Pentax in reviews...

Often, as a Pentax user, I feel that Pentax cameras and equipment get unfair reviews in magazines etc. Now, obviously no-one would like to admit the equipment they used was rubbish, but I very much believe that Pentax gear is up there with the best (okay, perhaps not Nikon D3 best, but the K20D is a fifth of the price). You do tend to get your money's worth with Pentax, comparable lenses are better value, bodies have more features (weather-sealing being a case in point - both the K20D and K200D are fully weather sealed).

But occasionally a review appears that fully justifies the feeling that there is a bias towards other brands, and the one below is a classic!

These lens tests were from the Photography Monthly magazine Macro Lens round-up, June 2007. Left hand chart and verdict Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8, right hand Pentax SMC-D 50mm f/2.8 (click on the pic to open a larger version).



Just take a second to note the score for each lens under 'Performance', then have a look at the resolution charts. Hmmmm...

According to the reviewer "where it (the Canon) does score well is wide open at f/2.8", whereas "at the wide apertures below f/5.6, the (Pentax) lens is a little disappointing".

Hence the reason magazine reviews are held with an air of scepticism round here.