Pentax HD D-FA D FA 24-70mm F2.8ED SDM WR

The Pentax 24-70mm f/2.8 is an optically brilliant workhorse with best-in-class sharpness and proper weather sealing. The autofocus is its main weakness, feeling a generation behind the competition. If you shoot Pentax and need this range, it's absolutely worth the money.

Optically, this lens is a standout. It lands in the 94th percentile for optical quality in our database, which puts it among the best standard zooms we've tracked. Sharpness is excellent, and the HD coating does a great job of killing flare and ghosting. The weak spot is the SDM autofocus motor. It's accurate, especially after a little fine-tuning in-camera, but it's not going to win any drag races. It sits right around the middle of the pack for AF speed, so it's fine for landscapes and portraits but you might miss a few shots if you're trying to track fast, erratic action.

Stacked against the competition, the Pentax is in a weird spot. The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM offers stabilization and a more modern AF system, while the Sony G Master 70-200mm f/2.8 II is in a different league for speed and sharpness but costs a lot more and isn't a standard zoom. The Tamron and Sigma superzooms offer way more range but sacrifice that constant f/2.8 aperture and some optical quality. If you're locked into the Pentax K-mount, this is your best bet for a fast standard zoom, period. If you're not, you have options with better AF and stabilization.

Pricing on this lens is all over the map, with a spread of over $246,000 across vendors, which is clearly some bad data floating around out there. In the real world, you're looking at around $1,100, and at that price, the optical performance is a solid deal for a full-frame f/2.8 zoom. It's not cheap, but you're paying for that excellent glass and weather sealing. Just make sure you're buying from a legit retailer and not getting scammed by a weird listing.

The Pentax HD D-FA 24-70mm f/2.8 is the workhorse zoom a lot of K-1 shooters have been waiting for. It covers the classic standard zoom range with a constant f/2.8 aperture, and it's built to shrug off rain and dust, which is exactly what you'd expect from Pentax. The optical formula is stacked with special elements to keep images sharp and contrasty, and from what we've seen in our database, it largely delivers on that promise.

If you need fast, reliable autofocus for sports or wildlife, look elsewhere. The SDM motor is the Achilles' heel here, and you'll be frustrated. Also, if you don't shoot in bad weather, you could save some cash and weight with a third-party option that doesn't have the same level of sealing.

If you're a Pentax K-1 shooter who needs a fast, weather-sealed standard zoom for landscapes, events, or general photography, this lens is a no-brainer. The optical quality is fantastic, and it's built to survive your next hike in the rain. Just know that the autofocus isn't going to keep up with a hyperactive toddler or a fast-moving sports car.