gavinlg
Veteran
Recently I've been looking very seriously at pentax's range of DA ltd primes and also their FA primes with increasing interest.
With the announcement of their tiny 15mm f4 DA ltd to be released soon now, and the 21mm, 40mm and 70mm pancakes out and reasonably inexpensive, it almost makes for a fantastic travel package.
The idea of having light/tiny, solid/metal, AF, high quality lenses with a weather sealed body is pretty damn cool actually.
Any opinions or user experiences? And of course example photos!
With the announcement of their tiny 15mm f4 DA ltd to be released soon now, and the 21mm, 40mm and 70mm pancakes out and reasonably inexpensive, it almost makes for a fantastic travel package.
The idea of having light/tiny, solid/metal, AF, high quality lenses with a weather sealed body is pretty damn cool actually.
Any opinions or user experiences? And of course example photos!
zuikologist
.........................
Definitely worth looking at. The 35/2 FA and 40/2.8 DA are my favourites, which I use on an istDS (older, 6mp camera). The K200D, with 10mp and in-body image stabilisation is a compact and capable package at low cost.
I wish they would produce a "small" 24/2.
I wish they would produce a "small" 24/2.
ChrisN
Striving
I have K20D with DA21, FA31/1.8, DA40/2.8, FA35/2, FA50/1.4, FA77/1.8. I'm extremely happy with all these lenses' performance. And I am waiting to see what the reports are like on the 15, too. For a lightweight travel kit the 21, 40 and 77 is a great kit. The advantage of the FA lenses, of course, is that I can use them on the film bodies.
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gavinlg
Veteran
Hey guys, thanks for the opinions. How do you both find the actual pentax bodies - in particular you Chris with the k20d? Is a decent body as far as image quality goes?
ChrisN
Striving
I'm perfectly satisfied with it, although I can't claim to be an expert critic in these matters. What I love about the K20D is the excellent ergonomics, the very good viewfinder (amongst crop-sensor dSLRs), and especially the ability to fine-tune the auto-focus system individually for each lens I own. That alone was worth the price of the upgrade from the K10D. That gives me absolute confidence that the camera will focus each lens exactly where I want it to.
Here's a couple of samples from the DA21 lens.
Here's a couple of samples from the DA21 lens.
Attachments
freeranger
Well-known
I use the k10d and I have the DA40ltd. It is tiny, beautifully crafted and, in my opinion, gives great results.
The price is right, too. In fact, I am so happy with mine that I am now saving up for some of the other pentax limited primes.
I've been happy with the K10d, too and am looking to get the k20d as a second dslr.
The price is right, too. In fact, I am so happy with mine that I am now saving up for some of the other pentax limited primes.
I've been happy with the K10d, too and am looking to get the k20d as a second dslr.
I too have a Pentax DSLR system. I have pretty much "limited" myself to using the FA 31& 77 LTD lenses. The 77 is just astounding. I wish it were a focal length I use more. And for a normal lens, no matter what I have on my K10d, it isn't long before I put the 31 back on for all around use. Both are top notch with regard to build quality, and image quality. I get along well with the K10d. I bought it on close out, my first DSLR and I think it was a good purchase. I have been thinking of selling it and buying a K20d which is now at the end of it's production run, but I may not as there is no reason for me to do so. The other lens I use with regularity is an A 24/2.8.
mcgrattan
Well-known
I have the Samsung GX10 -- which is their slightly tweaked/altered version of the K10D. I'm very happy with the viewfinder and the ergonomics, as Chris says.
I'd like slightly better low light performance -- something I gather the K20D and the GX20 have -- but even that is pretty OK.
I use mine with older K-mount primes. Mostly the Pentax-A 50mm f1.7, and a Sigma 28mm prime. The kit zooms are surprisingly decent, too.
I'd like slightly better low light performance -- something I gather the K20D and the GX20 have -- but even that is pretty OK.
I use mine with older K-mount primes. Mostly the Pentax-A 50mm f1.7, and a Sigma 28mm prime. The kit zooms are surprisingly decent, too.
mcgrattan
Well-known
I have the Samsung GX10 -- which is their slightly tweaked/altered version of the K10D. I'm very happy with the viewfinder and the ergonomics, as Chris says.
I'd like slightly better low light performance -- something I gather the K20D and the GX20 have -- but even that is pretty OK.
I use mine with older K-mount primes. Mostly the Pentax-A 50mm f1.7, and a Sigma 28mm prime. The kit zooms are surprisingly decent, too.
I'd like slightly better low light performance -- something I gather the K20D and the GX20 have -- but even that is pretty OK.
I use mine with older K-mount primes. Mostly the Pentax-A 50mm f1.7, and a Sigma 28mm prime. The kit zooms are surprisingly decent, too.
mcgrattan
Well-known
Sorry for the double post!
Chyn
Established
I have an older *istDS to which my DA40 Limited is more or less permanently attached to. The compact DA Limited lens package is a brilliant idea, provided the camera body stays small. Frankly, what has kept me from upgrading to the K20D is its relative size to my existing camera body. I'm more intrigued by the much smaller K-m (K2000). Still waiting for that perfect compact digital body to replace the *istDS.
ChrisN
Striving
hans voralberg
Veteran
I have the K20D + 40 DA combo, very nice, however for small package I think the new K-2000 will be lighter and smaller, abeit with a smaller viewfinder. Here are some samples:
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
I was actually planning on starting a thread about these lenses! I use the DA35 Macro, the DA70, and the FA43 limiteds, along with the amazing DA55-300 zoom; they are all just stunning lenses, incredibly small and sharp. All of them work on film bodies, too, with a bit of light falloff in the corners (and actual vignetting wide open, with the 35). Apparently the 21 has major vignetting on film, and the 43 of course is made for film bodies. These lenses are the reason I have stuck with Pentax...also the terrific K20D sensor.
FA43:
DA35:
DA70 (on film):
DA55-300:
FA43:
DA35:
DA70 (on film):
DA55-300:
kshapero
South Florida Man
Agree
with all the above posts but somehow the Pentax rig just did not do it for me. decided to stick with RF's and MF Nikons. Purely subjective.
with all the above posts but somehow the Pentax rig just did not do it for me. decided to stick with RF's and MF Nikons. Purely subjective.
Bassism
Well-known
I have a K100D, and until very recently I had a DA 40 ltd that was pretty much glued to the camera. The only reason it came off was for low light work with my 50/1.4.
It's an absolutely wonderful lens. In my opinion, it has some of that classic Takumar look to it, in a tiny package. Attached to my K100D, it extends from the camera less than the prism thing.
I kinda wish I hadn't sold it...
The camera itself is a joy to use. The Hyper-manual mode that Pentax has is wonderful an gets used most of the time on my camera, and the small size fits my small hands perfectly. Larger hands would definitely want the 10 series for the slightly larger body. I love the image quality. To my eye, the Pentax cameras produce a more film-like image than the other dslrs. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Pentax cameras.
It's an absolutely wonderful lens. In my opinion, it has some of that classic Takumar look to it, in a tiny package. Attached to my K100D, it extends from the camera less than the prism thing.
I kinda wish I hadn't sold it...
The camera itself is a joy to use. The Hyper-manual mode that Pentax has is wonderful an gets used most of the time on my camera, and the small size fits my small hands perfectly. Larger hands would definitely want the 10 series for the slightly larger body. I love the image quality. To my eye, the Pentax cameras produce a more film-like image than the other dslrs. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Pentax cameras.
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jpfisher
Well-known
Although my K10D doesn't get as much use now that I've got the M8 in my bag, I do use it when I need to use a strobe, autofocus, or any sort of telephoto lens...
I don't have any of the DA Limited lenses, but I do have the 3 FA Limiteds. The 31mm has gotten the most use for me by far. The FA 43mm is also quite nice, and compact.
You're not going to lose anything, aside from an aperture ring and a bit of speed, if you go for the DA 40 over the FA 43mm and the DA 70mm over the FA 77mm.
However, the DA 21mm, from everything I've seen, is not a replacement for the FA 31mm. Apart from the size/weight issue, I don't see the point of getting the DA 21mm over the excellent DA 12-24mm... but if compact and light is what you want, a zoom is not the answer.
I don't have any of the DA Limited lenses, but I do have the 3 FA Limiteds. The 31mm has gotten the most use for me by far. The FA 43mm is also quite nice, and compact.
You're not going to lose anything, aside from an aperture ring and a bit of speed, if you go for the DA 40 over the FA 43mm and the DA 70mm over the FA 77mm.
However, the DA 21mm, from everything I've seen, is not a replacement for the FA 31mm. Apart from the size/weight issue, I don't see the point of getting the DA 21mm over the excellent DA 12-24mm... but if compact and light is what you want, a zoom is not the answer.
FA Limited
missing in action
astonished by the responses to this thread so far! i'm a pretty regular contributor on Pentax Forums and it's a great resource for more opinions on the lenses you're interested on.
the DA Limiteds are quite a nice set, but to me they're just too slow. speed vs size and price is the choice between FA and DA.
the DA Limiteds also do better on fringing characteristics, on digital (haven't seen it on film) FA77 tends to purple fringe a lot in very contrasty places and has strange cyan fringing. the DA limiteds focus faster and also have the quick shift focus which allows you to manually adjust focus even with AF engaged.
i used to own the DA21, it's an alright lens, but nothing really special about it beyond the size does have some distortion as well. the da40 vs fa43, the fa43 isn't that much more but is faster and is known to have some pretty nice rendering. the da40 is sharper in corners however. the FA77 vs DA70, that comes down to more personal choice. the fa31 on digital isn't as cool, but it's a true technician, pretty sharp at all apertures and does almost everything well.
with regards to the 20 vs 200 vs 2000 d's, just check em out in the store and see which one you like the best really.
the DA Limiteds are quite a nice set, but to me they're just too slow. speed vs size and price is the choice between FA and DA.
the DA Limiteds also do better on fringing characteristics, on digital (haven't seen it on film) FA77 tends to purple fringe a lot in very contrasty places and has strange cyan fringing. the DA limiteds focus faster and also have the quick shift focus which allows you to manually adjust focus even with AF engaged.
i used to own the DA21, it's an alright lens, but nothing really special about it beyond the size does have some distortion as well. the da40 vs fa43, the fa43 isn't that much more but is faster and is known to have some pretty nice rendering. the da40 is sharper in corners however. the FA77 vs DA70, that comes down to more personal choice. the fa31 on digital isn't as cool, but it's a true technician, pretty sharp at all apertures and does almost everything well.
with regards to the 20 vs 200 vs 2000 d's, just check em out in the store and see which one you like the best really.
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patrickhh
GAS free since Dec. 2007
I have all FA and DA limiteds. The limiteds are the reason why I still shoot Pentax, even though the digital bodies are not as "state of the art" as the Nikon/Canon/etc. models, especially with regard to AF speed, sensitivity & accuracy. The superiority of the Pentax prime lenses somewhat compensate for their low-tech bodies. 
Main difference between DA and FA limiteds is that the FA's are full-frame, have an aperture ring, and are faster. They also have more "character" of their own, while the DA's do a more "neutral" rendering. The DA limiteds are the more modern lenses, less prone to flare, CA's etc.
Main difference between DA and FA limiteds is that the FA's are full-frame, have an aperture ring, and are faster. They also have more "character" of their own, while the DA's do a more "neutral" rendering. The DA limiteds are the more modern lenses, less prone to flare, CA's etc.
jpfisher
Well-known
One thing I forgot to mention, and my major complaint about the Pentax system, is the lack of a full-frame 35mm DSLR body... there doesn't appear to be one on the horizon, either. There are many, many times that I'd really like the FA 31mm to be a wide-angle, rather than the normal it serves as on APS-C... granted, I still have a few film bodies around, but scanning 35mm is a bit of a pain.
Pentax lenses can be mounted on Canon bodies via adapter, but mounting on a full-frame body requires physically modifying the lens, or keeping the mirror locked up at all times. (Not sure if that is even possible on the 5d Mark II... I guess with live view enabled?)
This isn't a major issue if you're looking at DA lenses and happy with APS-C, but just thought it was worth pointing out.
Pentax lenses can be mounted on Canon bodies via adapter, but mounting on a full-frame body requires physically modifying the lens, or keeping the mirror locked up at all times. (Not sure if that is even possible on the 5d Mark II... I guess with live view enabled?)
This isn't a major issue if you're looking at DA lenses and happy with APS-C, but just thought it was worth pointing out.