DA 21mm 3.2 - some thoughts

repaap · 04-11-2011, 12:07 PM

I don't have 21 LTD, but about that distortion...I don't mind it kind a suites for wide angle, and for that 21 It is small amount!

RonHendriks1966 · 04-11-2011, 12:12 PM

I have 21mm and 40mm from the Ltd series. It's a great lens.

chrism_scotland · 04-11-2011, 12:17 PM

Nice to see some shots, I have the DA 40 Ltd and love it so I'm now looking to add to my Ltd collection, probably a DA 21 and DA 15, not sure what to get first!

TKH · 04-11-2011, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by axl

Interesting thread, could we have more images please?

No problem.
I really love that little gem.

sameagle · 04-11-2011, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by TKH

No problem.
I really love that little gem.

Love it!
I don't think I ever get tired of a big splash of color against a beautiful blue sky.

- Sam

Spotmatic · 04-11-2011, 12:55 PM

The only DA Limited I don't have is the 40....but that could change. I won't be selling any of them. They were one on the reasons I went Pentax when gave up film. And I don't miss film.

mplatt1903 · 04-11-2011, 02:39 PM

Here's a couple more from yesterday - not as happy with there as I think the composition is just so-so and, well, I guess I'm just not as happy...

But.. they are both good examples of the fact that the distortion in the DA21 really does depend on the context. With the first one, it's only slight and doesn't detract in my view from the scene. In the second, the context (wonky old mediaeval window) means that it takes some looking to find it..

twitch · 04-11-2011, 03:46 PM

I love my DA21, it's most most versatile of all my primes, it's the perfect FL for street photography and travel photography. Does landscpaes, cityscapes, people shots the lot.

RBellavance · 04-11-2011, 04:25 PM

As I wrote on DPreview recently, the DA21 is a lens that is easy to dismiss based on the spec sheet, but that is very addictive once you actually start using it. I wouldn't part with mine, it's a fantastic "environmental portrait" lens.

DA21 @ f/5.6

DA21 @ f/3.2

SpecialK · 04-11-2011, 06:14 PM

These are literally the first two shots with it.

A couple weeks later.

TKH · 04-11-2011, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by twitch

I love my DA21, it's most most versatile of all my primes, it's the perfect FL for street photography and travel photography.

Thats so right. I often think that it would be no problem to travel only with my camera and the DA21 and no other lens.

Fantastic pics in this thread, from all of you guys!

Rainer

philippe · 04-11-2011, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

I liked the 21 a lot, but I couldn't get down with the distortion, which is evident in these (otherwise gorgeous) photos as well.

LightRoom 3 has rather good lens profiles now and, if I am not mistaking, the K5 has some kind of build in lens corrections. So, the DA 21's distortions should not bother any more.
BTW, distortions are not always that disturbing and in the old film days, there was no software to correct distortions and we learned to live whit it...

The DA 21 is certainly worth it's money!

**Fries** · 04-12-2011, 12:52 AM

I think the lens correction feature in the K-5 only works with JPG; but that didn't stop me from buying the K-5 with the DA 21. I use the PT-lens plug in if I need to correct the distortion. With some of the other primes in my bag I don't feel the need to carry my 16-50 with me that much anymore. Two examples of this lens in use.

and

philippe · 04-12-2011, 02:54 AM

That's an other example of what the DA 21 is capable of

mplatt1903 · 04-12-2011, 03:23 AM

Superb shots guys - great to see there's plenty of DA21 love out there - you all seem to know exactly what to do with this fab little lens..

Fries - I think you are correct - I think the K5 only corrects distortion on JPEGs.. At least that's how it appears to me anyhow. Happy to be proven wrong though!

Philippe - you are right as well - in the old film days there was no correction and distortion was just accepted for what it was

04-11-2011, 04:25 PM	#24
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	As I wrote on DPreview recently, the DA21 is a lens that is easy to dismiss based on the spec sheet, but that is very addictive once you actually start using it. I wouldn't part with mine, it's a fantastic "environmental portrait" lens. DA21 @ f/5.6 DA21 @ f/5.6 DA21 @ f/3.2 Last edited by RBellavance; 04-11-2011 at 06:35 PM.

04-12-2011, 02:54 AM	#29
philippe Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Flanders Fields Posts: 463	That's an other example of what the DA 21 is capable of Last edited by philippe; 12-09-2011 at 09:36 AM.

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04-11-2011, 12:07 PM	#16
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	I don't have 21 LTD, but about that distortion...I don't mind it kind a suites for wide angle, and for that 21 It is small amount!

04-11-2011, 12:12 PM	#17
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	I have 21mm and 40mm from the Ltd series. It's a great lens.

04-11-2011, 12:17 PM	#18
chrism_scotland Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 76	Nice to see some shots, I have the DA 40 Ltd and love it so I'm now looking to add to my Ltd collection, probably a DA 21 and DA 15, not sure what to get first!

04-11-2011, 12:41 PM	#19
TKH Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 371	Originally posted by axl Interesting thread, could we have more images please? No problem. I really love that little gem.

04-11-2011, 12:53 PM	#20
sameagle Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 323	Originally posted by TKH No problem. I really love that little gem. Love it! I don't think I ever get tired of a big splash of color against a beautiful blue sky. - Sam

04-11-2011, 12:55 PM	#21
Spotmatic Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ft. Myers Florida Posts: 169	The only DA Limited I don't have is the 40....but that could change. I won't be selling any of them. They were one on the reasons I went Pentax when gave up film. And I don't miss film.

04-11-2011, 02:39 PM	#22
mplatt1903 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Oxford Posts: 52 Original Poster	Here's a couple more from yesterday - not as happy with there as I think the composition is just so-so and, well, I guess I'm just not as happy... But.. they are both good examples of the fact that the distortion in the DA21 really does depend on the context. With the first one, it's only slight and doesn't detract in my view from the scene. In the second, the context (wonky old mediaeval window) means that it takes some looking to find it..

04-11-2011, 03:46 PM	#23
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I love my DA21, it's most most versatile of all my primes, it's the perfect FL for street photography and travel photography. Does landscpaes, cityscapes, people shots the lot.

04-11-2011, 06:14 PM	#25
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	These are literally the first two shots with it. A couple weeks later.

04-11-2011, 10:04 PM	#26
TKH Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 371	Originally posted by twitch I love my DA21, it's most most versatile of all my primes, it's the perfect FL for street photography and travel photography. Thats so right. I often think that it would be no problem to travel only with my camera and the DA21 and no other lens. Fantastic pics in this thread, from all of you guys! Rainer

04-11-2011, 11:45 PM	#27
philippe Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Flanders Fields Posts: 463	Originally posted by deadwolfbones I liked the 21 a lot, but I couldn't get down with the distortion, which is evident in these (otherwise gorgeous) photos as well. LightRoom 3 has rather good lens profiles now and, if I am not mistaking, the K5 has some kind of build in lens corrections. So, the DA 21's distortions should not bother any more. BTW, distortions are not always that disturbing and in the old film days, there was no software to correct distortions and we learned to live whit it... The DA 21 is certainly worth it's money!

04-12-2011, 12:52 AM	#28
Fries Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gauw Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,582	I think the lens correction feature in the K-5 only works with JPG; but that didn't stop me from buying the K-5 with the DA 21. I use the PT-lens plug in if I need to correct the distortion. With some of the other primes in my bag I don't feel the need to carry my 16-50 with me that much anymore. Two examples of this lens in use. and

04-12-2011, 03:23 AM	#30
mplatt1903 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Oxford Posts: 52 Original Poster	Superb shots guys - great to see there's plenty of DA21 love out there - you all seem to know exactly what to do with this fab little lens.. Fries - I think you are correct - I think the K5 only corrects distortion on JPEGs.. At least that's how it appears to me anyhow. Happy to be proven wrong though! Philippe - you are right as well - in the old film days there was no correction and distortion was just accepted for what it was