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Reviews (4)
26 Jan, 2016
Sharp, fast, weather sealed, general lens
1 of 1 found this helpful Uses: Professional photography
Camera: Pentax 645Z
I use this lens as a fast and competent "generalist" lens. Portraiture/location work (indoor-outdoor), limited city and beach shots, and street photography. Plays nicely with 77mm ND/CP filters via step-up ring when you need such.
The red seal creates a tight fitting between the camera and lens and seems far more robust than some "seals" on premium lenses from other manufacturers. The focus is quick and you can take over manually at any time, just have the common sense to lift your finger from pressing the shutter button when you decide to do so.
The lens feels light, and while I don't find the construction to "feel" as meaty and strong as some of the metal Zeiss lenses with a solid and buttery-smooth feeling focus ring; this lens doesn't feel horribly cheap and plastic-like either. The build quality and feel, is what I'd expect from a (new) lens in this price range.
This is basically a 'what-you-see-is-what-you-get' type of lens. Nothing to fawn over, and more importantly there's nothing that you're likely going to object to either if you're more into getting work done so you can get paid as opposed to picking nits about a competent lens that easily gets the job done. Bokeh is on par with premium well regarded telephoto lenses.
Pentax should've had a leaf shutter version of this lens released with the 645Z... that would've made this excellent lens even better for many photographers.
25 Sep, 2014
Make this book a part of your home school math & science arsenal!
1 of 1 found this helpful The Saxon series is wonderfully progressive in pace; not too fast or slow, and presented well enough where young minds can grasp the material and gain a foothold by doing every problem in each section, and working step-by-step as they progress through the book. I find the examples and explanations to be better than most other books. High on content, low on fluff.
I am a firm believer that it is up to me (not public school) as a parent to require a high level of performance from my children.
I use this book in my home school arsenal to teach my youngest children (in grade school) the most important subject matter in academics... higher math and science skills! Physics, Chemistry, Engineering principles, coding, etc... My daughter will not "do hair" at the local mall for a living! Saxon math/science books are one weapon that I use to keep their minds both hungry and taxed.
20 Jan, 2016
Excellent straight forward bread-n-butter lens
1 of 1 found this helpful Uses: Professional photography
Camera body: Pentax 645Z
I use this lens for mostly portrait work, partial body shots including very close (1:1) macros, and reproduction/art related work.
I chose this lens over the 90mm f/2.8 macro (not without great contemplation), due to the cost/performance ratio being better with the 120mm f/4, even though I would've much rather had the silent focusing, f/2.8 (less hunting during AF in low light) and shake reduction of the newer lens. Refusing to give into impulse, I found it more prudent for me to pickup the DA 645 28-45mm instead, as it offers greater benefit and cost/performance ratio over the Pentax 35mm prime.
The advantages of the 120mm lens compared to the newer offering are three-fold; True 1:1 macro capability, cost/performance ratio and image quality that isn't discernible from much newer lenses to clients. I was lucky to get a practically new lens at 1/7th the price of the 90mm macro, so the buy was a slam dunk for me.
As with any f/4 lens compared to a faster 2.8 option- there are times, given the distance from the subject of course, where f/4 will not yield the same background separation as a faster lens. This isn't relevant if you're stopped down or close enough to your subject where the background is easily rendered nicely out-of-focus irrespective of aperture.
As anticipated, this lens will 'hunt' and whir back and forth attempting to focus if you're shooting in very low light, such as moving action during a candle lit dinner scene where a tripod isn't practical, or indoor belly dancing promotion work in dim light; in cases like those, you're going to have to rely on, (or develop) your manual focusing skills.
This is one of the prime focal lengths that need a leaf shutter option.
Overall this lens is like a reliable truck. It's sharp and gets the job done well without fanfare or bells/whistles.
I highly recommend this lens.