Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
3 votes

Price Paid:  $650.00 from KEH

Summary:
The Pentax FA 28-70 2.8 is the closest focusing constant 2.8 out there. I use mine for Weddings, etc and have been extremely pleased with the results. I have had no problems with the mechanics of this lens. I also love the power zoom feature. I used to look down on the power zoom as a gee whiz feature but no longer. When you autozoom, the camera also autofocuses. Great for candids and grab shots. If you use it on the ZX-5N, I would recommend using the AA battery adapter which gives you a more substantial camera to grip. It is fine on the PZ-1p.

Strengths:
Optically excellent, fast and reliable lens. Power zoom is great for candids and people photos. Excellent contrast and bokeh.

Weaknesses:
Heavy lens. More expensive than third party 2.8 entries but worth it in my opinion.

Similar Products Used:
Nikon 28-70 2.8, Pentax 28-80 3.5-5.6, Sigma 28-70 2.8-4, Sigma 28-105 2.8-4.

Customer Service:
No comment. A lens works or it doesnt. My does.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $650.00 from KEH.com

Summary:
The is a fine lens. The constant f/2.8 minimum aperture isn''''t the only reason to have it--it will give you wonderful, contrasty, even, controlled images. Well built with a neat-o design.

Strengths:
This lens is very sharp starting at f/4. Some things surprised me: Great contrast (reminded me of zeiss lenses...no kidding!). Distortion is well controlled. No flare, aimed toward sunlight! Wonderful, creamy out of focus highlights (due to 8-blade aperture, I believe). Excellent focus "clutch" ring (much smoother than Tokina''''s) pops you in and out of manual focus regardless of what the body is set for. Focus is fast on my PZ1P. Manual focus is a nice, cushy ring that is really a pleasure to handle. Everything is very smooth and well-finished, down to the great big lens hood/protector.

Weaknesses:
It''''s noticably softer, but still better than crappy consumer lenses. Autofocus is loud; get that going with power zoom and you sound like a rusty robot gettin'''' funky! Seems sturdy, but not metal...I guess the 30 ounces comes from the power zoom, not the build. The final weakness belongs to the Pentax line: It''''s perfect on the PZ1P--but what other camera does Pentax make (still in production) that could comfortably hold this lens?

Similar Products Used:
Old Sigma manual focus 28-70 f/2.8 lens; nikon and zeiss prime lenses

Customer Service:
N/A

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Summary:
A fast almost perfect performing standard zoom with a fast AF with a Z1(because of F2,8). It replaces a lot of bulky primes and it's optical quality is just as good a great lens for Pentax users, not as tough looking and build like AFS'es

Strengths:
Excellent optics, fast max and constant aperture of F2.8 ,none visible distortion at any mm-setting ,very high contrast, no ghost flares ,quite compact as compared to other makes

Weaknesses:
None whatsoever or it should that it doesn't have F-bayonet and perhaps price (bought mine in a 75th anniversary Z1 kit)

Similar Products Used:
F,F2s,F3,f4,F5,m2,R3,M3 nikkor 28/2.0 35/2.8 50/1.4 105/2.5 200/4 afs 80-200/2.8

Customer Service:
No experience