My DA Limiteds on the K1

Paul the Sunman · 07-03-2016, 12:35 AM - **2 Likes**

I have finally had a chance to try out my beloved SMC DA Limiteds (15, 40, and 70) on the K1. Although they are all officially crop lenses, the latter two at least have shown signs of being able to migrate to FF. So here are my findings, with representative images.

DA 70 Limited — definitely FF compatible (1/160, f/8, ISO100)
DA 40 Limited — little vignetting but a bit muddy in the extreme corners (fine on the edges); useable-to-good (1/40, f/11, ISO100)
DA 15 Limited — forget it (1/30, f/4, ISO1250)

The DA70 and DA40 were with hoods; the DA15 without. Using the hood on the DA15 vignettes much more.

HYS · 07-03-2016, 01:00 AM

Nice post!

**BigMackCam** · 07-03-2016, 01:48 AM

Nice results on the DA40 and DA70, Paul!

Did you try wider apertures, by any chance?

Paul the Sunman · 07-03-2016, 02:00 AM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

Nice results on the DA40 and DA70, Paul!

Did you try wider apertures, by any chance?

Yes. There was no noticeable vignetting from either lens even wide open!

**BigMackCam** · 07-03-2016, 02:01 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

Yes. There was no noticeable vignetting from either lens even wide open!

Fantastic. Those will be nice focal lengths on FF

pathdoc · 07-03-2016, 02:12 AM

Nice. A good central composition with the DA40 should draw the viewer's eye away from any dodgy areas. I haven't got extensive experience with it on film, but nothing I've ever photographed with it seemed to show any particular problems.

Slightly OT, have you got and tried the DA50/1.8? It worked acceptably for me on film. I would use it on my newer film bodies, but on everything except the Super Program I am in auto-only mode and can't really make best use of it - and the same applies to the DA Limiteds, of course.

**Tas** · 07-03-2016, 02:45 AM

Hi Paul,

Lovely detail in the helicopter there mate. I've always had a sweet spot for the DA70.

It's interesting that you didn't get any vignetting on the DA70 wide open as I did find it on my SMC version of that lens. Nothing bad of course and easy to fix. I've only been out once with the K-1/DA70 and didn't shoot the lens stopped down too far. From that one trip I found vignetting present down to f5.6.

f2.4

f5.6

Tas

pathdoc · 07-03-2016, 02:53 AM

Interesting.

You wonder if perhaps they changed things between the SMC and the HD variants in a way that made a difference.

Those with access to a K-1 and examples of both SMC and HD versions are invited to compare and comment...

Paul the Sunman · 07-03-2016, 03:01 AM

Originally posted by pathdoc

Slightly OT, have you got and tried the DA50/1.8? It worked acceptably for me on film. I would use it on my newer film bodies, but on everything except the Super Program I am in auto-only mode and can't really make best use of it - and the same applies to the DA Limiteds, of course.

My son has the DA 50 f/1.8. I just threw it on the K1 for a quick test. There is a little darkening in the corners, but this is largely cleaned up by applying lens correction in LR. Here's an uncorrected image (f/2.2). I'm afraid the lighting isn't completely even, but you get the idea.

bxf · 07-03-2016, 03:05 AM

It's worthwhile keeping in mind the possibility that even when there are some limitations in using some DA lenses on FF, the useable area may be larger than what one would obtain using CROP mode, so that cropping in PP would be the better option.

Paul the Sunman · 07-03-2016, 03:06 AM

Originally posted by Tas

It's interesting that you didn't get any vignetting on the DA70 wide open as I did find it on my SMC version of that lens. Nothing bad of course and easy to fix. I've only been out once with the K-1/DA70 and didn't shoot the lens stopped down too far. From that one trip I found vignetting present down to f5.6.

OK, at f/2.4 there is some minor corner darkening, but this is pretty well cleaned up by profile corrections in LR.

**Tas** · 07-03-2016, 04:51 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

OK, at f/2.4 there is some minor corner darkening, but this is pretty well cleaned up by profile corrections in LR.

I don't mind the vignette personally, and as you say it can be sorted in post easily. The DA70 is a great lens and it's well worth using on the K-1, something I think we both agree on.

rawr · 07-03-2016, 05:27 AM

Originally posted by Tas

I don't mind the vignette personally

The DA 70 vignetting wide-open hardly seems noticeable.

Vignette seems part of the FF 'look'. Which is good, because I think folks will be hard-pressed to find ANY fast FF lens that doesn't vignette noticeably wide-open. Go through Lenstip.com and have a look at the vignetting tests for a few fast FF Nikon's, Sigma's and Canon's (eg Sigma 35 f1.4 if you want to see real FF vignetting), or look at a few long FF telephoto lenses.

Kunzite · 07-03-2016, 05:33 AM

Hmm... I only took a snapshot or two, but I'm not happy with my SMC DA 70mm border performance on FF. I've put it on my "to replace" list.

micromacro · 07-03-2016, 05:36 AM

Originally posted by rawr

I think folks will be hard-pressed to find ANY fast FF lens that doesn't vignette noticeably wide-open.

SuperTak 50mm f1.4

07-03-2016, 12:35 AM - 2 Likes	#1
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	My DA Limiteds on the K1 I have finally had a chance to try out my beloved SMC DA Limiteds (15, 40, and 70) on the K1. Although they are all officially crop lenses, the latter two at least have shown signs of being able to migrate to FF. So here are my findings, with representative images. DA 70 Limited — definitely FF compatible (1/160, f/8, ISO100) DA 40 Limited — little vignetting but a bit muddy in the extreme corners (fine on the edges); useable-to-good (1/40, f/11, ISO100) DA 15 Limited — forget it (1/30, f/4, ISO1250) The DA70 and DA40 were with hoods; the DA15 without. Using the hood on the DA15 vignettes much more.

07-03-2016, 02:45 AM	#7
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,202	DA70 vignette Hi Paul, Lovely detail in the helicopter there mate. I've always had a sweet spot for the DA70. It's interesting that you didn't get any vignetting on the DA70 wide open as I did find it on my SMC version of that lens. Nothing bad of course and easy to fix. I've only been out once with the K-1/DA70 and didn't shoot the lens stopped down too far. From that one trip I found vignetting present down to f5.6. f2.4 f5.6 Tas

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07-03-2016, 01:00 AM	#2
HYS Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 377	Nice post!

07-03-2016, 01:48 AM	#3
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	Nice results on the DA40 and DA70, Paul! Did you try wider apertures, by any chance?

07-03-2016, 02:00 AM	#4
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843 Original Poster	Originally posted by BigMackCam Nice results on the DA40 and DA70, Paul! Did you try wider apertures, by any chance? Yes. There was no noticeable vignetting from either lens even wide open!

07-03-2016, 02:01 AM	#5
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman Yes. There was no noticeable vignetting from either lens even wide open! Fantastic. Those will be nice focal lengths on FF

07-03-2016, 02:12 AM	#6
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Nice. A good central composition with the DA40 should draw the viewer's eye away from any dodgy areas. I haven't got extensive experience with it on film, but nothing I've ever photographed with it seemed to show any particular problems. Slightly OT, have you got and tried the DA50/1.8? It worked acceptably for me on film. I would use it on my newer film bodies, but on everything except the Super Program I am in auto-only mode and can't really make best use of it - and the same applies to the DA Limiteds, of course.

07-03-2016, 02:53 AM	#8
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Interesting. You wonder if perhaps they changed things between the SMC and the HD variants in a way that made a difference. Those with access to a K-1 and examples of both SMC and HD versions are invited to compare and comment...

07-03-2016, 03:01 AM	#9
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843 Original Poster	Originally posted by pathdoc Slightly OT, have you got and tried the DA50/1.8? It worked acceptably for me on film. I would use it on my newer film bodies, but on everything except the Super Program I am in auto-only mode and can't really make best use of it - and the same applies to the DA Limiteds, of course. My son has the DA 50 f/1.8. I just threw it on the K1 for a quick test. There is a little darkening in the corners, but this is largely cleaned up by applying lens correction in LR. Here's an uncorrected image (f/2.2). I'm afraid the lighting isn't completely even, but you get the idea.

07-03-2016, 03:05 AM	#10
bxf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon area Posts: 1,660	It's worthwhile keeping in mind the possibility that even when there are some limitations in using some DA lenses on FF, the useable area may be larger than what one would obtain using CROP mode, so that cropping in PP would be the better option.

07-03-2016, 03:06 AM	#11
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843 Original Poster	Originally posted by Tas It's interesting that you didn't get any vignetting on the DA70 wide open as I did find it on my SMC version of that lens. Nothing bad of course and easy to fix. I've only been out once with the K-1/DA70 and didn't shoot the lens stopped down too far. From that one trip I found vignetting present down to f5.6. OK, at f/2.4 there is some minor corner darkening, but this is pretty well cleaned up by profile corrections in LR.

07-03-2016, 04:51 AM	#12
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,202	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman OK, at f/2.4 there is some minor corner darkening, but this is pretty well cleaned up by profile corrections in LR. I don't mind the vignette personally, and as you say it can be sorted in post easily. The DA70 is a great lens and it's well worth using on the K-1, something I think we both agree on.

07-03-2016, 05:27 AM	#13
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by Tas I don't mind the vignette personally The DA 70 vignetting wide-open hardly seems noticeable. Vignette seems part of the FF 'look'. Which is good, because I think folks will be hard-pressed to find ANY fast FF lens that doesn't vignette noticeably wide-open. Go through Lenstip.com and have a look at the vignetting tests for a few fast FF Nikon's, Sigma's and Canon's (eg Sigma 35 f1.4 if you want to see real FF vignetting), or look at a few long FF telephoto lenses.

07-03-2016, 05:33 AM	#14
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Hmm... I only took a snapshot or two, but I'm not happy with my SMC DA 70mm border performance on FF. I've put it on my "to replace" list.

07-03-2016, 05:36 AM	#15
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Originally posted by rawr I think folks will be hard-pressed to find ANY fast FF lens that doesn't vignette noticeably wide-open. SuperTak 50mm f1.4