Sample pics from DA*16-50mm and DA* 50-135mm

[istDeS]

Some sample shots from the two new Pentax DA* Lenses.

PENTAX-DA*16-50mm F2.8 ED AL IF SDM
http://nedbunnell.blogspot.com/2007/...-50-shots.html

PENTAX-DA*50-135mm F2.8 ED IF SDM
http://insomnia.cocolog-nifty.com/bl...d379.html#more
http://insomnia.cocolog-nifty.com/bl...post_8474.html

[Zenten]

More interested to know when they are landing on our shores ..........especially the DA60-250mm f4

[Redsun]

Im interested in the price too

[tao]

It looks like these lenses are made by Tokina, especially the 16-50mm F2.8

[Redsun]

well,if thats true,im afraid the 16-50 might have the CA problem too

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by Redsun well,if thats true,im afraid the 16-50 might have the CA problem too

Don't worry, we'll have our Pentax SMC coating on our DA*16-50 which the Tokina version won't have

Besides, I'm sure Pentax are making this lens by themselves, but they (P and T) did design/develope these lenses together

[istDeS]

Originally Posted by tao It looks like these lenses are made by Tokina, especially the 16-50mm F2.8

Pentax and Tokina have some collaboration, but purely develope and design.

I believe Pentax is still making the lens by themselves. That is why limited pieces will be available for the first shipment.

[dnaxe]

Well, you can take heart in the fact that the Pentax 12-24 controls CA better than the Tokina 12-24...

[Redsun]

Originally Posted by dnaxe Well, you can take heart in the fact that the Pentax 12-24 controls CA better than the Tokina 12-24...

That gives us hope that 16-50 Pentax will have better controlled CA than the tokina 1!

[stougard]

Originally Posted by dnaxe Well, you can take heart in the fact that the Pentax 12-24 controls CA better than the Tokina 12-24...

I worked with a Tokina 12-24 nikon mount for 2 years and I never found any issue about CA on this lens. Maybe I was lucky, I don't know, I work mostly with Pentax 14mm now, and it has huge CA problem.

At last I don't really care, there are some very smart filters against CA on Gimp, at the end, you just see nothing.

[dnaxe]

Originally Posted by stougard I worked with a Tokina 12-24 nikon mount for 2 years and I never found any issue about CA on this lens. Maybe I was lucky, I don't know, I work mostly with Pentax 14mm now, and it has huge CA problem. At last I don't really care, there are some very smart filters against CA on Gimp, at the end, you just see nothing.

Hmm.

I just went to look at photozone.de - it's not as obvious as my statement makes it seem (although photozone is obviously not really cross system comparable, it's hard to find another way to compare this)

The Pentax appears to always do better than the Nikon version, but the canon appears to be better than both the nikon and the pentax.

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...ikon/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...24_4/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...24_4/index.htm

So it might just be down to sensors used/image processing done.

On a separate note, the DA 14 appears to do better than the 12-24 in terms of CA, on a K10D.

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...4_28/index.htm

[stougard]

Originally Posted by dnaxe Hmm. I just went to look at photozone.de - it's not as obvious as my statement makes it seem (although photozone is obviously not really cross system comparable, it's hard to find another way to compare this)

I don't agree with Photozone. Anyway, CA is never a big issue. it's quite easy to filter. Nikon Capture remove it and tells you nothing, for Pentax, I use dcraw (who removes nothing), and filters to remove. At the end result is perfect.

[istDeS]

Pentax apologize for running out of stock for the newly released sms PENTAX-DA *50-135lens.

http://www.pentax.co.jp/japan/news/a...070727-01.html

[dnaxe]

Originally Posted by istDeS Pentax apologize for running out of stock for the newly released sms PENTAX-DA *50-135lens. http://www.pentax.co.jp/japan/news/a...070727-01.html

lol.

they really need to stop apologizing for stuff like this...

[creampuff]

They ought to apologize because they are late, late, late in their lens rollout. All the years of cost cutting when the company was in the doldrums some years ago has definitely taken its toll now that they want to ramp up production for a global roll-out. Even my Japanese friend who uses Pentax says that Pentax owners in Japan are increasingly frustrated - he himself hasn't received his DA* 50-135mm yet. It will definitely take a while for them to meet the pent up demand from their ever increasing user base.

As to lens reviews, I take most reviews on lenses with a pinch of salt. There are definitely sample variations and even variations within the same batch, so reviews may give a rough idea of the lens performance and only applicable to the actual lens tested. However it wouldn't be quite objective to expect that whatever test results are applies to all lenses made by the manufacturer. We'd be generalising from a single instance.

That said, the images from the 2 lenses look nice.

[fengwei]

I'm a prime freak, but I'd love to have the DA*16-50 to replace my Sigma 1770 which is a great performer already

Let's wait and see when these DA* babies will come to the town ... and also the Grand Prix K10D!

[istDeS]

Limited pieces of DA* lens should be availabe here in Sep. Hopefully. The Grand Prix K10D will also be here.

[Redsun]

Hi duno if you guys know bout it
Shashinki.com has the grand prix package at 1.9k
and the 50-135 F2.8 at 1.6k

[creampuff]

Originally Posted by Redsun Hi duno if you guys know bout it Shashinki.com has the grand prix package at 1.9k and the 50-135 F2.8 at 1.6k

Not at all surprising. Ballpark price is there but there is definitely a markup as he probably got them from another source. Actually the GP version of the K10D is not that expensive for a limited run item. Another reason to stick to manual focus lenses... saving money

[istDeS]

Originally Posted by Redsun Hi duno if you guys know bout it Shashinki.com has the grand prix package at 1.9k and the 50-135 F2.8 at 1.6k

It's listed in their sites but it is under special order items. That's a hint that they don't have the stocks. It's going to be kinda pre-order from Shashinki.