The sharpest lenses for a Pentax according to Amateur Photographer Magazine.

Nickrs · 07-23-2016, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by timb64

Wish I had thousands to spend

With the way the £ is dropping hundreds will become the new thousands and thousands will become the new hundreds of thousands. I'm okay I've got some loose change left over from foreign trips in a mug by my bed.

Old lenses are good fun and are great if you can take time over each shot, but modern optics with the convenience of WR, AE, and AF, together with modern coating can/do make photography easier.

I've got a few old Petri lenses which I enjoy playing with but I confess to feeling a shudder of guilty pleasure when I open a new Pentax or Sigma box for the first time.

Nicolas06 · 07-23-2016, 10:30 PM

Originally posted by Nickrs

but modern optics with the convenience of WR, AE, and AF, together with modern coating can/do make photography easier

AF is what make the real difference. There always ways to make the camera do the exposure for you and WR is a plastic bag away.

Nickrs · 07-24-2016, 06:28 AM

Originally posted by Nicolas06

AF is what make the real difference. There always ways to make the camera do the exposure for you and WR is a plastic bag away.

The key word was "convenience". Manual focus, working out exposure and battling a plastic bag all take time, unless you are imaging an immobile and immutable subject then the convenience of AF, AE and WR is a very definite boon. There was a time when I enjoyed kick-starting a motorcycle but I'm not sure I would want to swap my twenty first century Moto Guzzi for one made in the mid twentieth century. I might enjoy a classic bike or lens occasionally but only occasionally. Luckily I have a few older lenses to enjoy and for me to reconnect with my photographic skills of yesteryear. This is my grandfather's old Kodak and my Leningrad light meter for when I feel I like a challenge, they both work very well but sadly I don't have a darkroom any more.

Jonathan Mac · 07-25-2016, 01:46 AM

It's no surprise to me to see the DA 35mm limited as Pentax'es sharpest lens. Sharpness is just one of the many areas in which it is superb.

I' don't remember where it came from, but I always like this quote and it seems relevant here. I tell it to people who are convinced an expensive new semi-pro camera will give them better photos when used in conjunction with their terrible kit lens.

"Amateurs worry about cameras. Professionals worry about lenses. Photographers worry about light."

**clackers** · 07-25-2016, 04:17 AM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

"Amateurs worry about cameras. Professionals worry about lenses. Photographers worry about light."

"Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light." ?

Nickrs · 07-25-2016, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by clackers

"Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light." ?

"Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light. I worry about everything."

**clackers** · 07-25-2016, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by Nickrs

"Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light. I worry about everything."

Bless neurotics! 😊

**ramseybuckeye** · 07-25-2016, 06:42 PM

A couple of years ago I viewed a photo contest being judged by one man. Probably 70 years old, with his own quirks, likes and dislikes. He actually pulled out a jewelers loop and announced he was checking corner sharpness. I thought to myself he must be joking but he was not. Ironically in that contest all submission must be printed 8x10 with no borders, so everything was cropped anyway. But he was really judging equipment.

**monochrome** · 07-25-2016, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by Nickrs

"Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light. I worry about everything."

Meh. Me no worry.

Me buy K-1. Me have more fun now.

civiletti · 07-25-2016, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Amateurs worry about equipment.
Professionals worry about money.
Masters worry about light.

That must be why pros always use really cheap equipment.

---------- Post added 07-25-16 at 09:10 PM ----------

Originally posted by Cuthbert

My argument is that most of the lenses of the film era are sharp enough.

Excessive sharpness of the new "digital" lenses are counterproductive as they create sterile images.

You can send me any overly-sharp digital lenses that plague you with sterile images.

Cuthbert · 07-26-2016, 12:15 AM

Originally posted by civiletti

You can send me any overly-sharp digital lenses that plague you with sterile images.

Sorry, I have nothing, I'm not one of these amateurs who spend thousands to get lenses that take plastic look like images.

**Kerrowdown** · 07-26-2016, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by Nickrs

"the things you see when you don't have your camera!"

There's definitely a moral in there somewhere...

**Kerrowdown** · 07-26-2016, 06:37 AM

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

What if you worry about all 3?

I'd hazard a guess that your "Doomed", anyway it makes a change from Pentax being that way.

**Kerrowdown** · 07-26-2016, 06:47 AM

Originally posted by Cuthbert

My argument is that most of the lenses of the film era are sharp enough.

Excessive sharpness of the new "digital" lenses are counterproductive as they create sterile images.

That's good, me and my "Ladies" are safe for the time being then.

Nickrs · 07-26-2016, 02:39 PM

Interestingly this week's Amateur Photographer contains a section on bokeh and softness with a test of some lenses which are designed to give a soft effect, special bokeh or limited sharpness.

Here is an image I took this afternoon with my DA* 300mm f/4 fitted with my HD-DA 1.4x teleconverter so a combined focal length of 420mm, still pretty sharp to the corners methinks.

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07-23-2016, 06:38 PM	#61
Nickrs Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: "The Green Desert" Photos: Albums Posts: 175 Original Poster	Originally posted by timb64 Wish I had thousands to spend With the way the £ is dropping hundreds will become the new thousands and thousands will become the new hundreds of thousands. I'm okay I've got some loose change left over from foreign trips in a mug by my bed. Old lenses are good fun and are great if you can take time over each shot, but modern optics with the convenience of WR, AE, and AF, together with modern coating can/do make photography easier. I've got a few old Petri lenses which I enjoy playing with but I confess to feeling a shudder of guilty pleasure when I open a new Pentax or Sigma box for the first time.

07-23-2016, 10:30 PM	#62
Nicolas06 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 4,854	Originally posted by Nickrs but modern optics with the convenience of WR, AE, and AF, together with modern coating can/do make photography easier AF is what make the real difference. There always ways to make the camera do the exposure for you and WR is a plastic bag away.

07-25-2016, 01:46 AM	#64
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	It's no surprise to me to see the DA 35mm limited as Pentax'es sharpest lens. Sharpness is just one of the many areas in which it is superb. I' don't remember where it came from, but I always like this quote and it seems relevant here. I tell it to people who are convinced an expensive new semi-pro camera will give them better photos when used in conjunction with their terrible kit lens. "Amateurs worry about cameras. Professionals worry about lenses. Photographers worry about light."

07-25-2016, 04:17 AM	#65
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac "Amateurs worry about cameras. Professionals worry about lenses. Photographers worry about light." "Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light." ?

07-25-2016, 08:10 AM	#66
Nickrs Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: "The Green Desert" Photos: Albums Posts: 175 Original Poster	Originally posted by clackers "Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light." ? "Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light. I worry about everything."

07-25-2016, 01:41 PM	#67
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Nickrs "Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light. I worry about everything." Bless neurotics! 😊

07-25-2016, 06:42 PM	#68
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	A couple of years ago I viewed a photo contest being judged by one man. Probably 70 years old, with his own quirks, likes and dislikes. He actually pulled out a jewelers loop and announced he was checking corner sharpness. I thought to myself he must be joking but he was not. Ironically in that contest all submission must be printed 8x10 with no borders, so everything was cropped anyway. But he was really judging equipment.

07-25-2016, 07:39 PM	#69
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Nickrs "Amateurs worry about gear. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light. I worry about everything." Meh. Me no worry. Me buy K-1. Me have more fun now.

07-25-2016, 08:55 PM	#70
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Originally posted by boriscleto Amateurs worry about equipment. Professionals worry about money. Masters worry about light. That must be why pros always use really cheap equipment. ---------- Post added 07-25-16 at 09:10 PM ---------- Originally posted by Cuthbert My argument is that most of the lenses of the film era are sharp enough. Excessive sharpness of the new "digital" lenses are counterproductive as they create sterile images. You can send me any overly-sharp digital lenses that plague you with sterile images.

07-26-2016, 12:15 AM	#71
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	Originally posted by civiletti You can send me any overly-sharp digital lenses that plague you with sterile images. Sorry, I have nothing, I'm not one of these amateurs who spend thousands to get lenses that take plastic look like images.

07-26-2016, 06:35 AM	#72
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by Nickrs "the things you see when you don't have your camera!" There's definitely a moral in there somewhere...

07-26-2016, 06:37 AM	#73
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by ZombieArmy What if you worry about all 3? I'd hazard a guess that your "Doomed", anyway it makes a change from Pentax being that way.

07-26-2016, 06:47 AM	#74
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by Cuthbert My argument is that most of the lenses of the film era are sharp enough. Excessive sharpness of the new "digital" lenses are counterproductive as they create sterile images. That's good, me and my "Ladies" are safe for the time being then.