JAK: 13/09/2016 - 14:53
McGregNi
Posted 13/09/2016 - 15:09 Link
Well, it was more than enough to persuade me (ok, at a discount price admittedly) that it was worth buying new, and not to bother trying to find an equivalent FA film era lens. I don't feel such a need to research all the older options now ....I feel reasonably well prepared for a move to FF when I feel I need to.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver

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