Pentax SMC DA 12 24mm F4 0 ED AL IF Review | 54 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review of the Pentax SMC P-DA 12-24mm f/4.0 ED/AL (IF) highlights a premium, well-built wide-angle zoom with exceptional sharpness at 12mm and 18mm, peaking around f/8. It offers fast autofocus, an internal focusing mechanism, and a specialized lens hood, balancing well on camera bodies like the Pentax K-5 IIs. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a sharp drop in performance at 24mm, high chromatic aberration, and complex, wavy distortion. Additionally, the lens features a non-dampened, rotating focus ring, and faces strong competition at its £730 price point.

The What Digital Camera review rates the Pentax SMC DA 12-24mm f/4 ED AL (IF) highly, awarding it an overall score of 91% (with 95 for image quality and value, 90 for design and performance, and 85 for features). The pros highlight its reassuringly solid feel, smooth and positive zoom ring rotation, and competitively priced nature. Optically, real-world images are very sharp and do not suffer from any obvious colour fringes, with peak resolution hitting comfortably around f/8. It also benefits from a deeply ribbed grip and full-time manual intervention when autofocusing. On the downside, the cons include an AF mechanism that is not especially quiet and causes the manual-focusing ring to rotate while active, requiring users to keep their fingers clear. Despite the Internal Focusing (IF) label, the movement of the focusing ring during AF was a notable disappointment. Additionally, lab test charts revealed significant colour fringing, and the lens suffers from a slight performance anomaly where the 24mm curve drops below the others at the widest apertures. Lastly, the reviewer noted that the mixed red, green, blue, and...

The OpticalLimits review by Klaus Schroiff analyzes the Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 AL ED [IF], an ultra-wide zoom lens designed for APS-C format cameras. Developed through a collaboration with Tokina, this lens features an 18-36mm full-frame equivalent focal range and incorporates Pentax's proprietary SMC lens coating. It is constructed from 15 elements in 12 groups, including one ED and two aspherical elements to optimize image reproduction. The physical build is highly praised, featuring a fine combination of metal and plastic parts assembled with tight tolerances, alongside a non-rotating front element that allows for hassle-free polarizer use. The primary advantages highlighted in the review include its excellent build quality, smooth zooming mechanism, and a highly responsive "Quick-Shift Focus System" that enables seamless manual focusing once autofocus is locked. Furthermore, its autofocus speed on compatible bodies like the K10D is noted as exceptionally fast. On the downside, the lens lacks an internal AF motor and relies on a camera-driven slotted screw mechanism, which results in a moderate amount of AF noise during operation. Additionally, the review notes a specific performance flaw, revealing...

The SMC Pentax-DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL [IF] is highly regarded for delivering near-prime, high-sharpness performance with excellent color rendition and low distortion across the frame. Its robust design features internal focusing, a 77mm filter-friendly non-rotating front element, and the Quick-Shift Focus system for rapid manual override. Users frequently cite noticeable lateral chromatic aberration (purple fringing) in high-contrast scenes and a noisy, screw-driven autofocus system that struggles in low light as primary drawbacks. Additionally, the lens lacks weather sealing and features a bulky, cumbersome lens hood, though it remains a top choice for APS-C landscape photography.

The What's The Best Review concludes that the Pentax DA 12-24mm F/4 ED (IF) is a lightweight wide-angle zoom lens designed specifically for APS-C format DSLRs, delivering a full-frame equivalent focal length of 18-34mm. A major pro is its constant maximum aperture of f/4 and impressive optical layout, which includes two aspherical elements and one Extra-low Dispersion (ED) element to minimize distortion. The lens offers high usability with an internal focusing system that keeps the 77mm front filter thread from rotating, allowing seamless use of polarizers. Additionally, it features a Quick Shift focusing system that grants immediate manual override right after autofocusing. However, the review highlights several distinct cons, noting that the lens is quite expensive compared to market rivals. Mechanically, it lacks an internal autofocus motor, meaning it relies on a screw-drive system that creates noisy operations, though it still manages to lock onto subjects at a satisfying speed. In terms of image quality, sharpness is excellent across the frame at the wide 12mm end, but the corners become fuzzy when zoomed into 24mm. Testers also observed visible vignetting...