Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
The Pentax FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and solid metal build. Users love it for portraits and low-light photography, often calling it a must-have for Pentax shooters. Some note quirks like screw-drive autofocus noise and occasional fringing wide open, but these are minor compared to the overall image quality. A few mention the lack of a lens hood and that it's best suited for full-frame cameras.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid metal build
- Compact and lightweight
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Screw-drive autofocus noise
- Fringing wide open
- No lens hood included
- Not ideal on APS-C
- Occasional focus miss in low light
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 FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 43 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 43 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 20 |
| Groups | 6 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| Coating | SMC coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.9 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | 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 | 450 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:8 | 1:2.8 |
Pros & Cons
Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
- Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Below average bokeh (20th percentile)20th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th 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 (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.