Pentax DA 21430 70mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Pentax DA 21430 70mm
The Pentax HD DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited is a compact prime lens that delivers outstanding sharpness, beautiful color rendition, and smooth bokeh, making it ideal for portraits and travel photography. Users praise its weather-resistant build, fast autofocus, and the retractable hood, though some note it can be a bit long on APS-C cameras for tight spaces. The HD coating improves flare resistance and color transmission compared to the older SMC version. Overall, it is highly recommended for Pentax shooters seeking a high-quality, portable telephoto prime.
Pros
- Outstanding sharpness
- Beautiful color rendition
- Smooth bokeh
- Compact and portable
- Weather-resistant build
Cons
- Slightly long on APS-C for tight spaces
- Bokeh not spectacular for some
- Focus ring feel not premium
- Lens cap can fall off if hood retracted
- Only for cropped sensor cameras
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
The Tamron 28-300mm super-zoom wins praise for its lightweight design, versatile focal range, and solid image quality. Users appreciate the compact build and smooth zoom mechanism, but note the slow aperture and trade-offs in sharpness compared to more expensive zooms. Verified reviewers find it an ideal travel lens that pairs well with Sony bodies.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Versatile 28-300mm focal range
- Smooth zoom ring operation
- Compact build for travel
- Good integration with Sony bodies
Cons
- Small maximum aperture (f/4-7.1)
- Reduced sharpness vs. premium zooms
- Not an internal zoom lens
- Slow autofocus at high fps on some bodies
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax DA 21430 70mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 70 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 70 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 20 |
| Groups | 5 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | — | 2★ |
| Coating | HD coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.4 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.15 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 701 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:8 | 1:2.8 |
Pros & Cons
Pentax DA 21430 70mm
- Strong build (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
- Below average optical (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
Pricing
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD offers 2.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
