Why so slow Pentax?

s.randy · 09-28-2011, 02:36 PM

I know this has probably been discussed many times on here but why the hell doesn't Pentax make faster lenses?? Give me more options in the 1.4-1.8 range!!

Sigmas 20mm is 1.8 the DA21 is 3.2 C'mon

Reportage · 09-28-2011, 02:41 PM

Quality and price consumers willing to pay?

by all accounts the DA 35mm f/2.4 could have been a f/1.8 or f/2.0 but rather then release a lens that is not acceptable sharp at f/1.8, they released it at f/2.4 instead.

Think of it, does anyone actually have a FA50mm f/1.4 that is sharp at f/1.4?

RonHendriks1966 · 09-28-2011, 02:45 PM

Well I have the DA 21mm/f3.2 Ltd and I love it that it is so small. That Sigma weights as much as the Limited series together. I do see your wish for a fast wide-angle, but it is not going to give you the isolation of subject that you want with a wide-angle as is possible with a moderate telelens like 55mm or 85mm.

And DA 24mm/f2 is most popular in lenssurvey: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/146454-wich-le...r-d-money.html wich is still a hole stop slower then you would want.

RickyFromVegas · 09-28-2011, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by Reportage

Think of it, does anyone actually have a FA50mm f/1.4 that is sharp at f/1.4?

I used to think this way, but...idk. That lens is so weird. Sometimes it wants to look sharp and crisp at 1.4, sometimes it gives soft images at 1.4
FA501.4 is like a girlfriend you can't help but to love despite the mood swings.

hoanpham · 09-28-2011, 02:55 PM

They lost all blue prints in a fire and somehow manage to keep the event secret. That's what i think.

Reportage · 09-28-2011, 02:56 PM

50mm f/1.4 is a great portrait lens for sure....once at f/4 and above i dont really know if there is anything sharper.

Guess all the money is going into body iso research so that lowlight performance would make an f/2.4 lens as bright as a f/1.8 lens?

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 now thats wonder from the reviews.

kenafein · 09-28-2011, 02:58 PM

I have to think it is their philosophy of keeping things small. It is great that sigma and samyang give us other options. I do think that the da70 could stand to be f2f.0.

Ratmagiclady · 09-28-2011, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by Reportage

Quality and price consumers willing to pay?

by all accounts the DA 35mm f/2.4 could have been a f/1.8 or f/2.0 but rather then release a lens that is not acceptable sharp at f/1.8, they released it at f/2.4 instead.

Think of it, does anyone actually have a FA50mm f/1.4 that is sharp at f/1.4?

*raising hand* Pretty good, actually, though that's not what I open it up for when I can just crank ISO.

Reportage · 09-28-2011, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by kenafein

I have to think it is their philosophy of keeping things small. It is great that sigma and samyang give us other options. I do think that the da70 could stand to be f2f.0.

Thing is while Tamron licenses the mount from Pentax, Sigma on the other hand reverse engineers it. Not sure whether its still true but only the two are my options for a 70-200 f/2.8 and waiting for Samyang for a AF 85mm f/1.4 to appear.

s.randy · 09-28-2011, 03:04 PM

Yeah...I see your points guys. Especially when it comes to cost, if money wasn't issue I'd probably have a Canon 5D and 50 1.2L

I just wish there was option at least, most people I know shoot Canon and depending on what they can afford for example they either have a 50mm f1.8, f1.4 or f1.2L nice to have the options I guess.

And I could care less about ISO research, I never shoot above 400 maybe 800, I'd rather have the shallow DOF personally.

The sigma 30 and 85 1.4 sound great but I just can't get excited about 3rd party lenses for some reason.

Eagle_Friends · 09-28-2011, 03:04 PM

I have a 21mm and it is a great lens. Very small and compact, but I would like it to be faster than f3.2.

s.randy · 09-28-2011, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by Eagle_Friends

I have a 21mm and it is a great lens. Very small and compact, but I would like it to be faster than f3.2.

Same with my DA40, I've swear if that thing was 1.8 I'd never buy another lens

einstrigger · 09-28-2011, 03:09 PM

I'm not a lens expert by any means, but I always figured the size and design of the Pentax Limited series kinda "limited" (no pun intended) their apertures. While on the other hand, the more traditional designs (i.e. FA 50mm f/1.4) are right in line with what everyone else offers. All this is just speculation as I have no clue about engineering a lens.

jsherman999 · 09-28-2011, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by RickyFromVegas

I used to think this way, but...idk. That lens is so weird. Sometimes it wants to look sharp and crisp at 1.4, sometimes it gives soft images at 1.4
FA501.4 is like a girlfriend you can't help but to love despite the mood swings.

That's most likely from the contrast drop it takes if a little stray oblique light hits the front element, which can happen even from shot to shot in a session. That lens really benefits from a hood - it actually looks OK at f/1.4 if you;re shooting with a hood and get all the contrast out of it.

.

RonHendriks1966 · 09-28-2011, 03:12 PM

Well Pentax FA*85mm/f1.4 is rather exceptable at f1.4 and gets great at f1.8. So if you have coins to spend, then find one of those lenses.

Personally I think that DA*55mm/f1.4 is great too.

09-28-2011, 02:36 PM	#1
s.randy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 177	Why so slow Pentax? I know this has probably been discussed many times on here but why the hell doesn't Pentax make faster lenses?? Give me more options in the 1.4-1.8 range!! Sigmas 20mm is 1.8 the DA21 is 3.2 C'mon

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09-28-2011, 02:41 PM	#2
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	Quality and price consumers willing to pay? by all accounts the DA 35mm f/2.4 could have been a f/1.8 or f/2.0 but rather then release a lens that is not acceptable sharp at f/1.8, they released it at f/2.4 instead. Think of it, does anyone actually have a FA50mm f/1.4 that is sharp at f/1.4?

09-28-2011, 02:45 PM	#3
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well I have the DA 21mm/f3.2 Ltd and I love it that it is so small. That Sigma weights as much as the Limited series together. I do see your wish for a fast wide-angle, but it is not going to give you the isolation of subject that you want with a wide-angle as is possible with a moderate telelens like 55mm or 85mm. And DA 24mm/f2 is most popular in lenssurvey: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/146454-wich-le...r-d-money.html wich is still a hole stop slower then you would want.

09-28-2011, 02:52 PM	#4
RickyFromVegas Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas Photos: Gallery Posts: 366	Originally posted by Reportage Think of it, does anyone actually have a FA50mm f/1.4 that is sharp at f/1.4? I used to think this way, but...idk. That lens is so weird. Sometimes it wants to look sharp and crisp at 1.4, sometimes it gives soft images at 1.4 FA501.4 is like a girlfriend you can't help but to love despite the mood swings.

09-28-2011, 02:55 PM	#5
hoanpham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Strand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,366	They lost all blue prints in a fire and somehow manage to keep the event secret. That's what i think.

09-28-2011, 02:56 PM	#6
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	50mm f/1.4 is a great portrait lens for sure....once at f/4 and above i dont really know if there is anything sharper. Guess all the money is going into body iso research so that lowlight performance would make an f/2.4 lens as bright as a f/1.8 lens? The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 now thats wonder from the reviews.

09-28-2011, 02:58 PM	#7
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	I have to think it is their philosophy of keeping things small. It is great that sigma and samyang give us other options. I do think that the da70 could stand to be f2f.0.

09-28-2011, 03:00 PM	#8
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by Reportage Quality and price consumers willing to pay? by all accounts the DA 35mm f/2.4 could have been a f/1.8 or f/2.0 but rather then release a lens that is not acceptable sharp at f/1.8, they released it at f/2.4 instead. Think of it, does anyone actually have a FA50mm f/1.4 that is sharp at f/1.4? raising hand Pretty good, actually, though that's not what I open it up for when I can just crank ISO.

09-28-2011, 03:02 PM	#9
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	Originally posted by kenafein I have to think it is their philosophy of keeping things small. It is great that sigma and samyang give us other options. I do think that the da70 could stand to be f2f.0. Thing is while Tamron licenses the mount from Pentax, Sigma on the other hand reverse engineers it. Not sure whether its still true but only the two are my options for a 70-200 f/2.8 and waiting for Samyang for a AF 85mm f/1.4 to appear.

09-28-2011, 03:04 PM	#10
s.randy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 177 Original Poster	Yeah...I see your points guys. Especially when it comes to cost, if money wasn't issue I'd probably have a Canon 5D and 50 1.2L I just wish there was option at least, most people I know shoot Canon and depending on what they can afford for example they either have a 50mm f1.8, f1.4 or f1.2L nice to have the options I guess. And I could care less about ISO research, I never shoot above 400 maybe 800, I'd rather have the shallow DOF personally. The sigma 30 and 85 1.4 sound great but I just can't get excited about 3rd party lenses for some reason.

09-28-2011, 03:04 PM	#11
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971	I have a 21mm and it is a great lens. Very small and compact, but I would like it to be faster than f3.2.

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09-28-2011, 03:06 PM	#12
s.randy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 177 Original Poster	Originally posted by Eagle_Friends I have a 21mm and it is a great lens. Very small and compact, but I would like it to be faster than f3.2. Same with my DA40, I've swear if that thing was 1.8 I'd never buy another lens

09-28-2011, 03:09 PM	#13
einstrigger Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 728	I'm not a lens expert by any means, but I always figured the size and design of the Pentax Limited series kinda "limited" (no pun intended) their apertures. While on the other hand, the more traditional designs (i.e. FA 50mm f/1.4) are right in line with what everyone else offers. All this is just speculation as I have no clue about engineering a lens.

09-28-2011, 03:12 PM	#14
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by RickyFromVegas I used to think this way, but...idk. That lens is so weird. Sometimes it wants to look sharp and crisp at 1.4, sometimes it gives soft images at 1.4 FA501.4 is like a girlfriend you can't help but to love despite the mood swings. That's most likely from the contrast drop it takes if a little stray oblique light hits the front element, which can happen even from shot to shot in a session. That lens really benefits from a hood - it actually looks OK at f/1.4 if you;re shooting with a hood and get all the contrast out of it. .

09-28-2011, 03:12 PM	#15
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well Pentax FA85mm/f1.4 is rather exceptable at f1.4 and gets great at f1.8. So if you have coins to spend, then find one of those lenses. Personally I think that DA55mm/f1.4 is great too.