virtually instant, totally accurate focus - very good
instant manual focus override - very good
weighs nothing - very good
cheap (from Adorama) - very good
great build quality - very good
but... it's sharp at 2.8... and razor sharp stepped down, right across the frame, superb from corner to corner - very bad :-( now I can't justify buying any other primes... how do I top this?
If you like narrow depth of field, just close into the subject, leaving room for the background.
I personally think pentax primes might not be the sharpest in the world, but its consistent sharpness from centre to corners is probably the best around. (with exception of zooms in general)
But there are things sharper though. Bleeding sharp like A* 85mm f1.4 which I had yet seen its images through personal use.
Buying primes is an addiction. Give it a 2 month period. You will get more.
I already made my order for the new 2 voigtlander lenses: 58mm f1.4 and 40mm f2 hehe...
What did the 58 mm cost you? I can't seem to find a price for it anywhere for U.S or Canada. I just ordered a 50mm f/2, for 40$ with shipping/taxes, to use as a cheap manual prime. Hopefully 5/2 will suffice for portraits.
Edit: I really your gallery!
That's why they make em in different focal lengths. So there's something else to buy. Plus, then you will want the ones that have the 'personality' as well as the 'perfection', and Just To Be Sure the previous 6 iterations of a given formula... So yeah, the 40 isn't the 70, now is it? And neither is the 31, 43, 77... and while at it, perhaps you note sometimes you want to focus closer, so then there's the macros to look at.
I was equally impressed with the DA 40mm Limited, and even used it for 85-90% of the shots I took at a wedding this weekend. AWESOME lens, and a very very decent price.
I'm already eyeing the DA 21mm Limited as I used my 18-55mm Pentax kit lens for wide shots... oh, and the 50-200mm wasn't good for indoor telephoto, so the DA70 or the FA77 is looking like a possibility...
Uh oh... I think I have LBA....... Darn you Pentax for making these awesome lenses!!!!
Quote:
sharp is brilliant, which is why i can't justify ever buying another prime this one can't be topped (for me).
That's what I thought until I realized I could use a longer telephoto and a decent wide angle that has the same build quality and brilliant sharpness. Apparently, some of the FA series is as good as the DA series for sharp primes. If you like the DA, go for the FA. Or if you're okay with manual focusing, go for M or A.... can someone back me up on this?
What did the 58 mm cost you? I can't seem to find a price for it anywhere for U.S or Canada. I just ordered a 50mm f/2, for 40$ with shipping/taxes, to use as a cheap manual prime. Hopefully 5/2 will suffice for portraits.
Edit: I really your gallery!
I pre-ordered the lens from a shop called Chii (got a few lenses from this chap, reliable)
About 500 SG dollars each or so (I think SG equivalent to US dollar value currently)
sharp is brilliant, which is why i can't justify ever buying another prime this one can't be topped (for me).
LOL. How do you top your 40?? Let me count the ways. Let see now..... there's the 31 limited, the 77 limited, the FA* or A* 85f1.4. you will want them, resistance is futile, dang LBA .
I, myself, don't own any primes yet. I don't mind telling you that from what I see happening mentally and physically to you folks has me scared to start.
I, myself, don't own any primes yet. I don't mind telling you that from what I see happening mentally and physically to you folks has me scared to start.
If you want to be happy with your zooms and keep your money in the bank do not try a prime lens . I made a big mistake before, I bought an M50 1.7 and never got satisfied with my zooms. I have two of the DA limited and I am saving up for the DA40 or FA43 (still undecided).
If you want to be happy with your zooms and keep your money in the bank do not try a prime lens . I made a big mistake before, I bought an M50 1.7 and never got satisfied with my zooms. I have two of the DA limited and I am saving up for the DA40 or FA43 (still undecided).
I definitely agree. I picked up a Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4 for $20 on ebay (it even had a spotmatic attached ) maybe a year ago. I had just spent a week using my Dad's $5000 Noctilux (a Leica 50mm f/1...yes, you read that correctly: f/1) on his $5000 M7, and I decided that with my hard-earned grad student stipend, I wanted a fast lens of my own.
Only a stop slower and $4980 cheaper? Hell yeah! Takes better pictures, too.
In the intervening months, I have since acquired another Super-Tak 50/1.4, a Super-Tak 28/3.5, 3 A 50/1.7's, an M 50/1.7, an M 50/2, an M 200/4, an FA 31/1.8, a DA 21/3.2, and an FA 43/1.9. I haven't kept them all, instead keeping a rotating collection with a dedicated lens fund Paypal account. Pentax glass only keeps going up in value, so I make a little profit every time a lens rotates out of the collection.
this one can't be topped (for me).
Originally posted by roentarre 
