RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: Old Ephotozine HD PENTAX-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW Review

Monday, November 16, 2015

Old Ephotozine HD PENTAX-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW Review

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-hd-pentax-d-fa--70-200mm-f-2-8-ed-dc-aw-review-27358

Has this lens not yet been released? How come they tested it back to April already? :-o

Comments (17)

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Aspa · 486 weeks ago

It is not released officially, but that does not mean that it exists only as a project on paper. Probably several test series have been produced and sample copies went to testers and some media. Perhaps feedback from these tests forced the delay of the official launch to give a chance for engineers to minor amendments. So it works that way in many cases anyway...

4 replies · active 486 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 486 weeks ago

Wasn't it stupid enough to let the media to review a pre-production lens and published a review as a production one?

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ToetSFX · 486 weeks ago

I agree, this is very unlogical!

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Marco · 486 weeks ago

Probably they optimized the resolution on the edge of the full frame, so there won't be differences from the pre-production to the final design. on apsc. Since the full frame was delayed they took some extra time to optimize the production.

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Aspa · 486 weeks ago

Well, maybe stupid or maybe just accidental. We don't know why new zoom is delayed - it is possible that Ricoh need bigger entrance ad want to show a FF body WITH some lens? 150 - 450 was released already, because system was poor in terms of longer lenses and something like this was badly wanted. 24 - 70 is re-branded Tamron and should be released together with the body. Body was delayed, because of the problems with K-3, but Tamron delivered the lenses on the time and they are available. So, what Ricoh can hold for the day of body premiere? Of course, the 70 - 200 lens...
I don't know of course if above is rigt description of the chain of events, byt is pretty posiible and make some sense. And if I am right the lens is ready, not need any extra re-design and just waiting for The Day. And because people in Ricoh had no idea that body will be delayed - they released samples to reviewers. No mistery there.

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VoiceOfReason · 486 weeks ago

Also, Ephotozine has just ranked the Top 10 Best APS-C Digital SLRs 2015... see No 1 and No 3!!! :D

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VoiceOfReason · 486 weeks ago

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-ap...

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ToetSFX · 486 weeks ago

PENTAX DA * 200 2.8 performs better, ephotozine:
" Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED(IF) SDM: Cons Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED(IF) SDMIt doesn't fit other makes of camera to allow everyone to enjoy this lens."
It is really, very, very sharp.

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petaxfools · 486 weeks ago

Pentax paid for the advertisement. Do you really look at this type of review and believe it? If so I have a bridge for sale. Follow the money to find the answer.....

4 replies · active 485 weeks ago

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ToetSFX · 486 weeks ago

Pentax paid or paid not, I don't care. The lens is amazing sharp, already on 2.8 (with some CA) and 4 (no/less CA). The review is in line with the practice. So if Pentax paid for it, it was worth the money they spent.

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Mike · 486 weeks ago

Do you have this lens, or have you tested this lens? I ask because I want to solely get back to Pentax if/when the K-1 comes out and having got the Sony 70-200/4 G OSS albeit on the ghastly A7r I've found this focal range to be exceedingly useful.

It's a shame it relies on IBIS rather than ILIS, especially for this focal length range and the price at £1849 in the UK is frankly brutal considering. Is the autofocus slow? I accept it may be different on the forthcoming FF body. Fast AF is critical for me having endured over a year of mirrorless now, so dire is that camera I've actually pretty much given up photography.

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ToetSFX · 485 weeks ago

Combination K5IIS and DA* 200 2.8 is amazing (sharp), no AA-filter, low noise, relative high 16 MP etc. AF-speed could be better. May be combination K-1 (36 or 42 MP) and 200 2.8 is a winner. 200 2.8 is FF designed.