Pentax smc DA Star 55mm f/1.4 SDM
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 Lens Review| Introduction | Measurements | Comparison | Conclusion |
During DxOMark testing and analysis, we determined the Pentax smc DA Star 55mm f/1.4 SDM’s strengths are:
- Its brightness, with a transmission score of 1.7 T-stop, means the lens’ aperture is closer to f/1.7. This will allow for great low light shooting.
- Controlling chromatic aberration. Photographers won’t frequently run into color fringing problems, the defect that displays unwanted colors at edges where dark and bright contrast meet.
- Containing distortion, a common strength of prime standard lenses.
- Limiting vignetting or lens shading, with the defect largely absent at apertures f/1.8 and above.
The lens’ weaknesses include:
• Resolution, with a score of 44 lp/mm, the lens performed so-so on an APS-C camera body. Sharpness was quite weak at the widest aperture of f/1.4. It reached its optimization at around f/2.8, but still struggled to obtain sharpness at the edges and corners of an image.
• Its cost. At $640 (USD), the price tag for the Pentax smc DA Star 55mm f/1.4 SDM runs higher than most lenses with similar specifications.
Further readings for the Pentax smc DA Star 55mm f/1.4 SDM
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.
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The Pentax smc DA Star 55mm f/1.4 SDM is a prime standard lens that allows users to dream up pictures with incredible artistic aesthetics thanks largely to its medium focal length and extra wide aperture of f/1.4. The latter also gives it a leg up in dark conditions. But how does the lens compare to similar Pentax lenses, or similar pieces of glass made by its rivals? |