Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR Lens Review

Pentax-D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR Handling and Features

The build quality of this lens is excellent thanks to the aluminium weather sealed lens barrel and metal lens mount. In fact due to the high quality construction and design, you'd be forgiven for mistaking this lens for one of Pentax's premium 'Limited' lenses. The weight of this lens is fairly typical for its type, at around 340g and it balances well with the Pentax K-5 IIs body used for testing.

Focusing isn't performed internally, so the lens barrel extends by a couple of inches during focusing, although the filter thread does not rotate. This makes it perfect for use with polarising and graduated filters. A hood is supplied with the lens that attaches to the front of the lens via a bayonet fitting although this doesn't move as the lens is focused. This is important as it would shade your subject when focusing at close distances if it did.



The manual focusing ring rotates during auto-focus although it is well enough out of the way to avoid catching your fingers with it accidentally. Manual focusing action is smooth and well damped , which makes applying manual focus adjustments a pleasure. The Pentax 'Quick Shift' focusing system has been implemented on this lens, which means manual adjustments can be applied once the lens has focused automatically. Auto focus is screw-driven, so it generates more noise than newer silent focusing lenses do. The minimum focus distance of 30.3cm is typical for a lens of this type and provides enough working distance to prevent shading your subject with the lens. Focusing is reasonably quick for a macro lens at normal distances, although a focus limiter may have help speed up focusing on those occasions that the camera struggles to lock onto a subject easily.

Add your message