I know I promised some test results last week, but I haven't got around to process what I did in the week-end yet. :-(
So here's some text describing my results. Pics will follow if there's any interest in the issue. What I have found is this: Sharpness and contrast: I can't tell them apart. Both are pretty darn good. AF speed: The two lenses are about equal in focus speed on my K10D. On the *istD, however, the old FA* is twice as fast as the DA*. I assume this would apply to all non-SDM cameras. >From a classical twig-shot at f/2.8 and f/4: There is indeed a bit more PF in the DA* than in the FA*. However, the FA* also exhibit some cyan fringing. There is no cyan fringing in the DA*. I also found that there must be some serious overexposure for the fringing to become noticeable in both lenses. Exposure for the highlights and then application of "auto levels" in Photoshop gave a much better balanced result than dialling in "+2" exposure compensation in the camera. Why anyone in a legal state of mind wants to shoot scenes with loads of twigs against a bright background at f/2.8 beats me, tho... There must be better ways to employ either of these lenses. >From strongly backlit portraits at f/2.8 and f/4: Same thing as for twigs, except it seems like a good idea to employ the lenses for this purpose. Note also that even the little built-in flash in K10D can save the day both with regards to skin tones and to balance the foreground face against the light background. So my conclusion is that unless you defiantly maintain that all your Pentax glass must be full frame, the DA* is just as good as the FA*. I have not been able to imagine any shooting situation where one would fail and the other save the day. Price, availability, weatherproofing and AF noise are all in favour of the DA*. And if you get a shot that you really, really need to save despite colour fringing, the output from a DA* with be easier to post-process because it fringes in only one colour where the FA* fringe in two. Best, Jostein -- http://www.alunfoto.no/galleri/ http://alunfoto.blogspot.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
