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04-27-2009, 09:27 PM   #1
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Testing out the DA*55/1.4 Lens (imgs)

Got chance to test out my friend's new toy, the DA*55/1.4 lens. What a lovely lens! My impression w/ this lens is pretty much inline w/ most the other owners: excellent built lens w/ great IQ, can be a bit soft at wide aperture, but very nice from F2 and slower. I used it mostly between F2 and F2.8. Here is one of the very first testing shot, just to see how sharp the lens can be at F2:



And 100% crop:




Last edited by frank; 04-27-2009 at 10:08 PM.
04-27-2009, 09:30 PM   #2
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lookin' good!
04-27-2009, 09:31 PM   #3
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Obviously my daughter wasn't happy that my first testing shots were on her little brother instead of her:



The little guy is still a bit shy when I point the camera at him:




Most time the two little kids are getting along very well, and the big sister is the little guy's idle:







04-27-2009, 09:32 PM   #4
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Several more photos by the lovely lens:











04-27-2009, 10:06 PM   #5
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great photo, awesome lens. Your "models" looks great 2. It's very sharp at 2.0, nice color rendering, got some FA 77mm "taste" to it. Too bad, they both are out of my budget.
04-27-2009, 10:18 PM   #6
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Bro, the out of focus rendering is excellent as is the colour rendition.
Plus the resolution looks excellent.
Definitely a notch up on the FA 50mm f/1.4.

BTW your kids make good models
04-27-2009, 10:49 PM   #7
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Great pics Frank. You hit the spot with the IQ of the lens.
BTW Kids like the sunshine, you must be a happy man.

Rainer

04-27-2009, 11:11 PM   #8
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Lovely photos, Frank!

This DA*55 looks really good for portrait!
And your models are very professional too

I wonder whether it's how FA*85/1.4 used to look like when mounted on Pentax film camera which is FF?

I wish somebody who also has FA*85/1.4 can took a picture with film camera and scan it and compare it with similar photo taken using K20D+DA*55/1.4
04-27-2009, 11:19 PM   #9
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Edit: ......

Looks great.
04-28-2009, 12:34 AM   #10
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Great photos and the kid's expressions are well captured. In your opinion, is this lens worth the cost, when we already have the cheapo FA 50? Do you think the price to performance difference between DA*55 vs FA 50 is similare compared to say, A 50/1.4 vs A 50/1.2?
04-28-2009, 01:03 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by winglik Quote
great photo, awesome lens. Your "models" looks great 2. It's very sharp at 2.0, nice color rendering, got some FA 77mm "taste" to it. Too bad, they both are out of my budget.
Thanks Actually I like the 55 focal length better on our dSLR. I think I might get one for myself someday, when the price cool off a bit.

QuoteOriginally posted by creampuff Quote
Bro, the out of focus rendering is excellent as is the colour rendition.
Plus the resolution looks excellent.
Definitely a notch up on the FA 50mm f/1.4.

BTW your kids make good models
Thanks Denis It's definitely a better lens than the FA50. And I agree, the kids were very cooperative this weekend, probably because of the lens

QuoteOriginally posted by TKH Quote
Great pics Frank. You hit the spot with the IQ of the lens.
BTW Kids like the sunshine, you must be a happy man.

Rainer
Thanks Rainer. Glad you like them. Yeah, the kids can be very fun to play with, most time
04-28-2009, 01:08 AM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by HermanLee Quote
Lovely photos, Frank!

This DA*55 looks really good for portrait!
And your models are very professional too

I wonder whether it's how FA*85/1.4 used to look like when mounted on Pentax film camera which is FF?

I wish somebody who also has FA*85/1.4 can took a picture with film camera and scan it and compare it with similar photo taken using K20D+DA*55/1.4
Never used my Fa*85 on film camera, but I did have some shots w/ the 77. I like using it on film camera for people shots. Always feel the 43 is abit too short on dSLR, while 77 and 85 are a bit to tight. 50 to 60mm is just right

QuoteOriginally posted by asdf Quote
Edit: ......

Looks great.
Thanks

QuoteOriginally posted by Andi Lo Quote
Great photos and the kid's expressions are well captured. In your opinion, is this lens worth the cost, when we already have the cheapo FA 50? Do you think the price to performance difference between DA*55 vs FA 50 is similare compared to say, A 50/1.4 vs A 50/1.2?
Thanks Andi.

Since I already have a FA43 and 77, I don't think I'm gonna spend such an amount of money for a DA*55 yet. But when its price comes down a bit, lets say around $400usd, I might eventually get one. DA55 vs FA50, I do feel this DA55 is overall an better lens. The A50/1.2 is almost three times of an A50/1.4, I don't think this DA55 worth 3 times of FA50/1.4 which is already an excellent performer. But you know sometimes you have to pay a lot more for just slight better IQ
04-28-2009, 06:38 AM   #13
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Great shots of the kids; they look very comfortable in front of the camera!

How did you find AF given all the discussion with initial impressions over speed being slow? Are you on the new firmware?

Cheers.
04-28-2009, 07:03 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by frank Quote

Thanks Denis It's definitely a better lens than the FA50. And I agree, the kids were very cooperative this weekend, probably because of the lens
Anything that makes kids behave is worth its weight in gold!

Great shots again, Frank!

Can't wait to try one of these out on my girls!
04-28-2009, 08:11 AM   #15
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Gorgeous kids Franck!
Extra cool shots!
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