The lens pentax users had been waiting for?

ChrisN said:
But the lens we need from Pentax is a 35mm(e) - that is, a 24mm lens that gives the same field of view as a 35mm on a film camera. The Pentax-A 24/2.8 I bought from Kim Coxon several years ago is pretty good, but a modern autofocus lens, preferably of f/2 aperture (for the bright viewfinder) would be really nice. You listening, Mr Pentax?
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I am second in line behind you to get one of these if it is ever announced. I choose a Pentax DSLR when I decided it was time for me to get a DSLR because of the prime lenses they offer. Nikon and Canon may be worlds ahead of Pentax when you think of their total systems, but way behind when I looked to see what lenses I actually wanted to use. A top quality modern 24 is missing, other than that I am very happy.

Chris, have you tried the A20/2.8? Very, very good and surely has helped cool my GAS for the non-existent 24.
 
rover said:
... Chris, have you tried the A20/2.8? Very, very good and surely has helped cool my GAS for the non-existent 24.
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No, although that might have to be looked at. I was on the point of ordering a Voigtlander 20mm and they have now announced they have discontinued the PK mount versions. I'm hoping the Australian agent can find one for me.

I should add (never safe to post after midnight and a good dinner out with friends) that I do have the DA21, and like that focal length on the digital, but I'd like to get the Voigtlander 20 so I could use it on the film bodies too.
 
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pvdhaar said:
The 35/1.8 is loads larger than the 50/1.8. It's the penalty for having AF-S. And when they put AF-S in, why can't it be smooth like the 18-70 or the 70-300? Those are consumer grade lenses too.
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Dunno, don't own/have no desire to own the other lenses you mentioned. The 35/1.8: A. Never come off the camera. B. Left me with no desire to own any other lenses of other focal lengths or zooms. I don't find this lens cumbersome whatsoever or its size out of the ordinary. Its price/performance ratio is incredible. It is, simply, the best lens I've ever used at f1.8. Very flare resistant at this aperture, negligible contrast loss, meaningless sharpness loss. You'd have to "look for" differences between shooting at f1.8 and f4 - and looking for such differences, I have no interest in. These differences are glaring (or "flaring") on the older glass of this speed (regardless of focal length) I've shot. I'm sure such lenses exist - Leica or "L" or what have you... But nothing at the price point of this Nikon. I think you're overstating the size issue of this lens, which simply doesn't exist at all to me. What a pleasure to shot any time, anywhere, and regard f1.8 as you would any other aperture.

The cost and perfromance of this lens at f108-f2 and the decreased cost, size, and performance of the newer DSLRs (esp. at ISO 1600) lead me to conclude that it's a better tool for the type of photography I like to do than film (or digital) rangefinders.

I still shoot the one rangefinder I currently have - but that's mainly because I just love using that camera (along with the images that come out of it...)
 
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Hmm, well it's true, the Nikon 35/1.8 AFS is no great lens by any means, but for < $200, it's a no brainer.

I had to quickly give away a nice MF 35/2 in M42/K mount, because I knew by keeping it, I'd likely end up with a Kx or K7 body just for it ...

Pentax stuff is usually good (good value) on the low end, and outstanding quality (at the higher end).

I must resist.
 
ChrisN said:
But the lens we need from Pentax is a 35mm(e) - that is, a 24mm lens that gives the same field of view as a 35mm on a film camera. The Pentax-A 24/2.8 I bought from Kim Coxon several years ago is pretty good, but a modern autofocus lens, preferably of f/2 aperture (for the bright viewfinder) would be really nice. You listening, Mr Pentax?
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Could not agree more. The widest I have right now is a 28mm. The only autofocus lens I have is a 35mm which, for me, is a bit tight on the crop sensor. I may look for a manual focus 20mm or 24mm in the mean time.
 
I thought I'd be happy with Pentax-M 50/1.4 and 28/2.8 for a while, but this thread is making me wanna get some Limited glasses. :p
 
rolleistef said:
I heard somebody speaking about the M42 35/2, how is it? There's one listed on ebay for a mere 100€ and it's tempting...
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I got one new from my dealer in Seattle back in the early 1970's and have no record of using it until the early 1980's. In fact it looks like I didn't use it from 1985-2006 either, so I don't have much to say about it! Reviewing some shots with that lens, though, I'm reminded of my impression that it has a delicate touch, a gentle and pleasant nature.

100€ sounds very attractive (depending on condition), maybe worth trying it...

There's some question of how similar it is to the 1975-77 K-mount version... both with an 8-element design that some say is the same as across the change to K mount, but OTOH maybe some small differences in the lens diagrams.

Seems a little strange there's no current 35/2 prime from Pentax, the FA having been discontinued in 2004 after 5 years. Six elements, one aspheric, and floating element(s) for better close focus. A really nice one...
 
To add to that there's a fair bit of discussion about the web, commenting on the similarity in the block diagrams between the FA 35/2 AL and this new lens. Perhaps it is a wolf in Little Red Riding Hood's clothing! (ie a truly excellent lens optically, dressed up to look like a colourful plastic toy.)
 
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