Pentax DA* 50-135mm f2.8 ED (IF) SDM User Review

[Gordon Laing]

Hi Rei, thanks for the additional comparisons...

As Thomas mentioned though, there's what looks like some camera shake in a couple of them. It's not as simple as just using a tripod though. You'll also have to switch off any anti-shake systems as these can actually introduce motion to an image which is perfectly stationary - and you should also use a cable release or self-timer to ensure the shot is taken without touching (and potentially wobbling) the camera.

But even then, there's some really valuable stuff in your examples, which show the new DA* model is far superior to the previous lens. You must be pretty pleased with it! And thanks also for showing us your test shots.

Gordon

[rei_vilo]

Hi Gordon and Tombomba,

Thank you for your feed-back. I really appreciate.

I looked closer at what happened,

• The K10D was on a tripod,
• The shake reduction was off,
• The remote was used with a 3 seconds delay.

So what went wrong?


On portrait mode

I was shooting on portrait mode, so the K10D was on vertical position, attached to the tripod through the socket.

The problem is between the tripod and the K10D. The tripod screw should be very tightly secured into the K10D, otherwise the K10D could rotate due to the heavy lens. For the DA* lens, remember that the gravity centre is no longer located on the K10D but on the lens! So if the head of the tripod is not screwed very firmly into the K10D, it may rotate.


On landscape mode

The same problem may occur in landscape shooting, this time not between the tripod head and the K10D, but at the tripod vertical control that should secured very tightly. Otherwise, the lens could plunge!


EDIT More on this here with pictures!


More collateral damage

Page 62 of the K10D manual stipulates:

When using a telephoto lens, a tripod that is heavier than the total weight of the camera and the lens is recommended to avoid camera shake.

Since the K10D + 50-135mm averages 2 kg / 4.4 lb, does that mean that a 2 kg / 4.4 lb tripod is required?

As another collateral damage (the fisrt one was a bigger bag), a solid and 2 kg / 4.4 lb capable tripod is strongly recommended.

[Thomas]

This is why you see some photographers hang sandbags on the center-column of their tripods...
Beware: Your tripod has to be stable enough to carry this additional weight

[Rune Laugesen]

Great review! This lens really looks good compared to the 50-200, better colors and sharper, and bokeh also looks very good. Will you also be testing the weathersealing

With a 2x teleconverter this seems like a very good lens. Could be nice to see this configuration in use.

[rei_vilo]

Bonsoir,

Here are more details on the DA* 50-135mm.

The lens connectors

We see: 1 more connector on the outer metal ring and 2 more connectors on the inner dark ring. The screw head for focusing remains in the DA*.




The front cap

Left, the DA front cap; right, the DA* front cap, easier to handle.




DA* and DA at 50mm




DA* and DA at 135mm

The DA* doesn't move! By the way, I realize how compact the DA 50-200mm is.




I apologize for the quality of the pictures: they weren't taken with a K10D and a DA* lens

[rei_vilo]

Here are some pictures to ease the explanation (and I guess, the understanding) of the tripod problem, due to the heavy weight of the DA* lens and center of gravity placed on the lens, far from the K10D.


For a landscape picture

The solid red dot shows the center of gravity while the red circle shows the pivot.




For a portrait picture

Same as before, the solid red dot shows the center of gravity while the red circle shows the pivot. I added a red line for the rear of the K10D.




I apologize for the quality of the pictures: they weren't taken with a K10D and a DA* lens

[rei_vilo]

I took another batch of pictures of the cathedral of Chartres with the DA* 50-135mm, before testing the DA* 16-50mm.

I really like how the light is playing with and captured by the stones of the cathedral.
1/180 f4 108mm ISO 100


The wonderful color of tainted glass.
1/30 f2.8 65mm ISO 1600


You could find other pictures of the cathedral of Chartres here.

[rei_vilo]

Another Example of Depth of Field

1/125 f2.8 ISO 100 123mm
with the AF-540FGZ flash used in wireless remote mode




Detail with 600 x 600 center crop: it's sharp



Well, to be honest, this is one nice shot out of a series of ten
However, it was worth the fun, playing with the location of the flash.

[Markh]

I really like the piano shot...

Fantastic depth of field. Nice work!!!

[rei_vilo]

Thanks, Markh

[rei_vilo]

Bonsoir,

On my review, I wrote

Wrap-up

• But this comes at a price, in term of weight and size, which may imply a learning curve, and also a stronger bag .

So I went for a stronger (and bigger) bag

Please find my Lowepro Rezo 190 AW Camera Bag User Review.

Enjoy

[rei_vilo]

Bonjour,

Here are two picture of The Wave Sequence, shot this summer with the burst mode at high speed 1/3000.




Another example of the amazing quality of this lens

[rei_vilo]

There's a new comer to the lens family

See my Pentax smc DA* 60-250mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM User Review

[rei_vilo]

Bonjour,

See how this lens performs on bokeh compared with other DA* lenses.

Please check my Pentax DA* Lenses Bokeh User Review.

[rei_vilo]

Bonjour,

An edited version of this user review is available on my website.

Enjoy