Goto lens?

Photobill · 10-03-2019, 10:39 PM

20-40 LTD
I do not own one and am VERY curious about it. It seams like it would be a perfect fit on an APSc body. Paired with a Pentax WR body you should have the perfect outdoor all weather combo. Does it just not excite people?

Sandy Hancock · 10-03-2019, 11:05 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Photobill

20-40 LTD. Does it just not excite people?

Don't worry - it has plenty of fans. Myself included.

The 20-40 on the KP, with the DA* 50-135 and DA* 11-18 in the bag is a killer combination.

But back to the original question: the idea of a single go-to lens is simply preposterous - that's why we have interchangeable lenses

Photobill · 10-03-2019, 11:25 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

Don't worry - it has plenty of fans. Myself included.

The 20-40 on the KP, with the DA* 50-135 and DA* 11-18 in the bag is a killer combination.

But back to the original question: the idea of a single go-to lens is simply preposterous - that's why we have interchangeable lenses

Thanks Sandy

My wife doesn't know that the lenses are interchangeable she thinks that when you put them on a camera body they must STAY there. That's how you justify getting a new camera. 😉 so if I get the 20-40 ltd I will need a new body to put it on, might try the KP.........SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A GREAT COMBO for a have on you all the time setup

**Des** · 10-03-2019, 11:41 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Photobill

20-40 LTDI do not own one and am VERY curious about it. It seams like it would be a perfect fit on an APSc body. Paired with a Pentax WR body you should have the perfect outdoor all weather combo.

Pros: Compact (about the size of the 18-55). Attractive design, beautiful build quality. Images have the Limited family qualities: contrasty, excellent colours. Images have character (similar to the DA 15, for example). Overall rendering is lovely. Bokeh can be very pleasant. WR, Sharp enough, even from wide open (my copy anyway). CA is generally well-controlled. HD coatings provide good flare resistance.

Cons: It's known for field curvature at the long end - not an ideal choice for flat-plane images (like buildings). Not immune from purple fringing in high-contrast scenes. Doesn't do starbursts. Dinky lens hood looks cute, but doesn't do much (I replaced it with a petal hood, which also meant replacing the lens cap). Focal range can be limiting compared to 16-50, 16-85, 17-70, 18-135 - but that's the trade-off for small size and Limited quality.

My current preferred KP walkaround kit (which is lighter and cheaper but slower and less premium than the one Sandy suggested) is DA 15 Ltd, 20-40 and 55-300 PLM (all HD coatings). If you prefer speed and pixie dust to reach at the tele end, you could substitute a DA 70 Ltd, FA 77 Ltd or DFA 100 and get knockout image quality.

The 20-40 does pair really well with the KP, although I'd personally feel rather constrained if that were the desert island combination.

Last edited by Des; 10-04-2019 at 01:32 PM.

MatKus · 10-04-2019, 12:06 AM

I love my sigma 50-500 OS. It's very universal lens and i have it attached for 80% of my pics. Even.
My 2nd lens is kit 17-55, that i'm using when going to sime minor trips. i'm planning to change it to 16-85 (or maybe 18-135), but not because of image quality, but mostly because of range of focal lengths.Perfect would be something like 15-100 with good image quality, but there is no such thing.

PentaMiCL · 10-04-2019, 12:06 AM

Originally posted by robiles

First it was the Tamron 10-24, but that got sold half a year ago. Now it is the 15 limited - too bad it's not a couple of mm's wider. I live on the wide side of life.

Hi, is there like the golden standard of super wide angle lenses in the pentax (preferably aps-c) realm?

For instance, on Canon mounts, the TS-E 24/3.5 ii is pretty much praised in every way and treated like something all landscape shooters should want as long as they can afford it.

What I want right now is a super wide (10-16mm) lens, prime or zoom, AF not necessary, that is sharp from corner to corner on an APS-C sensor at even just one aperture size.

**clackers** · 10-04-2019, 12:20 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by PentaMiCL

Hi, is there like the golden standard of super wide angle lenses in the pentax (preferably aps-c) realm?

For instance, on Canon mounts, the TS-E 24/3.5 ii is pretty much praised in every way and treated like something all landscape shooters should want as long as they can afford it.

What I want right now is a super wide (10-16mm) lens, prime or zoom, AF not necessary, that is sharp from corner to corner on an APS-C sensor at even just one aperture size.

The DA*11-18 is your new friend, PentaMiCL, get out the credit card!

robiles · 10-04-2019, 12:34 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by PentaMiCL

Hi, is there like the golden standard of super wide angle lenses in the pentax (preferably aps-c) realm?

For instance, on Canon mounts, the TS-E 24/3.5 ii is pretty much praised in every way and treated like something all landscape shooters should want as long as they can afford it.

What I want right now is a super wide (10-16mm) lens, prime or zoom, AF not necessary, that is sharp from corner to corner on an APS-C sensor at even just one aperture size.

The one to have right now is the recently released DA* 11-18. Being a star lens, it has bulletproof build and weather sealing, the best optics pentax has to offer (F 2.8), but also a price to match. Sadly i do not own one yet, but there are others that do, there is even a thred dedicated to this lens, and i do encourage you to check it out.

Another lens that is highly regarded by its users is the sigma 8-16. It is sharp, it is seriously wide, but my experience with it is if you shoot architecture and such, it shows some weird distortion (i think its what some people call mustache distortion), but if you shoot mainly landscapes, it is not a problem.

**roberrl** · 10-04-2019, 02:34 AM

For many years it was my Sigma 8-16 following on from my Sigma 10-20. I was very often in the situation where foot zoom was not possible so a rectilinear wide suited the purpose.

Now I think the 55-300 gets most use - time to spring for the PLM version ?

---------- Post added 10-04-2019 at 10:34 AM ----------

For many years it was my Sigma 8-16 following on from my Sigma 10-20. I was very often in the situation where foot zoom was not possible so a rectilinear wide suited the purpose.

Now I think the 55-300 gets most use - time to spring for the PLM version ?

**othar** · 10-04-2019, 02:54 AM

The F 35-70mm lens is my most used lens. On APS-C I like the normal to short tele range für hiking and mountaineering a lot.

tokyoscape · 10-04-2019, 04:47 AM

Originally posted by wings

Actually he is very well known.

sorry, I should have been clear. I mean, "Myself" is not a NatGeo photographer.

**onlineflyer** · 10-04-2019, 04:59 AM

This is a tough one, I really need to think about it. I change lens often.

HoutHans · 10-04-2019, 07:13 AM

I think all of us often change lenses, but the one I find myself using most often is the 18-135, even when there are plenty instances where I thought that I should slapped on one of the primes... Most often the one that was still at home.

wed7 · 10-04-2019, 07:27 AM

I think the 20-40 or the16-85 is sufficient.

wstruth · 10-04-2019, 09:01 AM

I like shooting and switching primes the most. For me that means switching lens a lot. When I want options and not have to carry a bag of primes my go to lens on APS-C is the 20-40 for me, because of the great rendering in a light WR package. When that is not enough I break out the 12-24 and the 50-135.

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10-03-2019, 10:39 PM	#46
Photobill Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 228	20-40 LTD I do not own one and am VERY curious about it. It seams like it would be a perfect fit on an APSc body. Paired with a Pentax WR body you should have the perfect outdoor all weather combo. Does it just not excite people?

10-03-2019, 11:05 PM - 2 Likes	#47
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by Photobill 20-40 LTD. Does it just not excite people? Don't worry - it has plenty of fans. Myself included. The 20-40 on the KP, with the DA* 50-135 and DA* 11-18 in the bag is a killer combination. But back to the original question: the idea of a single go-to lens is simply preposterous - that's why we have interchangeable lenses

10-03-2019, 11:25 PM - 1 Like	#48
Photobill Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 228	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock Don't worry - it has plenty of fans. Myself included. The 20-40 on the KP, with the DA* 50-135 and DA* 11-18 in the bag is a killer combination. But back to the original question: the idea of a single go-to lens is simply preposterous - that's why we have interchangeable lenses Thanks Sandy My wife doesn't know that the lenses are interchangeable she thinks that when you put them on a camera body they must STAY there. That's how you justify getting a new camera. 😉 so if I get the 20-40 ltd I will need a new body to put it on, might try the KP.........SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A GREAT COMBO for a have on you all the time setup

10-03-2019, 11:41 PM - 1 Like	#49
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by Photobill 20-40 LTDI do not own one and am VERY curious about it. It seams like it would be a perfect fit on an APSc body. Paired with a Pentax WR body you should have the perfect outdoor all weather combo. Pros: Compact (about the size of the 18-55). Attractive design, beautiful build quality. Images have the Limited family qualities: contrasty, excellent colours. Images have character (similar to the DA 15, for example). Overall rendering is lovely. Bokeh can be very pleasant. WR, Sharp enough, even from wide open (my copy anyway). CA is generally well-controlled. HD coatings provide good flare resistance. Cons: It's known for field curvature at the long end - not an ideal choice for flat-plane images (like buildings). Not immune from purple fringing in high-contrast scenes. Doesn't do starbursts. Dinky lens hood looks cute, but doesn't do much (I replaced it with a petal hood, which also meant replacing the lens cap). Focal range can be limiting compared to 16-50, 16-85, 17-70, 18-135 - but that's the trade-off for small size and Limited quality. My current preferred KP walkaround kit (which is lighter and cheaper but slower and less premium than the one Sandy suggested) is DA 15 Ltd, 20-40 and 55-300 PLM (all HD coatings). If you prefer speed and pixie dust to reach at the tele end, you could substitute a DA 70 Ltd, FA 77 Ltd or DFA 100 and get knockout image quality. The 20-40 does pair really well with the KP, although I'd personally feel rather constrained if that were the desert island combination. Last edited by Des; 10-04-2019 at 01:32 PM.

10-04-2019, 12:06 AM	#50
MatKus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 155	I love my sigma 50-500 OS. It's very universal lens and i have it attached for 80% of my pics. Even. My 2nd lens is kit 17-55, that i'm using when going to sime minor trips. i'm planning to change it to 16-85 (or maybe 18-135), but not because of image quality, but mostly because of range of focal lengths.Perfect would be something like 15-100 with good image quality, but there is no such thing.

10-04-2019, 12:06 AM	#51
PentaMiCL Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 37	Originally posted by robiles First it was the Tamron 10-24, but that got sold half a year ago. Now it is the 15 limited - too bad it's not a couple of mm's wider. I live on the wide side of life. Hi, is there like the golden standard of super wide angle lenses in the pentax (preferably aps-c) realm? For instance, on Canon mounts, the TS-E 24/3.5 ii is pretty much praised in every way and treated like something all landscape shooters should want as long as they can afford it. What I want right now is a super wide (10-16mm) lens, prime or zoom, AF not necessary, that is sharp from corner to corner on an APS-C sensor at even just one aperture size.

10-04-2019, 12:20 AM - 1 Like	#52
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by PentaMiCL Hi, is there like the golden standard of super wide angle lenses in the pentax (preferably aps-c) realm? For instance, on Canon mounts, the TS-E 24/3.5 ii is pretty much praised in every way and treated like something all landscape shooters should want as long as they can afford it. What I want right now is a super wide (10-16mm) lens, prime or zoom, AF not necessary, that is sharp from corner to corner on an APS-C sensor at even just one aperture size. The DA*11-18 is your new friend, PentaMiCL, get out the credit card!

10-04-2019, 12:34 AM - 2 Likes	#53
robiles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Deva Posts: 311	Originally posted by PentaMiCL Hi, is there like the golden standard of super wide angle lenses in the pentax (preferably aps-c) realm? For instance, on Canon mounts, the TS-E 24/3.5 ii is pretty much praised in every way and treated like something all landscape shooters should want as long as they can afford it. What I want right now is a super wide (10-16mm) lens, prime or zoom, AF not necessary, that is sharp from corner to corner on an APS-C sensor at even just one aperture size. The one to have right now is the recently released DA* 11-18. Being a star lens, it has bulletproof build and weather sealing, the best optics pentax has to offer (F 2.8), but also a price to match. Sadly i do not own one yet, but there are others that do, there is even a thred dedicated to this lens, and i do encourage you to check it out. Another lens that is highly regarded by its users is the sigma 8-16. It is sharp, it is seriously wide, but my experience with it is if you shoot architecture and such, it shows some weird distortion (i think its what some people call mustache distortion), but if you shoot mainly landscapes, it is not a problem.

10-04-2019, 02:34 AM	#54
roberrl Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 345	For many years it was my Sigma 8-16 following on from my Sigma 10-20. I was very often in the situation where foot zoom was not possible so a rectilinear wide suited the purpose. Now I think the 55-300 gets most use - time to spring for the PLM version ? ---------- Post added 10-04-2019 at 10:34 AM ---------- For many years it was my Sigma 8-16 following on from my Sigma 10-20. I was very often in the situation where foot zoom was not possible so a rectilinear wide suited the purpose. Now I think the 55-300 gets most use - time to spring for the PLM version ?

10-04-2019, 02:54 AM	#55
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	The F 35-70mm lens is my most used lens. On APS-C I like the normal to short tele range für hiking and mountaineering a lot.

10-04-2019, 04:47 AM	#56
tokyoscape Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,256	Originally posted by wings Actually he is very well known. sorry, I should have been clear. I mean, "Myself" is not a NatGeo photographer.

10-04-2019, 04:59 AM	#57
onlineflyer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NW Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,091	This is a tough one, I really need to think about it. I change lens often.

10-04-2019, 07:13 AM	#58
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,119	I think all of us often change lenses, but the one I find myself using most often is the 18-135, even when there are plenty instances where I thought that I should slapped on one of the primes... Most often the one that was still at home.

10-04-2019, 07:27 AM	#59
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	I think the 20-40 or the16-85 is sufficient.

10-04-2019, 09:01 AM	#60
wstruth Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: at my kitchen table Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,294	I like shooting and switching primes the most. For me that means switching lens a lot. When I want options and not have to carry a bag of primes my go to lens on APS-C is the 20-40 for me, because of the great rendering in a light WR package. When that is not enough I break out the 12-24 and the 50-135.