DA 21mm Ltd. - LBA attack

calicojack · 05-20-2008, 02:31 PM

Why is there so little mentioned about this lens here? I just picked one up from Adorama today. Mounted on the K10D, it's actually cute. A quick test of the built in flash shows fairly uniform flash coverage, corner to corner. A couple of quick shots look sharp. The focal length should be great for a walk around lens and just fine for the interior shots (with flash, 3.2 aperture after all) that I picked it up for. It's my first ever "Limited" lens. I even like the unusual lens shade and the fact that the filter fits inside the tiny shade.
Am I missing something?
Brian

Henrik Kristensen · 05-20-2008, 02:39 PM

I just purchased this lense as well and I already LOVE it

So easy to carry around and on ots first day it gave me this:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/27993-sun-field.html

ricosuave · 05-20-2008, 03:12 PM

i'm thinking about the da21 for a wide angle but would like some opinions in regard to the performance against a 12-24.

the other option in waiting for the da15 limited to come out.

heatherslightbox · 05-20-2008, 03:29 PM

I've thought about picking up one of these to go with my 35 macro and then also adding a 70 to make a compact kit small enough to fit in a fanny pack.

I'm impressed with the pics that I've seen out of it. Some people complain that it's too slow, but then that's why there's flash.

Heather

k100d · 05-20-2008, 04:05 PM

nice to see people enjoying the DA21, i'm one of the few DA21 bumpers that i've seen on this forum. it makes the camera into a great P&S and imo is the most "day-to-day" usable of the pancakes. it seems that the performance on a K20D is sharper than on a K10D.

**GaryM** · 05-20-2008, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by hwblanks

I've thought about picking up one of these to go with my 35 macro and then also adding a 70 to make a compact kit small enough to fit in a fanny pack.

I'm impressed with the pics that I've seen out of it. Some people complain that it's too slow, but then that's why there's flash.

Heather

That's the kit I'm using now: DA21, DA35 and DA70, and it's been working out great so far, a very versitile kit. Somewhere down the line I'll probably add the DA*200, and pick up the DA15 when it comes out for a complete prime lens kit. Even though the DA Limiteds are a little slow, they can be used with confidence wide open, which is not something you can say for a lot of faster lenses.

felix68 · 05-20-2008, 04:37 PM

Originally posted by calicojack

Why is there so little mentioned about this lens here? I just picked one up from Adorama today. Mounted on the K10D, it's actually cute. A quick test of the built in flash shows fairly uniform flash coverage, corner to corner. A couple of quick shots look sharp. The focal length should be great for a walk around lens and just fine for the interior shots (with flash, 3.2 aperture after all) that I picked it up for. It's my first ever "Limited" lens. I even like the unusual lens shade and the fact that the filter fits inside the tiny shade.
Am I missing something?
Brian

Love it, Love it, Love it. I know that people have complained about focusing issues with this lens in particular but I have not had an issue. It is a great lens to get some of the surroundings in your shot.

Attached Images

calicojack · 05-21-2008, 02:41 AM

Originally posted by Henrik Kristensen

I just purchased this lense as well and I already LOVE it

So easy to carry around and on ots first day it gave me this:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/27993-sun-field.html

Beautiful picture. You did a wonderful job of blending. OBTW, I don't think the wires are distracting. They lead your eyes back into the photo if you wander off to the left.
Thanks for sharing,
Brian

calicojack · 05-21-2008, 02:46 AM

Originally posted by hwblanks

(snip) Some people complain that it's too slow, but then that's why there's flash.

Heather

The very first picture I took was with the on board flash to check for coverage. It passed to my satisfaction (so far).
Brian

calicojack · 05-21-2008, 02:48 AM

Originally posted by k100d

(snip) it seems that the performance on a K20D is sharper than on a K10D.

Is that because of the lens match or the increased megapixels?
Brian

calicojack · 05-21-2008, 02:51 AM

Originally posted by felix68

Love it, Love it, Love it. I know that people have complained about focusing issues with this lens (snip)

I don't understand how. I look at the DOF scale printed on the lens and if you stop it down all the way, it goes from infinity to 2'.
Brian

P.S. Nice pictures. Is that you in the second pic? Did you give the camera to someone else to take the photo or were you holding it at arms length?

calicojack · 05-21-2008, 02:58 AM

Originally posted by ricosuave

i'm thinking about the da21 for a wide angle but would like some opinions in regard to the performance against a 12-24.

the other option in waiting for the da15 limited to come out.

I bought this even though it is well within the range of my Sigma 17-70 (which I love). From what I've seen, it seems that when you go below this in FL, the wide angle perspective starts to take over more. This length still seems to keep things wide, but not WIDE (if you know what I mean). (at least with the camera held level)
Brian

Henrik Kristensen · 05-21-2008, 03:33 AM

Originally posted by calicojack

Beautiful picture. You did a wonderful job of blending. OBTW, I don't think the wires are distracting. They lead your eyes back into the photo if you wander off to the left.
Thanks for sharing,
Brian

Thank you very much. I have gotten used to the wires now myself too (but thought that it would be the first criticism I would get)

felix68 · 05-21-2008, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by calicojack

I don't understand how. I look at the DOF scale printed on the lens and if you stop it down all the way, it goes from infinity to 2'.
Brian

P.S. Nice pictures. Is that you in the second pic? Did you give the camera to someone else to take the photo or were you holding it at arms length?

Yeah, that is me. The pic was taken by my wife, not at arms length but I have done some of that. the DA21 is certainly a good choice for getting a pic without having to look thru the viewfinder. I have also fired away with the camera sitting on the table in a restaurant. Makes for a nice perspective IMHO.

axl · 05-21-2008, 12:33 PM

Congrats on your purchase...
I just bought DA 40 and the 21 is the next one on my list. I guess for me it was the price (40 is cheaper) and distortion (lack of it on DA40) that made me go for 40ltd.
Anyway, keep us posted on shots, and ENJOY

05-20-2008, 02:31 PM	#1
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124	DA 21mm Ltd. - LBA attack Why is there so little mentioned about this lens here? I just picked one up from Adorama today. Mounted on the K10D, it's actually cute. A quick test of the built in flash shows fairly uniform flash coverage, corner to corner. A couple of quick shots look sharp. The focal length should be great for a walk around lens and just fine for the interior shots (with flash, 3.2 aperture after all) that I picked it up for. It's my first ever "Limited" lens. I even like the unusual lens shade and the fact that the filter fits inside the tiny shade. Am I missing something? Brian

05-20-2008, 04:37 PM	#7
felix68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 281	Love my DA21!!! Originally posted by calicojack Why is there so little mentioned about this lens here? I just picked one up from Adorama today. Mounted on the K10D, it's actually cute. A quick test of the built in flash shows fairly uniform flash coverage, corner to corner. A couple of quick shots look sharp. The focal length should be great for a walk around lens and just fine for the interior shots (with flash, 3.2 aperture after all) that I picked it up for. It's my first ever "Limited" lens. I even like the unusual lens shade and the fact that the filter fits inside the tiny shade. Am I missing something? Brian Love it, Love it, Love it. I know that people have complained about focusing issues with this lens in particular but I have not had an issue. It is a great lens to get some of the surroundings in your shot. Attached Images

05-21-2008, 02:51 AM	#11
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124 Original Poster	Originally posted by felix68 Love it, Love it, Love it. I know that people have complained about focusing issues with this lens (snip) I don't understand how. I look at the DOF scale printed on the lens and if you stop it down all the way, it goes from infinity to 2'. Brian P.S. Nice pictures. Is that you in the second pic? Did you give the camera to someone else to take the photo or were you holding it at arms length? Last edited by calicojack; 05-21-2008 at 02:53 AM. Reason: add P.S.

05-21-2008, 10:42 AM	#14
felix68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 281	You Caught Me! Originally posted by calicojack I don't understand how. I look at the DOF scale printed on the lens and if you stop it down all the way, it goes from infinity to 2'. Brian P.S. Nice pictures. Is that you in the second pic? Did you give the camera to someone else to take the photo or were you holding it at arms length? Yeah, that is me. The pic was taken by my wife, not at arms length but I have done some of that. the DA21 is certainly a good choice for getting a pic without having to look thru the viewfinder. I have also fired away with the camera sitting on the table in a restaurant. Makes for a nice perspective IMHO.

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05-20-2008, 02:39 PM	#2
Henrik Kristensen Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Odense Photos: Albums Posts: 153	I just purchased this lense as well and I already LOVE it So easy to carry around and on ots first day it gave me this: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/27993-sun-field.html

05-20-2008, 03:12 PM	#3
ricosuave Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 298	i'm thinking about the da21 for a wide angle but would like some opinions in regard to the performance against a 12-24. the other option in waiting for the da15 limited to come out.

05-20-2008, 03:29 PM	#4
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	I've thought about picking up one of these to go with my 35 macro and then also adding a 70 to make a compact kit small enough to fit in a fanny pack. I'm impressed with the pics that I've seen out of it. Some people complain that it's too slow, but then that's why there's flash. Heather

05-20-2008, 04:05 PM	#5
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	nice to see people enjoying the DA21, i'm one of the few DA21 bumpers that i've seen on this forum. it makes the camera into a great P&S and imo is the most "day-to-day" usable of the pancakes. it seems that the performance on a K20D is sharper than on a K10D.

05-20-2008, 04:08 PM	#6
GaryM Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montclair, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 426	Originally posted by hwblanks I've thought about picking up one of these to go with my 35 macro and then also adding a 70 to make a compact kit small enough to fit in a fanny pack. I'm impressed with the pics that I've seen out of it. Some people complain that it's too slow, but then that's why there's flash. Heather That's the kit I'm using now: DA21, DA35 and DA70, and it's been working out great so far, a very versitile kit. Somewhere down the line I'll probably add the DA*200, and pick up the DA15 when it comes out for a complete prime lens kit. Even though the DA Limiteds are a little slow, they can be used with confidence wide open, which is not something you can say for a lot of faster lenses.

05-21-2008, 02:41 AM	#8
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124 Original Poster	Originally posted by Henrik Kristensen I just purchased this lense as well and I already LOVE it So easy to carry around and on ots first day it gave me this: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/27993-sun-field.html Beautiful picture. You did a wonderful job of blending. OBTW, I don't think the wires are distracting. They lead your eyes back into the photo if you wander off to the left. Thanks for sharing, Brian

05-21-2008, 02:46 AM	#9
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124 Original Poster	Originally posted by hwblanks (snip) Some people complain that it's too slow, but then that's why there's flash. Heather The very first picture I took was with the on board flash to check for coverage. It passed to my satisfaction (so far). Brian

05-21-2008, 02:48 AM	#10
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124 Original Poster	Originally posted by k100d (snip) it seems that the performance on a K20D is sharper than on a K10D. Is that because of the lens match or the increased megapixels? Brian

05-21-2008, 02:58 AM	#12
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124 Original Poster	Originally posted by ricosuave i'm thinking about the da21 for a wide angle but would like some opinions in regard to the performance against a 12-24. the other option in waiting for the da15 limited to come out. I bought this even though it is well within the range of my Sigma 17-70 (which I love). From what I've seen, it seems that when you go below this in FL, the wide angle perspective starts to take over more. This length still seems to keep things wide, but not WIDE (if you know what I mean). (at least with the camera held level) Brian

05-21-2008, 03:33 AM	#13
Henrik Kristensen Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Odense Photos: Albums Posts: 153	Originally posted by calicojack Beautiful picture. You did a wonderful job of blending. OBTW, I don't think the wires are distracting. They lead your eyes back into the photo if you wander off to the left. Thanks for sharing, Brian Thank you very much. I have gotten used to the wires now myself too (but thought that it would be the first criticism I would get)

05-21-2008, 12:33 PM	#15
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Congrats on your purchase... I just bought DA 40 and the 21 is the next one on my list. I guess for me it was the price (40 is cheaper) and distortion (lack of it on DA40) that made me go for 40ltd. Anyway, keep us posted on shots, and ENJOY