Pentax SMC DA* 60-250mm f4 ED (IF) SDM is a STAR!

There should be a bit of a revival for this lens now that the K-3 Mark III is out and fully matured. For the price, I found it to be the best overall zoom lens for action subjects for continuous AF (BIF for example) of several lenses I've tested. But it's got a lot of other things going for it too.

Tracking:

Once it's locked on, it tracks tenaciously in CAF with the K3/III and produces very consistent results with a high keeper rate. The key here is consistency and reliability. Which it has in spades paired with the awesome K-3 Mark III. I'll trade top end focus speed for those two traits any day of the week, including the extra day on leap year. Keeper rates are very high, in fact that's quite annoying because it just means I more post processing work/decision making after a shoot.

As they say, it's a good problem to have.

It may take a bit of time to rack the entire focus range end to end (which is why some claim its slower to focus), but most subjects will be out in the 10% extreme end of focusing. Mix that with the K-3's ability to supercharge this lens (indeed it focuses faster than my K5II). Ultimate focusing speed then, like the 55-300mm PLM for example, is not necessary. It's a winner for action work, and you don't have to stop down either.

Optics:

Optically, they really don't get better in this class, even wide open its fantastic through the range and at f/5.6 it's ridiculously sharp corner to corner, no bad traits! Add that Pentax has given you a bit of extra room to work with on the wide (60 vs. 70) and tele end (250 vs 200) as a nice bonus compared to the competition 70-200mm f/4 lenses.

There's no vignetting on APS-C, no CA to speak of, its tack sharp from end to end, and has decent close focus. Bokeh its gorgeous too, making this lens highly versatile on APS-C, and a gem workhorse for full frame work. The optics are definitely good enough to resolve the highest MP sensors up too and beyond 2023.

Handling and Build:

It handles great, its weighty enough to be a stable platform but not uncomfortable for all day hand carry. It's mechanical quality is top notch, lots of metal here, a typical DA* pro build w with top notch weather sealing. The zoom and focus rings feel sublime, and there's no creeping. A neat design feature is that the tripod mount foot can be removed while still leaving the rotating collar in place (its a nice aesthetic touch for those who like to hand hold).

It's a Wrap:

Used (and new holiday) prices are insane good on this lens, and its an incredible value.

This is a killer lens for the K-Mount and an especially fantastic companion for the K-3 Mark III. Really good on the K1 class bodies. Its better than the typical 70-200 f/4 class lenses with bonus additional focal length, better weather sealing, and a unique tripod collar design.

The overall performance, versatility, and it's great prices these days makes it easily a 5 star recommendation.

3Percent wrote:

There should be a bit of a revival for this lens now that the K-3 Mark III is out and fully matured. For the price, I found it to be the best overall zoom lens for action subjects for continuous AF (BIF for example) of several lenses I've tested. But it's got a lot of other things going for it too.

Tracking:

Once it's locked on, it tracks tenaciously in CAF with the K3/III and produces very consistent results with a high keeper rate. The key here is consistency and reliability. Which it has in spades paired with the awesome K-3 Mark III. I'll trade top end focus speed for those two traits any day of the week, including the extra day on leap year. Keeper rates are very high, in fact that's quite annoying because it just means I more post processing work/decision making after a shoot.

As they say, it's a good problem to have.

It may take a bit of time to rack the entire focus range end to end (which is why some claim its slower to focus), but most subjects will be out in the 10% extreme end of focusing. Mix that with the K-3's ability to supercharge this lens (indeed it focuses faster than my K5II). Ultimate focusing speed then, like the 55-300mm PLM for example, is not necessary. It's a winner for action work, and you don't have to stop down either.

Optics:

Optically, they really don't get better in this class, even wide open its fantastic through the range and at f/5.6 it's ridiculously sharp corner to corner, no bad traits! Add that Pentax has given you a bit of extra room to work with on the wide (60 vs. 70) and tele end (250 vs 200) as a nice bonus compared to the competition 70-200mm f/4 lenses.

There's no vignetting on APS-C, no CA to speak of, its tack sharp from end to end, and has decent close focus. Bokeh its gorgeous too, making this lens highly versatile on APS-C, and a gem workhorse for full frame work. The optics are definitely good enough to resolve the highest MP sensors up too and beyond 2023.

Handling and Build:

It handles great, its weighty enough to be a stable platform but not uncomfortable for all day hand carry. It's mechanical quality is top notch, lots of metal here, a typical DA* pro build w with top notch weather sealing. The zoom and focus rings feel sublime, and there's no creeping. A neat design feature is that the tripod mount foot can be removed while still leaving the rotating collar in place (its a nice aesthetic touch for those who like to hand hold).

It's a Wrap:

Used (and new holiday) prices are insane good on this lens, and its an incredible value.

This is a killer lens for the K-Mount and an especially fantastic companion for the K-3 Mark III. Really good on the K1 class bodies. Its better than the typical 70-200 f/4 class lenses with bonus additional focal length, better weather sealing, and a unique tripod collar design.

The overall performance, versatility, and it's great prices these days makes it easily a 5 star recommendation.

Great review mate.

I have always wanted that lens, but the price has always remained too high (when coupled with the nagging worry about reported SDM failure).

I would jump on an updated version with a PLM AF motor in a heartbeat!

Hoping that the "Mystery Zoom" on the lens road map is a 60-300 f/4 though, if that's the case my money will be going there.

PentUp wrote:

3Percent wrote:

There should be a bit of a revival for this lens now that the K-3 Mark III is out and fully matured. For the price, I found it to be the best overall zoom lens for action subjects for continuous AF (BIF for example) of several lenses I've tested. But it's got a lot of other things going for it too.

Tracking:

Once it's locked on, it tracks tenaciously in CAF with the K3/III and produces very consistent results with a high keeper rate. The key here is consistency and reliability. Which it has in spades paired with the awesome K-3 Mark III. I'll trade top end focus speed for those two traits any day of the week, including the extra day on leap year. Keeper rates are very high, in fact that's quite annoying because it just means I more post processing work/decision making after a shoot.

As they say, it's a good problem to have.

It may take a bit of time to rack the entire focus range end to end (which is why some claim its slower to focus), but most subjects will be out in the 10% extreme end of focusing. Mix that with the K-3's ability to supercharge this lens (indeed it focuses faster than my K5II). Ultimate focusing speed then, like the 55-300mm PLM for example, is not necessary. It's a winner for action work, and you don't have to stop down either.

Optics:

Optically, they really don't get better in this class, even wide open its fantastic through the range and at f/5.6 it's ridiculously sharp corner to corner, no bad traits! Add that Pentax has given you a bit of extra room to work with on the wide (60 vs. 70) and tele end (250 vs 200) as a nice bonus compared to the competition 70-200mm f/4 lenses.

There's no vignetting on APS-C, no CA to speak of, its tack sharp from end to end, and has decent close focus. Bokeh its gorgeous too, making this lens highly versatile on APS-C, and a gem workhorse for full frame work. The optics are definitely good enough to resolve the highest MP sensors up too and beyond 2023.

Handling and Build:

It handles great, its weighty enough to be a stable platform but not uncomfortable for all day hand carry. It's mechanical quality is top notch, lots of metal here, a typical DA* pro build w with top notch weather sealing. The zoom and focus rings feel sublime, and there's no creeping. A neat design feature is that the tripod mount foot can be removed while still leaving the rotating collar in place (its a nice aesthetic touch for those who like to hand hold).

It's a Wrap:

Used (and new holiday) prices are insane good on this lens, and its an incredible value.

This is a killer lens for the K-Mount and an especially fantastic companion for the K-3 Mark III. Really good on the K1 class bodies. Its better than the typical 70-200 f/4 class lenses with bonus additional focal length, better weather sealing, and a unique tripod collar design.

The overall performance, versatility, and it's great prices these days makes it easily a 5 star recommendation.

Great review mate.

Thank you sir!

I have always wanted that lens, but the price has always remained too high (when coupled with the nagging worry about reported SDM failure).

Prices are about 500-600 for a really good used copy, and new Ricoh has cut that down to $999. Not bad at all. SDM: To date I haven't heard this issue at least with this lens, I think I recall that one of the worst was the 50-135mm f/2.8 but don't quote me on that.

I would jump on an updated version with a PLM AF motor in a heartbeat!

PLM is limited unfortunately by its design/nature. It can only move lighter optical elements that quick. I'm no lens designer, but I do know it is a limiting factor in how many lenses that kind of focusing can be used.

Hoping that the "Mystery Zoom" on the lens road map is a 60-300 f/4 though, if that's the case my money will be going there.

I'd love a 50-400mm f/4 personally. Then a 1.4x telecon brings it to 70-560mm f/5.6 equivalent, before any crop factor. That's getting nasty good for action/field work, and the lens could be designed to still be light and small enough for reasonable amounts of hand carry. Constant f/4 lenses are my favorite, bright enough to be considered bright, compatible with telecons, and smaller and less expensive without sacrificing optical quality. In fact many f/4 lenses are just as sharp as the most expensive f/2.8 lenses.

3Percent wrote:

PentUp wrote:

3Percent wrote:

There should be a bit of a revival for this lens now that the K-3 Mark III is out and fully matured. For the price, I found it to be the best overall zoom lens for action subjects for continuous AF (BIF for example) of several lenses I've tested. But it's got a lot of other things going for it too.

Tracking:

Once it's locked on, it tracks tenaciously in CAF with the K3/III and produces very consistent results with a high keeper rate. The key here is consistency and reliability. Which it has in spades paired with the awesome K-3 Mark III. I'll trade top end focus speed for those two traits any day of the week, including the extra day on leap year. Keeper rates are very high, in fact that's quite annoying because it just means I more post processing work/decision making after a shoot.

As they say, it's a good problem to have.

It may take a bit of time to rack the entire focus range end to end (which is why some claim its slower to focus), but most subjects will be out in the 10% extreme end of focusing. Mix that with the K-3's ability to supercharge this lens (indeed it focuses faster than my K5II). Ultimate focusing speed then, like the 55-300mm PLM for example, is not necessary. It's a winner for action work, and you don't have to stop down either.

Optics:

Optically, they really don't get better in this class, even wide open its fantastic through the range and at f/5.6 it's ridiculously sharp corner to corner, no bad traits! Add that Pentax has given you a bit of extra room to work with on the wide (60 vs. 70) and tele end (250 vs 200) as a nice bonus compared to the competition 70-200mm f/4 lenses.

There's no vignetting on APS-C, no CA to speak of, its tack sharp from end to end, and has decent close focus. Bokeh its gorgeous too, making this lens highly versatile on APS-C, and a gem workhorse for full frame work. The optics are definitely good enough to resolve the highest MP sensors up too and beyond 2023.

Handling and Build:

It handles great, its weighty enough to be a stable platform but not uncomfortable for all day hand carry. It's mechanical quality is top notch, lots of metal here, a typical DA* pro build w with top notch weather sealing. The zoom and focus rings feel sublime, and there's no creeping. A neat design feature is that the tripod mount foot can be removed while still leaving the rotating collar in place (its a nice aesthetic touch for those who like to hand hold).

It's a Wrap:

Used (and new holiday) prices are insane good on this lens, and its an incredible value.

This is a killer lens for the K-Mount and an especially fantastic companion for the K-3 Mark III. Really good on the K1 class bodies. Its better than the typical 70-200 f/4 class lenses with bonus additional focal length, better weather sealing, and a unique tripod collar design.

The overall performance, versatility, and it's great prices these days makes it easily a 5 star recommendation.

Great review mate.

Thank you sir!

I have always wanted that lens, but the price has always remained too high (when coupled with the nagging worry about reported SDM failure).

Prices are about 500-600 for a really good used copy, and new Ricoh has cut that down to $999. Not bad at all.

unfortunately they retail for a fair bit more than that down here…

https://www.leedervillecameras.com.au/pentax-da-60-250mm-f4-ed-sdm-lens/

SDM: To date I haven't heard this issue at least with this lens, I think I recall that one of the worst was the 50-135mm f/2.8 but don't quote me on that.

I would jump on an updated version with a PLM AF motor in a heartbeat!

PLM is limited unfortunately by its design/nature. It can only move lighter optical elements that quick. I'm no lens designer, but I do know it is a limiting factor in how many lenses that kind of focusing can be used.

Hoping that the "Mystery Zoom" on the lens road map is a 60-300 f/4 though, if that's the case my money will be going there.

I'd love a 50-400mm f/4 personally. Then a 1.4x telecon brings it to 70-560mm f/5.6 equivalent, before any crop factor. That's getting nasty good for action/field work, and the lens could be designed to still be light and small enough for reasonable amounts of hand carry. Constant f/4 lenses are my favorite, bright enough to be considered bright, compatible with telecons, and smaller and less expensive without sacrificing optical quality. In fact many f/4 lenses are just as sharp as the most expensive f/2.8 lenses.

Absolutely!

PentUp wrote:

3Percent wrote:

PentUp wrote:

3Percent wrote:

There should be a bit of a revival for this lens now that the K-3 Mark III is out and fully matured. For the price, I found it to be the best overall zoom lens for action subjects for continuous AF (BIF for example) of several lenses I've tested. But it's got a lot of other things going for it too.

Tracking:

Once it's locked on, it tracks tenaciously in CAF with the K3/III and produces very consistent results with a high keeper rate. The key here is consistency and reliability. Which it has in spades paired with the awesome K-3 Mark III. I'll trade top end focus speed for those two traits any day of the week, including the extra day on leap year. Keeper rates are very high, in fact that's quite annoying because it just means I more post processing work/decision making after a shoot.

As they say, it's a good problem to have.

It may take a bit of time to rack the entire focus range end to end (which is why some claim its slower to focus), but most subjects will be out in the 10% extreme end of focusing. Mix that with the K-3's ability to supercharge this lens (indeed it focuses faster than my K5II). Ultimate focusing speed then, like the 55-300mm PLM for example, is not necessary. It's a winner for action work, and you don't have to stop down either.

Optics:

Optically, they really don't get better in this class, even wide open its fantastic through the range and at f/5.6 it's ridiculously sharp corner to corner, no bad traits! Add that Pentax has given you a bit of extra room to work with on the wide (60 vs. 70) and tele end (250 vs 200) as a nice bonus compared to the competition 70-200mm f/4 lenses.

There's no vignetting on APS-C, no CA to speak of, its tack sharp from end to end, and has decent close focus. Bokeh its gorgeous too, making this lens highly versatile on APS-C, and a gem workhorse for full frame work. The optics are definitely good enough to resolve the highest MP sensors up too and beyond 2023.

Handling and Build:

It handles great, its weighty enough to be a stable platform but not uncomfortable for all day hand carry. It's mechanical quality is top notch, lots of metal here, a typical DA* pro build w with top notch weather sealing. The zoom and focus rings feel sublime, and there's no creeping. A neat design feature is that the tripod mount foot can be removed while still leaving the rotating collar in place (its a nice aesthetic touch for those who like to hand hold).

It's a Wrap:

Used (and new holiday) prices are insane good on this lens, and its an incredible value.

This is a killer lens for the K-Mount and an especially fantastic companion for the K-3 Mark III. Really good on the K1 class bodies. Its better than the typical 70-200 f/4 class lenses with bonus additional focal length, better weather sealing, and a unique tripod collar design.

The overall performance, versatility, and it's great prices these days makes it easily a 5 star recommendation.

Great review mate.

Thank you sir!

I have always wanted that lens, but the price has always remained too high (when coupled with the nagging worry about reported SDM failure).

Prices are about 500-600 for a really good used copy, and new Ricoh has cut that down to $999. Not bad at all.

unfortunately they retail for a fair bit more than that down here…

https://www.leedervillecameras.com.au/pentax-da-60-250mm-f4-ed-sdm-lens/

Ahh you are down undah... got it. Not sure if any of the used sites would ship to the "AU" but it might be worth looking into (MPB for example). Ebay could  be your friend too, some really good Japanese sellers out there have high quality gear for low prices.

SDM: To date I haven't heard this issue at least with this lens, I think I recall that one of the worst was the 50-135mm f/2.8 but don't quote me on that.

I would jump on an updated version with a PLM AF motor in a heartbeat!

PLM is limited unfortunately by its design/nature. It can only move lighter optical elements that quick. I'm no lens designer, but I do know it is a limiting factor in how many lenses that kind of focusing can be used.

Hoping that the "Mystery Zoom" on the lens road map is a 60-300 f/4 though, if that's the case my money will be going there.

I'd love a 50-400mm f/4 personally. Then a 1.4x telecon brings it to 70-560mm f/5.6 equivalent, before any crop factor. That's getting nasty good for action/field work, and the lens could be designed to still be light and small enough for reasonable amounts of hand carry. Constant f/4 lenses are my favorite, bright enough to be considered bright, compatible with telecons, and smaller and less expensive without sacrificing optical quality. In fact many f/4 lenses are just as sharp as the most expensive f/2.8 lenses.

Absolutely!

You're not helping the cause.

I have this lens in my B&H wishlist. MPB also has a used one for about $564. I've been wanting this lens for the longest, but I've been holding off in hopes of there being a revamped version in the future with a newer DC, PLM, or SDM motor. I don't care which one as long as it's reliable & focuses a bit more faster. However, Ricoh has officially discontinued this lens, making me wonder if there will ever be a revamped version of it or if they plan on releasing a new DA* lens with a similar focal range. That or they don't do either. You never know with Ricoh....

I'm still waiting on that DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 PLM that's supposedly in the works.

But yeah. I'm having a first world problem. Hahaha!

The Squirrel Mafia wrote:

You're not helping the cause.

LOL sorry

I have this lens in my B&H wishlist. MPB also has a used one for about $564. I've been wanting this lens for the longest, but I've been holding off in hopes of there being a revamped version in the future with a newer DC, PLM, or SDM motor. I don't care which one as long as it's reliable & focuses a bit more faster. However, Ricoh has officially discontinued this lens,

I wasn't aware they discontinued it. It's on their website still and being sold new at many retailers here in the US.

making me wonder if there will ever be a revamped version of it or if they plan on releasing a new DA* lens with a similar focal range. That or they don't do either. You never know with Ricoh....

I'm still waiting on that DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 PLM that's supposedly in the works.

But yeah. I'm having a first world problem. Hahaha!

I'm sure Ricoh are aware they need some fast focusing (moderately priced) modern AF lenses for the K-3 Mark III. I wouldn't doubt it if the product manager has been screaming from the rafters for quite some time now to let some budget go for this need.

3Percent wrote:

I wasn't aware they discontinued it. It's on their website still and being sold new at many retailers here in the US.

https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/lens/index_list_others.html

^ Ricoh announced the discontinuation a few weeks ago. It's still being sold, but more than likely it's the last of the remaining stock. I really do hope that a replacement will come, but there are some that think no replacement is coming. I guess we'll see what Ricoh does in the future.

The Squirrel Mafia wrote:

3Percent wrote:

I wasn't aware they discontinued it. It's on their website still and being sold new at many retailers here in the US.

https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/lens/index_list_others.html

^ Ricoh announced the discontinuation a few weeks ago. It's still being sold, but more than likely it's the last of the remaining stock. I really do hope that a replacement will come, but there are some that think no replacement is coming. I guess we'll see what Ricoh does in the future.

Ah okay so fairly recent. Yeah I hope they replace it with something else, I'm not a fan of the rebadged Tamron 70-210mm f/4 they offer now (continuous AF issues). It's a nervous lens for CAF, otherwise quite good.

I agree! This is a very sharp lens. I had it on a K-3, and feared I would have to trade it when I switched to the K-1.

Then I saw a video on YouTube. Apparently the optics are designed for full frame, but Pentax put a baffle in the back of the lens to "neck down" the image circle. Following instructions on the video, I cut out the baffle and now I have a very nice lens for full frame. Moderate vignetting is easily correctable in post processing. If you do this, you will also find the stock lens hood is too long for full frame use. I just leave it off.

Thanks for the review!

stsimmer wrote:

I agree! This is a very sharp lens. I had it on a K-3, and feared I would have to trade it when I switched to the K-1.

Then I saw a video on YouTube. Apparently the optics are designed for full frame, but Pentax put a baffle in the back of the lens to "neck down" the image circle. Following instructions on the video, I cut out the baffle and now I have a very nice lens for full frame. Moderate vignetting is easily correctable in post processing. If you do this, you will also find the stock lens hood is too long for full frame use. I just leave it off.

Thanks for the review!

Very interesting on the baffle, etc.

And my pleasure!

3Percent wrote:

There should be a bit of a revival for this lens now that the K-3 Mark III is out and fully matured. For the price, I found it to be the best overall zoom lens for action subjects for continuous AF (BIF for example) of several lenses I've tested. But it's got a lot of other things going for it too.

Tracking:

Once it's locked on, it tracks tenaciously in CAF with the K3/III and produces very consistent results with a high keeper rate. The key here is consistency and reliability. Which it has in spades paired with the awesome K-3 Mark III. I'll trade top end focus speed for those two traits any day of the week, including the extra day on leap year. Keeper rates are very high, in fact that's quite annoying because it just means I more post processing work/decision making after a shoot.

As they say, it's a good problem to have.

It may take a bit of time to rack the entire focus range end to end (which is why some claim its slower to focus), but most subjects will be out in the 10% extreme end of focusing. Mix that with the K-3's ability to supercharge this lens (indeed it focuses faster than my K5II). Ultimate focusing speed then, like the 55-300mm PLM for example, is not necessary. It's a winner for action work, and you don't have to stop down either.

Optics:

Optically, they really don't get better in this class, even wide open its fantastic through the range and at f/5.6 it's ridiculously sharp corner to corner, no bad traits! Add that Pentax has given you a bit of extra room to work with on the wide (60 vs. 70) and tele end (250 vs 200) as a nice bonus compared to the competition 70-200mm f/4 lenses.

There's no vignetting on APS-C, no CA to speak of, its tack sharp from end to end, and has decent close focus. Bokeh its gorgeous too, making this lens highly versatile on APS-C, and a gem workhorse for full frame work. The optics are definitely good enough to resolve the highest MP sensors up too and beyond 2023.

Handling and Build:

It handles great, its weighty enough to be a stable platform but not uncomfortable for all day hand carry. It's mechanical quality is top notch, lots of metal here, a typical DA* pro build w with top notch weather sealing. The zoom and focus rings feel sublime, and there's no creeping. A neat design feature is that the tripod mount foot can be removed while still leaving the rotating collar in place (its a nice aesthetic touch for those who like to hand hold).

It's a Wrap:

Used (and new holiday) prices are insane good on this lens, and its an incredible value.

This is a killer lens for the K-Mount and an especially fantastic companion for the K-3 Mark III. Really good on the K1 class bodies. Its better than the typical 70-200 f/4 class lenses with bonus additional focal length, better weather sealing, and a unique tripod collar design.

The overall performance, versatility, and it's great prices these days makes it easily a 5 star recommendation.

I agree with the above. I've been using this lens since 2016. It is a great performer on my K-3 and even better on my K-3 III. In 2018 I acquired a Pentax 1.4x HD PENTAX-DA AF Rear Converter AW. It's a great combo that gives you 350mm. I shoot a lot of boat racing every summer and the extra reach is nice. Here are a few examples from this lens / teleconverter combo on my K-3 III. They are all crops from the original images.

A well-written review! However, I will never play the SDM lottery, and am very satisfied with the D-FA 70-210 on my K-1. I can see the appeal of the extra range of the 60-250, however.

The Squirrel Mafia wrote:

You're not helping the cause.

I have this lens in my B&H wishlist. MPB also has a used one for about $564. I've been wanting this lens for the longest, but I've been holding off in hopes of there being a revamped version in the future with a newer DC, PLM, or SDM motor. I don't care which one as long as it's reliable & focuses a bit more faster. However, Ricoh has officially discontinued this lens, making me wonder if there will ever be a revamped version of it or if they plan on releasing a new DA* lens with a similar focal range. That or they don't do either. You never know with Ricoh....

I'm still waiting on that DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 PLM that's supposedly in the works.

But yeah. I'm having a first world problem. Hahaha!

I purchased my DA* 60-250 in April of 2016 and have had zero issues with it. It's my go to lens for racing weekends. I usually end up with 8000 to 10000 shots per weekend with this lens. It's probably shot 150,000 images so far.

I have this lens, bought used got sheet with the extensive repairs done on the lens, the original owner must have had a mishap with it. It's a beautiful lens and one that I might even pick up another as backup..

Brentliris wrote:

I have this lens, bought used got sheet with the extensive repairs done on the lens, the original owner must have had a mishap with it. It's a beautiful lens and one that I might even pick up another as backup..

Not a bad investment. The percentage of SDM failures with this lens is very low compared to some others. The K-3III really breathes new life into the whole lineup, not just this lens. But I'm a big fan of this one for sure.

klimbkat wrote:

I use the DA* 60-250 on FF and debated cutting the baffle six years ago when this first came up, but since i use it for shooting portraits and concerts where the edges simply don't matter, it works fine. Ditto the lens hood. It is a great performer on the K1 - I suppose I should try it on the K3iii

Try the Tamron 70-200/2.8 or Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSMII for such shootings.. you'll be surprised.

F6.3 and ISO6400..

3Percent wrote:

Brentliris wrote:

I have this lens, bought used got sheet with the extensive repairs done on the lens, the original owner must have had a mishap with it. It's a beautiful lens and one that I might even pick up another as backup..

Not a bad investment. The percentage of SDM failures with this lens is very low compared to some others. The K-3III really breathes new life into the whole lineup, not just this lens. But I'm a big fan of this one for sure.

Improper use of statistic. There were much less 60-250/4 lenses sold when compared to 17-70/4, 16-50/2.8 and 50-125/2.8. So it seems that there were less SDM failures. Same applies for DA*200/2.8 and DA*300/4.

An example

you sell  200x 17-70/4 lens and you have 20 fails

you sell 10x 60-250/4 lens and you have 1 fail

Which has lower failure percentage?

xmeda wrote:

3Percent wrote:

Brentliris wrote:

I have this lens, bought used got sheet with the extensive repairs done on the lens, the original owner must have had a mishap with it. It's a beautiful lens and one that I might even pick up another as backup..

Not a bad investment. The percentage of SDM failures with this lens is very low compared to some others. The K-3III really breathes new life into the whole lineup, not just this lens. But I'm a big fan of this one for sure.

Improper use of statistic.

Not according to Adam at pentaxforums.com, it was about the percentages of ownership, not the total amount of failures.

There were much less 60-250/4 lenses sold when compared to 17-70/4, 16-50/2.8 and 50-125/2.8. So it seems that there were less SDM failures. Same applies for DA*200/2.8 and DA*300/4.

An example

you sell 200x 17-70/4 lens and you have 20 fails

you sell 10x 60-250/4 lens and you have 1 fail

Which has lower failure percentage?