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Pentax SMC-DA 14mm f/2.8 ED [IF] - Review / Test Report |
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Lens Reviews -
Pentax
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Page 1 of 3
Review by Klaus Schroiff, published May 2007
Special thanks to Henner Friedle for providing this lens!
Introduction
The Pentax SMC-DA 14mm f/2.8 ED [IF] is one of very few ultra-wide angle fix-focal
lenses that has been released during the recent years. This is a bit strange because
zoom lenses in this range are immensely popular. Obviously Pentax decided to follow
a relatively conservative strategy - a 14mm lens may have been ambitious during the
film days but within the APS-C scope it is "merely" a lens with a field-of-view
equivalent to about 21mm. This is still well within ultra-wide territory but the
perspectives aren't quite as dramatic as the ones you can get from competing zooms
which go down to 12mm (18mm equiv.) or even 10mm (16mm equiv.) at their widest setting
although none offers a large max. aperture similar to the Pentax.
The DA 14mm may not be a Pentax Limited lens but the build quality feels great
thanks to an outer metal shell and tight tolerances. The lens features an internal
focusing mechanism and it does not change its size regardless of the focus setting.
Consequently the front element does not rotate so using a polarizer remains
easily possible. The broad, rubberized focus ring operates smooth with slightly
higher friction than average
Typical for most Pentax lenses the DA 14mm f/2.8 has no internal AF motor and
relies on a slotted drive screw operated by the camera. AF operations
generate a moderate degree of noise. The AF speed is very fast on the K10D.
Thanks to a "Quick-Shift Focus System" manual focusing is instantly possible
once the AF has achieved focus - this works very well and noiseless.
| Specifications |
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| Equiv. focal length | 21 mm (full format equivalent) |
| Equiv. aperture | f/4.2 (full format equivalent, in terms of depth-of-field) |
| Optical construction | 12 elements in 11 groups inc. 1 ED element |
| Number of aperture blades | 6 |
| min. focus distance | 0.17 m (max. magnification ratio 1:5.3) |
| Dimensions | 84 x 69 mm |
| Weight | 420 g |
| Filter size | 77 mm (non-rotating) |
| Hood | petal-shaped, snap-on type (included) |
| Other features | - |
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