Wow, I absolutely adore the FA 43!

**pres589** · 05-24-2018, 02:16 PM

You act like I haven't been pushing this same concept for years!

Actually my first wish would be a 25mm f2.4 lens in the plastic fantastic style of the DA 35 f2.4 or DA 50 1.8. Not sure what optical design to partially recycle to get there. Second idea was the HA DA 28 Ltd that you mention. Third would be something in the teens, like an HA D-FA 18mm f3.2. All of these should be full frame compatible even if the plastic 25 isn't advertised as such, like the DA 35 2.4 and 50 1.8.

bdery · 05-25-2018, 05:28 AM

Originally posted by Saltwater Images

A HD DA 28 f/2.8 Limited would fill the 43mm equalivency for Pentax APS-C. I have all the HD DA Limiteds and would gladly purchase a HD DA 28 f/2.8 Limited if Ricoh ever makes one. Please fill this true normal gap in the Pentax APS-C prime line!

Make that a 24, and give it the same type of straight aperture that the SMC DA 21 and 15 have, to make it a night photography beast!

tbelf · 05-25-2018, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by pres589

I've been saying this for some time now, that something between 24 and 28mm should have been here a long time ago. Canon has that 24mm STM prime and Pentax, the small prime company, has...

How do you like the F 28 vs. the FA? The F seems more sharp, the FA seems more pixel-dusty, but I've used neither.

Not had a chance to play yet, hopefully this weekend - will report back. I found my copy of the FA 28 to be plenty sharp at 3.2 and above, very good at 5.6 up. It was however noticeably softer at 2.8. I am hoping the F 28 will do better wide open, but we will see. I certainly place quality of rendering over ultimate sharpness so that will be the key test, does it have the pentax pixies?

a modern small 24 or 28 (no need personally for it to be faster then 2.8, i'm even open to 3.2) would be brilliant. I love the 21, but i do often find it a touch wide.

Agree with the idea of a plastic-fantastic build too - yes WR would be great, but my DA 35 2.4 did 3 months on an african building site with no problems whatsoever - and I went in thinking I won't be gentle, if it's a write off so be it.

**pres589** · 05-25-2018, 08:57 AM

They could pack the A 24 f2.8's optics, aperture blades, the whole lot into the body of the DA 35 f2.4 and I would still be very interested in that lens. Give it the full pack of today's coatings (HD, SP on the front element, etc) and a bayonet hood mount and I want to believe that it would be well liked.

Big meanie kenspo says that the days of light, small, inexpensive lens like that are over at Pentax. I'm still trying to get over the emotional blow.

**BWG** · 05-25-2018, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by Saltwater Images

The D FA 100 Macro WR is optical perfection. I consider it a Limited shooting it alongside 5 HD DA Limited’s. The 100 is amazing. Clinical is not the best way to describe it. Like the HD DA Limited’s the D FA 100 Macro WR has neutral, true to life colour rendering that you may adjust to your preference in post production.

I agree clinical is not the best way, but I struggled with a better comparison term to describe what I see as the differences. The 100 Macro seems slightly less “artsy” than the limiteds, but by saying that it downgrades the limiteds.
All are amazing and we’re lucky to have them in our kits.

leekil · 05-27-2018, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by bdery

Make that a 24, and give it the same type of straight aperture that the SMC DA 21 and 15 have, to make it a night photography beast!

What do you mean by "straight aperture"?

**Digitalis** · 05-27-2018, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by bertwert

t's obvious... get the 77... then the 31 to complete the trio.

That is how things usually end up going.

**mikesbike** · 05-27-2018, 05:01 PM

I would also like to see a DA 24mm LTD, but make it f/2 and perform as well as the FA 35mm f/2 to be the same FOV as the FA 35mm is on a FF body.

bdery · 05-28-2018, 05:09 AM

Originally posted by leekil

What do you mean by "straight aperture"?

I mean straight aperture blades, to create beautiful starbursts. Modern apertures use rounded blades, nice for bokeh, bad for starbursts.

normhead · 06-05-2018, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by bdery

(and cannot focus in live view to save itself),

Ya, what the heck is with that? I bought it to use with live view on the K-1 so I could use the tilt screen, but half the time my images come back out of focus. I now use manual focus with it, and it's the only macro I have to do that with of the 4 I own.

bdery · 06-05-2018, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by normhead

One that at least one guy trained in optics and optical physics has come to Pentax just to own.

Hum, that fits my description, except that the 60-250 isn't the main reason (or wasn't at the time since I could not afford it)...

Originally posted by normhead

DA*60-250 is like a stack of fine lenses. If you want one telephoto to do everything with, it's the 60-250. It does everything, sharp corner to corner.

And converted to full frame, it takes on a whole new life.

Originally posted by reh321

My biggest complaint with the K-1 is there's no 18-135 equivalent for it.

I would go for a 16-85 personally. I still own and use that lens but I believe it's my only APS-C only lens (still own the 21, will sell it soon).

**eyrr** · 06-06-2018, 06:22 PM

Originally posted by normhead

Ya, what the heck is with that? I bought it to use with live view on the K-1 so I could use the tilt screen, but half the time my images come back out of focus. I now use manual focus with it, and it's the only macro I have to do that with of the 4 I own.

So it's not just me or my copy. That's a relief, I guess...

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05-24-2018, 02:16 PM	#31
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	You act like I haven't been pushing this same concept for years! Actually my first wish would be a 25mm f2.4 lens in the plastic fantastic style of the DA 35 f2.4 or DA 50 1.8. Not sure what optical design to partially recycle to get there. Second idea was the HA DA 28 Ltd that you mention. Third would be something in the teens, like an HA D-FA 18mm f3.2. All of these should be full frame compatible even if the plastic 25 isn't advertised as such, like the DA 35 2.4 and 50 1.8.

05-25-2018, 05:28 AM	#32
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by Saltwater Images A HD DA 28 f/2.8 Limited would fill the 43mm equalivency for Pentax APS-C. I have all the HD DA Limiteds and would gladly purchase a HD DA 28 f/2.8 Limited if Ricoh ever makes one. Please fill this true normal gap in the Pentax APS-C prime line! Make that a 24, and give it the same type of straight aperture that the SMC DA 21 and 15 have, to make it a night photography beast!

05-25-2018, 08:48 AM	#33
tbelf Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Cambridge Posts: 93	Originally posted by pres589 I've been saying this for some time now, that something between 24 and 28mm should have been here a long time ago. Canon has that 24mm STM prime and Pentax, the small prime company, has... How do you like the F 28 vs. the FA? The F seems more sharp, the FA seems more pixel-dusty, but I've used neither. Not had a chance to play yet, hopefully this weekend - will report back. I found my copy of the FA 28 to be plenty sharp at 3.2 and above, very good at 5.6 up. It was however noticeably softer at 2.8. I am hoping the F 28 will do better wide open, but we will see. I certainly place quality of rendering over ultimate sharpness so that will be the key test, does it have the pentax pixies? a modern small 24 or 28 (no need personally for it to be faster then 2.8, i'm even open to 3.2) would be brilliant. I love the 21, but i do often find it a touch wide. Agree with the idea of a plastic-fantastic build too - yes WR would be great, but my DA 35 2.4 did 3 months on an african building site with no problems whatsoever - and I went in thinking I won't be gentle, if it's a write off so be it.

05-25-2018, 08:57 AM	#34
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	They could pack the A 24 f2.8's optics, aperture blades, the whole lot into the body of the DA 35 f2.4 and I would still be very interested in that lens. Give it the full pack of today's coatings (HD, SP on the front element, etc) and a bayonet hood mount and I want to believe that it would be well liked. Big meanie kenspo says that the days of light, small, inexpensive lens like that are over at Pentax. I'm still trying to get over the emotional blow.

05-25-2018, 09:30 AM	#35
BWG Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Monterey County, California Posts: 165	Originally posted by Saltwater Images The D FA 100 Macro WR is optical perfection. I consider it a Limited shooting it alongside 5 HD DA Limited’s. The 100 is amazing. Clinical is not the best way to describe it. Like the HD DA Limited’s the D FA 100 Macro WR has neutral, true to life colour rendering that you may adjust to your preference in post production. I agree clinical is not the best way, but I struggled with a better comparison term to describe what I see as the differences. The 100 Macro seems slightly less “artsy” than the limiteds, but by saying that it downgrades the limiteds. All are amazing and we’re lucky to have them in our kits.

05-27-2018, 12:34 PM	#36
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Originally posted by bdery Make that a 24, and give it the same type of straight aperture that the SMC DA 21 and 15 have, to make it a night photography beast! What do you mean by "straight aperture"?

05-27-2018, 04:01 PM	#37
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by bertwert t's obvious... get the 77... then the 31 to complete the trio. That is how things usually end up going.

05-27-2018, 05:01 PM	#38
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	I would also like to see a DA 24mm LTD, but make it f/2 and perform as well as the FA 35mm f/2 to be the same FOV as the FA 35mm is on a FF body.

05-28-2018, 05:09 AM	#39
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by leekil What do you mean by "straight aperture"? I mean straight aperture blades, to create beautiful starbursts. Modern apertures use rounded blades, nice for bokeh, bad for starbursts.

06-05-2018, 09:33 AM	#40
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by bdery (and cannot focus in live view to save itself), Ya, what the heck is with that? I bought it to use with live view on the K-1 so I could use the tilt screen, but half the time my images come back out of focus. I now use manual focus with it, and it's the only macro I have to do that with of the 4 I own.

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06-05-2018, 12:16 PM	#41
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by normhead One that at least one guy trained in optics and optical physics has come to Pentax just to own. Hum, that fits my description, except that the 60-250 isn't the main reason (or wasn't at the time since I could not afford it)... Originally posted by normhead DA*60-250 is like a stack of fine lenses. If you want one telephoto to do everything with, it's the 60-250. It does everything, sharp corner to corner. And converted to full frame, it takes on a whole new life. Originally posted by reh321 My biggest complaint with the K-1 is there's no 18-135 equivalent for it. I would go for a 16-85 personally. I still own and use that lens but I believe it's my only APS-C only lens (still own the 21, will sell it soon).

06-06-2018, 06:22 PM	#42
eyrr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 318	Originally posted by normhead Ya, what the heck is with that? I bought it to use with live view on the K-1 so I could use the tilt screen, but half the time my images come back out of focus. I now use manual focus with it, and it's the only macro I have to do that with of the 4 I own. So it's not just me or my copy. That's a relief, I guess...