40mm Limited Starburst?

Driline · 02-08-2013, 09:50 PM

Do you get the "Starburst" effect with the 40mm limited as you do with the 15mm lens?
On a second note: If you could only buy ONE DA Limited lens, which one would it be?

I am close to pulling the trigger on the 40mm limited.

icywindow · 02-08-2013, 10:00 PM

Yes, you do get starbursts when stopping down, but they are somewhat muted because of the rounded aperture blades.
And if I had to pick only one DA Ltd to own, it would be the DA 21. Just something about it connects well with me. Ultimately, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Ltds.

**blackcloudbrew** · 02-08-2013, 11:20 PM

Originally posted by icywindow

Yes, you do get starbursts when stopping down, but they are somewhat muted because of the rounded aperture blades.
And if I had to pick only one DA Ltd to own, it would be the DA 21. Just something about it connects well with me. Ultimately, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Ltds.

That's funny, I could just never quite come to love the DA21 and have sold mine.

percy · 02-09-2013, 03:35 AM

I have the 15, 40 and 70, and wouldn't want to get rid of any of them. But if I absolutely had no alternative, although the 40 is probably the best general purpose lens, I would most likely keep the 15. But it would be a close call.
As far as starbursts are concerned, the 15 is undoubtedly better in this respect.

tclausen · 02-09-2013, 03:54 AM

Haven't noticed any "starburst" with the 40mm, but its's probably also my least-used ltd.

And, my favorite Limited, the one I would buy if I could buy only one lens, ever, is - without competition - the 31/1.8.

I'll need to go inquire Aperture to know, but it's probably the lens with which I've taken the most pictures also, over the years. Right now, it's living permanently on a K-01.

Sandy Hancock · 02-09-2013, 04:09 AM

I have never got a starburst from the DA40, but I have never tried. It is a wonderful lens for many other reasons.

Of those from which I have elicited starbursts:
DA10-17: six points and not that great. Too much flare as well.
DA15: unrivalled 14 point perfection.
DA*16-50: not bad, but uneven.
FA43: eight points. OK.
FA77: perfect starbursts, but 18 points is probably too many.

Doctor X · 02-09-2013, 05:52 AM

I don't know if you can call it "starburst", but this is what I got when I first tested my 40mm Limited outside (f4, ISO 800):

Cropped it to have a closer view of the headlights.
Hope it answers (even partly) your question.

trevorgrout · 02-09-2013, 06:45 AM

I have been able to get starbursts on my da40 but they only occur when I stop down to f18 or more and the image quality isn't as great

oxidized · 02-09-2013, 07:19 AM

In general, nice clean starbursts with any lens will only appear at F14 and beyond. After all they are caused by diffraction, so the image quality always suffers. The 40 has 9 blades which means that there will be 18 point stars (odd number of blades create starts with double the number of points, even number of blades create stars with the equivalent number of points). Personally I have never used the 40 (not sure if its blades are rounded or not), however I have used the 15, 31, and 77 and they all create amazingly beautiful startbursts at F14 without affecting image quality too much.

Driline · 02-09-2013, 07:42 AM

The 15mm is definately on my "to buy list" but right now I can get a gently used 40 limited for half the price of the 15.

lytrytyr · 02-09-2013, 09:39 AM

Originally posted by Driline

On a second note: If you could only buy ONE DA Limited lens, which one would it be?

Under those circumstances, I'd have to say the 35 Macro.
It was the first one I bought, and now three years later
I take twice as many photographs with it
compared to what I take with the DA 15 or DA 70.

Driline · 02-09-2013, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

Under those circumstances, I'd have to say the 35 Macro.
It was the first one I bought, and now three years later
I take twice as many photographs with it
compared to what I take with the DA 15 or DA 70.

Wow, that's quite a difference. I wonder if its as sharp as the 40mm limited?

lytrytyr · 02-09-2013, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by Driline

I wonder if its as sharp as the 40mm limited?

I don't have the 40 Ltd, so I can't really say directly.
But judging from the Photozone and Lenstip/Optyczne tests
(taking the Tokina version of the 35 Macro for the latter),
they look to be comparable.
At any rate, I've never been disappointed
with the 35 Macro at any distance.

Colbyt · 02-09-2013, 02:05 PM

I had to go look to see which one I used the 21 isn't a dog when it comes to star bursts. The sun was about at 10 am if the car is at noon.

.

Driline · 02-09-2013, 05:03 PM

Originally posted by Colbyt

I had to go look to see which one I used the 21 isn't a dog when it comes to star bursts. The sun was about at 10 am if the car is at noon.

.

Nice starburst. But that's the 21mm. I wonder how the 40 would have looked shooting the same pic.

02-08-2013, 09:50 PM	#1
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	40mm Limited Starburst? Do you get the "Starburst" effect with the 40mm limited as you do with the 15mm lens? On a second note: If you could only buy ONE DA Limited lens, which one would it be? I am close to pulling the trigger on the 40mm limited.

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02-08-2013, 10:00 PM	#2
icywindow Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 303	Yes, you do get starbursts when stopping down, but they are somewhat muted because of the rounded aperture blades. And if I had to pick only one DA Ltd to own, it would be the DA 21. Just something about it connects well with me. Ultimately, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Ltds.

02-08-2013, 11:20 PM	#3
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	Originally posted by icywindow Yes, you do get starbursts when stopping down, but they are somewhat muted because of the rounded aperture blades. And if I had to pick only one DA Ltd to own, it would be the DA 21. Just something about it connects well with me. Ultimately, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Ltds. That's funny, I could just never quite come to love the DA21 and have sold mine.

02-09-2013, 03:35 AM	#4
percy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Herefordshire, UK Posts: 197	I have the 15, 40 and 70, and wouldn't want to get rid of any of them. But if I absolutely had no alternative, although the 40 is probably the best general purpose lens, I would most likely keep the 15. But it would be a close call. As far as starbursts are concerned, the 15 is undoubtedly better in this respect.

02-09-2013, 03:54 AM	#5
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Haven't noticed any "starburst" with the 40mm, but its's probably also my least-used ltd. And, my favorite Limited, the one I would buy if I could buy only one lens, ever, is - without competition - the 31/1.8. I'll need to go inquire Aperture to know, but it's probably the lens with which I've taken the most pictures also, over the years. Right now, it's living permanently on a K-01.

02-09-2013, 04:09 AM	#6
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	I have never got a starburst from the DA40, but I have never tried. It is a wonderful lens for many other reasons. Of those from which I have elicited starbursts: DA10-17: six points and not that great. Too much flare as well. DA15: unrivalled 14 point perfection. DA*16-50: not bad, but uneven. FA43: eight points. OK. FA77: perfect starbursts, but 18 points is probably too many.

02-09-2013, 05:52 AM	#7
Doctor X Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 184	I don't know if you can call it "starburst", but this is what I got when I first tested my 40mm Limited outside (f4, ISO 800): Cropped it to have a closer view of the headlights. Hope it answers (even partly) your question.

02-09-2013, 06:45 AM	#8
trevorgrout Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Albums Posts: 105	I have been able to get starbursts on my da40 but they only occur when I stop down to f18 or more and the image quality isn't as great

02-09-2013, 07:19 AM	#9
oxidized Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA - Delaware Photos: Albums Posts: 435	In general, nice clean starbursts with any lens will only appear at F14 and beyond. After all they are caused by diffraction, so the image quality always suffers. The 40 has 9 blades which means that there will be 18 point stars (odd number of blades create starts with double the number of points, even number of blades create stars with the equivalent number of points). Personally I have never used the 40 (not sure if its blades are rounded or not), however I have used the 15, 31, and 77 and they all create amazingly beautiful startbursts at F14 without affecting image quality too much.

02-09-2013, 07:42 AM	#10
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697 Original Poster	The 15mm is definately on my "to buy list" but right now I can get a gently used 40 limited for half the price of the 15.

02-09-2013, 09:39 AM	#11
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Driline On a second note: If you could only buy ONE DA Limited lens, which one would it be? Under those circumstances, I'd have to say the 35 Macro. It was the first one I bought, and now three years later I take twice as many photographs with it compared to what I take with the DA 15 or DA 70.

02-09-2013, 11:50 AM	#12
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697 Original Poster	Originally posted by lytrytyr Under those circumstances, I'd have to say the 35 Macro. It was the first one I bought, and now three years later I take twice as many photographs with it compared to what I take with the DA 15 or DA 70. Wow, that's quite a difference. I wonder if its as sharp as the 40mm limited?

02-09-2013, 01:30 PM	#13
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Driline I wonder if its as sharp as the 40mm limited? I don't have the 40 Ltd, so I can't really say directly. But judging from the Photozone and Lenstip/Optyczne tests (taking the Tokina version of the 35 Macro for the latter), they look to be comparable. At any rate, I've never been disappointed with the 35 Macro at any distance.

02-09-2013, 02:05 PM	#14
Colbyt Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Kentucky Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,417	I had to go look to see which one I used the 21 isn't a dog when it comes to star bursts. The sun was about at 10 am if the car is at noon. .

02-09-2013, 05:03 PM	#15
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697 Original Poster	Originally posted by Colbyt I had to go look to see which one I used the 21 isn't a dog when it comes to star bursts. The sun was about at 10 am if the car is at noon. . Nice starburst. But that's the 21mm. I wonder how the 40 would have looked shooting the same pic.