Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm
The HD FA 50mm f/1.4 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful color rendition, and smooth bokeh. Users appreciate its fast and silent autofocus, solid build quality, and compatibility with both film and digital Pentax bodies. Some mention the need for a firmware update on older cameras and occasional back-focus issues, but overall it's considered a top-tier prime lens.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful color rendition
- Smooth bokeh
- Fast and silent autofocus
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Firmware update required on older cameras
- Occasional back-focus issues
- Slight magenta cast wide open
- Heavier than some other lenses
- Price may be higher than Pentax direct
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
The Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is widely praised as a versatile all-in-one zoom for Sony APS-C cameras. Users love the incredible 16.6x range, close focusing at the wide end, and solid image quality, though some note softness beyond 70-80mm and slow autofocus. The lens is heavier than typical crop-sensor lenses but still considered portable. A few verified buyers report issues with sharpness at the telephoto end and a stiff zoom ring, but the majority find it an excellent walk-around lens that replaces multiple primes and zooms.
Pros
- Incredible 16.6x zoom range
- Close focusing at wide end (semi-macro)
- Good image quality and color rendition
- Solid build with weather sealing
- Effective vibration compensation (VC)
Cons
- Softness beyond 70-80mm
- Slow autofocus compared to smaller zooms
- Heavy and bulky for APS-C
- Stiff zoom ring when zooming out
- Moderate distortion at both ends
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 50 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 19 |
| Groups | 6 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| Coating | Multilayer HD Coating | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.91 kg | 0.62 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:6.67 | 1:2 |
Pros & Cons
Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average bokeh (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
- Strong versatility (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong macro (87th percentile)87th %ile
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
