But the question is how good it is as a general-purpose normal lens. If it is very good, why not take its macro capability as a bonus?
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Espen
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Would it be practical to own all the Pentax Limteds?
- Thread starter quiapz
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Espen
It does put a big strain on my debt load =p
the FA* 24/2 is vastly overrated. i won't use it on any of my digital bodies. my Zeiss 25/2.8 is about the same or slightly better than my FA 31/1.8 Limited in most respects but wide open performance is noticeably better on the Zeiss. it reaches max sharpness at about f4 while the 31 needs to get to about f5.6. the Zeiss 35/2 is supposed to be quite a bit better than the 25/2.8. i'm more likely to get the Zeiss 85/1.4 first though.
Herb...
Herb...
chris gunn
Veteran Member
Here's some practical advice:
Start off with the 77. This takes you past the range of the kit lens, and despite its flaws, it's a very pleasing lens. So small for 77/1.8!
Now, all the other LTDs are desirable, and it's expensive to get tham all. How to choose? Check what FL you use most, and get the corresponding LTD. No need to get a bunch all at once.
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cheers!
Gunn
-- Get a big lens and get closer™.
http://www.dpreview.pentaxistDS.photoshare.co.nz
http://www.y3m.net/penwik/pmwiki.php/Main/PentaxLensWiki
FAQ: http://www.pentaxuser.org/tiki-index.php
chris gunn
Veteran Member
Typically, macros have better edge sharpness, and flatter focal plains, and worse bokeh. Sometimes they are poor at distance. 2.8 is getting slow.
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cheers!
Gunn
-- Get a big lens and get closer™.
http://www.dpreview.pentaxistDS.photoshare.co.nz
http://www.y3m.net/penwik/pmwiki.php/Main/PentaxLensWiki
FAQ: http://www.pentaxuser.org/tiki-index.php
Duplo
Veteran Member
I used to own all six of them when shooting pentax as my only system.
the DA40, coupled with the DS was and still is an excellent compact camera to me.
Now if Pentax was still my primary system, yes I would still own all 6 of them and probably ad the DA15ltd and DA35ltd too, not to mention the DA30 if it were performing alright.
Each of the limiteds has their own special look and feel, similar yet different.
So yes to me it would make perfect sense.
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Thomas
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
the DA40, coupled with the DS was and still is an excellent compact camera to me.
Now if Pentax was still my primary system, yes I would still own all 6 of them and probably ad the DA15ltd and DA35ltd too, not to mention the DA30 if it were performing alright.
Each of the limiteds has their own special look and feel, similar yet different.
So yes to me it would make perfect sense.
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Thomas
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
Thanks chris. Well, I already own the DA40, although I'm considering selling this and getting the FA43 and FA77 instead - good move?
chris gunn
Veteran Member
40 vs 43? There are a few differences.
I have the 43 and have no plans (anymore ;-) to get the 40.
They have reviewed both lenses at SLRgear.com and PZ
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Pentax%20Lens%20Tests/48-pentax/125-pentax-smc-fa-43mm-f19-limited-review--test-report
Pros for the 43:
The 43 has the sharpest center res of any Pentax lens tested at PZ at F2.8, f4, f5.6.
Seems to take excellent flower shots.
People say there is something special about the rendering from in to OOF.
I suspect the contrast at
A lot of copies BF a lot on the K10d (like mine, I use debug mode).
Pros for the 40:
quick-shift.
Smallest lens.
I suspect this could be a great landscape lens at F8?
Fast focussing.
Price.
Cons:
A lot of 43mm copies BF on the K10d.
Some bokeh can be quite harsh on the 43.
Someone complained recently about PF on the 40?, but the 43 probably has more.
Summary:
The 40 is well performing. Like a Toyota.
The 43 is more like a Farrari. More interesting and fun, but perhaps less versatile.
If you got a BFing copy, and you had no AF adjustment, you could be quite frustrated.
If you like flower pics, I'd definately get the 43.
I hope you enjoyed my rambling 9-]
--
cheers!
Gunn
-- Get a big lens and get closer™.
http://www.dpreview.pentaxistDS.photoshare.co.nz
http://www.y3m.net/penwik/pmwiki.php/Main/PentaxLensWiki
FAQ: http://www.pentaxuser.org/tiki-index.php
chris gunn
Veteran Member
That's not what PZ says. I'm not sure I could tell the difference though!
Do you get this frome testing after you adjusted your AF?
In some ways, your LBA is worse than Jim Kings 9-)
--
cheers!
Gunn
-- Get a big lens and get closer™.
http://www.dpreview.pentaxistDS.photoshare.co.nz
http://www.y3m.net/penwik/pmwiki.php/Main/PentaxLensWiki
FAQ: http://www.pentaxuser.org/tiki-index.php
Very much! Not rambling at all, that was all very helpful.
I actually compared all the limited's reviews @ photozone and it was interesting to note the following:
3 limiteds got a "Highly Recommended" stamp from PZ: FA31,DA40 & DA70
3 limiteds have a 4-star "Price/Performance" rating from PZ: DA21,DA40 & DA70
In terms of optical quality, PZ has it like this:
FA31 - 4.5 stars
DA40 & DA70 - 4 stars
FA34 & FA77 - 3.5 stars
DA21 - 3 stars
In terms of mechanical quality, PZ has all limiteds on equal footing at 4.5 stars.
Duplo
Veteran Member
Guess we disagree on that one... I like the FA*24 quite a lot and would call it vastly underrated by some
Well after having tested the 25/2.8, 28/2 and 35/2 ZF I have to admit that I actually strongly prefer the 28 over both of the others.
The 85 is an absolute beauty too.
Thomas
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
Well after having tested the 25/2.8, 28/2 and 35/2 ZF I have to admit that I actually strongly prefer the 28 over both of the others.
The 85 is an absolute beauty too.
--
Thomas
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
chris gunn
Veteran Member
Jolly good!
The 77 a mere 3.5? I had a look. It seems it is due to border res at f2.8, and he saw more PF. I hadn't heard the PF difference before. I thought forum wisdom had them about the same.
--
cheers!
Gunn
-- Get a big lens and get closer™.
http://www.dpreview.pentaxistDS.photoshare.co.nz
http://www.y3m.net/penwik/pmwiki.php/Main/PentaxLensWiki
FAQ: http://www.pentaxuser.org/tiki-index.php
KL Matt
Veteran Member
Hi Espen,
I've been mentioning how good an investment these lenses are for several months now to my wife. It's gotten to the point where I've thoroughly convinced even myself. I think I may go out and drop over a grand on the 31 and 43 today to complete the set!
-Matt
--
... interested in .... photographs? Heh? Know what a mean? Photographs? (He asked him knowingly). Nudge nudge, snap snap, grin grin, wink wink, say no more, say no more, know what a' mean? Know what a' mean?
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=183820&subSubSection=0&language=EN
With what you would earn by purchasing the limiteds in New York and selling them in Germany (if you could avoid customs duty), you could go for a whole week!
I've been mentioning how good an investment these lenses are for several months now to my wife. It's gotten to the point where I've thoroughly convinced even myself. I think I may go out and drop over a grand on the 31 and 43 today to complete the set!
-Matt
--
... interested in .... photographs? Heh? Know what a mean? Photographs? (He asked him knowingly). Nudge nudge, snap snap, grin grin, wink wink, say no more, say no more, know what a' mean? Know what a' mean?
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=183820&subSubSection=0&language=EN
i haven't reshot my tests after adjusting focus on the K10D. however, the corner softness is where i have to give the edge to the Zeiss. the 31 is a bit softer at f2.8 in the far corners and takes a little more stopping down to get to completely sharp across the frame. CA and other characteristics are completely comparable and it is hard to tell the difference in these areas. i use the Zeiss pretty much only on my D3, so the demands on corner sharpness are much higher.
Herb....
Herb....
my 24/2 performs fine on the film bodies but CA just really bad on the digital bodies. it also is much more susceptible to purple fringing compared to the Limiteds. it may be that my 24/2 is out of alignment, but i tend to doubt it since the CA correction is the same for all of the corners.
Herb...
Herb...
Duplo
Veteran Member
You may be right... I have never discovered CA in the copy i had though, perhaps i just do not shoot in conditions that brings out the problem... or I am maybe just less sensitive towards it.
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Thomas
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
- and the difference to Norway, where I live, is even more extreme, I think (FA31 list price: USD 1933)
- or maybe it's wiser to just get the FA43 to begin with (USD 530 from Japan, 957 norwegian list price). Somehow, I imagine that 31mm is a more useful FL on digital than 43mm, but on the other hand, I see that a couple of the really good photographers here praise the DA21-FA43-DA70 combination. --
Espen
Duplo
Veteran Member
Well the gap between 15 and 40 will be huge...
No I see the DA15 as an addittion certainly not a replacement.
It is the fourth Limited that has been missed on the UWA end.
A set would be DA15/21/40/70, ok make swap the 40 with the 43 in my case.
There is no better, above is UWA, WA, long normal and short tele.
So for me a set would be 21/40 as a base and add either 15 or 70 or both depending on needs for a specific shootout.
If it has to be only 3 then I would leave the 70mm out, but I am a wide angle addict. for general shooting the 21/40/70 is an excellent standard kit.
Thomas
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
No I see the DA15 as an addittion certainly not a replacement.
It is the fourth Limited that has been missed on the UWA end.
A set would be DA15/21/40/70, ok make swap the 40 with the 43 in my case.
There is no better, above is UWA, WA, long normal and short tele.
So for me a set would be 21/40 as a base and add either 15 or 70 or both depending on needs for a specific shootout.
If it has to be only 3 then I would leave the 70mm out, but I am a wide angle addict. for general shooting the 21/40/70 is an excellent standard kit.
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Thomas
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://main.duplophotography.com/
Yeah, I was also thinking that... How does Pentax determine what FL to make anyway??
Thanks for that =) So considering I already own a Sigma 10-20, I'd probably have to sell it when I deceide to get the DA15, yes? =p
Well, I love to shoot anything interesting so I'd probably need both the 15 and 70 ^ ^
Thanks again Duplo!
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