Mr. Kobayashi comments on the HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm F4ED SDM WR:

“Because of its compact design and compatibility with full-frame cameras, the HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm F4ED SDM WR is the perfect telephoto zoom lens for my PENTAX K-1. My first impression of this lens was its light weight. Since it weighs only 819 grams and its barrel is designed to be quite slim, I had no trouble carrying it anywhere. I recommend this lens to those who gave up on the 70-200mm F2.8 lens because of its heavy, bulky design. They should pick it up and feel it firsthand. I wish PENTAX had launched this lens simultaneously with the PENTAX K-1.

“Since its minimum focusing distance has been shortened to 0.95 meters, it’s much easier to focus on close-range subjects. Coupled with a maximum magnification of 0.32 times, you can enjoy close-up photography with ease. Even when a fence is in your way in floral photography, you can use it as a telephoto macro lens. With a flower similar in size to a cosmos, you can capture it as a full-frame image.

“This lens also performs well with APS-C-format cameras, and is a great imaging tool to extend the telephoto range. By combining it with the HD PENTAX-DA AF REAR CONVERTER 1.4X AW, you can extend its focal length to approximately 450mm in the 35mm format. This brings you a whole range of new photographic possibilities.

“Captured images are really sharp. But they aren’t overly crisp, and retain the graceful ambience you expect from PENTAX lenses. Those images aren’t merely the result of pursuing pixel-based resolution, but I would rather describe them as the reproduction of natural texture perfect for scenic and portrait photography.

“Because the zoom ring is positioned at the front portion of the lens, you end up holding the front portion of the lens. This assures you a stable shooting posture. Even though it doesn’t provide a tripod pedestal, it maintains a good balance when mounted on a PENTAX KP, without becoming front-heavy. This lens is a perfect partner for a compact SLR camera. I expect that it will enhance mobility in my photographic outings and allow me to capture better, more exciting images.”

Mr. Yoshimura comments on the HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm F4ED SDM WR:

“In my latest photo book, Supein no Mottomo Utsukushii Mura: Zentoha no Tabi (Most Beautiful Villages in Spain: a Journey through All Traverses) , I captured a number of images using my PENTAX K-1 Mark II. On this trip, I carried three F2.8 zoom lenses, but honestly speaking, I was exhausted by their weight. When PENTAX unveiled this 70-210mm F4 lens, I was so happy that I almost raised my fists in triumph. It weighs just 819 grams. Compared with the 1,755 grams of the 70-200mm F2.8 model, the weight has been cut down to almost a half. A weight reduction of nearly one kilogram makes a big difference.

“When I used this new lens for the first time during my trip to Tejeda village in Spain, I was delighted with its light weight. I always carry one lightweight spare lens in a porch fastened around my waist, so that I can quickly change lenses depending on the subject. I used to carry a wide-angle zoom lens as a spare, but I was surprised by the fact that I could easily fit this telephoto zoom lens in the porch, without removing the lens hood. It also maintained a good balance when mounted on the PENTAX K-1, without bowing excessively forward due to the lens’s weight. I felt no stress at all when I took casual snapshots while strolling on stone-paved alleys.

“What surprised me most was the sharp, crisp images which this lens produced. Since it incorporates a number of ED (Extra-low Dispersion) and anomalous dispersion glass elements, it delivers sharp images over the entire zoom range. I didn’t notice any underexposure in peripheral areas of the image field, or any diffraction at apertures smaller than F16. Upon returning home, I compared their image quality with that of images previously captured by the 70-200mm F2.8 lens, but I couldn’t tell the difference because I tend to close down the aperture for most of my images.

“When I used the new F4 model in a dimly lit cathedral, however, I had to deal with the disadvantage of moving to a smaller maximum aperture by one stop. At first, I suspected that I would suffer failure and end up with many blurred images, but I overcame the problem by slightly raising the camera’s sensitivity setting and turning on its SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism.

“One unexpected surprise this lens presented me during the trip was its close-up shooting capacity, thanks to a minimum focusing distance of 0.95 meters. I don’t own a close-up lens. When I’m on the road, however, I sometimes wish to capture close-up images of flowers or dishes. This zoom lens let me realize these wishes with ease.

“In 2020, I will set out on a journey to capture images for my next photo book, Suisu no Mottomo Utsukushii Mura (Most Beautiful Villages in Switzerland). I will have to cover more distance on foot than my journey in Spain. I’m pretty sure that the 70-210mm F4 lens will play a huge role in the upcoming journey.”  

Mr. Bishop comments on the HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm F4ED SDM WR:

“This versatile and extremely light weight telephoto lens, is surely a system that Pentax users have been long waiting for since the release of the DFA lineup. Closing the bridge for photographers wanting a high performance lens within this focal range, that is lighter than the DFA 70-200mm, but still has the ability to perform well under all situations that you would expect from DFA telephoto.

“Mounting this lens onto a Pentax K1 Mark II, I tested its performance under many conditions, such as landscape, wildlife and street photography. Not only did the focus system respond very quickly and accurately (thanks to the help of the in-built focus range limiter), being an F4 gave off a lovely soft bokeh, the 0.95 meters focus distance gave for lovely intimate captures, the focus subjects were tack sharp, the weather sealing brilliant while shooting under harsh conditions, and the build quality is what we can expect from all DFA lenses.

“As a landscape photography that spends a lot of time travelling and hiking to difficult locations, having a lightweight telephoto lens is an essential part of my kit to go. I would recommend this lens to any landscape photographer looking for a lens with these characteristics, and seeing it perform in other circumstances I would recommend it to anyone shooting portrait, wildlife or even street photography.”