DPReview posts HD Pentax 43mm F1.9 Limited sample gallery

house · 07-02-2021, 03:47 AM

HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited sample gallery: Digital Photography Review

Same shots basically as the FA77 gallery. Purple edges are making themselves felt again.

biz-engineer · 07-02-2021, 04:07 AM

Originally posted by house

Purple edges are making themselves felt again.

Purple fringing is a modern days thing like autofocus, burst rates and eye AF. I mean, if I would photograph like I was taught to photograph with my first film camera (more than 20 years ago), that'd be: sun in my back with focus and recompose, non of the latest selling point of modern digital cameras would be relevant. Sensor size (format) would still be the most relevant.

house · 07-02-2021, 04:15 AM

I think the 43 did quite well. Can't see the busy bokeh it's famous for in any of the shots. Perhaps the circular aperture tames it a bit?

---------- Post added 07-02-21 at 04:18 AM ----------

The gallery is full of "chaotic" shots again. I guess it's the site the photographer visited, but also the framing.

biz-engineer · 07-02-2021, 04:19 AM

Originally posted by house

The gallery is full of "chaotic" shots again. I guess it's the site the photographer visited, but also the framing.

Camera gear is one thing, what's in the frame is another.

brofkand · 07-02-2021, 05:50 AM

Is anybody planning to upgrade to the HD variants? I'm quite happy with my SMC 43 and 31.

**Ron Boggs** · 07-02-2021, 07:17 AM

Originally posted by brofkand

Is anybody planning to upgrade to the HD variants? I'm quite happy with my SMC 43 and 31.

I'm staying SMC for the 3 Amigos...

ChristianRock · 07-02-2021, 12:13 PM

Looks quite good! I like these better than any of the SMC 43 pictures that I remember. The new HD coatings seem geared towards being a bit warmer than what the old SMC coatings were (which were typical FA - not as cold as the F series, but still not as warm as the DA lenses).

The bokeh looks quite good as well.

Wasp · 07-02-2021, 12:31 PM

When film was still a thing, conventional wisdom was that you do not take portraits with a standard lens. Not ever. Film was too expensive to waste. This crappy happy snappy proves the point. About in the league of a phone photo. Except with bokeh, yummy. DP Review really should edit out the rubbish before uploading.

The rest of the gallery is not much better, barely above beginner standard. Did they hand the camera and lens to the intern in accountancy and tell him to get on with it? Really...

Kunzite · 07-02-2021, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by Wasp

The rest of the gallery is not much better, barely above beginner standard. Did they hand the camera and lens to the intern in accountancy and tell him to get on with it? Really...

They handed it to Mike Tomkins

simsburyphoto · 07-02-2021, 02:54 PM

I think I will keep my SMC 43mm.

**kiwi_jono** · 07-02-2021, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by house

I think the 43 did quite well. Can't see the busy bokeh it's famous for in any of the shots. Perhaps the circular aperture tames it a bit?[COLOR="Silver"]

I found the bokeh on my SMC 43 to be much better than some review sites had led me to believe. Certainly the 43s bokeh significantly better than the DA40 I have (which is often pretty nervous looking), which seems to be often left out in comparative reviews. One of its biggest strength though is its such a useful focal length on FF.

Yeah I will forgo upgrading my 43 or 77 but on the other hand the improvements on the 31 are more noticeable to me (flare significantly improved and to me the night scenes are better for it). So wouldn't mind an HD 31 - not that I'm going to rush out and buy one at the moment,

**DWS1** · 07-02-2021, 09:03 PM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Camera gear is one thing, what's in the frame is another.

But their goal is to make you believe better gear will make you a better photographer. Sells more gear.

biz-engineer · 07-03-2021, 12:45 AM

Originally posted by DWS1

But their goal is to make you believe better gear will make you a better photographer. Sells more gear.

Being honest, the only valuable time I spent on reading reviews was within a month of buying the Pentax K1. Since then, looking at more reviews was pretty much a waste of time, and when I look at DPR front page I feel like it is filled with more often with more gadgets, such as smartphones, mobile apps, small drones and such. I don't know where this is going, but I like it less and less. Maybe it's time for me to switch to film photography or go straight to painting on canvas.

**clickclick** · 07-03-2021, 07:53 PM

I've got to say I was actually surprised at how nice the starburst shots were. Not as much as a hit for the rounded aperture blades as I was expecting.

bdery · 07-05-2021, 06:33 AM

Originally posted by house

Can't see the busy bokeh it's famous for in any of the shots.

What busy bokeh? I think you're confusing it with the SMC 21mm.

Originally posted by brofkand

Is anybody planning to upgrade to the HD variants? I'm quite happy with my SMC 43 and 31.

My conclusion after writing the Pentaxforums review is that SMC owners should just keep their lenses, except if flare bothered them in the past.

HD vs. SMC Pentax FA Limited Lenses Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

07-02-2021, 03:47 AM	#1
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	DPReview posts HD Pentax 43mm F1.9 Limited sample gallery HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited sample gallery: Digital Photography Review Same shots basically as the FA77 gallery. Purple edges are making themselves felt again.

07-02-2021, 12:31 PM	#8
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	When film was still a thing, conventional wisdom was that you do not take portraits with a standard lens. Not ever. Film was too expensive to waste. This crappy happy snappy proves the point. About in the league of a phone photo. Except with bokeh, yummy. DP Review really should edit out the rubbish before uploading. The rest of the gallery is not much better, barely above beginner standard. Did they hand the camera and lens to the intern in accountancy and tell him to get on with it? Really... Last edited by Wasp; 07-02-2021 at 12:41 PM.

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07-02-2021, 04:07 AM	#2
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,237	Originally posted by house Purple edges are making themselves felt again. Purple fringing is a modern days thing like autofocus, burst rates and eye AF. I mean, if I would photograph like I was taught to photograph with my first film camera (more than 20 years ago), that'd be: sun in my back with focus and recompose, non of the latest selling point of modern digital cameras would be relevant. Sensor size (format) would still be the most relevant.

07-02-2021, 04:15 AM	#3
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306 Original Poster	I think the 43 did quite well. Can't see the busy bokeh it's famous for in any of the shots. Perhaps the circular aperture tames it a bit? ---------- Post added 07-02-21 at 04:18 AM ---------- The gallery is full of "chaotic" shots again. I guess it's the site the photographer visited, but also the framing.

07-02-2021, 04:19 AM	#4
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,237	Originally posted by house The gallery is full of "chaotic" shots again. I guess it's the site the photographer visited, but also the framing. Camera gear is one thing, what's in the frame is another.

07-02-2021, 05:50 AM	#5
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836	Is anybody planning to upgrade to the HD variants? I'm quite happy with my SMC 43 and 31.

07-02-2021, 07:17 AM	#6
Ron Boggs Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: MT Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,350	Originally posted by brofkand Is anybody planning to upgrade to the HD variants? I'm quite happy with my SMC 43 and 31. I'm staying SMC for the 3 Amigos...

07-02-2021, 12:13 PM	#7
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Looks quite good! I like these better than any of the SMC 43 pictures that I remember. The new HD coatings seem geared towards being a bit warmer than what the old SMC coatings were (which were typical FA - not as cold as the F series, but still not as warm as the DA lenses). The bokeh looks quite good as well.

07-02-2021, 02:53 PM	#9
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by Wasp The rest of the gallery is not much better, barely above beginner standard. Did they hand the camera and lens to the intern in accountancy and tell him to get on with it? Really... They handed it to Mike Tomkins

07-02-2021, 02:54 PM	#10
simsburyphoto Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 244	I think I will keep my SMC 43mm.

07-02-2021, 03:27 PM	#11
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Originally posted by house I think the 43 did quite well. Can't see the busy bokeh it's famous for in any of the shots. Perhaps the circular aperture tames it a bit?[COLOR="Silver"] I found the bokeh on my SMC 43 to be much better than some review sites had led me to believe. Certainly the 43s bokeh significantly better than the DA40 I have (which is often pretty nervous looking), which seems to be often left out in comparative reviews. One of its biggest strength though is its such a useful focal length on FF. Yeah I will forgo upgrading my 43 or 77 but on the other hand the improvements on the 31 are more noticeable to me (flare significantly improved and to me the night scenes are better for it). So wouldn't mind an HD 31 - not that I'm going to rush out and buy one at the moment,

07-02-2021, 09:03 PM	#12
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	Originally posted by biz-engineer Camera gear is one thing, what's in the frame is another. But their goal is to make you believe better gear will make you a better photographer. Sells more gear.

07-03-2021, 12:45 AM	#13
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,237	Originally posted by DWS1 But their goal is to make you believe better gear will make you a better photographer. Sells more gear. Being honest, the only valuable time I spent on reading reviews was within a month of buying the Pentax K1. Since then, looking at more reviews was pretty much a waste of time, and when I look at DPR front page I feel like it is filled with more often with more gadgets, such as smartphones, mobile apps, small drones and such. I don't know where this is going, but I like it less and less. Maybe it's time for me to switch to film photography or go straight to painting on canvas.

07-03-2021, 07:53 PM	#14
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	I've got to say I was actually surprised at how nice the starburst shots were. Not as much as a hit for the rounded aperture blades as I was expecting.

07-05-2021, 06:33 AM	#15
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,360	Originally posted by house Can't see the busy bokeh it's famous for in any of the shots. What busy bokeh? I think you're confusing it with the SMC 21mm. Originally posted by brofkand Is anybody planning to upgrade to the HD variants? I'm quite happy with my SMC 43 and 31. My conclusion after writing the Pentaxforums review is that SMC owners should just keep their lenses, except if flare bothered them in the past. HD vs. SMC Pentax FA Limited Lenses Review - Introduction \| PentaxForums.com Reviews