Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
The Pentax 50mm f/2.8 macro lens is widely praised for its sharpness, color reproduction, and value for money. Users find it excellent for macro work, general photography, and digitizing documents or artwork. Common criticisms include autofocus hunting in live view and a focus ring that rotates continuously, which some find unusual. Overall, it is considered a compact, high-quality lens that performs well above its price point.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great color reproduction
- Excellent value for money
- Compact and lightweight
- Versatile for macro and general use
Cons
- Autofocus hunts in live view
- Focus ring rotates continuously
- Plastic barrel instead of metal
- Narrow depth of field at wide aperture
- Learning curve for close-up focusing
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 smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 50 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 8 | 20 |
| Groups | 7 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| Coating | smc | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.26 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 190 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:1 | 1:3.8 |
Pros & Cons
Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
- Strong macro (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong build (79th percentile)
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average social proof (10th percentile)10th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.