Persuade me that I shouldn't buy the DA 20-40.

**carlb** · 04-04-2019, 04:37 PM - **1 Like**

This might be fruitless exercise, but......

I have and enjoy all of the DA limiteds except the DA 35 (I have the FA 31mm instead) but I've irrationally longed for the DA20-40 zoom for ages. Is there anything to be gained by adding the 20-40 to my collection?

Docrwm · 04-04-2019, 04:40 PM

A zoom with limited range that you already have covered very well indeed?

**jumbleview** · 04-04-2019, 04:45 PM - **2 Likes**

None of your limited is WR. You must buy 20-40.

**BigMackCam** · 04-04-2019, 04:49 PM - **2 Likes**

Runway-style field curvature at the longer end. It can be problematic if you're focusing at distant objects, even stopped down, depending on what you're shooting and what you want to be in or out of focus. This kept me away from using mine for some time, though recently I've started shooting with it more and I'm rather enjoying it. But it's by no means perfect...

**Ex Finn.** · 04-04-2019, 04:50 PM

It could push you into buying the DA* 11-18 f2.8...

**aslyfox** · 04-04-2019, 04:54 PM

D you wish to have a change in your bank account

if so, yes buying the 20-40 limited will help you out

you will also be the proud owner of the " odd ball " limited - the only limited that is a zoom if I am not mistaken

good luck in your deliberations

**pepperberry farm** · 04-04-2019, 04:55 PM - **1 Like**

buy the DA 35 Limited - I kept looking at the DA20-40, but bought the DA 35 Limited instead.... I've never wondered about the zoom again...

**clackers** · 04-04-2019, 04:57 PM - **5 Likes**

You've got the range already covered with DA21, FA31, DA40, but if you want to replace all of them on a walkabout with a single zoom (it's about as big as the FA31 by itself), that'll do it really well. Bring along the DA15 and DA70 for the ultrawide and short tele shots and you're set.

I even often put it on my K-1 because take away the widest and longest ends, and you've got a light, fast focusing, WR 24mm and 35mm prime in one.

**jeffdrew** · 04-04-2019, 05:33 PM - **1 Like**

I am delighted with mine, but it only covers about 75% of my general needs. The more I use it, the better the value. You may want to commit to it or not... That money can buy some nice concert tickets or a set of tires for the car! ;-)

**kiwi_jono** · 04-04-2019, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by clackers

You've got the range already covered with DA21, FA31, DA40, but if you want to replace all of them on a walkabout with a single zoom (it's about as big as the FA31 by itself), that'll do it really well. Bring along the DA15 and DA70 for the ultrawide and short tele shots and you're set.

I even often put it on my K-1 because take away the widest and longest ends, and you've got a light, fast focusing, WR 24mm and 35mm prime in one.

^^^ This

I can see a flexibility advantage to using a zoom walk around and depending on your style you might desire that. Also you might desire WR. Otherwise you have the range covered with some nice glass.

**clickclick** · 04-04-2019, 05:43 PM

I'm having the same dilemma given the current price at B&H. I have the 15, 31, 43, and 77 Limiteds. I also own the DA* 16-50, so at some level, this adds nothing for me regarding range or speed as an APS-C zoom. But what has really held me back so far is my perception that it is soft at wider apertures. If you haven't seen it, read through the review here on PF, and check it out. Sounds like if you pixel peep, it might not hold up until stopped down a bit, especially towards the 40mm end. What has kept me looking at is the WR, the DC focus motor, the build quality, and what appears to be lovely bokeh for a zoom. It's also a bit smaller and lighter than my 16-50, so I can see a walkabout kit with the 15, 20-40, and 77 as being a neat thought. But then there are a few other lenses on the wish list, so kinda stuck in the mud for the moment.

**carlb** · 04-04-2019, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by clickclick

I'm having the same dilemma given the current price at B&H......

It was this that got me thinking as well, although it was the used examples they have that really piqued my interest. But, against the odds I think you guys might have changed my mind. When I really, really think about it the main reason for my interest was that it's such a cool lens, but it won't really do anything extra that my current lens line up doesn't do and it may well just end up sitting on the shelf.

Thanks for all the advice, it was really helpful. Cheers

Sandy Hancock · 04-04-2019, 06:49 PM - **3 Likes**

I really didn't need to see this thread. The DA20-40 Limited would dovetail perfectly between my DA*11-18 and DA*50-135 to make a great WR travel kit for my KP.

But @carlb YOU definitely shouldn't buy it:
- it's f/4.0 at the long end
- it's too big and heavy for a DA Limited
- the 55mm filter thread is an unusual size for Pentax
- that Takumar style zoom ring is just hipster pretence

- just buy the bloody thing

biz-engineer · 04-04-2019, 07:37 PM

The design style of the limited is great, unfortunately the DA20-40 isn't covering the FF image circle, because if it was, I'd have bought it.

dbs · 04-04-2019, 07:49 PM

Hi Carl

You know that the charter for this forum is.......help everybody to increase their pleasure by entertaining new too them lenses and stuff....
Sooo yes !

Dave

04-04-2019, 04:37 PM - 1 Like	#1
carlb Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,162	Persuade me that I shouldn't buy the DA 20-40. This might be fruitless exercise, but...... I have and enjoy all of the DA limiteds except the DA 35 (I have the FA 31mm instead) but I've irrationally longed for the DA20-40 zoom for ages. Is there anything to be gained by adding the 20-40 to my collection?

04-04-2019, 04:45 PM - 2 Likes	#3
jumbleview Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 1,069	None of your limited is WR. You must buy 20-40. Last edited by jumbleview; 04-05-2019 at 02:24 PM.

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04-04-2019, 04:40 PM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	A zoom with limited range that you already have covered very well indeed?

04-04-2019, 04:49 PM - 2 Likes	#4
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	Runway-style field curvature at the longer end. It can be problematic if you're focusing at distant objects, even stopped down, depending on what you're shooting and what you want to be in or out of focus. This kept me away from using mine for some time, though recently I've started shooting with it more and I'm rather enjoying it. But it's by no means perfect...

04-04-2019, 04:50 PM	#5
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	It could push you into buying the DA* 11-18 f2.8...

04-04-2019, 04:54 PM	#6
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581	D you wish to have a change in your bank account if so, yes buying the 20-40 limited will help you out you will also be the proud owner of the " odd ball " limited - the only limited that is a zoom if I am not mistaken good luck in your deliberations

04-04-2019, 04:55 PM - 1 Like	#7
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,679	buy the DA 35 Limited - I kept looking at the DA20-40, but bought the DA 35 Limited instead.... I've never wondered about the zoom again...

04-04-2019, 04:57 PM - 5 Likes	#8
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	You've got the range already covered with DA21, FA31, DA40, but if you want to replace all of them on a walkabout with a single zoom (it's about as big as the FA31 by itself), that'll do it really well. Bring along the DA15 and DA70 for the ultrawide and short tele shots and you're set. I even often put it on my K-1 because take away the widest and longest ends, and you've got a light, fast focusing, WR 24mm and 35mm prime in one.

04-04-2019, 05:33 PM - 1 Like	#9
jeffdrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 102	I am delighted with mine, but it only covers about 75% of my general needs. The more I use it, the better the value. You may want to commit to it or not... That money can buy some nice concert tickets or a set of tires for the car! ;-)

04-04-2019, 05:33 PM	#10
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Originally posted by clackers You've got the range already covered with DA21, FA31, DA40, but if you want to replace all of them on a walkabout with a single zoom (it's about as big as the FA31 by itself), that'll do it really well. Bring along the DA15 and DA70 for the ultrawide and short tele shots and you're set. I even often put it on my K-1 because take away the widest and longest ends, and you've got a light, fast focusing, WR 24mm and 35mm prime in one. ^^^ This I can see a flexibility advantage to using a zoom walk around and depending on your style you might desire that. Also you might desire WR. Otherwise you have the range covered with some nice glass.

04-04-2019, 05:43 PM	#11
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	I'm having the same dilemma given the current price at B&H. I have the 15, 31, 43, and 77 Limiteds. I also own the DA* 16-50, so at some level, this adds nothing for me regarding range or speed as an APS-C zoom. But what has really held me back so far is my perception that it is soft at wider apertures. If you haven't seen it, read through the review here on PF, and check it out. Sounds like if you pixel peep, it might not hold up until stopped down a bit, especially towards the 40mm end. What has kept me looking at is the WR, the DC focus motor, the build quality, and what appears to be lovely bokeh for a zoom. It's also a bit smaller and lighter than my 16-50, so I can see a walkabout kit with the 15, 20-40, and 77 as being a neat thought. But then there are a few other lenses on the wish list, so kinda stuck in the mud for the moment.

04-04-2019, 06:06 PM	#12
carlb Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,162 Original Poster	Originally posted by clickclick I'm having the same dilemma given the current price at B&H...... It was this that got me thinking as well, although it was the used examples they have that really piqued my interest. But, against the odds I think you guys might have changed my mind. When I really, really think about it the main reason for my interest was that it's such a cool lens, but it won't really do anything extra that my current lens line up doesn't do and it may well just end up sitting on the shelf. Thanks for all the advice, it was really helpful. Cheers

04-04-2019, 06:49 PM - 3 Likes	#13
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	I really didn't need to see this thread. The DA20-40 Limited would dovetail perfectly between my DA11-18 and DA50-135 to make a great WR travel kit for my KP. But @carlb YOU definitely shouldn't buy it: - it's f/4.0 at the long end - it's too big and heavy for a DA Limited - the 55mm filter thread is an unusual size for Pentax - that Takumar style zoom ring is just hipster pretence - just buy the bloody thing

04-04-2019, 07:37 PM	#14
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,232	The design style of the limited is great, unfortunately the DA20-40 isn't covering the FF image circle, because if it was, I'd have bought it.

04-04-2019, 07:49 PM	#15
dbs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Clare Valley S A Photos: Albums Posts: 7,564	Hi Carl You know that the charter for this forum is.......help everybody to increase their pleasure by entertaining new too them lenses and stuff.... Sooo yes ! Dave