Bought my first ltd today! 70 f/2.4

PentaxPoke · 02-09-2009, 12:12 PM

I have been shooting Pentax for some time, but I have never owned a Limited lens. Not that I haven't wanted one, but my needs led me largely to zooms.

Well, I have been thinking about it for a long time, and reading many threads here about these wonderful lenses, that I decided to "blow" some store credit on one: The Pentax SMC-DA 70mm f/2.4

I won't have the lens for a couple of days. I am excited to try it out!

Here was my rationale: I chose the 70mm focal length because I already have the FA35 and FA50. Although they are not limiteds, they are excellent lenses, so I really didn't want to get the 40, or 43 right now. Having the 70 will also give me some reach when I am in a relatively fixed setting, without having to bring my 50-135. Now the question that may be controversial here: Why didn't i get the 77? Well, that is what I struggled with the most. That lens is obviously legendary, and one of the best Pentax lenses of all time. It basically came down to 4 reasons for me. In order of importance for me:

Quick shift on the 70
Across the FOV sharpness tests on the 70 (Per Photozone)
43% higher cost of the 77
Size and weight of the 70 (It would be nice to have an all Pentax Pancake kit some day where 3 lenses together are about the same size and weight as a single zoom, but one has to start somewhere)

Now don't make me feel bad about not getting the '77. I will always wonder "what if," but in my situation the 70 seemed the best buy, and I am really looking forward to my first limited...

jsherman999 · 02-09-2009, 12:16 PM

The 70 is so good for enough significant reasons that I've considered getting it addition to the 77ltd, so no need to feel bad about bypassing the 77ltd - DA70 is not really a step down, just a small step sideways

AndrewG NY · 02-09-2009, 12:23 PM

Don't second-guess the choice, just enjoy it. They're both great. I also went with the DA70.

**sinus007** · 02-09-2009, 12:36 PM

PentaxPoke,
I'm with you: I had the same dilemma (70 vs 77) and the same reasons to get 70.
The DA 70 is a great lens. Sometimes I use it instead of 50-135.
Enjoy it and have fun,

ll_coffee_lP · 02-09-2009, 07:11 PM

Nothing wrong with the DA70. I went for the 77 myself, as I wanted the extra magic that it creates in pictures of people.

The DA70 is less susceptible to PF'ing, has quick shift, and is cheaper. You're gonna love it.

c[_]

Pentaxtic · 02-09-2009, 07:46 PM

Congrats. I want one too. At least a bit of your LBA is cured.

**Michaelina2** · 02-09-2009, 07:51 PM

Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP

The DA70 is less susceptible to PF'ing, has quick shift, and is cheaper. You're gonna love it.

Precisely why I went with a DA 70 (v 77), plus it makes easy work of producing dazzling images.

You made a great choice...

8540tomg · 02-09-2009, 07:52 PM

Congrats on the new lens. I'm sure you will enjoy it. I know I do!

Tom G

**Eaglerapids** · 02-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Before I got the DA 21Ltd I thought the build quality of the FA Ltd's overshadowed the DA Ltd's but I was wrong, the DA 21Ltd is a beautiful lens, with the quick shift, no less. I'm sure the DA 70Ltd is just as fine a lens. If you don't need the extra speed of the 77Ltd, I'm betting you will be very happy with the 70Ltd. You're in for a treat:-).

kibipod · 02-09-2009, 08:48 PM

Hey Pentaxpoke,

I ordered a new one today and I am yet to receive it. However, I already put that in my signature

I chose DA 70mm over FA 77mm for similar reasons. Now I have to figure out if I can use my extension tubes on this DA 70mm. I know I will take plenty of portraits with this. In addition I want to use it for occasional macros.

Congrats again.

Subho

farfisa · 02-09-2009, 08:51 PM

I recently got rid of my 70, but it really was a great lens, and a real feat of engineering. I'm still amazed how light it was! Beautiful colours too.

Truth be told, I didn't use it enough and I had to get rid of SOMETHING in order to even think about getting the new 55! (still thinking... LBA hurts).

axl · 02-10-2009, 01:31 AM

congrats on the choice.
DA70 is on my list too, but I don't think it's going to happen this year since I blew big part of my budget on FA31...
well, we'll see
BR

PS: can't wait to see some pics

GaryML · 02-10-2009, 08:11 AM

Originally posted by kibipod

I chose DA 70mm over FA 77mm for similar reasons. Now I have to figure out if I can use my extension tubes on this DA 70mm.

You need tubes that have the electrical contacts; otherwise you can't control the aperture. The Pentax brand tubes won't work, but Kenko makes a tube set with the electrical connections and they work fine with DA lenses.

G_Money · 02-10-2009, 08:30 AM

Good point about the 50-135. When I bought mine, I rationalized the purchase by telling myself that I could recoup some of the costs by selling my DA70. But after getting the zoom I realized that the DA70 on the K20 is just so tidy. So on occasions where the size of the gear is an issue, I ended up getting a DA40 to accompany it. It's the convenience of not changing lenses vs. the convenience of a smaller package.

But like you, I've often yearned to just try a 77, if only to see what the differences are.

jeffrey r · 02-10-2009, 08:40 AM

I'm right there with you G Money. I love the form factor and performance of the DA 70 Ltd., and just received my DA 40 Ltd. from Prodigital on ebay. Man, the DA 40 is so small--what a piece of engineering. At its current pricing, it was too appealing for me to pass up.

02-09-2009, 12:12 PM	#1
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Bought my first ltd today! 70 f/2.4 I have been shooting Pentax for some time, but I have never owned a Limited lens. Not that I haven't wanted one, but my needs led me largely to zooms. Well, I have been thinking about it for a long time, and reading many threads here about these wonderful lenses, that I decided to "blow" some store credit on one: The Pentax SMC-DA 70mm f/2.4 I won't have the lens for a couple of days. I am excited to try it out! Here was my rationale: I chose the 70mm focal length because I already have the FA35 and FA50. Although they are not limiteds, they are excellent lenses, so I really didn't want to get the 40, or 43 right now. Having the 70 will also give me some reach when I am in a relatively fixed setting, without having to bring my 50-135. Now the question that may be controversial here: Why didn't i get the 77? Well, that is what I struggled with the most. That lens is obviously legendary, and one of the best Pentax lenses of all time. It basically came down to 4 reasons for me. In order of importance for me: Quick shift on the 70 Across the FOV sharpness tests on the 70 (Per Photozone) 43% higher cost of the 77 Size and weight of the 70 (It would be nice to have an all Pentax Pancake kit some day where 3 lenses together are about the same size and weight as a single zoom, but one has to start somewhere) Now don't make me feel bad about not getting the '77. I will always wonder "what if," but in my situation the 70 seemed the best buy, and I am really looking forward to my first limited...

02-09-2009, 08:48 PM	#10
kibipod Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 276	congrats Hey Pentaxpoke, I ordered a new one today and I am yet to receive it. However, I already put that in my signature I chose DA 70mm over FA 77mm for similar reasons. Now I have to figure out if I can use my extension tubes on this DA 70mm. I know I will take plenty of portraits with this. In addition I want to use it for occasional macros. Congrats again. Subho

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02-09-2009, 12:16 PM	#2
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	The 70 is so good for enough significant reasons that I've considered getting it addition to the 77ltd, so no need to feel bad about bypassing the 77ltd - DA70 is not really a step down, just a small step sideways

02-09-2009, 12:23 PM	#3
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	Don't second-guess the choice, just enjoy it. They're both great. I also went with the DA70.

02-09-2009, 12:36 PM	#4
sinus007 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 266	PentaxPoke, I'm with you: I had the same dilemma (70 vs 77) and the same reasons to get 70. The DA 70 is a great lens. Sometimes I use it instead of 50-135. Enjoy it and have fun,

02-09-2009, 07:11 PM	#5
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	Nothing wrong with the DA70. I went for the 77 myself, as I wanted the extra magic that it creates in pictures of people. The DA70 is less susceptible to PF'ing, has quick shift, and is cheaper. You're gonna love it. c[_]

02-09-2009, 07:46 PM	#6
Pentaxtic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	Congrats. I want one too. At least a bit of your LBA is cured.

02-09-2009, 07:51 PM	#7
Michaelina2 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SE Michigan USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,254	Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP The DA70 is less susceptible to PF'ing, has quick shift, and is cheaper. You're gonna love it. Precisely why I went with a DA 70 (v 77), plus it makes easy work of producing dazzling images. You made a great choice...

02-09-2009, 07:52 PM	#8
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Congrats on the new lens. I'm sure you will enjoy it. I know I do! Tom G

02-09-2009, 07:58 PM	#9
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,613	Before I got the DA 21Ltd I thought the build quality of the FA Ltd's overshadowed the DA Ltd's but I was wrong, the DA 21Ltd is a beautiful lens, with the quick shift, no less. I'm sure the DA 70Ltd is just as fine a lens. If you don't need the extra speed of the 77Ltd, I'm betting you will be very happy with the 70Ltd. You're in for a treat:-).

02-09-2009, 08:51 PM	#11
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	I recently got rid of my 70, but it really was a great lens, and a real feat of engineering. I'm still amazed how light it was! Beautiful colours too. Truth be told, I didn't use it enough and I had to get rid of SOMETHING in order to even think about getting the new 55! (still thinking... LBA hurts).

02-10-2009, 01:31 AM	#12
axl Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,181	congrats on the choice. DA70 is on my list too, but I don't think it's going to happen this year since I blew big part of my budget on FA31... well, we'll see BR PS: can't wait to see some pics

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02-10-2009, 08:11 AM	#13
GaryML Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 441	Originally posted by kibipod I chose DA 70mm over FA 77mm for similar reasons. Now I have to figure out if I can use my extension tubes on this DA 70mm. You need tubes that have the electrical contacts; otherwise you can't control the aperture. The Pentax brand tubes won't work, but Kenko makes a tube set with the electrical connections and they work fine with DA lenses.

02-10-2009, 08:30 AM	#14
G_Money Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 597	Good point about the 50-135. When I bought mine, I rationalized the purchase by telling myself that I could recoup some of the costs by selling my DA70. But after getting the zoom I realized that the DA70 on the K20 is just so tidy. So on occasions where the size of the gear is an issue, I ended up getting a DA40 to accompany it. It's the convenience of not changing lenses vs. the convenience of a smaller package. But like you, I've often yearned to just try a 77, if only to see what the differences are.

02-10-2009, 08:40 AM	#15
jeffrey r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 337	I'm right there with you G Money. I love the form factor and performance of the DA 70 Ltd., and just received my DA 40 Ltd. from Prodigital on ebay. Man, the DA 40 is so small--what a piece of engineering. At its current pricing, it was too appealing for me to pass up.