Pentax SMC DA 14mm F2 8 ED IF Review | 54 Data compared

The Pentax-DA 14mm f/2.8 ED (IF) lens features a durable build with a 15mm rubberized manual focus ring, a distance window, and a depth-of-field scale designed for APS-C cameras, providing an effective 21mm field of view. While the lens offers minimal distortion (3.89%), it is characterized as a disappointing performer for its price, with subpar sharpness at f/2.8 and noticeable chromatic aberration at the image edges.

The Pentax SMC-DA 14mm f/2.8 ED [IF] Review, originally published on OpticalLimits (PhotoZone) by Klaus Schroiff, evaluates a relatively rare ultra-wide-angle prime lens designed for APS-C digital cameras. Providing a full-frame equivalent focal length of 21mm and a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8, it offers a distinct alternative to popular ultra-wide zoom lenses, even if its perspective is less dramatic than wider 10mm or 12mm options. The lens is heavily praised for its excellent build quality, featuring a tight-tolerance outer metal shell and a smooth, rubberized manual focus ring. Its design incorporates an internal focusing mechanism, meaning the physical size remains constant and the 77mm front filter thread stays stationary, making it highly compatible with polarizing filters. Furthermore, the inclusion of Pentax's Quick-Shift Focus System allows for instant, silent manual focus overriding once autofocus is achieved. However, the review highlights notable limitations, particularly concerning its mechanical operation and optical drawbacks. Because the lens lacks an integrated autofocus motor, it relies entirely on a slotted drive screw powered by the camera body, which generates a moderate level of operational noise despite...

The Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8 ED (IF) is a wide-angle prime lens designed specifically for APS-C format K-mount cameras, offering an angle of view comparable to a traditional 20mm lens on full-frame film. Structurally, it features a 77mm accessory thread that accommodates low-profile filters and boasts a flat front element without significant curvature. It is equipped with a comfortable, reversible petal-type lens hood, a focused-distance window with depth-of-field indicators for f/8, f/16, and f/22, and an internal focusing mechanism. While the autofocus system is quick and accurate, it is noted to be slightly noisy. Manual focusing stands out as a highly positive attribute, providing ideal resistance and allowing seamless manual intervention during autofocus operations. Optically, the lens delivers its best results when stopped down between f/5.6 and f/8, though performance remains strong across the f/4 to f/11 range. In terms of drawbacks, technical lab testing revealed noticeable chromatic aberration and slight vignetting when shooting wide-open at f/2.8, though its real-world performance ultimately surpassed expectations based on those findings. The lens scored highly in design (95) as well as features, value,...

The Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8 is a rectilinear, ultra-wide-angle lens designed specifically for APS-C crop sensor cameras, offering an equivalent focal length of 21mm. A standout feature of this solid metal lens is its bright f/2.8 maximum aperture, which provides a significant low-light advantage over slower lenses in the same focal class. It features fully automatic diaphragm control, a 77mm filter diameter, and an impressive minimum focusing distance of 6.72 inches, allowing photographers to focus on subjects just 1.63 inches away from the front element. In practice, it delivers excellent sharpness, controls chromatic aberration incredibly well, and produces attractive "starburst" effects from point light sources, making it an exceptional landscape and architectural tool. Despite its high-quality landscape performance, the lens exhibits several optical and physical drawbacks. Its edges and extreme corners suffer from unsharpness and visible distortion, accompanied by noticeable vignetting when shooting wide open at f/2.8. Mechanically, its screw-drive autofocus system is reasonably fast and utilizes Pentax's Quick-Shift system to keep the focus ring stationary during AF, but manual focusing feels grainy with considerable friction. Furthermore, the lens is...

The PentaxForums review concludes that the SMC Pentax-DA 14mm f/2.8 ED [IF] is a ruggedly built lens, but it is hindered by significant field curvature causing soft corners that fail to sharpen even when stopped down. While it offers fast autofocus and a 77mm filter thread, the manual-focus Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 is recommended as a higher-resolution, better-value alternative. The lens is lauded for its superb build quality, Quick-Shift focus system, and low distortion, which are advantageous for architectural photography. However, its primary downsides are the notable edge softness, high price point, and lack of full-frame coverage.

The Pentax smc D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR lens delivers solid performance for portrait and macro photography, featuring a robust, weather-proof design. In testing, it excels with well-controlled chromatic aberration, strong light transmission, and minimal vignetting. However, its overall DxOMark score is held back by low sharpness and resolution, causing it to fall behind competitors like the Nikon 105mm macro when tested on comparable camera sensors. While the sensor performance of the Pentax K5 helps mask some of these shortcomings against Canon alternatives, the lens ultimately leaves room for improvement regarding raw resolving power. The Pentax smc 14mm F2.8 ultra-wide lens offers mixed results that are somewhat disappointing given its premium price tag. On the positive side, the lens boasts good distortion control (0.73%) and well-managed wide-angle vignetting (1.5 EV in the corners at f/2.8). On the negative side, it suffers from weak overall sharpness compared to rival options, alongside an inhomogeneous resolution field where sharpness rapidly degrades in the corners at f/2.8. It is ultimately outperformed in image resolution by more affordable alternatives like the Samyang 14mm lens.

The SMC Pentax-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] lens is recognized as a solidly built, rectilineal ultra-wide-angle prime for APS-C, offering a 21mm equivalent field of view with robust metal construction, minimal barrel distortion, and vibrant color rendition. Key handling advantages include an internal focus mechanism, Quick-Shift focusing, and excellent close-focusing abilities, though the lens is notably large with a 77mm filter thread. Conversely, the lens shows significant softness and visible purple fringing when used wide open at f/2.8, requiring stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6 for optimal, corner-to-corner sharpness. This performance is largely due to pronounced focus field curvature, and the lens is prone to flaring in harsh, direct sunlight.