Any zooms with pixie dust magic?

**monochrome** · 01-01-2020, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

Damn, that's a beautiful photo.

I had the same thought about #2 in Post #46. But for the sharpness of the foreground it called to mind 19th C. Impressionist landscapes.

AFA what is Pixie Dust, and which zoom have some, I look for a lens that demotes rendering detail versus rendering light and color in the image. Maybe these qualities are transitions, microcontrast or the other technical terms used in this thread - I don’t know. I look for a lens that delivers painterly images.

Before reading the thread I had already thought of the DA*50-135 and 16-50 on K-5lls specifically, FA*70-200/2.8, A35-105/3.5* and even the F17-28 FE. Interesting that @northcoastgreg featured the FE and @Rondec defended the 16-50, which gets only “Yes - but . . . “ comments here.

* A35-105/3.5 is commonly praised for its sharpness at all FL’s, so probably doesn’t fit my definition. Still an excellent lens for $100.

Last edited by monochrome; 01-01-2020 at 08:33 PM.

**UncleVanya** · 01-01-2020, 08:22 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by -JW-

All the lenses named here are very nice, but for sure many amazing images are made with far less superior glass.
Just have look around the forums! So no worries if you can't get your hands on better glass, just keep on shooting

That's a fact!

dbs · 01-01-2020, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by -JW-

All the lenses named here are very nice, but for sure many amazing images are made with far less superior glass.
Just have look around the forums! So no worries if you can't get your hands on better glass, just keep on shooting

Hi JW
There is definately some fine work done with ' less than stellar ' glass,
The photographers doing that could make a coke bottle bottom produce a fine image too.

Dave

**mikesbike** · 01-01-2020, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

I'm sure the 50-135 will show up here in the comments... and the 20-40 already did.

Oh, yeah- I think so, and the two do make a great combo!

**clickclick** · 01-01-2020, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by mikesbike

Oh, yeah- I think so, and the two do make a great combo!

and you know, put a 15 limited at one end and a * 200/4 variant at the other end, not zooms, but make nice bookends to the kit...

**mlt** · 01-01-2020, 10:34 PM

A compact DA 100-300 f4 to f6 limited would have been a nice addition to the 20-40 zoom, but for now I’ll make do with a 15mm Limited, the DA 20-40 Limited and the 55-300 PLM zoom for a compact travel kit.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-02-2020, 06:41 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by barondla

pixie dust magic

If your need some... I've got wheelbarrow loads available, where I've to keep emptying it out of the "Harem Ladies".

**clickclick** · 01-02-2020, 07:52 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

If your need some... I've got wheelbarrow loads available, where I've to keep emptying it out of the "Harem Ladies".

Had a hunch you had some packed away based on the lovely work I've seen from you.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-02-2020, 02:34 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clickclick

Had a hunch you had some packed away based on the lovely work I've seen from you.

Thank you for your kind comments.

**onlineflyer** · 01-02-2020, 03:05 PM

I'd say the DA 20-40 has that something special but a real sleeper is the M 35-70 f2.8-3.5.

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01-01-2020, 08:08 AM	#91
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by luftfluss Damn, that's a beautiful photo. I had the same thought about #2 in Post #46. But for the sharpness of the foreground it called to mind 19th C. Impressionist landscapes. AFA what is Pixie Dust, and which zoom have some, I look for a lens that demotes rendering detail versus rendering light and color in the image. Maybe these qualities are transitions, microcontrast or the other technical terms used in this thread - I don’t know. I look for a lens that delivers painterly images. Before reading the thread I had already thought of the DA50-135 and 16-50 on K-5lls specifically, FA70-200/2.8, A35-105/3.5* and even the F17-28 FE. Interesting that @northcoastgreg featured the FE and @Rondec defended the 16-50, which gets only “Yes - but . . . “ comments here. * A35-105/3.5 is commonly praised for its sharpness at all FL’s, so probably doesn’t fit my definition. Still an excellent lens for $100. Last edited by monochrome; 01-01-2020 at 08:33 PM.

01-01-2020, 08:22 AM - 1 Like	#92
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by -JW- All the lenses named here are very nice, but for sure many amazing images are made with far less superior glass. Just have look around the forums! So no worries if you can't get your hands on better glass, just keep on shooting That's a fact!

01-01-2020, 02:05 PM	#93
dbs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Clare Valley S A Photos: Albums Posts: 7,563	Originally posted by -JW- All the lenses named here are very nice, but for sure many amazing images are made with far less superior glass. Just have look around the forums! So no worries if you can't get your hands on better glass, just keep on shooting Hi JW There is definately some fine work done with ' less than stellar ' glass, The photographers doing that could make a coke bottle bottom produce a fine image too. Dave

01-01-2020, 02:09 PM	#94
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Originally posted by ChristianRock I'm sure the 50-135 will show up here in the comments... and the 20-40 already did. Oh, yeah- I think so, and the two do make a great combo!

01-01-2020, 08:23 PM	#95
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Originally posted by mikesbike Oh, yeah- I think so, and the two do make a great combo! and you know, put a 15 limited at one end and a * 200/4 variant at the other end, not zooms, but make nice bookends to the kit...

01-01-2020, 10:34 PM	#96
mlt Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,159	A compact DA 100-300 f4 to f6 limited would have been a nice addition to the 20-40 zoom, but for now I’ll make do with a 15mm Limited, the DA 20-40 Limited and the 55-300 PLM zoom for a compact travel kit.

01-02-2020, 06:41 AM - 2 Likes	#97
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by barondla pixie dust magic If your need some... I've got wheelbarrow loads available, where I've to keep emptying it out of the "Harem Ladies".

01-02-2020, 07:52 AM - 1 Like	#98
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Originally posted by Kerrowdown If your need some... I've got wheelbarrow loads available, where I've to keep emptying it out of the "Harem Ladies". Had a hunch you had some packed away based on the lovely work I've seen from you.

01-02-2020, 02:34 PM - 1 Like	#99
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by clickclick Had a hunch you had some packed away based on the lovely work I've seen from you. Thank you for your kind comments.

01-02-2020, 03:05 PM	#100
onlineflyer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NW Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,091	I'd say the DA 20-40 has that something special but a real sleeper is the M 35-70 f2.8-3.5.