Pentax smc P-DA 12-24mm F4.0 ED/AL (IF) Digital SLR Camera Lens
Pentax
- 21577
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Reviews
(5)
0
This lens covers a handy range of focal lengths. At 24mm (equivalent to 35mm on a 35mm film camera) it replicates the popular moderate wide angle that is handy for car shows, architecture, landscapes and group shots.
Go down to 12mm, and you get a very wide view, great depth of field, and essentially no barrel distortion.
Although there is some overlap in the focal length of the Pentax 10-17mm lens, that one has the pronounced "fisheye" distortion (though not too much at 17mm), while the 12-24 maintains straight lines (it's "rectilinear") though if you are tilted up (or down), your subject will lean in (or out).
More expensive than some lenses but less than others, I say it is worth it. Its constant f4 maximum aperture is part of the cost (and weight).
It is a little bulky, not lightweight, and has a rather large lens hood, so you might have to rearrange your bag divider...
Go down to 12mm, and you get a very wide view, great depth of field, and essentially no barrel distortion.
Although there is some overlap in the focal length of the Pentax 10-17mm lens, that one has the pronounced "fisheye" distortion (though not too much at 17mm), while the 12-24 maintains straight lines (it's "rectilinear") though if you are tilted up (or down), your subject will lean in (or out).
More expensive than some lenses but less than others, I say it is worth it. Its constant f4 maximum aperture is part of the cost (and weight).
It is a little bulky, not lightweight, and has a rather large lens hood, so you might have to rearrange your bag divider...
5 price(s)
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Pop Photo (Apr-06) designated this lens the Wide Winnerfor its superb performance on objective tests. I agreed whenfirst documenting home inventory, or picturing dark churchinteriors.Once in the field, I became disturbed by the pronouncedchromatic aberration ['purple fringing'] of trees or powerlines outlined against an overcast sky. To ensure thiswasn't a user or equipment error, I took manually focusedRAW test shots (with a K10D and lens hood) at f4, f8 and f16each at 12mm, 18mm and 24mm and examined them at 100%magnification in Lightroom. To clinch matters, an identicalshot with the 100-buck kit zoom lens at 18mm and f4 yieldedfar less edge fringing than this 13-element costly zoom,boasting high-dispersion glass and aspheric lensconstruction. Only a 10-buck plastic disposable camera hadmore notable CA!Its otherwise sterling performance (crisp clean images,minimal vignetting, and indiscernible linear distortion)cannot compensate for the inexcusable edge diffraction. Anugly blotch on Pentax'
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Pop Photo (Apr-06) praised this lens as a "Wide Winner" for spectacular performance on bench testing: excellent image sharpness and contrast; imperceptible distortion ["best of breed"]; and barely notable vignetting at the short end. I can add breathtaking color, crisp contrast and ruler-straight linearity to that list. At first glance, a 2X zoom doesn't sound impressive these days - until you realize that this parafocal zoom sweeps an incredible 100 to 60 degree viewing range, that's just perfect for cramped interiors, group pictures or landscapes. This zoom is a landmark of stellar engineering: combining extra-dispersion glass and aspheric lens elements into flagship "great glass".
But a finely-tuned optical engine performs optimally only if all cylinders fire in unison ... at daylight trial, I noted a hideous 'purple fringing' [chromatic aberration] of trees and power lines outlined against an overcast sky -- something was badly remiss. Rather than returning the lens, I packed it up
But a finely-tuned optical engine performs optimally only if all cylinders fire in unison ... at daylight trial, I noted a hideous 'purple fringing' [chromatic aberration] of trees and power lines outlined against an overcast sky -- something was badly remiss. Rather than returning the lens, I packed it up
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Huge by Pentax standards, it is well built and both zoom and focus rings feel right after 8 months of use. Quick shift cam mechanism for switching to manual focus works as expected - no-nonsense. The lens does not focus past infinity mark.Image quality is very good at 18mm, good at 24mm, mostly good at 12mm. Resolution would match the 10 MP sensor if not for the significant chromatic aberration, particularly visible in the corners at 12mm. Once corrected however the image is quite usable for large prints, with excellent resolution in the center.This lens has excellent contrast when shooting against light sources even if it exhibits a well defined, flare spot with sun at 15-30 degrees. There still is no haze veiling the image however.
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The main problem with the APS-C sensor is the fact that to get a very wide angle of view, you need a special lens. My old 20mm lens, which has served me for many, many, years, is just a moderate wide on the digital sensors.
With a few doubts, I sprang for this super-wide zoom.
WHAT A SURPRISE! This lens is AMAZING!
Low or no distortion (you can get away without correcting for distortion in Photoshop - quite a feat - unless you have a fanatical lunatic architectural client). CA hard to see. Very sharp, sharper wide open than any zoom has a right to be!!
Flare is so well controlled, I shot right into th sun and did NOT get the usual string of circles, just one ghost. How do they DO that???
The constant aperture is a blessing (I still refuse to buy a zoom with a variable aperture).
All modern lenses are polycarbonate. Supposedly, it's more dimensionally stable than metal under temperature extremes. Maybe so, but I still have some of the older K and M lenses and some Limited
With a few doubts, I sprang for this super-wide zoom.
WHAT A SURPRISE! This lens is AMAZING!
Low or no distortion (you can get away without correcting for distortion in Photoshop - quite a feat - unless you have a fanatical lunatic architectural client). CA hard to see. Very sharp, sharper wide open than any zoom has a right to be!!
Flare is so well controlled, I shot right into th sun and did NOT get the usual string of circles, just one ghost. How do they DO that???
The constant aperture is a blessing (I still refuse to buy a zoom with a variable aperture).
All modern lenses are polycarbonate. Supposedly, it's more dimensionally stable than metal under temperature extremes. Maybe so, but I still have some of the older K and M lenses and some Limited
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