smc Pentax DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR vs FULL FRAME

vjacesslav · 03-18-2012, 06:55 AM

Hi there...

Last try to figure out, if Pentax 18-55mm WR can be usefull on Full Frame?

vjacesslav: SMC PENTAX DA 18-55MM F3.5-5.6 AL WR vs FULL FRAME

**boriscleto** · 03-18-2012, 07:52 AM

IMO the vignetting and lack of aperture ring makes it completely unsuitable for full frame. There are so many inexpensive 28-xx lenses designed for full frame available that the 18-55 is best left alone.

RioRico · 03-18-2012, 12:39 PM

boriscleto nailed it. The 18-55 vignettes rather severely on FF. If you want the vignetting for 'period' or artistic effect, well, that's groovy. If you want to go wide on FF without blowing a pile of cash, you can find some 21mm M42s for under US$100 probably. Or there's always the Zenitar 16/2.8 (for about US$200) which really is fishy on FF. But bargain ultrawides for FF are hard to find. Good luck!

stanislav · 03-19-2012, 01:11 AM

Most (not to say "all") APS-C zooms are usable on FF. The rule of thumb is that the it is usable from 1.5x the lowest focal length (since the FF is 1.5X bigger than APS-C, and zooms are made so that when you zoom in the projection circle is "inflated".

So DA 18-55mm should be usable in range 27-55mm on FF. Furthermore vigneting on 27mm and a give apperture setting should be similar to vigneting on 18mm with same apperture setting. Note that this is still just an approximation and that real behaviour of lenses depends on lens design.

stanic · 03-19-2012, 01:42 AM

the DA 18-55 WR is pretty well usable on full frame, from 24 mm upwards, with very small distortion between 24 - 35 mm, getting lot of pincushion distortion from 40 mm upwards
I tried it on Z1-p at 24 mm and f/8 with good results to the edge of the frame
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5iVnTLTJgYU2T5w93gu8ZtMTjNZETYmyPJy0li...eat=directlink

RioRico · 03-19-2012, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by stanislav

Most (not to say "all") APS-C zooms are usable on FF. The rule of thumb is that the it is usable from 1.5x the lowest focal length (since the FF is 1.5X bigger than APS-C, and zooms are made so that when you zoom in the projection circle is "inflated".

I have just three DA-type zooms with me (I left the DA18-55 at my home base) and here's what happens when I mount them on my ZX-M:

* DA18-250: Vignetting throughout its range; *least* vignetting at 18mm and 250mm
* Tamron 10-24: Vignetting from 10-14; clear from 15-24mm, as per your formula
* DA10-17: Similar to the Tamron -- vignetting from 10-15mm, clear at 15-17mm

I seem to recall a lens compatibility chart around here somewhere, indicating which DA lenses do and don't vignette on FF.

JinDesu · 03-19-2012, 08:31 AM

I wouldn't say the 18-55 is completely unusable on FF. Yeah there are FF alternatives that work, but if I had a 18-55 and a FF digital Pentax and no other lenses at the time, I would use it even at 24mm and just crop. Looking at the image, it looks like cropping out the vignetting would preserve more than what an APS-C crop would take out.

Cute subject btw, may I ask where you got it from?

LFLee · 03-19-2012, 11:21 AM

will vignettes visible through the optical view finder?
(just wonder if that could save you some films...)

Thanks for sharing !

JinDesu · 03-19-2012, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by LFLee

will vignettes visible through the optical view finder?
(just wonder if that could save you some films...)

Thanks for sharing !

I imagine that depends on whether or not your viewfinder has 95% or 100% or whatever coverage.

vjacesslav · 03-20-2012, 12:08 PM - **1 Like**

Hi there,

yes, from 18 to 24mm it is visible through the viewfinder, but from 24mm it is hard to recognize if yes or no...
But for example DA70 and DA35 Macro, both limited, are excellent on Film SLR. Already tried some normal daily pictures on full frame, and I am really happy with them...

Vjacesslav

03-18-2012, 06:55 AM	#1
vjacesslav Marketplace Reseller Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Košice, Czechoslovakia, Europe Union Photos: Gallery Posts: 366	smc Pentax DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR vs FULL FRAME Hi there... Last try to figure out, if Pentax 18-55mm WR can be usefull on Full Frame? vjacesslav: SMC PENTAX DA 18-55MM F3.5-5.6 AL WR vs FULL FRAME

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
TEST: smc PENTAX DA 35mm 2.8 Macro Limited on Full Frame	vjacesslav	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	03-17-2012 06:41 AM
Full frame pentax	cem.kumuk	Pentax DSLR Discussion	11	11-12-2010 03:13 PM
Pentax and Full Frame...	Shutter-bug	Photographic Technique	60	11-03-2010 10:03 AM
Pentax A 50/1.2 on Full Frame	aegisphan	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	23	10-28-2010 04:16 PM

03-18-2012, 07:52 AM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	IMO the vignetting and lack of aperture ring makes it completely unsuitable for full frame. There are so many inexpensive 28-xx lenses designed for full frame available that the 18-55 is best left alone.

03-18-2012, 12:39 PM	#3
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	boriscleto nailed it. The 18-55 vignettes rather severely on FF. If you want the vignetting for 'period' or artistic effect, well, that's groovy. If you want to go wide on FF without blowing a pile of cash, you can find some 21mm M42s for under US$100 probably. Or there's always the Zenitar 16/2.8 (for about US$200) which really is fishy on FF. But bargain ultrawides for FF are hard to find. Good luck!

03-19-2012, 01:11 AM	#4
stanislav Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Stockholm Photos: Albums Posts: 125	Most (not to say "all") APS-C zooms are usable on FF. The rule of thumb is that the it is usable from 1.5x the lowest focal length (since the FF is 1.5X bigger than APS-C, and zooms are made so that when you zoom in the projection circle is "inflated". So DA 18-55mm should be usable in range 27-55mm on FF. Furthermore vigneting on 27mm and a give apperture setting should be similar to vigneting on 18mm with same apperture setting. Note that this is still just an approximation and that real behaviour of lenses depends on lens design.

03-19-2012, 01:42 AM	#5
stanic Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Zakopane Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 389	the DA 18-55 WR is pretty well usable on full frame, from 24 mm upwards, with very small distortion between 24 - 35 mm, getting lot of pincushion distortion from 40 mm upwards I tried it on Z1-p at 24 mm and f/8 with good results to the edge of the frame https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5iVnTLTJgYU2T5w93gu8ZtMTjNZETYmyPJy0li...eat=directlink

03-19-2012, 08:27 AM	#6
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by stanislav Most (not to say "all") APS-C zooms are usable on FF. The rule of thumb is that the it is usable from 1.5x the lowest focal length (since the FF is 1.5X bigger than APS-C, and zooms are made so that when you zoom in the projection circle is "inflated". I have just three DA-type zooms with me (I left the DA18-55 at my home base) and here's what happens when I mount them on my ZX-M: * DA18-250: Vignetting throughout its range; least vignetting at 18mm and 250mm * Tamron 10-24: Vignetting from 10-14; clear from 15-24mm, as per your formula * DA10-17: Similar to the Tamron -- vignetting from 10-15mm, clear at 15-17mm I seem to recall a lens compatibility chart around here somewhere, indicating which DA lenses do and don't vignette on FF.

03-19-2012, 08:31 AM	#7
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	I wouldn't say the 18-55 is completely unusable on FF. Yeah there are FF alternatives that work, but if I had a 18-55 and a FF digital Pentax and no other lenses at the time, I would use it even at 24mm and just crop. Looking at the image, it looks like cropping out the vignetting would preserve more than what an APS-C crop would take out. Cute subject btw, may I ask where you got it from?

03-19-2012, 11:21 AM	#8
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	will vignettes visible through the optical view finder? (just wonder if that could save you some films...) Thanks for sharing !

03-19-2012, 11:28 AM	#9
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by LFLee will vignettes visible through the optical view finder? (just wonder if that could save you some films...) Thanks for sharing ! I imagine that depends on whether or not your viewfinder has 95% or 100% or whatever coverage.

03-20-2012, 12:08 PM - 1 Like	#10
vjacesslav Marketplace Reseller Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Košice, Czechoslovakia, Europe Union Photos: Gallery Posts: 366 Original Poster	Hi there, yes, from 18 to 24mm it is visible through the viewfinder, but from 24mm it is hard to recognize if yes or no... But for example DA70 and DA35 Macro, both limited, are excellent on Film SLR. Already tried some normal daily pictures on full frame, and I am really happy with them... Vjacesslav