I want to see some DA 21 shots (considering one)

pingflood · 11-11-2008, 05:47 PM

OK, I have not really had this lens in my crosshairs before, but shooting today made me realize that I want something that performs like the 40 but is wider. I have the Sigma 30/1.4 so would not make much sense to look at the 31/1.8 (I really love how the Sigma performs, and am happy to work within its restrictions)... but 21 is far enough away that I am pretty interested. But, I do not see a lot of shots from that one; is it just not a very popular lens? Too slow?

Either way, post 'em up so it can start tugging at my wallet.

k100d · 11-11-2008, 07:42 PM

check out these two of mine.

it's decent, nothing spectacular, best attribute is its size. F3.2 is rather slow. personally i found the edges slightly soft for my taste.i ended up selling it because of the slowness and because i wasn't really using it that much.

Steinback · 11-11-2008, 07:52 PM

If this link works it should take you to a few of the photos I took with k100d's DA21 at one of the Toronto meet ups: Flickr: Search Steinback's photostream exif data should all be there.

I quite liked the lens and it was well suited to the venue we were at (large, reasonably well lit objects). The small size was handy and I was happy enough with the image quality, but then again I'm not really in the market for one until I have a couple of other gaps in my lens line up taken care of first. I'm not sure if Simon decided to keep the lens or not

edit: apparently he didn't keep the lens

**GaryM** · 11-11-2008, 08:43 PM

My most used lens, very versatile focal length. Here are some recent pics:
[pixelstatic dot com]
[pixelstatic dot com]
[pixelstatic dot com]

xixco · 11-11-2008, 09:02 PM

but K100D, did you shoot that car pic in JPEG? How did you process? I've found that my DA 21 is horrible about overexposing when I shoot anything under fluorescent lights --- that is, if I expose to get detail in the darker areas. Maybe I'm not explaining that correctly, but immediately I saw that picture and thought "there's no way I could get that shot to look that good with that lens..."

k100d · 11-11-2008, 09:09 PM

Originally posted by xixco

but K100D, did you shoot that car pic in JPEG? How did you process? I've found that my DA 21 is horrible about overexposing when I shoot anything under fluorescent lights --- that is, if I expose to get detail in the darker areas. Maybe I'm not explaining that correctly, but immediately I saw that picture and thought "there's no way I could get that shot to look that good with that lens..."

you can check out the EXIF on the file or here:
Zenfolio | Simon Tam | British Auto Show

i shoot RAW, EV Comp +1 when i took the photo, not really much PP besides WB adjustment

Alfisti · 11-11-2008, 09:13 PM

ogl · 11-11-2008, 11:38 PM

Originally posted by k100d

check out these two of mine.

it's decent, nothing spectacular, best attribute is its size. F3.2 is rather slow. personally i found the edges slightly soft for my taste.i ended up selling it because of the slowness and because i wasn't really using it that much.

3.2 is good for pancake lens.
there is no wide-angle lens which can show very good border resolution wide-opened. try zooms.

TourDeForce · 11-11-2008, 11:54 PM

Don't consider, BUY IT!

Great around the house/office lens. Wedding receptions and parties where you're milling about - just about the perfect application for this focal length, and the color/contrast is wonderful.

Bernard Yeo · 11-12-2008, 12:38 AM

Just before I sold it off... but I am itching to get it back. And I think I had the backfocus issue with this one with my ex-K10d-GP, but I think I circumvent it by doing MF.

creampuff · 11-12-2008, 02:59 AM

Nice shots Bernard.

Here's another quick snap with the DA 21mm.
A lens that's so versatile in terms of angle of view. It does show some barrel distortion but not a big issue. However if you're a K10D user, BF might rear its head with this lens... but Quick Shift does help. This lens has a very useful minimum focusing distance.

benjikan · 11-12-2008, 03:28 AM

K10D and the 21 Ltd vs K20D and the 21 Ltd. It will not be pleasing to those with the first package, but the difference is like night and day. I remember commenting to Pentax that it felt like the 21 Ltd on the K20D was an entirely new lens. When I say new, I mean new and approved. Very sharp and contrasty indeed.

Ben

k100d · 11-12-2008, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by ogl

3.2 is good for pancake lens.
there is no wide-angle lens which can show very good border resolution wide-opened. try zooms.

i always compare border sharpness to the FA31 :/

Alfisti · 11-12-2008, 08:17 AM

IMHO it's size is the key. When hiking I often carry a large lens for wildlife and the 21 can sit in my shorts pocket if I need a WA option. The winter scene above was shot on a day I was looking for deer and just happened to carry the 21 along.

Optically the 3.2 does not bother me but the distortion does at the list price of what $550. Now, you can pick one up on the marketplace for $350 and at that price it's a good deal IMHO.

It does have it's own rendering, it' smicro contrast is excellent. I think the flowers and barren scene I posted above show it's rendering to be a little more "special" than say the 12-24 i own but the 12-24 is a tad sharper and has less distortion at 21mm.

I have considered selling it several times but i keep carrying it so I just can't.

platinum · 11-12-2008, 08:58 AM

if you find, you can also buy a FA 20mm f2.8

11-11-2008, 05:47 PM	#1
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	I want to see some DA 21 shots (considering one) OK, I have not really had this lens in my crosshairs before, but shooting today made me realize that I want something that performs like the 40 but is wider. I have the Sigma 30/1.4 so would not make much sense to look at the 31/1.8 (I really love how the Sigma performs, and am happy to work within its restrictions)... but 21 is far enough away that I am pretty interested. But, I do not see a lot of shots from that one; is it just not a very popular lens? Too slow? Either way, post 'em up so it can start tugging at my wallet.

11-11-2008, 09:02 PM	#5
xixco Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fort Worth, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 78	sorry to hijack but K100D, did you shoot that car pic in JPEG? How did you process? I've found that my DA 21 is horrible about overexposing when I shoot anything under fluorescent lights --- that is, if I expose to get detail in the darker areas. Maybe I'm not explaining that correctly, but immediately I saw that picture and thought "there's no way I could get that shot to look that good with that lens..."

11-12-2008, 12:38 AM	#10
Bernard Yeo Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 62	Just before I sold it off... but I am itching to get it back. And I think I had the backfocus issue with this one with my ex-K10d-GP, but I think I circumvent it by doing MF. Last edited by Bernard Yeo; 11-12-2008 at 12:54 AM.

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11-11-2008, 07:42 PM	#2
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	check out these two of mine. it's decent, nothing spectacular, best attribute is its size. F3.2 is rather slow. personally i found the edges slightly soft for my taste.i ended up selling it because of the slowness and because i wasn't really using it that much.

11-11-2008, 07:52 PM	#3
Steinback Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,673	If this link works it should take you to a few of the photos I took with k100d's DA21 at one of the Toronto meet ups: Flickr: Search Steinback's photostream exif data should all be there. I quite liked the lens and it was well suited to the venue we were at (large, reasonably well lit objects). The small size was handy and I was happy enough with the image quality, but then again I'm not really in the market for one until I have a couple of other gaps in my lens line up taken care of first. I'm not sure if Simon decided to keep the lens or not edit: apparently he didn't keep the lens

11-11-2008, 08:43 PM	#4
GaryM Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montclair, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 426	My most used lens, very versatile focal length. Here are some recent pics: [pixelstatic dot com] [pixelstatic dot com] [pixelstatic dot com]

11-11-2008, 09:09 PM	#6
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by xixco but K100D, did you shoot that car pic in JPEG? How did you process? I've found that my DA 21 is horrible about overexposing when I shoot anything under fluorescent lights --- that is, if I expose to get detail in the darker areas. Maybe I'm not explaining that correctly, but immediately I saw that picture and thought "there's no way I could get that shot to look that good with that lens..." you can check out the EXIF on the file or here: Zenfolio \| Simon Tam \| British Auto Show i shoot RAW, EV Comp +1 when i took the photo, not really much PP besides WB adjustment

11-11-2008, 09:13 PM	#7
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748

11-11-2008, 11:38 PM	#8
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by k100d check out these two of mine. it's decent, nothing spectacular, best attribute is its size. F3.2 is rather slow. personally i found the edges slightly soft for my taste.i ended up selling it because of the slowness and because i wasn't really using it that much. 3.2 is good for pancake lens. there is no wide-angle lens which can show very good border resolution wide-opened. try zooms.

11-11-2008, 11:54 PM	#9
TourDeForce Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 514	Don't consider, BUY IT! Great around the house/office lens. Wedding receptions and parties where you're milling about - just about the perfect application for this focal length, and the color/contrast is wonderful.

11-12-2008, 02:59 AM	#11
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Nice shots Bernard. Here's another quick snap with the DA 21mm. A lens that's so versatile in terms of angle of view. It does show some barrel distortion but not a big issue. However if you're a K10D user, BF might rear its head with this lens... but Quick Shift does help. This lens has a very useful minimum focusing distance.

11-12-2008, 03:28 AM	#12
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	K10D and the 21 Ltd vs K20D and the 21 Ltd. It will not be pleasing to those with the first package, but the difference is like night and day. I remember commenting to Pentax that it felt like the 21 Ltd on the K20D was an entirely new lens. When I say new, I mean new and approved. Very sharp and contrasty indeed. Ben

11-12-2008, 06:59 AM	#13
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by ogl 3.2 is good for pancake lens. there is no wide-angle lens which can show very good border resolution wide-opened. try zooms. i always compare border sharpness to the FA31 :/

11-12-2008, 08:17 AM	#14
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	IMHO it's size is the key. When hiking I often carry a large lens for wildlife and the 21 can sit in my shorts pocket if I need a WA option. The winter scene above was shot on a day I was looking for deer and just happened to carry the 21 along. Optically the 3.2 does not bother me but the distortion does at the list price of what $550. Now, you can pick one up on the marketplace for $350 and at that price it's a good deal IMHO. It does have it's own rendering, it' smicro contrast is excellent. I think the flowers and barren scene I posted above show it's rendering to be a little more "special" than say the 12-24 i own but the 12-24 is a tad sharper and has less distortion at 21mm. I have considered selling it several times but i keep carrying it so I just can't.

11-12-2008, 08:58 AM	#15
platinum Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 269	if you find, you can also buy a FA 20mm f2.8

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