HD FA 21 not on par with the other LTDs

**Gian** · 12-05-2021, 05:44 AM

Hello All,
I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy.
I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one.
While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77.
I would like to read your experience.
Cheers,
-GianLuca

p.s. I shoot the K1-II

zapp · 12-05-2021, 05:51 AM

What parameters define the „level“ for you?

**Gian** · 12-05-2021, 06:21 AM

I understand that my statement is somewhat vague.

Generally speaking, my experience is that the amount of detail of the 31/43/77 is in another league, you can almost feel the "material" of your subject.

My pics with the 21/2.4 lack that sort of "punch".

**luftfluss** · 12-05-2021, 06:30 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Gian

Hello All,
I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy.
I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one.
While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77.
I would like to read your experience.
Cheers,
-GianLuca

p.s. I shoot the K1-II

Have you compared your results with those from users in other threads?

PENTAX-D FA 21mm f/2.4ED Limited Image Samples - PentaxForums.com

HD FA 21mm/2.4 limited finally arrived: wide open aperture photos - PentaxForums.com

DagT · 12-05-2021, 06:31 AM

I disagree. I own A20, FA20 and FA*24 and am very happy with the new 21.

**pepperberry farm** · 12-05-2021, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by Gian

I understand that my statement is somewhat vague.

Generally speaking, my experience is that the amount of detail of the 31/43/77 is in another league, you can almost feel the "material" of your subject.

My pics with the 21/2.4 lack that sort of "punch".

perhaps you could share your captures that lack that 'punch' so we could see what you are getting at?

**Rondec** · 12-05-2021, 07:01 AM

Images I have seen have been very nice, but I also am someone who has difficulty seeing "pixie dust" that is purported to be in limited images.

**BigMackCam** · 12-05-2021, 07:08 AM

Everything I've seen posted online from this lens - which, admittedly, isn't a huge amount yet - looks fantastic to me. If I was a K-1 or K-1II user and had the money to spare, I'd be all over it! I'd be more than happy to use it on my APS-C kit, but can't justify the expense (I am, however, looking forward to winning the PF raffle

)...

@Gian - as has already been mentioned, it would be very helpful - both for the purposes of this thread, and for other potential buyers - if you could post a couple of examples of images taken with the lens... and even better if you could accompany them with some 1:1 crops so we can see what you're referring to. Would that be possible?

**Cerebum** · 12-05-2021, 07:32 AM - **3 Likes**

There are a couple of people using the lens in the single in challenge and the results look excellent. The colours are particularly punchy. Have a look at the posts by @garywakeling & @SandyHancock sometimes we just don't get on with a lens. I bought Sandy's 20-40mm limited because it just didn't connect with him, good news for me because I on the other hand will be buried with it. Same lens.

house · 12-05-2021, 07:38 AM - **1 Like**

Considering the intentional spherical aberration at some apertures I'd expect it to look comparatively soft. There's still a dearth of full res photos and no known raw files but the kind of glassy look, that's very beautiful, is unlikely to yield great texture and bite. The resolution stopped down does look pretty good but again it's hard to say because the "data" isn't available yet.

I'm really curious how independent reviewers will rate the lens. Sadly we're unlikely to see it done to any degree of detail. phillipreeve.net - Manual Lenses | Sony Alpha does quite nice reviews, they have one on the FA31ltd. It's a shame they are unlikely to try this one.

---------- Post added 12-05-21 at 07:40 AM ----------

Originally posted by Gian

Hello All,
I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy.
I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one.
While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77.
I would like to read your experience.
Cheers,
-GianLuca

p.s. I shoot the K1-II

I'd really love to hear a more detailed assessment of someone who found it lacking. Even better someone with experience of other Pentax 20's.

**UncleVanya** · 12-05-2021, 07:44 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Cerebum

There are a couple of people using the lens in the single in challenge and the results look excellent. The colours are particularly punchy. Have a look at the posts by @garywakeling & @SandyHancock sometimes we just don't get on with a lens. I bought Sandy's 20-40mm limited because it just didn't connect with him, good news for me because I on the other hand will be buried with it. Same lens.

I agree. My plastic fantastic da 35 experience was dull and I sold it. Most buyers love it. My fa 43 experience was a bust. Most love it. There is a bit of personal interaction not just images involved in our subjective views of lenses.

Not a Number · 12-05-2021, 07:51 AM

Well Ricoh does say the design philosophy of the LTDs is not about numbers like lines of resolution and such.

Or you just got a bad copy. Perhaps better luck with the replacement.

sarge · 12-05-2021, 08:13 AM

From what I have seen posted the images look great to me.

house · 12-05-2021, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by sarge

From what I have seen posted the images look great to me.

But you've not seen many full res images. Most ff photos look good scaled down to web size including old fa and a 20mm lenses. The price ofta the dfa21 means it hade to be a lot better than the a20.

From what I've seen it is much better but I dont own the lens.

**aslyfox** · 12-05-2021, 08:20 AM

Originally posted by Gian

Hello All,
I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy.
I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one.
While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77.
I would like to read your experience.
Cheers,
-GianLuca

p.s. I shoot the K1-II

Are you talking about the HD D FA 21mm ?

There is no HD FA 21 mm that I know of

Of course, with limited exceptions, the design of the FA limiteds have not changed since they were developed for Pentax SLR camera bodies

12-05-2021, 05:44 AM	#1
Gian Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laveno Mombello, Italy Posts: 133	HD FA 21 not on par with the other LTDs Hello All, I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy. I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one. While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77. I would like to read your experience. Cheers, -GianLuca p.s. I shoot the K1-II

12-05-2021, 07:08 AM	#8
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,642	Everything I've seen posted online from this lens - which, admittedly, isn't a huge amount yet - looks fantastic to me. If I was a K-1 or K-1II user and had the money to spare, I'd be all over it! I'd be more than happy to use it on my APS-C kit, but can't justify the expense (I am, however, looking forward to winning the PF raffle )... @Gian - as has already been mentioned, it would be very helpful - both for the purposes of this thread, and for other potential buyers - if you could post a couple of examples of images taken with the lens... and even better if you could accompany them with some 1:1 crops so we can see what you're referring to. Would that be possible? Last edited by BigMackCam; 12-05-2021 at 07:18 AM.

12-05-2021, 07:38 AM - 1 Like	#10
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	Considering the intentional spherical aberration at some apertures I'd expect it to look comparatively soft. There's still a dearth of full res photos and no known raw files but the kind of glassy look, that's very beautiful, is unlikely to yield great texture and bite. The resolution stopped down does look pretty good but again it's hard to say because the "data" isn't available yet. I'm really curious how independent reviewers will rate the lens. Sadly we're unlikely to see it done to any degree of detail. phillipreeve.net - Manual Lenses \| Sony Alpha does quite nice reviews, they have one on the FA31ltd. It's a shame they are unlikely to try this one. ---------- Post added 12-05-21 at 07:40 AM ---------- Originally posted by Gian Hello All, I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy. I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one. While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77. I would like to read your experience. Cheers, -GianLuca p.s. I shoot the K1-II I'd really love to hear a more detailed assessment of someone who found it lacking. Even better someone with experience of other Pentax 20's. Last edited by house; 12-05-2021 at 08:22 AM.

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12-05-2021, 05:51 AM	#2
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	What parameters define the „level“ for you?

12-05-2021, 06:21 AM	#3
Gian Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laveno Mombello, Italy Posts: 133 Original Poster	I understand that my statement is somewhat vague. Generally speaking, my experience is that the amount of detail of the 31/43/77 is in another league, you can almost feel the "material" of your subject. My pics with the 21/2.4 lack that sort of "punch".

12-05-2021, 06:30 AM - 1 Like	#4
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,618	Originally posted by Gian Hello All, I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy. I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one. While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77. I would like to read your experience. Cheers, -GianLuca p.s. I shoot the K1-II Have you compared your results with those from users in other threads? PENTAX-D FA 21mm f/2.4ED Limited Image Samples - PentaxForums.com HD FA 21mm/2.4 limited finally arrived: wide open aperture photos - PentaxForums.com

12-05-2021, 06:31 AM	#5
DagT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oslo Posts: 110	I disagree. I own A20, FA20 and FA*24 and am very happy with the new 21.

12-05-2021, 06:35 AM	#6
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,625	Originally posted by Gian I understand that my statement is somewhat vague. Generally speaking, my experience is that the amount of detail of the 31/43/77 is in another league, you can almost feel the "material" of your subject. My pics with the 21/2.4 lack that sort of "punch". perhaps you could share your captures that lack that 'punch' so we could see what you are getting at?

12-05-2021, 07:01 AM	#7
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,650	Images I have seen have been very nice, but I also am someone who has difficulty seeing "pixie dust" that is purported to be in limited images.

12-05-2021, 07:32 AM - 3 Likes	#9
Cerebum Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lancaster Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,828	There are a couple of people using the lens in the single in challenge and the results look excellent. The colours are particularly punchy. Have a look at the posts by @garywakeling & @SandyHancock sometimes we just don't get on with a lens. I bought Sandy's 20-40mm limited because it just didn't connect with him, good news for me because I on the other hand will be buried with it. Same lens.

12-05-2021, 07:44 AM - 2 Likes	#11
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,378	Originally posted by Cerebum There are a couple of people using the lens in the single in challenge and the results look excellent. The colours are particularly punchy. Have a look at the posts by @garywakeling & @SandyHancock sometimes we just don't get on with a lens. I bought Sandy's 20-40mm limited because it just didn't connect with him, good news for me because I on the other hand will be buried with it. Same lens. I agree. My plastic fantastic da 35 experience was dull and I sold it. Most buyers love it. My fa 43 experience was a bust. Most love it. There is a bit of personal interaction not just images involved in our subjective views of lenses.

12-05-2021, 07:51 AM	#12
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,525	Well Ricoh does say the design philosophy of the LTDs is not about numbers like lines of resolution and such. Or you just got a bad copy. Perhaps better luck with the replacement.

12-05-2021, 08:13 AM	#13
sarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 460	From what I have seen posted the images look great to me.

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12-05-2021, 08:17 AM	#14
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	Originally posted by sarge From what I have seen posted the images look great to me. But you've not seen many full res images. Most ff photos look good scaled down to web size including old fa and a 20mm lenses. The price ofta the dfa21 means it hade to be a lot better than the a20. From what I've seen it is much better but I dont own the lens.

12-05-2021, 08:20 AM	#15
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,576	Originally posted by Gian Hello All, I had waited for a long time the replacement for my old A20/2.8, and as soon as it became available, I ordered my copy. I was very disappointed, and I returned the lens, ordering a second one. While this one is acceptable, also compared with the old A 20mm, I still feel that it doesn't match the level of the other 31/43/77. I would like to read your experience. Cheers, -GianLuca p.s. I shoot the K1-II Are you talking about the HD D FA 21mm ? There is no HD FA 21 mm that I know of Of course, with limited exceptions, the design of the FA limiteds have not changed since they were developed for Pentax SLR camera bodies