grim grimsson's reviews

  • Pentax 50mm f/1.4 SMC P-FA

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Cheap,
    Soft wide open

    This lens is reasonably sharp from f2.8, but at wide open it is a bit soft. It is cheap, and for the price it is a good lens. If the extra cost is no issue, I prefer the 40mm limited lens, which is better in any aspect.

    reviewed June 30th, 2008 (purchased for $300)

  • Pentax 40mm f/2.8 Limited SMC P-DA

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, lightweight, fast
    none

    A lens that is fun to use. It is lightweight, I can really feel the difference from other lenses I have when carrying the camera around. It can fit in the pocket as an extra lens without carrying a bag for the equipment.

    It is fast, and sharp all the way to the border from wide open. Colours are rendered well.

    Very solid construction.

    reviewed June 30th, 2008 (purchased for $300)

  • Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    useful focal lenght
    slow

    17 - 70 mm is a very useful focal range. Compared to other normal zoom lenses you gain extra range. It is not as fast as the best 18-50 or 28-70 lenses, actually f2.8 is available only when zoomed out. I purchased this lens a year ago instead of 18-50mm/28-70mm because I wanted the extra range, and I would have done the same today

    A bit soft wide open, you don't need to stop down much for it to be reasonably sharp.

    Build quality is very good.

    reviewed June 30th, 2008 (purchased for $500)

  • Pentax 35mm f/2 AL SMC P-FA

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Usable focal length, light, fast, good IQ
    bokeh

    This lens is fast and with good sharpness from f2, even in borders. It is in my opinion lightweight. Even though not the most solid lens built it is tough enough :)

    Since Pentax also has a 40mm Ltd and now a 35mm macro, this one seems forgotten. IQ on this one is just as good as the 40mm Ltd, so this is the right choice if the advantage it offers with an extra stop is important

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $280)

  • Pentax 70mm f/2.4 Limited SMC DA

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, fast, bokeh
    none (that I am able to discover)

    Very good portrait lens, people do not feel intimidated by it's size. Sharp with fast and precise autofocus. Lightweight but still solid construction. A lens that I use more and more as I discover how good it is. Bought it as a portrait lens, but now I bring it almost everywhere I go.

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $400)

  • Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM SMC DA*

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Well built, nice color rendition, sharp, AF both quick and quiet
    Heavy, some vigneting and distortion in wide end

    The lens operates smooth, and AF on my K10D is fast and precise. I was worried about the back focusing that I have read much about. It did back focus, then most my lenses have done all the time. Downloaded the debug software and adjusted the focus. Now all my lenses are much better, and this one hits perfect almost every time.

    reviewed May 8th, 2009 (purchased for $750)