Will Pentax make a "DA 28mm f2.8"?

DaveHolmes · 06-07-2011, 11:16 AM

Shot at 5.6 1/180 with flash (YN560) iso1600 with FA50-1.4 on K-x

Fast lenses don't 'have' to be wide open... As such you don't 'always' need fast lenses...

Last edited by DaveHolmes; 02-09-2012 at 03:52 PM.

eddie1960 · 06-09-2011, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

Right, I just didn't want the OP to have unrealistic expectations about what an f/2.8 lens could do in terms of *action* photography in truly low light. However, sometimes light is indeed not as low as you think. We are mostly terrible judges of light levels, because our eyes adapt so well for the most part. One might not be aware that there is a big difference in light levels between a show at a small club versus a larger auditorium, but there almost always is.

I would tend to agree, also the type of light they use can vary wildly, stages lit by these damn led systems in smaller clubs can look well lit but really they aren't and are generally near impossible to white balance (given that the red light on stage in this case means a total absence of blue or green, not a good thing in the digital world at all)
there are clubs i just won't bother shooting in for this very reason). I also generally do not trust the meter on the camera to decide for me, it typically overexposes for the effect i want,
Stage dives without flash would be pretty much a no go in most clubs given the diver is not on stage but leaving it for where there is rarely lighting, that and dof at wide open on a 2.8 or faster lens would pretty much kill the chance of getting the shot
I can shoot a performer at 1.7 MF and get good shots (as long as it isn't say iggy pop - but then his shows have tons of light so it's not a worry i could shoot a kit lens in that scenario) but the hit rate definitely goes down below 2.8

eddie1960 · 06-09-2011, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by DaveHolmes

Shot at 5.6 1/180 with flash (YN560) iso1600 with FA50-1.4 on K-x

Fast lenses don't 'have' to be wide open... As such you don't 'always' need fast lenses...

Well done, and the performer still has some nice motion showing. most gigs i shoot flash is verboten. it was a real stretch with the k10, I'll see next week with the k7 because i'll shoot about 40+ bands over the course of North by Northeast

kthung · 06-12-2011, 03:25 PM

28/1.8 would be amazing

RonHendriks1966 · 06-13-2011, 01:25 AM

Well in the lens design survey the 28mm/f2.8 isn't very popular, so for know I wouldn't expect it anytime soon.

shiner · 06-13-2011, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Well in the lens design survey the 28mm/f2.8 isn't very popular, so for know I wouldn't expect it anytime soon.

I love my old M28 2.8 and think it is under rated vs the f3.5- a great little lens for APS-C. I don't believe the OP wasn't suggesting that it be remanufactured but a new design with the same basic specs.
A bit faster, rounded aperture, plastic is just fine, WR if it doesn't raise the price too much, give it superb IQ wide open- oh, and keep it affordable please, Pentax! Can you have it ready by Xmas??

Blue · 06-13-2011, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Well in the lens design survey the 28mm/f2.8 isn't very popular, so for know I wouldn't expect it anytime soon.

I don't think any survey is going to have much of an effect on those old Hoya boys in Japan. Otherwise, they would have got moving with that DA 1.4x tc convertor that Pentax showed a prototype of a couple of Photokina's ago. And a ff body . . . well there are pages of threads on that.

DaveHolmes · 07-02-2011, 12:55 PM

I'm thinking that Ricoh may want to save money on R&D and may reproduce/revamp well recieved and sought after FA-Glass...

The other plus of a re-vamp of the FA line would be the possibility of FF after all...

Any thoughts?

RioRico · 07-02-2011, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by DaveHolmes

Any thoughts?

I think it is very likely. Ricoh stated that one goal is to expand the lens line. Re-issuing the golden oldies would do that with minimal hoo-hoo. And FA's would keep us panting for a future FF body for them. We shall see.

shiner · 07-03-2011, 02:24 AM

I find this old review of the DA35mm Ltd interesting, where a 24-28mm f1.8 was strongly suggested. Such a lens will sell (well, I would buy it).

DaveHolmes · 07-03-2011, 10:58 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

I think it is very likely. Ricoh stated that one goal is to expand the lens line. Re-issuing the golden oldies would do that with minimal hoo-hoo. And FA's would keep us panting for a future FF body for them.

This was both my thinking and my hope... Cheers RioRico... Hoping for a re-issue of both the 20 & 28 among others...

Nick Siebers · 07-04-2011, 01:09 PM

I have the FA 28/2.8, and it is very nice. I don't know why they wouldn't sell a new version. It doesn't seem fast enough or wide enough to cannibalize any Limited sales.

paperbag846 · 07-04-2011, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by shiner

I find this old review of the DA35mm Ltd interesting, where a 24-28mm f1.8 was strongly suggested. Such a lens will sell (well, I would buy it).

I would immediately buy this.

Don't care if it's ASPC only.

eddie1960 · 07-05-2011, 11:22 AM

I imagine the plan is to revisit a number of the old designs and give them the DFA treatment
Of course I could be wrong (that wouldn't be out of the usual)
Certainly if I was in Ricoh's place I'd do that with both the K mount and the 645 mount lenses - cheap to develop, proven performers and leaves FF opne. Still there is room for some new designs as well but that's the fast track to get in the game full on. I imagine a year of a good number of lens announcements would garner a lot of attention and get people looking for Pentax

shiner · 07-09-2011, 05:17 AM

In the meantime, these are in stock...

06-07-2011, 11:16 AM	#166
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501 Original Poster	Action and LowLight Shot at 5.6 1/180 with flash (YN560) iso1600 with FA50-1.4 on K-x Fast lenses don't 'have' to be wide open... As such you don't 'always' need fast lenses... Last edited by DaveHolmes; 02-09-2012 at 03:52 PM.

07-02-2011, 12:55 PM	#173
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501 Original Poster	Could a re-run of the FA28 be in the pipeline now that Ricoh hold the purse strings I'm thinking that Ricoh may want to save money on R&D and may reproduce/revamp well recieved and sought after FA-Glass... The other plus of a re-vamp of the FA line would be the possibility of FF after all... Any thoughts?

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06-09-2011, 12:27 PM	#167
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella Right, I just didn't want the OP to have unrealistic expectations about what an f/2.8 lens could do in terms of action photography in truly low light. However, sometimes light is indeed not as low as you think. We are mostly terrible judges of light levels, because our eyes adapt so well for the most part. One might not be aware that there is a big difference in light levels between a show at a small club versus a larger auditorium, but there almost always is. I would tend to agree, also the type of light they use can vary wildly, stages lit by these damn led systems in smaller clubs can look well lit but really they aren't and are generally near impossible to white balance (given that the red light on stage in this case means a total absence of blue or green, not a good thing in the digital world at all) there are clubs i just won't bother shooting in for this very reason). I also generally do not trust the meter on the camera to decide for me, it typically overexposes for the effect i want, Stage dives without flash would be pretty much a no go in most clubs given the diver is not on stage but leaving it for where there is rarely lighting, that and dof at wide open on a 2.8 or faster lens would pretty much kill the chance of getting the shot I can shoot a performer at 1.7 MF and get good shots (as long as it isn't say iggy pop - but then his shows have tons of light so it's not a worry i could shoot a kit lens in that scenario) but the hit rate definitely goes down below 2.8

06-09-2011, 12:34 PM	#168
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by DaveHolmes Shot at 5.6 1/180 with flash (YN560) iso1600 with FA50-1.4 on K-x Fast lenses don't 'have' to be wide open... As such you don't 'always' need fast lenses... Well done, and the performer still has some nice motion showing. most gigs i shoot flash is verboten. it was a real stretch with the k10, I'll see next week with the k7 because i'll shoot about 40+ bands over the course of North by Northeast

06-12-2011, 03:25 PM	#169
kthung Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 359	28/1.8 would be amazing

06-13-2011, 01:25 AM	#170
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well in the lens design survey the 28mm/f2.8 isn't very popular, so for know I wouldn't expect it anytime soon.

06-13-2011, 01:43 PM	#171
shiner Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N GA USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,127	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Well in the lens design survey the 28mm/f2.8 isn't very popular, so for know I wouldn't expect it anytime soon. I love my old M28 2.8 and think it is under rated vs the f3.5- a great little lens for APS-C. I don't believe the OP wasn't suggesting that it be remanufactured but a new design with the same basic specs. A bit *faster*, rounded aperture, plastic is just fine, WR if it doesn't raise the price too much, give it superb IQ wide open- oh, and keep it affordable please, Pentax! Can you have it ready by Xmas??

06-13-2011, 01:46 PM	#172
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Well in the lens design survey the 28mm/f2.8 isn't very popular, so for know I wouldn't expect it anytime soon. I don't think any survey is going to have much of an effect on those old Hoya boys in Japan. Otherwise, they would have got moving with that DA 1.4x tc convertor that Pentax showed a prototype of a couple of Photokina's ago. And a ff body . . . well there are pages of threads on that.

07-02-2011, 04:12 PM	#174
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by DaveHolmes Any thoughts? I think it is very likely. Ricoh stated that one goal is to expand the lens line. Re-issuing the golden oldies would do that with minimal hoo-hoo. And FA's would keep us panting for a future FF body for them. We shall see.

07-03-2011, 02:24 AM	#175
shiner Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N GA USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,127	I find this old review of the DA35mm Ltd interesting, where a 24-28mm f1.8 was strongly suggested. Such a lens will sell (well, I would buy it).

07-03-2011, 10:58 AM	#176
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501 Original Poster	Originally posted by RioRico I think it is very likely. Ricoh stated that one goal is to expand the lens line. Re-issuing the golden oldies would do that with minimal hoo-hoo. And FA's would keep us panting for a future FF body for them. This was both my thinking and my hope... Cheers RioRico... Hoping for a re-issue of both the 20 & 28 among others...

07-04-2011, 01:09 PM	#177
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	I have the FA 28/2.8, and it is very nice. I don't know why they wouldn't sell a new version. It doesn't seem fast enough or wide enough to cannibalize any Limited sales.

07-04-2011, 02:15 PM	#178
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	Originally posted by shiner I find this old review of the DA35mm Ltd interesting, where a 24-28mm f1.8 was strongly suggested. Such a lens will sell (well, I would buy it). I would immediately buy this. Don't care if it's ASPC only.

07-05-2011, 11:22 AM	#179
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	I imagine the plan is to revisit a number of the old designs and give them the DFA treatment Of course I could be wrong (that wouldn't be out of the usual) Certainly if I was in Ricoh's place I'd do that with both the K mount and the 645 mount lenses - cheap to develop, proven performers and leaves FF opne. Still there is room for some new designs as well but that's the fast track to get in the game full on. I imagine a year of a good number of lens announcements would garner a lot of attention and get people looking for Pentax

07-09-2011, 05:17 AM	#180
shiner Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N GA USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,127	In the meantime, these are in stock...