Mike Johnston Likes the 70/2.4 Limited

AfterPentax Mark II · 04-16-2021, 11:26 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

I do not know of anyone that have used DA 70/2.4, and do not like it.

Pleased to meet you!

Waffles · 04-16-2021, 10:50 PM

The 70 is the first lens that pops in my mind if I hear someone ask about a lens without weakness. Not as optically perfect as the premium 50 and 85 and the like but in a tiny package to have this focal length, with this level of sharpness, lack of real-world aberrations....it just works. Portraits, landscapes, table top photography, its great for anything. I mean, you can toss it in any bag, any pocket. That's a lot of versatility

Wheatfield · 04-17-2021, 02:45 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Waffles

The 70 is the first lens that pops in my mind if I hear someone ask about a lens without weakness. Not as optically perfect as the premium 50 and 85 and the like but in a tiny package to have this focal length, with this level of sharpness, lack of real-world aberrations....it just works. Portraits, landscapes, table top photography, its great for anything. I mean, you can toss it in any bag, any pocket. That's a lot of versatility

When I was shooting film, the 105 on 35mm, and the 200 on 6x7 were my goto telephotos. On 4x5 my absolutely most used lens, I probably used it half the time, was the Nikkor 210/ 5.6.
The 70 Ltd fits right in the angle of view that I favor in a short tele.

Waffles · 04-18-2021, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

When I was shooting film, the 105 on 35mm

Yes...Mine was a 100mm macro. And that just seems 'normal' to me. As if the lens is taking in what my eyes are actually focussed on when I'm observing a scene, no peripheral nonsense. So yeah, I guess thats why the 70 is so close to perfect for me.

**caliscouser** · 04-18-2021, 09:42 AM

It's a lovely lens and an underrated lens. I typically reach for the DA55 these days, but this has prompted me to get the DA 70 out and give it a spin.

Wheatfield · 04-19-2021, 08:22 AM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by Waffles

Yes...Mine was a 100mm macro. And that just seems 'normal' to me. As if the lens is taking in what my eyes are actually focussed on when I'm observing a scene, no peripheral nonsense. So yeah, I guess thats why the 70 is so close to perfect for me.

For me, it was just an excellent short tele, both outdoors and in the studio.

---------- Post added Apr 19th, 2021 at 09:26 AM ----------

Originally posted by caliscouser

It's a lovely lens and an underrated lens. I typically reach for the DA55 these days, but this has prompted me to get the DA 70 out and give it a spin.

It was always given short shrift by being the red haired step brother of the 77mm. The 77 is nice enough, but it is no better than the 70, presuming one is shooting APS-C. I came to like the 70 more because I found the 77 to have a clumsy working length in the studio.

AfterPentax Mark II · 04-19-2021, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

For me, it was just an excellent short tele, both outdoors and in the studio.

---------- Post added Apr 19th, 2021 at 09:26 AM ----------

It was always given short shrift by being the red haired step brother of the 77mm. The 77 is nice enough, but it is no better than the 70, presuming one is shooting APS-C. I came to like the 70 more because I found the 77 to have a clumsy working length in the studio.

Wow, I want to stroke them! Hope it is safe

. (And I am a bit jealous, I just have cats and they do not sit for a photo session.)

jct us101 · 04-19-2021, 03:06 PM

It's a bit interesting that no mirrorless lens manufacturer has yet made an equivalent. Fuji kinda got close with their 60 and 80mm, but both lenses are huge.

**caliscouser** · 04-19-2021, 04:53 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jct us101

It's a bit interesting that no mirrorless lens manufacturer has yet made an equivalent. Fuji kinda got close with their 60 and 80mm, but both lenses are huge.

Yes, having 3 pancakes that cover the focal range from wide angle to telephoto is I believe unique to Pentax.

Something they should crow about a lot more if you ask me.

Wheatfield · 04-20-2021, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II

Wow, I want to stroke them! Hope it is safe

. (And I am a bit jealous, I just have cats and they do not sit for a photo session.)

That one passed away about 4 years ago. We called her the Queen of Bitches as she ran a very tight household. She was really sweet with people, not so much with other dogs.

---------- Post added Apr 20th, 2021 at 09:40 AM ----------

Originally posted by jct us101

It's a bit interesting that no mirrorless lens manufacturer has yet made an equivalent. Fuji kinda got close with their 60 and 80mm, but both lenses are huge.

The Limited lenses, even the 70 which was designed for digital, are lenses from a bygone era. The new mantra for lenses is sharp from corner to corner wide open. In our world that means D FA*.
Pentax is, IMHO, one of the few manufacturers that still make lenses designed for pleasing rendering rather than over the top optical perfection.
I adore my D FA*85/1.4 for it's perfection, but I do still like the 77 in spite of it's pixie dust.

jct us101 · 04-20-2021, 10:23 AM

The only issue I have with the 77 when I had one was not being able to use the aperture ring (damn you crippled KAF2 mount) and the horrible purple fringing. I know it's easy to fix in PP but it was so incredibly noticeable for such an expensive lens.

Smolk · 05-04-2021, 06:59 AM

I may have to try one - but I have the Voigtlander 1.4/58mm, and the M 2/85mm, and the Tamron 2.8/90mm - I'm afraid it will confuse me to have yet another lens. The Tamron is a bit far on APS-C though (135mm equivalent) and my only AF lens in this range.
If the DA had been weather resistant, it had been irresistible.

**luftfluss** · 05-04-2021, 07:12 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Smolk

I may have to try one - but I have the Voigtlander 1.4/58mm, and the M 2/85mm, and the Tamron 2.8/90mm - I'm afraid it will confuse me to have yet another lens. The Tamron is a bit far on APS-C though (135mm equivalent) and my only AF lens in this range.
If the DA had been weather resistant, it had been irresistible.

The Tammy 90 Macro is an excellent lens, but it is huge and crude compared with the little jewel 70 Ltd.

jct us101 · 05-04-2021, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by beholder3

I always found the DA 70's bokeh to be nervous, while the 77 is just gorgeous.

The 77 has terrible fringing though, and costs about 5x as much.

**UncleVanya** · 05-04-2021, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by jct us101

The 77 has terrible fringing though, and costs about 5x as much.

I’m not sure terrible is fair. It can produce some but generally that’s not a major consideration when I select between the 70 and 77.

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04-16-2021, 11:26 AM	#16
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,461	Originally posted by Fogel70 I do not know of anyone that have used DA 70/2.4, and do not like it. Pleased to meet you!

04-16-2021, 10:50 PM	#17
Waffles Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: The Carolinas Posts: 461	The 70 is the first lens that pops in my mind if I hear someone ask about a lens without weakness. Not as optically perfect as the premium 50 and 85 and the like but in a tiny package to have this focal length, with this level of sharpness, lack of real-world aberrations....it just works. Portraits, landscapes, table top photography, its great for anything. I mean, you can toss it in any bag, any pocket. That's a lot of versatility

04-17-2021, 02:45 PM - 1 Like	#18
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by Waffles The 70 is the first lens that pops in my mind if I hear someone ask about a lens without weakness. Not as optically perfect as the premium 50 and 85 and the like but in a tiny package to have this focal length, with this level of sharpness, lack of real-world aberrations....it just works. Portraits, landscapes, table top photography, its great for anything. I mean, you can toss it in any bag, any pocket. That's a lot of versatility When I was shooting film, the 105 on 35mm, and the 200 on 6x7 were my goto telephotos. On 4x5 my absolutely most used lens, I probably used it half the time, was the Nikkor 210/ 5.6. The 70 Ltd fits right in the angle of view that I favor in a short tele.

04-18-2021, 09:07 AM	#19
Waffles Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: The Carolinas Posts: 461	Originally posted by Wheatfield When I was shooting film, the 105 on 35mm Yes...Mine was a 100mm macro. And that just seems 'normal' to me. As if the lens is taking in what my eyes are actually focussed on when I'm observing a scene, no peripheral nonsense. So yeah, I guess thats why the 70 is so close to perfect for me.

04-18-2021, 09:42 AM	#20
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	It's a lovely lens and an underrated lens. I typically reach for the DA55 these days, but this has prompted me to get the DA 70 out and give it a spin.

04-19-2021, 08:22 AM - 4 Likes	#21
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by Waffles Yes...Mine was a 100mm macro. And that just seems 'normal' to me. As if the lens is taking in what my eyes are actually focussed on when I'm observing a scene, no peripheral nonsense. So yeah, I guess thats why the 70 is so close to perfect for me. For me, it was just an excellent short tele, both outdoors and in the studio. ---------- Post added Apr 19th, 2021 at 09:26 AM ---------- Originally posted by caliscouser It's a lovely lens and an underrated lens. I typically reach for the DA55 these days, but this has prompted me to get the DA 70 out and give it a spin. It was always given short shrift by being the red haired step brother of the 77mm. The 77 is nice enough, but it is no better than the 70, presuming one is shooting APS-C. I came to like the 70 more because I found the 77 to have a clumsy working length in the studio.

04-19-2021, 01:30 PM	#22
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,461	Originally posted by Wheatfield For me, it was just an excellent short tele, both outdoors and in the studio. ---------- Post added Apr 19th, 2021 at 09:26 AM ---------- It was always given short shrift by being the red haired step brother of the 77mm. The 77 is nice enough, but it is no better than the 70, presuming one is shooting APS-C. I came to like the 70 more because I found the 77 to have a clumsy working length in the studio. Wow, I want to stroke them! Hope it is safe . (And I am a bit jealous, I just have cats and they do not sit for a photo session.)

04-19-2021, 03:06 PM	#23
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	It's a bit interesting that no mirrorless lens manufacturer has yet made an equivalent. Fuji kinda got close with their 60 and 80mm, but both lenses are huge.

04-19-2021, 04:53 PM - 1 Like	#24
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	Originally posted by jct us101 It's a bit interesting that no mirrorless lens manufacturer has yet made an equivalent. Fuji kinda got close with their 60 and 80mm, but both lenses are huge. Yes, having 3 pancakes that cover the focal range from wide angle to telephoto is I believe unique to Pentax. Something they should crow about a lot more if you ask me.

04-20-2021, 08:34 AM	#25
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II Wow, I want to stroke them! Hope it is safe . (And I am a bit jealous, I just have cats and they do not sit for a photo session.) That one passed away about 4 years ago. We called her the Queen of Bitches as she ran a very tight household. She was really sweet with people, not so much with other dogs. ---------- Post added Apr 20th, 2021 at 09:40 AM ---------- Originally posted by jct us101 It's a bit interesting that no mirrorless lens manufacturer has yet made an equivalent. Fuji kinda got close with their 60 and 80mm, but both lenses are huge. The Limited lenses, even the 70 which was designed for digital, are lenses from a bygone era. The new mantra for lenses is sharp from corner to corner wide open. In our world that means D FA. Pentax is, IMHO, one of the few manufacturers that still make lenses designed for pleasing rendering rather than over the top optical perfection. I adore my D FA85/1.4 for it's perfection, but I do still like the 77 in spite of it's pixie dust.

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04-20-2021, 10:23 AM	#26
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	The only issue I have with the 77 when I had one was not being able to use the aperture ring (damn you crippled KAF2 mount) and the horrible purple fringing. I know it's easy to fix in PP but it was so incredibly noticeable for such an expensive lens.

05-04-2021, 06:59 AM	#27
Smolk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Eerbeek Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,857	I may have to try one - but I have the Voigtlander 1.4/58mm, and the M 2/85mm, and the Tamron 2.8/90mm - I'm afraid it will confuse me to have yet another lens. The Tamron is a bit far on APS-C though (135mm equivalent) and my only AF lens in this range. If the DA had been weather resistant, it had been irresistible.

05-04-2021, 07:12 AM - 1 Like	#28
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619 Original Poster	Originally posted by Smolk I may have to try one - but I have the Voigtlander 1.4/58mm, and the M 2/85mm, and the Tamron 2.8/90mm - I'm afraid it will confuse me to have yet another lens. The Tamron is a bit far on APS-C though (135mm equivalent) and my only AF lens in this range. If the DA had been weather resistant, it had been irresistible. The Tammy 90 Macro is an excellent lens, but it is huge and crude compared with the little jewel 70 Ltd.

05-04-2021, 09:09 AM	#29
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	Originally posted by beholder3 I always found the DA 70's bokeh to be nervous, while the 77 is just gorgeous. The 77 has terrible fringing though, and costs about 5x as much.

05-04-2021, 10:10 AM	#30
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Originally posted by jct us101 The 77 has terrible fringing though, and costs about 5x as much. I’m not sure terrible is fair. It can produce some but generally that’s not a major consideration when I select between the 70 and 77.