Pentax SMC-D FA 100mm f/2.8 macro - Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Pentax

Sample Images

Here're some quick'n dirty sample images taken with the K10D and RAW-converted via ACR 3.7.

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE (=several megabytes) which requires quite some bandwidth for downloading so please don't waste the limited resources here.

Make PENTAX Corporation
Model PENTAX K10D
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 100.0mm
Exposure Data: f/5.6 @ 1/200s
Size 2592x3872
Make PENTAX Corporation
Model PENTAX K10D
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 100.0mm
Exposure Data: f/4.0 @ 1/500s
Size 3872x2592
Make PENTAX Corporation
Model PENTAX K10D
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 100.0mm
Exposure Data: f/2.8 @ 1/2000s
Size 3872x2592
Make PENTAX Corporation
Model PENTAX K10D
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 100.0mm
Exposure Data: f/5.6 @ 1/1600s
Size 2592x3872
Make PENTAX Corporation
Model PENTAX K10D
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 100.0mm
Exposure Data: f/5.6 @ 1/160s
Size 3872x2592
Make PENTAX Corporation
Model PENTAX K10D
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 100.0mm
Exposure Data: f/2.8 @ 1/1250s
Size 2592x3872

Verdict

The Pentax SMC-D FA 100mm f/2.8 macro is a very good lens which is capable to provide very high sharpness till f/16. However, the resolution could be a little better at f/2.8 whereas the contrast level is already excellent here. The bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is very smooth and buttery - an important characteristic for a macro lens. CAs and vignetting are very well controlled and not really field-relevant. Typical for macro lenses it shows an absolutely negligible degree of distortions. In relation to its fairly high price tag (~550€/US$) the build quality leaves a little bit to be desired - the lens doesn't feel quite as substantial as its predecessor and the lack of a focus limiter is a bit disappointing because the AF tends to hunt quite a bit.

Optical Quality:
Mechanical Quality:
Price/Performance:


Disclosure: When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Google Adsense.