Pentax 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED SMC DA WR

 
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50-200mm $197
average price
image of Pentax 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED SMC DA WR

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Buy the Pentax 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED SMC DA WR

(From Pentax lens literature) This telephoto zoom lens covers focal lengths from 75mm moderate telephoto to 300mm super telephoto (in the 35mm format). Incorporating an extra-low dispersion (ED) glass optical element in its optics, it assures excellent description of the subject in various telephoto applications, including portraiture, sports/action and landscape, while effectively compensating chromatic aberration over the entire zoom range.

Main Features:

Simplified weather-resistant construction
The new zoom lenses feature a simplified weather-resistant construction designed to minimize the intrusion of water and moisture into the lens barrel. With these lenses mounted on PENTAX weather resistant digital SLR camera bodies, the user is assured of improved durability and reliability during shooting in rain, fog or mist and at locations subject to a spray or splash of water.

SP coating to block dust and dirt
The front surface of these lenses is treated with PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) coating, which applies a special fluorine compound to the lens surface through a vapor deposition process. This SP coating not only effectively repels dust, water and grease, but it also makes it easy to wipe off fingerprints and cosmetics.

Digital-SLR-exclusive optical design
PENTAX has optimized the characteristics of these lenses — including lens coating, curvature and positioning of optical elements — to reproduce the finest possible digital images. As a result, they are practically free of flare and ghost images, and bring out the best in the PENTAX digital SLR camera bodies they are coupled with.

Their image circle is also perfectly proportioned to the size of the image sensor used in PENTAX digital SLR cameras, helping to reduce the camera’s overall size and weight and guarantee outstanding cost performance.

Quick-Shift Focus system for instant AF/MF switching
After the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system, the unique Quick-Shift Focus system lets the photographer instantly switch to manual-focus operation for final pinpoint focus adjustment.

Other features:

  • Durable, dependable metallic lens mount
  • Lens hood with a PL (polarizing filter) window included as a standard accessory

Note: A lighter D-AL WR variant of this lens with a plastic lens mount began shipping as a kit lens with the Pentax K-50. Apart from the plastic lens mount and slightly lighter weight (272g), it appears to be identical to the DA WR version shown here.

Pentax 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED SMC DA WR

Pentax 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED SMC DA WR User Reviews

8.3/10 average of 3 review(s) Build Quality 8.3/10 Image Quality 7.7/10
  • 9 out of 10 points and recommended by jamesm007 (7 reviews)
    Just a tad bigger than DA18-55mm. Solid Build. Weather Resistant. Nice Range
    It could be a bit sharper. But not bad

    Rating this lens is hard. In general, yea its got soft spots and the DA55-300mm is much longer and sharper. However when compared to other APS/FF lens of 50-200mm or 75-300mm this lens is as good. Really better if you put a Sigma 70-300mm APO on a FF. This lens gives the APS shooter a superb bargain then. Better sharpness, small, less costly, and light.

    This is the lens strongest strength it is small for a telephoto lens. Second strong trait is it feels good in your hands, solid. IQ takes getting to know the lens.

    Recommend if you want small, light, telephoto with weather resistant build, and won't cost much.

    reviewed November 15th, 2014 (purchased for $250)
  • 9 out of 10 points and recommended by kh1234567890 (6 reviews)
    Size, weight, WR, colour, lack of CA, focus speed
    Can be soft at the long end

    I love this lens.

    Once you get used to its few shortcomings, mainly image corner softness at some apertures and focal lengths, it can produce some great images. Bokeh, colour rendering and contrast are brilliant. My copy has very little CA or distortion above some 60mm. WR seals are handy to have.

    It is a fair bit smaller and lighter than the DA 55-300mm and IQ-wise there is really very little difference - I have both and still prefer this one. Handling and bokeh are much better.

    Some of my shots taken with this lens are here :
    http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwHom8i

    reviewed January 30th, 2014 (purchased for $180)
  • 7 out of 10 points and recommended by Jon Schick (1 reviews)
    Weather resistant, very compact and reasonable performer for the price
    Performance a bit variable depending upon focal length and aperture

    As with the 18-55WR, it's nicely put-together and feels a step up from many other kit lenses (including the older Pentax 50-200). Nice metal mount, and a thoughtfuilly-designed lens hood that allows the use of polarising filters. It's biggest selling point is its weather resistance (for which it has no competition at this price point), coupled with being truly pocketable. It's not much bigger than the 18-55.

    As for image quality, the review of the previous version of the lens on this site probably pretty much says it all. My copy of the 50-200WR is a bit disappointing when used wide open at 50mm (more so around the borders but you'd probably expect that), but is more than acceptable by the time you stop it down to F8. It performs very nicely in the middle of its range, and is still acceptable at 200mm - especially if you stop it down a little. At 200mm, mine comfortably outperforms the Tamron/Pentax18-250 superzoom, but is in turn comfortably beaten by the Pentax 55-300 - but then the latter is (a) much bigger, (b) not WR and (c) more expensive.

    However, if you can find the 50-200WR at a good price, it's a compelling compact rainy day addition if you already have a weather resistant Pentax body. If you don't stress it to its limits, it can produce some great shots, and it'll allow you to use the camera on occasions when you would otherwise simply have had to give up.

    reviewed December 4th, 2009 (purchased for $170)