Photo-47

A review of the Pentax DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 and HD DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 Limited

Before summer’s end of 2015, I was tasked with photographing an event for the Piedmont Down Syndrome Support Network (Now called Down Syndrome Associate of Greater Winston-Salem).  The event was their annual Buddy Walk & 5K.  After finding out that the event was a rain or shine event, I immediately knew that my Pentax gear would get a workout.  However, I would need to rent some weather resistant lenses to ensure I could work regardless of the weather.  I researched my options and settled on the smc DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED [IF] WR and the HD DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR.  I rented the lenses for a week and did some light rail-fanning in Thomasville, NC to test them out before the event.  The following are my thoughts and a few examples from these lenses.

Starting with the 18-135mm, I knew this would be the primary lens.  A versatile workhorse. With an equivalent 28-202.5mm focal range on my K-7, this would be the lens to cover all my bases. I had never attended this event before so I did not know what to expect. With this lens I was able to zoom in on any action while still providing the wide-angle capability without the need for constantly switching lenses or cameras. I soon realized why it has become a popular lens of Pentaxians world wide. This lens is a versatile ‘got-it-covered’ zoom.

 In use, the lens was much heavier than I expected.  Particularly front heavy.  It wasn’t bothersome in any way, but it certainly had more heft to it than I thought it would.  Using the vertical grip helped the camera balance the weight better. That heft translates into a great build quality with a smooth zooming action and no issues with zoom creep either. Autofocus performance was quick and sure-footed. Able to reliable track runners along the track and trains barreling down the line.  Another bonus is the internal focusing (IF) design.  This means the lens doesn’t extend any to focus.

One nice touch that other manufacturers should take note of is how the lens hood reverse mounts on the lens.  When stored, the larger of the petals are on the sides, allowing the user to easily read the markings on and still access the zoom ring.  This with the layout of the lens controls means the lens can be quickly and easily used with the lens hood in its stored position. Great for those sudden moments you want to capture.  Most other lenses require the hood be removed or mounted in it’s shooting position in order for the lens to be serviceable. Now if Pentax would only apply this to all of their lenses ;D

The image quality of this lens was what I have come to expect from Pentax lenses.  Excellent contrast and saturated color with little to no issues with flare. The presence of a bright light source would cause a slight decrease in contrast, but didn’t create any flare related aberrations in the image. The rendering of out-of-focus areas is also pleasing with smooth transitions. High contrast areas can produce some fringing, but overall, I would rate the image quality above average.  It is certainly not as sharp as my 16-45mm or, as you’ll soon see, the 20-40mm.  But that certainly doesn’t mean that it isn’t usable and comes highly recommended for anyone wanting a single versatile lens.

Now to the 20-40mm Limited.  This was an odd choice to get for an event, and even an odd choice of a lens for Pentax to have made, but it was a lens I had been wanting to try.  I also needed a lens that would easily autofocus on my K10D.  That body was very picky and did not want to focus when a lens’s max aperture gets smaller than f/4.  I did not want to lug a heavy lens like the DA* 50-135mm, so this made sense as a good walk-around lens.  So good in fact that this lens saw a lot of use photographing vendors and non-race events.  This lens makes a perfect street-photographer’s zoom.  It is small and discreet yet with a useful focal range and aperture.

This lens quickly became a favorite.  The image quality from this lens is really special.  The images this lens produces are as beautifully rendered as this lens is beautifully made.  Images come out sharp, with excellent contrast, virtually no flare or any kind of aberration to speak of.  I found myself trying to find ways and reasons to use this lens because it is that good.

The build of this lens is what anyone familiar with the Limited series of Pentax lenses would expect.  All metal and glass construction means this is a solid piece.  It balanced much better on the K10D and K-7 than the 18-135mm and was a pure joy to walk around with.  Autofocus performance was quiet.  Unlike the 18-135, this lens does extend a little when focusing and the focusing will rotate when using autofocus so watch your fingers.  One thing special I discovered about this lens is that it is near par-focal.  This means that proper focus is maintained while you change focal lengths.  A great feature for videographers out there and means that one can quickly capture images of the same subject at different focal lengths due to the camera not having to refocus.  It also means it’s easier to track subjects in the viewfinder since the image remains in focus.

One item I want to point out with this lens, and most Limited lenses, is the lens hood and cap. The cap is a simple slide on metal cap that fits over the lens hood.  So to use it, the lens hood must be in place.  Not a huge ordeal, but most of the Limited lenses have non-standard lens caps that tend to be fiddly or have odd restrictions such as this.

Both lenses suited their purpose perfectly and allowed me to navigate the event feeling prepared and confident in the results.  The 18-135mm is a great all-around lens.  An ideal one for someone frequently traveling.  The 20-40mm Limited has garnered many critics, but I found it’s usability and image quality warrants serious consideration.  In fact it is now on my short list of lenses to acquire (and since have).  The week came to an end and the lenses had to go, but the memories and images will always remain.