A rather good lens to say the least

This was the replacement to my old but worthy Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG, and guess what? It is stunning!

It maybe a restyled Tamron lens, but has the advantage of weather sealing and the Pentax HD coating.

In use, more positives.

The focus on the K-1 is silent and contrary to the classic AF speed on Pentax bodies, it is very snappy indeed. I would say that it right up there with CaNikon in that respect (and YES I have a couple of Nikon cameras too)

Colours are accurate and it has a great contrast.

Above all else, this thing is SHARP! I shot some head and shoulder shots yesterday of some staff, and I had to tone down the sharpness a bit as the images are almost too sharp.

Low light focusing? - No problem. Theatre photos I do in ambient light can hit ISO12800, and it just gets on with it.

CA? what CA! The same with the excellent corner sharpness, even wide open.

Downsides? It is heavy, but that is expected for a lens of this type.

The Own label Tamron version is a lot cheaper, and of course you don't get it on the K-Mount, but then again, the sealing and coatings do help to address this a bit.

Reality is though, it is worth every penny even if the base lens is less.

I agree with your assessment; I own this lens and really like it.

Dale

offertonhatter wrote:

This was the replacement to my old but worthy Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG, and guess what? It is stunning!

It maybe a restyled Tamron lens, but has the advantage of weather sealing and the Pentax HD coating.

In use, more positives.

The focus on the K-1 is silent and contrary to the classic AF speed on Pentax bodies, it is very snappy indeed. I would say that it right up there with CaNikon in that respect (and YES I have a couple of Nikon cameras too)

Colours are accurate and it has a great contrast.

Above all else, this thing is SHARP! I shot some head and shoulder shots yesterday of some staff, and I had to tone down the sharpness a bit as the images are almost too sharp.

Low light focusing? - No problem. Theatre photos I do in ambient light can hit ISO12800, and it just gets on with it.

CA? what CA! The same with the excellent corner sharpness, even wide open.

Downsides? It is heavy, but that is expected for a lens of this type.

The Own label Tamron version is a lot cheaper, and of course you don't get it on the K-Mount, but then again, the sealing and coatings do help to address this a bit.

Reality is though, it is worth every penny even if the base lens is less.

My first lens required 10 units AF tuning to get it usable. sent it back the one I received as a replacement was much better, but the zoom was not as fluid I still have it. figured it was sharp, everything worked ill just keep. It is my most used out of the two lens I have for the K1. The other is the D FA 70-200 2.8 very nice lens I recommend it.

The following images are with the Pentax D FA 24-70mm 2.8..  I shot these at max open aperture just seeing how it performed not bad.

Hi Texbaz

I am considering moving up to the K1 II or selling off my Pentax system to go to Sony. The A 7 III looks quite good, but lenses are expensive

I see you have both pentax and sony systems. What is your view of either?

yesman12 wrote:

Hi Texbaz

I am considering moving up to the K1 II or selling off my Pentax system to go to Sony. The A 7 III looks quite good, but lenses are expensive

I see you have both pentax and sony systems. What is your view of either?

Well Nick, I actually like them both, in certain ways.

I purchased the Sony A7II with the Kit 28-70 and the 55/1.8. Great nice lens. what I don't like about the Sony is how they first marketed the camera as weather resistant, some will say they never did say that but they did. Second, I got suckered into the miniaturization marketing. Just look at what they offer for lenses today, the lenses for the Sony's are as big as regular full frames what were thinking Customers would be happy with the first set of lenses they put out. Third, Warranty I hear so many many stories. One that stands out, is a user had gotten sweat from his brow into the EVF Sony repair declared it uneconomical to repair,denied warranty.

Now the Pentax is not without faults but it is weather sealed much more than the Sony. One thing I do NOT like about the K1 is the top of the fake pentaprism they use a plastic housing and then attach a hot shoe. Are they nuts. When I attach a Metz full size flash too it, it is extremely flimsy it will break with a very small amount of force eventually.

But, I purchased some Cactus triggers which allow some flexibility, I have my sons wedding coming up and I know a lot of shots will be flash with the flash mounted on the K1.

I have shot Pentax since I was sixteen years old I am a loyal Customer. First Pentax, It was a Pentax 35mm spotmatic with top mounted light meter. I have owned ,Petri range finders, Canon Elan II e, Panasonic's, Olympus, Mamiya, Contax G1, Speedgraflex 4x5 (my father grabbed at an army depot), K7, and still have a K5 and K1. Ive had lots of cameras and Pentax with all its quirkiness still provides what I seek in Photography. Though its miles/worlds apart from the Old Ashi Pentax Spotmatic It still has the same DNA to me, and I like it.

Sony wants to be number one and they very well could if they just changed how they deal with the little people AND the Pros. I saw pictures from the past winter olympics rows and rows of Canon and Nikon camera bodies, lenes, etc That is commitment, those folks have to their customers. Pentax will never be like that never, and they never have been because they choose not be. The pure enthusiast keeps Pentax alive and their are way more enthusiast than pros. Your choice Sir, Personally I'd stay with Pentax.

Hello Tex

Thank you for your comprehensive response.  it is well thought out.  I did some research and third party lenses for SONY are not that prevalent. Very few Sigma for example...

I will do some more thinking and research but I like what you said.

Yes, I have the 24-70 too and have been equally impressed. It is an incredibly good all-rounder.

Ive read in many threads especially here on DPR, that the 24-70mm is not a lens considered essential for Pro's. Yet with my Son's upcoming wedding when researching , one of the recommended lens too use is the 24-70 f2.8 and also the 70-200mm 2.8.

I think the Pentax D FA 24-70mm 2.8 is a great all around lens, its what was needed to help kick start the K1 into service. It is offered at reasonable price also.

I just bought one, and I find it soft at 70mm f/2.8

This is almost consistent with the tests of the Tamron made by DxO which show that there is a drop of resolution in the edge at 70mm, but my 24-70 is soft at the center too.

Do you think that it might be a problem of my lens, or am I pixelpeeping too much?

Check for focus adjustment at 70mm.

I made my tests using LiveView, to avoid focus adjustment issues.

Also, zoom lenses tend to be softer at the long end.

It depends on which model of lens, but yes indeed, the Tamron 24-70/2.8 (which is the basis of the Pentax 24-70/2.8) is softer at the long end. But I am wondering whether mine is softer than it should.

Here is what I get. These are 100% crop of the center, focus was made using liveview, and conversion from RAW to JPEG was made by DxO OpticPro 11 with default settings.

Center of the picture at f/2.8

Center of the picture at f/4

Center of the picture at f/6.3