HD Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited In-Depth Review
Our in-depth look at the versatile DA 21mm Limited
By carpents in Review Announcements on Jun 11, 2015
Our 13-page review of the versatile HD Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited is now up!
The DA 21mm Limited is the only currently-produced Pentax prime lens between 15mm and 31mm. With such a large gap, many photographers rely on it to fill multiple photographic roles. Is it sharp enough for landscapes? Is it usable for street shooting? How did it fare in the field?
We inspect the DA 21mm Limited for sharpness, flare, aberrations, distortions, vignetting, and its physical characteristics as well. Everything you want to know about the under-the-radar pancake, you can find at the link below!
HD Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited In-Depth Review
Our in-depth look at the smallest DA Limited
By carpents in Review Announcements on Mar 30, 2015
Our 13-page review of the diminutive HD Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited is now up and ready to supplement our existing review of the SMC version.
We thoroughly examine the lens to see if the optics in this little Limited match its not-so-little reputation. We first look at how the lens handles, given how amazingly compact it is. How did it fare in the field?
Looking at sharpness, we compare the DA 40mm Limited to the pro-grade Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8. For color and contrast, we also match the pancake against the DA* 16-50mm as well as lenses from two other brands. We then dissect the DA 40mm Limited's bokeh, its autofocus, vignetting, and distortion.
If you want to know if the HD DA 40mm Limited is still the "King of the Pancakes", you will find the answer below. Enjoy!
Building the Perfect Compact Lens Kit
Minimizing size and weight while maximizing quality
By carpents in Gear Guides on Feb 23, 2015
The announcement of the K-S2 has Pentax shooters excited about yet another camera, but many of us are more excited about the lens - a collapsible, small 18-50mm zoom.
Downsizing lenses— while maintaining or improving quality— is what Pentax has long been about. Long before Fuji and Olympus/Panasonic fleshed out their excellent and small lenses, Pentax has been sporting a line of outright diminutive crop-camera lenses which shine. Many legacy lenses from the film era are also surprisingly small.
New K-S2 DSLR w/ collapsible kit lens (Click to Enlarge)
If you're looking for compact and lightweight lenses, Pentax has you covered from ultra-wides to telephoto. Many of the lenses in the Pentax arsenal are even smaller and lighter than their mirrorless kin, no small feat for those looking to drop pounds from their kit.
The recommendations below are small and light lenses with the ultimate image quality: The Perfect Compact Lens Kit. Added to the weather-sealed retractable 18-50mm, you'll have a take-anywhere kit!
Building a Quality Lens Kit on a Budget
Maximizing value and performance without breaking the bank
By carpents in Gear Guides on Jan 12, 2015
The holidays are over, and you have a lovely new Pentax DSLR likely matched with the respectable 18-55mm or 18-135mm WR kit lens. If you're like so many other Pentaxians, you'll soon start thinking about your lens upgrade path.
With literally millions of lenses made for the Pentax K mount since the 1970s, there is a perfect Pentax kit waiting for almost everyone. But those millions of lenses can be daunting when deciding what to buy, and this series is intended to help lay out a strategy for building a coherent kit to compliment your style.
This Perfect Kit is for the budget-minded shooter who wants high-quality all-around coverage. If you can't fathom spending more on a lens than you did on your camera; if you're a starving artist or college student; or, if you're simply a bang-for-buck person, then these lenses are for you.
One quick note: we'll only be focusing on lenses that provide long-term value and good image quality rather simply trying to find the absolute cheapest products available. If you're on the hunt for bargain-basement legacy glass, we'll be covering it separetely.
Now, without further ado, read on for the guide!
Top 10 Hiking Cameras for Photographers 2014
Trimming weight and size while taking outstanding photographs.
By carpents in Gear Guides on Jun 3, 2014
We are in the midst of a sea of change in photography.
Largely from the envelope-pushing designs of Fuji and subsequent effort from Sony, cameras boasting top-of-the-line imaging sensors are getting steadily smaller. This fat-cutting by the camera manufacturers is of particular interest to one segment of photographers - long distance hikers.
Whether setting out on a 5,000 vertical feet day hike or a week-long trek, a 10-pound versus 20-pound pack could mean making a summit or turning back. Hikers know that size and weight are expensive to minimize; for many, the cheapest and easiest way to drop pounds from their pack is by leaving the DSLR at home.
These cameras offer an alternative for serious photographers to keep the camera and shed the mass.
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Sean Carpenter is a professional photographer from West Chester, PA. Sean is one of the official UltiPhotos photographers, covering college, club, and professional Ultimate Frisbee. He also runs a photography business called AutoChromatica.
Sean recently completed hiking the highest summits in New York's Adirondack Park, becoming an Adirondack 46er. The process involved hiking over 300 miles and 100,000 vertical feet, all of it while carrying various combinations of camera equipment from Pentax, Nikon, Sony, and Fuji.
Sean is active in supporting our military and veterans as a member of the Warriors' Watch and A Hero's Welcome. One of Sean's images from a welcome of Corporal Dean Oldt on July 13, 2008 was selected as one of only 18 images nationally for inclusion in a permanent art exhibit at the Sarasota National Cemetery. 