Pentax SMC DA* 50-135MM F2.8 ED (IF) SDM

An excellent rain proofed apsc lens – The DA* 50-135mm 2.8 became my second DA* lens and one of my favorites. Its sharp throughout the zoom range even wide open. It does test not as sharp at the long end by the online reviewers, but I cannot discern a drop in sharpness at that long end. Its off the hook sharp throughout the zoom range. The ambience and 3D-pop/dimensionality is very very good to excellent and a trait of the DA* series. The color that the DA* lenses are all basically matched too so they all compliment each other, or fit well together. As in if you buy a Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 ex or Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 their colors and ambience won't match up if you use it with the 50-135mm. Its like the Zeiss classic range of lenses are all color matched. Or the Sigma Art and Contemporary are all matched and have the same color profile, and you don't have to color grade and match between the different lenses. The colors really pop on a DA* lens, and even its cousins in the Tokina 16-50mm and 50-135mm (For Canon and Nikon) have that same color pop too.

It is a really great portrait lens and you always capture wonderful images. Basically it doesn't take a bad image. If you take a bad composition, it'll still look really good but the composition is on you.

Everyone who buys and tries this lens raves about it. When I first bought my copy used it was the most I had paid for a lens thus far, and when I saw the results I was more than impressed. I thought that the reviews that raved about the lens were understating how good it was optically. But there have been less than flattering reviews on Optical Limits and another site I believe that play the lens down as being mediocre, and thats a total lie done because they have some sort of commercial arrangement with competitor camera brands, and that's disappointing to see.

SDM: If I haven't used the lens for a few months the SDM can be sleepy and/or sticky. But mounting the lens, and turning on the camera and leaving it for a few minutes so that the capacitors can fill up with electricity can wake up a sleepy or sticky SDM. If its too sleepy, then I'll hold down the auto focus button and the SDM bursts to life and starts wizzing side to side. SDM is quirky but not a deal breaker. Some feel the AF isn't fast enough, but I have no complaints with the speed.

DA* rain proofing that seals it from torrential rain is an awesome feature of this lens. The build quality is really excellent and top notch. It comes with a quality padded pouch with a silk like embossed lining. I bought a premium lens from another brand and it was the most expensive lens I ever bought and it came with a tacky lens sack that wasn't padded and was garbage, and thats not good enough. Pentax is a class act with the build quality and their lens pouches.

Conclusion is its an outstanding lens thats very very popular with Pentaxians. The brilliant IQ and rain proofing far outweigh the niggling problem with the sleepy SDM. Its a must have lens thats sharp and versatile. There's no issues with purple fringing. Thoroughly recommended!

+1 on what the other guy said – What more can you say, this is a Gem of a lens. A pro grade APS-C, ideal for weddings and portraits. Solidly built, nice hood and a nicely engineered piece. Apparently slower AF, but didn't bother me. Just watch out for fussy AF with larger apertures and may need to fine adjust in the menu if the lens is back or front focussing. Solid, Boken, IQ Nothing really

An excellent pro grade lens – A very good lens. Very good image quality even when wide open at 2.8. It gives lovely colors and wonderful bokeh. The autofocus is silent but not particularly quick - although its ok for me. It is also weather resistant. Also importantly it is not too heavy unlike a 70-200 f2.8 I would be happy carrying this around on my neck for long periods of time. This lens is especially suited to portrait photography. IQ, Bokeh, weight is not too bad, silent autofocus Autofocus a bit slow