Limited 21 on the K20D

benjikan · 03-14-2008, 06:42 PM

What a revelation. The Limited 21mm f3.2 lens on my K20D is brutally sharp. I am now going to use it for my next shoot. The focussing problems I had with the K10D, do not exist on the K20D. It is like having a new lens..Yipeeee!!!!

Ben

nostatic · 03-14-2008, 06:56 PM

have you shot a 31 ltd on the K20d? I'm still trying to figure out my magic combination. The 50-135* is a keeper...you were right about it being sharp, although for me it is a tad soft at 50mm wide open (which doesn't surprise me). But stopped down a bit it is great and kicks arse most everywhere else.

benjikan · 03-14-2008, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by nostatic

have you shot a 31 ltd on the K20d? I'm still trying to figure out my magic combination. The 50-135* is a keeper...you were right about it being sharp, although for me it is a tad soft at 50mm wide open (which doesn't surprise me). But stopped down a bit it is great and kicks arse most everywhere else.

I have the 31 and haven't even tested it yet on the K20D...OOOPPPSSS...Sorry.

I will try to do so tomorrow.

Ben

nostatic · 03-14-2008, 07:19 PM

Everybody raves about the 31, and that feels like a decent focal length for me. There are times when I need wide and 21 isn't quite wide enough. For instance I had to shoot a group shot in our indoor amphitheater and it was all I could do to fit them at 12mm of a 12-24 Tonkina on a D70. The 16-45 is a little soft at 16 wide open so I'm thinking 14mm. The 50-135 covers that range pretty well...not sure that I'm compelled to go with a 70 or 77 yet. But I do need a macro. Thinking maybe the 50 as I don't mind getting up close and personal, and that would overlap the 50-135 where it is a little soft (at least in my quick and dirty shots).

I seem to be talking myself into primes. Damn Pentax...

Buddha Jones · 03-14-2008, 09:16 PM

I am getting a sense that the K20D is having some great success in working with lenses where the K10D seemed to be fair, can enayone explain why this may be?

frank · 03-15-2008, 12:15 AM

I had exactly the same experience as Ben:

K10D+DA21 vs K20D+DA21 (15x imgs): Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

The DA21 seems to be a much better lens now

frank · 03-15-2008, 12:18 AM

And you can see the sharpness of the DA21 lens is very consistant on K20D (all center crops):

d.bradley · 03-15-2008, 12:38 AM

You guys think this is to do with the shallow photo sites on the Samsung CMOS? That was supposed to allow better off-axis light pickup at each photo site.

I'm hoping the performance of my SMC Takumar lenses will be even better on the 20D as well.

Looking forward to some 21 and 31mm shots!
Damian

Buddha Jones · 03-15-2008, 06:57 AM

I checked you poston DPR frank, and that is just amazing, I cant believethat is the same lens. If the 31mm became a better lens on the K20D... that is just crazy talk!

benjikan · 03-15-2008, 09:56 AM

Here are a couple of samples on a very overcast day. None the less, shows the capacity of the 21 Ltd under low contrast conditions. Compressed 7/12 in PS3. Therefore JPEG artifacts that are not apparent in TIFF or PSD.

Ben

User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous
User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

John Kovarik · 03-15-2008, 03:12 PM

This is another concur on the 20D/21DA combo. After reading Ben's post I tried my 21 for the first time on my 20D. My prior use on my K100D was disappointing especially at wider apertures. The difference on the 20D is startling. I also think my other lLmiteds work better on the 20D but the improvement is not as great. Maybe PTX should market the glass as 'Best LIMITED to use on the K20D'.............

Buddha Jones · 03-15-2008, 04:08 PM

Man, I call shinanigans on PTX, I was so prepared to skip the K20D and wait for the K30D. Even though I still am its just going to be harder now.

k100d · 03-15-2008, 05:15 PM

so the lens just got magically better w/o any AF adjustment??

benjikan · 03-15-2008, 05:22 PM

Originally posted by k100d

so the lens just got magically better w/o any AF adjustment??

That is correct.

Duplo · 03-15-2008, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by benjikan

What a revelation. The Limited 21mm f3.2 lens on my K20D is brutally sharp. I am now going to use it for my next shoot. The focussing problems I had with the K10D, do not exist on the K20D. It is like having a new lens..Yipeeee!!!!

Ben

Ben,

What a pleasure to hear you say that.

I have always loved my DA21 for my landscape work, hearing that it performs very well on the K20D is definitely good news.

03-14-2008, 06:42 PM	#1
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	Limited 21 on the K20D What a revelation. The Limited 21mm f3.2 lens on my K20D is brutally sharp. I am now going to use it for my next shoot. The focussing problems I had with the K10D, do not exist on the K20D. It is like having a new lens..Yipeeee!!!! Ben

03-15-2008, 06:57 AM	#9
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	I checked you poston DPR frank, and that is just amazing, I cant believethat is the same lens. If the 31mm became a better lens on the K20D... that is just crazy talk! Last edited by Buddha Jones; 03-15-2008 at 07:03 AM.

03-15-2008, 09:56 AM	#10
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	21 Ltd Tests Here are a couple of samples on a very overcast day. None the less, shows the capacity of the 21 Ltd under low contrast conditions. Compressed 7/12 in PS3. Therefore JPEG artifacts that are not apparent in TIFF or PSD. Ben User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

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03-14-2008, 06:56 PM	#2
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	have you shot a 31 ltd on the K20d? I'm still trying to figure out my magic combination. The 50-135* is a keeper...you were right about it being sharp, although for me it is a tad soft at 50mm wide open (which doesn't surprise me). But stopped down a bit it is great and kicks arse most everywhere else.

03-14-2008, 07:14 PM	#3
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	Originally posted by nostatic have you shot a 31 ltd on the K20d? I'm still trying to figure out my magic combination. The 50-135* is a keeper...you were right about it being sharp, although for me it is a tad soft at 50mm wide open (which doesn't surprise me). But stopped down a bit it is great and kicks arse most everywhere else. I have the 31 and haven't even tested it yet on the K20D...OOOPPPSSS...Sorry. I will try to do so tomorrow. Ben

03-14-2008, 07:19 PM	#4
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	Everybody raves about the 31, and that feels like a decent focal length for me. There are times when I need wide and 21 isn't quite wide enough. For instance I had to shoot a group shot in our indoor amphitheater and it was all I could do to fit them at 12mm of a 12-24 Tonkina on a D70. The 16-45 is a little soft at 16 wide open so I'm thinking 14mm. The 50-135 covers that range pretty well...not sure that I'm compelled to go with a 70 or 77 yet. But I do need a macro. Thinking maybe the 50 as I don't mind getting up close and personal, and that would overlap the 50-135 where it is a little soft (at least in my quick and dirty shots). I seem to be talking myself into primes. Damn Pentax...

03-14-2008, 09:16 PM	#5
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	I am getting a sense that the K20D is having some great success in working with lenses where the K10D seemed to be fair, can enayone explain why this may be?

03-15-2008, 12:15 AM	#6
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	I had exactly the same experience as Ben: K10D+DA21 vs K20D+DA21 (15x imgs): Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review The DA21 seems to be a much better lens now

03-15-2008, 12:18 AM	#7
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	And you can see the sharpness of the DA21 lens is very consistant on K20D (all center crops):

03-15-2008, 12:38 AM	#8
d.bradley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 631	You guys think this is to do with the shallow photo sites on the Samsung CMOS? That was supposed to allow better off-axis light pickup at each photo site. I'm hoping the performance of my SMC Takumar lenses will be even better on the 20D as well. Looking forward to some 21 and 31mm shots! Damian

03-15-2008, 03:12 PM	#11
John Kovarik Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	This is another concur on the 20D/21DA combo. After reading Ben's post I tried my 21 for the first time on my 20D. My prior use on my K100D was disappointing especially at wider apertures. The difference on the 20D is startling. I also think my other lLmiteds work better on the 20D but the improvement is not as great. Maybe PTX should market the glass as 'Best LIMITED to use on the K20D'.............

03-15-2008, 04:08 PM	#12
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	Man, I call shinanigans on PTX, I was so prepared to skip the K20D and wait for the K30D. Even though I still am its just going to be harder now.

03-15-2008, 05:15 PM	#13
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	so the lens just got magically better w/o any AF adjustment??

03-15-2008, 05:22 PM	#14
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	Originally posted by k100d so the lens just got magically better w/o any AF adjustment?? That is correct.

03-15-2008, 05:42 PM	#15
Duplo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 924	Originally posted by benjikan What a revelation. The Limited 21mm f3.2 lens on my K20D is brutally sharp. I am now going to use it for my next shoot. The focussing problems I had with the K10D, do not exist on the K20D. It is like having a new lens..Yipeeee!!!! Ben Ben, What a pleasure to hear you say that. I have always loved my DA21 for my landscape work, hearing that it performs very well on the K20D is definitely good news.