joe88's reviews

  • Pentax 55mm f/1.4 SDM SMC DA*

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    wide open even enough sharp, f 2 very sharp, f 2,8 extremely sharp,less CA's
    plastic plastic plastic

    this lens is quite better than my old FA 1.4/50, which I can use
    with very good sharpness from f2.8.

    You'll win one step of aperture and minimize CA's visibly

    much more better than zeiss competitor

    unfortunately too much plastic in construction (therefore only eight points for construction)

    wide open for portraits, f2 even for landscapes f2.8 for documentation. optically 10 full points

    reviewed January 31st, 2015

  • Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR Di Aspherical IF Macro AF

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    big zoom range and extremely sharp betwee 50 and 135mm
    some CA's, sometimes visible

    it is comprehensible that it is very difficult for a manufacturer of lenses to correct image mistakes of such a big zoom range.

    Nevertheless the middle range is phantastic; the extremes of tele and wide angle are still very good, with some CA's. ok. But everybody has a good photo program, nowadays.

    With Phsh 4 or 8 I can eliminate the CA's quickly by a hidden switch. And if I sharpem the extremes additionally, this lens allows me big posters up to 15x20" with a good cam.

    very highly recommended by me.

    reviewed January 3rd, 2015 (purchased for $80)

  • Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2 AF

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    good marco shootings possible, nice colors, high contrast, good sharpness
    long tele range is not so sharp

    this lens has been often "underjudged", inspite of its fine construction. Most of tele zoom have lower results at the high tele ende.

    naturally it is necessary to close the apetrure to f-8-11 and to use a higher ISO range. for sunshine and quick movements optimal to use. If doing this, you'll get phantastic shootings with it.

    the maacr device allows to take nice nice photos with flash and ISO 100 of butterlies.

    very content with it and highly recommended

    reviewed January 3rd, 2015 (purchased for $80)

  • Pentax 28mm f/2.8 AL SMC P-FA

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp lens
    very small CA's wide open

    extremely sharp stopped down a few to f 5.6-11

    love it very much because of its nice colors, high contrast and
    its sharpness.

    this "old" lens is a hot tip. very highly recommended

    reviewed January 3rd, 2015 (purchased for $80)

  • Tamron 2X F AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp 7/5 element AF-converter
    aperture information is done to Pentax cam's

    this is my favorite converter for macro shootings

    if your basic lens is well corrected, you'll get very sharp shootings,
    but I stop down lens for macros or close-ups to f8-11

    For tele shootings of birds f.e. I've developped a trick:
    an additional macro ring with achromatic focal reductor will
    eliminate any CA, stopped down to f8-11, too.

    my high recommendation

    high contrast, good color redition and really sharp photos

    reviewed January 30th, 2015 (purchased for $50)

  • Kenko 2X Teleplus MC7 AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp 7/5 element AF-converter
    very small CA's wide open

    for this low price a very good 2x converter

    nice colors, high contrast and good sharpness

    I've tested it stopped down to f8-11

    very small CA's even with very well corrected lenses.

    similar to Tamron 2x MC 7

    if you'll get very sharp tele-shootings of birds f.e. try to fit a small macro tube with achromatic lens in it (=focal reductor).
    Small CA's will disappear, totally.

    highly recommended - much more better than mc4

    reviewed January 30th, 2015 (purchased for $45)

  • Kenko 2X Teleplus MC7 DG AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp 7/5 element AF-converter
    very small CA's

    very good contrast, nice colors ad good sharpness

    pay attention to stopping down afew to f 8-11 in order to eliminate few CA's

    with well corrected lenses, in this way ver nice photos.

    I've done some expriences with good wide angle lenses:
    By this converter you don't miss a 50 mm macro lens.
    very sharp close ups with it.

    highly recommanded

    reviewed January 30th, 2015 (purchased for $70)

  • Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH MEGA OIS LUMIX G VARIO

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp at f 5,6-8,very nice bokeh, excellent colors
    plastic buidt

    this lens is much more better than 14-42.

    I use it with G-1 and firmware 1.4, because 1.0 is not so sharp.

    Inspite of sensor chip being only half so big as APS-C chip,
    pictures are very charp.an excellent set lens. very high recommended

    nice colors
    very good contrast
    high resolution very small CA's wide open, nearly not visible

    reviewed January 3rd, 2015 (purchased for $100)

  • Samsung 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED II NX

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    excellent set lens, nearly no CA's, very sharp stopped down to f 8
    wide open a few week in the corners, the AF slow in darkness (perhaps a cam problem)

    the image resolution with 20 MP and improved sharpness in menue is really impressive.I never had so sharp digital images.

    excellent color rendition, very nice bokeh and high contrast.

    very content with my item.

    reviewed July 25th, 2014 (purchased for $100)

  • Pentax 35mm f/2.4 AL SMC DA

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    extremely sharp single lens
    plastic buildt

    this is a hot tip for engaged photographers.

    between f 4 and f 5,6 it reaches highest possible sharpness.

    I'm very impressed by color rendition, contrast and finest contours

    Even in the edges/corners very high sharpness.

    My close-ups of fowers: each shooting a feast for my eyes.

    really excellent. very highly recommended

    reviewed June 20th, 2014 (purchased for $130)

  • Pentax 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SMC P-DA

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp between 24 and 55 mm, high contrast, good colors
    some CA's on wide angle 18mm

    for a kit lens an excellent zoom lens, but you must know, how to use it.18 mm I use only for close ups of flowers, not for object far distant because of CA's in the corners. My aperture choice is f4.5

    24mm - sharp in the corners,too and scarcely CA's

    35mm -very sharp wide open, but I take photos between f 4,5 and 5,6 no CA's (35mm are best corrected)

    45mm my favorite aperture is f8

    for 55mm I take f11.sharp up to the corners and better resolution than 1.4/50 in the corners. oh - you must change proram in k-x k30 k5 etc."elíminate CA's!! very important.

    with this lens you can get huge posters, when sharpening and interpolating after with PhSh

    reviewed April 27th, 2014

  • Pentax 50mm f/1.8 SMC DA

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    from f2,8 very sharp, f 4-5.6 extremely sharp shootings possible
    nothing

    one of the best lenses, PENTAX ever has buildt.

    phantastic sharpness even from f2.8 to f 6,7

    excellent bokeh, very high contrast, very nice colors

    nearly no CA's even in extreme situations of bright light (tree against sunset) with f 6,7

    I use it for macro with converter (f8-11) and star shootings (f,2.8)

    very content with it. another league than previous lenses.

    And they were still very good.for this low price a real highlight

    competitors of other brands are overjured in German tests
    without any reasons (perhaps sponsored?) inspite this Pentax lens is quite similar or better neraly wide open in the corners!

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $130)

  • Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR Aspherical IF Macro AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    big zoom range, sharp photos, 135mm very sharp with f11 and additional macro ring
    plastic body

    a very good zoom lens for travelling, sports, family etc.

    good sharpness,high contrast,nice colors, some few CA's on both extreme ends wide open, but they can be reduced by stopping down a few (and the rest by PhSh)

    135mm with f11 and macro ring:best results very sharp
    macro shootings with this lens possible

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $100)

  • Tamron 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 AF

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp wide angle zoom lens,high contrast,a lens for big posters
    some few CA's (negligable)

    I use ist for 35mm and digital (Pentax k-x,k200).

    you must stop down this lens to f8-11, you'll discover it's highly performed sharpness. I use it between 400 and 800 ISO.

    After sharpening and interpolating big posters are possible.

    very content with it, because nearly no distorsion.

    an excellent lens. I've bought some items for school for my pupils
    in digital photography class

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $65)

  • Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    really sharp lens, stopped down a few very sharp
    some CA's

    for this low price good sharpness, stopped down to f 8-11 very sharp,

    nice colors, high contrast, but some few CA's (must be eliminated with PHSh for bigger prints)

    with achromatic macro glass on the top of it and f11 good macro shootings possible

    no distorsion remarkable on wide angle

    therefore 9 points

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $45)

  • Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC

    6 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharp lens in center, good macro
    some visible CA's, corners not so sharp

    not excellent, but not bad;too

    a simple build zoom for beginners, for prints up to 8x10"

    some CA's, weak in the corners

    it must be closed to f8-11

    pentax 18-55 is nearly full open much mor sharper, especially in the corners. red fringings wide ope with 18mm

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $60)

  • Sigma 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical IF Macro

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    big zoom range, sharp photos, 135mm very sharp with f8-11 for close-ups
    some visible CA's, corners not so sharp

    good sharpness, stopped down to f 8-11

    extreme wide angle and tele some CA's

    ideal for trips;family feasts

    best results between 50 and 135mm, very sharp with f9.5

    very good contrast and color transmission stopped down.

    wide open a few weak

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $65)

  • Sigma 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 DG Macro

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    really sharp lens,nice colors,good cotrast stopped down a few
    plastic body and CA's

    very similar to Tamron's equivalent.

    naturally, such a lens is not so sharp as a single lens, dued to
    this enormous zoom range;it is ok.

    wide ope a few weak, but stopped down to f11 really sharp
    and high contrast.

    I am content with it.CA's must be eliminated and sharpness could be improved by PhSh

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $70)

  • Vivitar 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Series 1 AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp zoom lens
    some few CA's, but not to much

    very usefull,not expensive,high optic performance

    this is a nearly excellent zoom lens for this low price.

    I stop down to f11 and use 400 ISO for very sharp photos up to the corners.

    very content with my item

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $85)

  • Vivitar 28-210mm f/4.2-6.5 Series 1 AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very easy to use and best photos for this big zoom range
    some few CA's on tele 200mm

    I love it.As teacher of digital phtography I had the opportunity to buy a lot of lenses.Among them this lens.

    Highly recommanded because of very good sharpness
    between 35 and 150 mm approx.good color saturation and high contrast, when stopped down to f 11

    small CA's

    Inspite 200 mm are sharp enough, 9 points, because between 100 and 150 mm you can use it with macro ring for macro shootings.

    reviewed April 27th, 2014 (purchased for $55)

  • Pentax 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II SMC DA

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp if stopped down a few
    very small CA's

    for a kit lens a very good lens. High contrast and nice colors,
    I tested it wide open and stopped down to f8. I compared
    with a tree photo against the sky (without leaves).Between 24 and 55 corners are very sharp,too.

    In combination with k-x CA's disappearing nearly totally.

    reviewed January 31st, 2014 (purchased for $50)

  • Pentax 100-300mm f/4.7-5.8 SMC P-FA

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp and few CA's
    for telephoto converter resolution not so good

    normally, telephoto zooms are not so sharp on 300mm, but not this Pentax lens.

    f8-11 and 800 ISO on K-X very sharp and nice colored shootings

    I'a very content with it. highly recommended

    reviewed January 31st, 2014 (purchased for $100)

  • Pentax 50mm f/1.4 SMC P-FA

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    very, very sharp stopped down a few
    few CA's open and stopped down a few

    For portraits optimal

    I use it for astronomic photography, too.

    colors, contrast and sharpness very nice.

    Best sharpness on f4.My best lens.

    Highly recommended

    reviewed January 31st, 2014 (purchased for $100)

  • Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 AF 193

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp wide angle zoom
    few CA's

    when stopped down to f8-11, sharpness is really high.

    beautiful colors and bokeh

    reviewed January 31st, 2014 (purchased for $130)

  • Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 AF Macro

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    very sharp macro lens, CA's nearly none
    plastic construction

    for the very low price phantastic results.

    macro shootings with f11 are very sharp

    reviewed January 31st, 2014 (purchased for $70)

  • Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

    6 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharp in centre
    wide open wide angle not so sharp in the corners; CA's

    suitable for portraits, for my taste wide open too much CA's on extreme wide angle, not so good for architecture, good lens, but not an excellent one

    reviewed January 31st, 2014 (purchased for $350)