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08-20-2022, 01:44 PM   #1
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Difference * vs. Limited

What is the difference between the * series and Limited series lenses?

Thank you.

08-20-2022, 02:28 PM - 1 Like   #2
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A lot of money .
08-20-2022, 02:29 PM - 3 Likes   #3
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From a philosophical standpoint...

* lenses are designed to be as close to optically perfect as possible.

Limited lenses are designed to be small and elegant, making some optical tradeoffs (aperture, sometimes edge sharpness & aberration control) in order to attain their small size.

The best comparison (IMO) of each philosophy is the D FA* 85/1.4 vs FA 77/1.8 Ltd. The 85 is huge, very well-corrected, brilliantly sharp even wide open. The 77 is tiny - jewel-like - and sharp, but not brilliantly so unless stopped down, and has a significant amount of purple fringing.
08-20-2022, 02:35 PM - 2 Likes   #4
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There is no * series. There is a LTD series. Both are are excellent.

The LTD series were originally created without a slavish brief to produce a lens that conformed to the norm. This is why the LTD series, at least originally had odd FL....31/43/77. They were designed to be small and compact as well as producing an excellent image, not necessarily based on sharpness alone.

* lenses have popped up periodically for decades as single lenses. They have had extra work put in the design to produce the best of the best. They are not a series but a singular example of another series. The aim with * lenses is to achieve optical excellence. They are usually larger both optically and physically that LTD lenses.


Last edited by pschlute; 08-20-2022 at 02:59 PM.
08-20-2022, 02:35 PM - 4 Likes   #5
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* = clinical 'pro' rendering
Limited = characterful rendering
08-20-2022, 02:40 PM   #6
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according Pentax

A Star lens series produced through the use of latest optical technologies. Ultimate in digital images, assures optimum image quality and operability and durability.
Limited lens series, delivering a truthful sense of depth and excellent imaging power that can't be described by mere numerical values. Machine alloy body adding a sens of exclusivity.

Both are high quality lenses. Here is my interpretation:

Star lenses go for ultimate sharpness and faithfull color , are bigger and robust by design. The images they produce strive to be techical perfect.

Limited lenses try to render the image at its best , are more much compact and aluminium quality build. The images they produce strive to feel perfect.

The limited's being smaller and easier handheld, and favoring a more artistic rendering of the images (not sure if this is the best wording, but it is more how an image feels than technical perfection) allow a more spontaneous, emotional shooting style ... , they are also available in the typical (more human?) wide to normal angle of view. The star lenses go to telephoto , are heavier (tripod?) and more techical (studio?) lenses in their use.

But in the end: it 's up to you how you use them....

2.12.0.0
08-20-2022, 02:53 PM   #7
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Pentax K3 III + DA* 50-135 mm f/2.8 ED IF, 75 mm FL @ f/8 : SHARP !



08-20-2022, 03:06 PM - 1 Like   #8
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Think technical vs. artistic and you're in the ballpark. Art is more subjective and technicalities can be measured.

Excellence really is subjective with Pentax
08-20-2022, 03:32 PM   #9
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Limited lens have smaller builds, aluminum construction and slower maximum apertures. They often are not as sharp wide open as the * lenses.

Star lenses are supposed to be optically the best that is possible with fast maximum apertures (f2.8 for zooms, f1.4 for primes). * lenses since the DA series have all been weather sealed. Only a couple of the limiteds are weather sealed.
08-20-2022, 04:09 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Rondec Quote
Limited lens have smaller builds, aluminum construction and slower maximum apertures. They often are not as sharp wide open as the * lenses.

Star lenses are supposed to be optically the best that is possible with fast maximum apertures (f2.8 for zooms, f1.4 for primes). * lenses since the DA series have all been weather sealed. Only a couple of the limiteds are weather sealed.
Excellent explanations. Thanks to all.
08-20-2022, 04:29 PM   #11
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In the later years - the 16-50mm and the 50-135mm * lenses are also Weather Sealed. That is why I bought them. The LTD lenses are not sealed and are designs from the 70's.

I can't really find a definitive date for the Limited Series of Lenses.
08-20-2022, 05:02 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by PDL Quote
In the later years - the 16-50mm and the 50-135mm * lenses are also Weather Sealed. That is why I bought them. The LTD lenses are not sealed and are designs from the 70's.

I can't really find a definitive date for the Limited Series of Lenses.
I think the limited lenses are more recent vintage than that. The FA limiteds were almost all released in the 90s. The FA 31 came out in 2001, The 43 in 1997, and the FA 77 in 1999. The DFA 21 limited was just released in 2022 and has weather sealing.

The DA limiteds were all released in the 2000s, although I suppose the DNA of the DA 40 goes back to the M 40mm pancake. I started shooting with Pentax around 2005 and I remember the release of all of the DA limiteds and of course, the DA * lenses too.

I believe there were star lenses going back to the A * series -- the A series had a 85mm f1.4, 135mm f1.8, 200mm f2.8, 200mm f4 macro, 300mm, f2.8, 300mm f4, 400mm f2.8, 600mm f5.6, and 1200mm f8 lenses that were in the series. Some of the DNA from these lenses -- particularly the 200mm f2.8 and 300 mm f4 is present in today's star lenses of those focal lengths.
08-20-2022, 05:17 PM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by PDL Quote
In the later years - the 16-50mm and the 50-135mm * lenses are also Weather Sealed. That is why I bought them. The LTD lenses are not sealed and are designs from the 70's.I can't really find a definitive date for the Limited Series of Lenses.
One of the DA Limited lenses is weather sealed/resistant -- the HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR. Its production started in 2013.

QuoteOriginally posted by Rondec Quote
I believe there were star lenses going back to the A * series
And, just before the A-series, there was one M* lens -- the SMC Pentax-M* 300mm F4, ca. 1981-84. It seems to be highly regarded.

- Craig

Last edited by c.a.m; 08-20-2022 at 05:26 PM.
08-20-2022, 07:36 PM   #14
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A Limited series, whether the DA series for APS-C, or DFA for FF use, or FA designed during the 35mm film era thus FF, maintains a practical and unique goal of being uniquely compact while also being of the highest manufacturing quality to very precise tolerances, and yet of very high optical quality. Their goal is basically easy-carrying but providing very powerful photographic tools for exceptional imaging. To best address these purposes, they are also invariably prime lenses, with the exception of the DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 WR lens, in order to keep to this philosophy of compactness with very high quality, both optically and physically.

The reason I read many years ago, for the odd FL designation of the 3 FA Limiteds- 31mm, 43mm, and 77mm, was to be absolutely honest, reflecting the precision of their making, instead of doing what most other lenses do- not state actual FL, but instead go to the next 1/2 or whole number FL that will give the lens the most appeal.

Star lenses, whether FA*, DA* or DFA* can be primes but are often zoom lenses, and strive to provide the most advanced technology and features, even if this should also mean having to be a lens of considerable size.

Last edited by mikesbike; 08-22-2022 at 02:19 PM.
08-21-2022, 01:40 AM   #15
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Were the Limiteds not made with "real life" viewing (print) in mind? I remember some document from Pentax about how they evaluated Limited design by looking at prints, not at numbers. I think that is why there is a lot of "pixie dust" that people talk about when they mention Limiteds and why despite being far from technical perfect, those lenses are so highly regarded.

So I also think that Limited = art, * - proffesional.
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