Pentax D FA 28 105mm HD F 3 5 5 6 ED DC WR Review | 54 Data compared

The HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR lens is rated "Highly Recommended" by ePHOTOzine, praised as an affordable, compact, and weather-sealed standard zoom ideal for the Pentax K-1. It offers exceptional, even sharpness across the range, quick and quiet autofocus, and excellent resistance to flare and chromatic aberration. While the lens offers a versatile zoom range, downsides include a variable maximum aperture that limits low-light performance and a drop in edge sharpness at the 105mm setting. Despite these minor compromises, the lens is considered an outstanding, lightweight choice for everyday photography.

The PCMag review characterizes the Pentax HD D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR as a compact, affordable, and weather-sealed starter zoom for full-frame cameras like the K-1, offering strong center sharpness. While weighing only 15.5 ounces, the lens features a durable polycarbonate build with a 3.75x range and a useful full-time manual focus, though it sacrifices edge-to-edge sharpness for portability and price. Optically, the lens suffers from soft edge performance when shooting wide open—requiring stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 for maximum clarity—moderate distortion, and noticeable vignetting at 105mm. PCMag concludes that despite these weaknesses and a variable f/3.5-5.6 aperture, the lens is a solid value choice, with flaws easily corrected via in-camera software.

The HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR is highlighted as a compact, lightweight, and versatile walk-around lens for full-frame cameras, featuring robust weather-resistant construction and a quiet DC autofocus motor. It offers outstanding central sharpness, particularly in the 35mm to 70mm range, along with excellent flare control and smooth bokeh, all at a competitive price point. Key drawbacks identified in the review include pronounced vignetting at wide apertures and corner softness at 28mm, which often require stopping down to achieve optimal image quality. Additionally, the variable f/3.5-5.6 aperture limits its low-light performance compared to faster lenses, and it lacks true wide-angle functionality when used on APS-C sensors.

The HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR is a highly versatile, weather-resistant lens designed for full-frame cameras, offering solid build quality and reliable DC motor autofocus with Quick-Shift manual focus. Its multi-layer HD and SP coatings deliver excellent flare control, while performance on APS-C bodies like the K-3 III provides a useful 43-161mm equivalent, offering high practical value for daily photography. On the downside, the lens exhibits noticeable barrel distortion at 28mm and requires stopping down to reduce corner softness at wider apertures. It lacks built-in optical stabilization, placing reliance on the camera's body-based system, and its variable f/3.5-5.6 aperture provides less low-light flexibility than faster alternatives.

The Pentax HD D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR is a lightweight, compact, and weather-sealed standard zoom lens designed for Pentax's full-frame DSLR system. Weighing 15.5 ounces and supporting 62mm front filters, it serves as an affordable kit-style lens option that features a highly textured zoom ring, a full-time manual focus ring, and a relatively quiet internal DC autofocus motor. Its core strengths (pros) include excellent peak center sharpness—scoring well above the minimum 2,200 lines required on a 36MP sensor—especially when stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8. Additionally, it offers weather sealing to keep moisture and dust out of the camera, full-time manual focus override, and a useful 1:4.5 macro magnification at the 105mm focal length. However, the lens makes several optical compromises typical of inexpensive starter zooms (cons). It suffers from noticeable edge softness at wider apertures across its entire zoom range, such as dropping down to 1,312 lines at 105mm f/5.6. Vignetting is another significant weakness, showing a harsh 4-stop drop in brightness at the corners when shooting at 28mm f/3.5. Furthermore, distortion is quite prominent, transitioning...

The Pentax HD D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR is a compact and affordable full-frame starter zoom lens designed for the Pentax K-1 DSLR, priced at $499.95. Built with a black polycarbonate body and weighing 15.5 ounces, it features weather sealing via an o-ring at the mount and an internal DC autofocus motor that is relatively quiet and quick. Its design includes a textured rubber zoom ring and a continuous manual focus ring that allows for fine-tuning even during autofocus. It provides a 3.75x zoom range and offers a 1:4.5 macro magnification at its closest focusing distance of 1.6 feet at 105mm. The review highlights distinct pros and cons regarding its overall optical performance. On the positive side, the lens delivers strong sharpness and peak resolution through the center-weighted analysis, especially when stopped down to f/8 at 28mm (3,037 lines) and f/11 at 105mm (2,749 lines). It is also highly budget-friendly and lighter than competitors like the Canon EF 24-105mm. However, its cons include an unambitious variable aperture (f/3.5-5.6) and notable optical imperfections typical of kit lenses. These shortcomings...