Pentax DFA 21 2.4 . Sony G 20 1.8

KL Matt wrote:

Hi,

I'd like to discuss these two lenses with you. As someone who has been waiting over a decade for Pentax to release a fast wide, the DFA 21 was a cause for celebration and a slight bit of disappointment at the max aperture when it was announced. But I was fearing worse, f/4, so it was a relief as well.

Especially considering that the Sony 20 1.8 *is* sharp wide open. And weighs less. And costs 500€ less right now, and also has really nice, smooth bokeh... and I want to get into the Sony system for the exact reason that I would have a wide selection of excellent, truly fast wides and other lenses to choose from... I'm just really hesitant right now.

Pentax can't win this one. Why? Mainly because of two factors:

- ultra wide angle lenses are significantly more difficult to make for SLRs (because they need to leave space for the mirrors, thus they're heavily retrofocus designs). The D FA 21 Limited was never going to be as fast, as small and as "cheap" as the Sony.

- in pure Limited style, Pentax chose to go for special rendering rather than pure numerical performance. They actually made a special prototype just to fine-tune the bokeh; and my guess is that it added quite a bit on the development cost (and final price).

I'm fine with the first; f/2.4 is adequate, I'm actually glad this wasn't an f/1.4 D FA* (huge, expensive).

I'm undecided about the second point; I'll make up my mind after gathering some experience with the lens. Perhaps a higher degree of correction and a reasonably good bokeh would've been better received. Or not.

Where's the flaw in this logic? Is there anyone in the world with both lenses who could compare?
Matt

It's easy, really: do you want SLRs or mirrorless? If it's the former, you should find ways to get the gear that you want, perhaps at a slower pace. This is what I'm doing.

If you want to optimize cost/specs or whatever... but that's such a soul-less approach!

Alex