Glad I decided not to return the DA*55mm f/1.4

**DRabbit** · 05-13-2011, 08:10 PM

I'm keeping it. It's just so good in low-light. IQ is excellent. I was worried about FOV, but I took to it very quickly and think it'll be a good fit on rainy/snowy days. I've pretty much decided that 18-135 is going back and I'm going with an all prime kit.

Remember Fotomat? Some of you are old enough to remember

They closed down years ago, and for those who don't remember, they were drive-thru film-developing drop-off locations. One of my first jobs in highschool was actually at a Fotomat. They all closed down years ago, and most of the buildings are long gone, but occasionally you run across one... usually boarded up.

But some creative individual found a use for one!

I took this out the moving car window, after sunset when it was getting dark. Already set at F2, I quickly adjusted to ISO 3200 and grabbed the shot.

While the following shot could have been taken with any lens, I like how the 55 renders here...
I'm glad I decided to keep it

I call this one "But Sleeping, Okay"

Thanks for you help and patience all!
Now that I'm settled on lenses, I won't be bugging you with gear questions too often ... promise

sunny16 · 05-13-2011, 10:07 PM

I really enjoyed "But sleeping, Okay." It is kind of a wild perspective... I don't know if there's some sort of land just below that edge, but it sure looks like it just drops off to water!

The DA* 55mm is a great lens. Hope you enjoy it!

axl · 05-14-2011, 01:51 AM

The 2nd shot is winner!

As for the 55, I'm glad you decided to keep it. It's a great lens IMO, tad on the bigger side but not too bad... And as I wrote in other threatd of yours, it pairs fantasticly with 31ltd or FA*24 (depending what FOV do you prefer). Regards Peter

WerTicus · 05-14-2011, 04:17 AM

im getting a 55 in a few days

Does not seem that too many people have one, there is very few sample pics from it on the forums.

**Rondec** · 05-14-2011, 04:34 AM

The second shot is excellent. Glad your lens line up seems to be coming together, Amy. I guess it was pure serendipity that you accidentally ordered the 55 along with the 18-135.

RonHendriks1966 · 05-14-2011, 05:28 AM

Congrats, it is a nice lens and I have to use it more often.

farfisa · 05-14-2011, 06:40 AM

I'm glad you kept it too

Thanks for the pics!

I like #2 the best as well. Nice perspective and composition. Where there's no parking and no jetskis allowed, hey, nice place for a nap!

TOUGEFC · 05-14-2011, 06:48 AM

Good too see you made the right choice to keep it

The 55 is on my list of soon to get lenses, as im lacking a killer WR lens.

WerTicus · 05-14-2011, 08:59 AM

its actually the sharpest 50mm lens there is... sharper than the sigma even at its maximum. that plus wr sold it for me

(plus sigma's qc)

pjthiel · 05-14-2011, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

The 55 is on my list of soon to get lenses

Me too ... the DA*55 is definitely on the shopping list, as is the D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro; that'll leave me with just a wide-angle to find to complete a competent set of primes.

VaSA · 05-14-2011, 10:42 AM

Its hard to shoot zooms after you've tried some Pentax primes.

Did you PP those shots? The color reproduction seems very similar to my A 28mm f2.8 (which I've sold recently).

**DRabbit** · 05-15-2011, 01:59 PM

Thanks everyone

VaSA... I usually PP my shots. I do own the SMC-A 28mm f/2.8 also though, and I wouldn't disagree that color reproduction is similar.

Here's a shot I took today with the DA*55. I'll say, the low-light capabilities of the K-5 are really outstanding... combined with fast glass, unstoppable

**fs999** · 05-16-2011, 06:27 AM

... and fast with the K-5

robgo2 · 05-16-2011, 06:57 PM

Amy,

Would you care to compare the DA*55 and the FA43, now that you have both?

Rob

RonHendriks1966 · 06-13-2011, 01:15 AM

Yesterday I put my DA*55mm on my K-5 Silver for the first time. Did the lenscorrection test and it scared the hell out of me! Correction is +10 wich is the biggest number I ever had to use. But then again, it is crisp sharp, so I'm lucky again.

05-13-2011, 08:10 PM	#1
DRabbit Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 593	*Glad I decided not to return the DA55mm f/1.4** I'm keeping it. It's just so good in low-light. IQ is excellent. I was worried about FOV, but I took to it very quickly and think it'll be a good fit on rainy/snowy days. I've pretty much decided that 18-135 is going back and I'm going with an all prime kit. Remember Fotomat? Some of you are old enough to remember They closed down years ago, and for those who don't remember, they were drive-thru film-developing drop-off locations. One of my first jobs in highschool was actually at a Fotomat. They all closed down years ago, and most of the buildings are long gone, but occasionally you run across one... usually boarded up. But some creative individual found a use for one! I took this out the moving car window, after sunset when it was getting dark. Already set at F2, I quickly adjusted to ISO 3200 and grabbed the shot. While the following shot could have been taken with any lens, I like how the 55 renders here... I'm glad I decided to keep it I call this one "But Sleeping, Okay" Thanks for you help and patience all! Now that I'm settled on lenses, I won't be bugging you with gear questions too often ... promise

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05-13-2011, 10:07 PM	#2
sunny16 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Maryland, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 309	I really enjoyed "But sleeping, Okay." It is kind of a wild perspective... I don't know if there's some sort of land just below that edge, but it sure looks like it just drops off to water! The DA* 55mm is a great lens. Hope you enjoy it!

05-14-2011, 01:51 AM	#3
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	The 2nd shot is winner! As for the 55, I'm glad you decided to keep it. It's a great lens IMO, tad on the bigger side but not too bad... And as I wrote in other threatd of yours, it pairs fantasticly with 31ltd or FA*24 (depending what FOV do you prefer). Regards Peter

05-14-2011, 04:17 AM	#4
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	im getting a 55 in a few days Does not seem that too many people have one, there is very few sample pics from it on the forums.

05-14-2011, 04:34 AM	#5
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	The second shot is excellent. Glad your lens line up seems to be coming together, Amy. I guess it was pure serendipity that you accidentally ordered the 55 along with the 18-135.

05-14-2011, 05:28 AM	#6
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Congrats, it is a nice lens and I have to use it more often.

05-14-2011, 06:40 AM	#7
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	I'm glad you kept it too Thanks for the pics! I like #2 the best as well. Nice perspective and composition. Where there's no parking and no jetskis allowed, hey, nice place for a nap!

05-14-2011, 06:48 AM	#8
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Good too see you made the right choice to keep it The 55 is on my list of soon to get lenses, as im lacking a killer WR lens.

05-14-2011, 08:59 AM	#9
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	its actually the sharpest 50mm lens there is... sharper than the sigma even at its maximum. that plus wr sold it for me (plus sigma's qc)

05-14-2011, 10:21 AM	#10
pjthiel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 102	Originally posted by TOUGEFC The 55 is on my list of soon to get lenses Me too ... the DA*55 is definitely on the shopping list, as is the D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro; that'll leave me with just a wide-angle to find to complete a competent set of primes.

05-14-2011, 10:42 AM	#11
VaSA Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 173	Its hard to shoot zooms after you've tried some Pentax primes. Did you PP those shots? The color reproduction seems very similar to my A 28mm f2.8 (which I've sold recently).

05-15-2011, 01:59 PM	#12
DRabbit Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 593 Original Poster	Thanks everyone VaSA... I usually PP my shots. I do own the SMC-A 28mm f/2.8 also though, and I wouldn't disagree that color reproduction is similar. Here's a shot I took today with the DA*55. I'll say, the low-light capabilities of the K-5 are really outstanding... combined with fast glass, unstoppable

05-16-2011, 06:27 AM	#13
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,638	... and fast with the K-5

05-16-2011, 06:57 PM	#14
robgo2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico Photos: Albums Posts: 1,125	Amy, Would you care to compare the DA*55 and the FA43, now that you have both? Rob

06-13-2011, 01:15 AM	#15
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Yesterday I put my DA*55mm on my K-5 Silver for the first time. Did the lenscorrection test and it scared the hell out of me! Correction is +10 wich is the biggest number I ever had to use. But then again, it is crisp sharp, so I'm lucky again.