DA*55mm vs. FA43mm

**David Whiteley** · 02-18-2009, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by farfisa

Saw one ebay store in Canada finally has it (galaxycamera), but the price is still in USD ($749), so I'll see what the Canadian retail is. At least it made it this side of the border!

Yeah, I just saw that eBay ad and came looking for the comments now that I realized it hit the shelves.

GalaxyCamera is brix & mortar right here in Ottawa-Gatineau, baby! I'm half tempted to go over and mount one. Except that then I might want to buy it

! Seriously, I have to ease off on the LBA. What with the 50-135 and 300 which attempted delivery at 4:30 pm but I didn't get home from work till 6:30 and yet it's not showing as ready for pickup at my local outlet and and and

I CAN HAS ALL THE LENSES?

ll_coffee_lP · 02-18-2009, 05:53 PM

David...$1000 CDN is pretty steep. I can wait until it's in stores and I can touch it and test it.

c[_]

farfisa · 02-18-2009, 06:46 PM

Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP

David...$1000 CDN is pretty steep. I can wait until it's in stores and I can touch it and test it.

c[_]

It's listed as "in stock" at Aden in Toronto now:
Aden Camera

$849 CDN, which is decent, if not awesome.

Hopefully that'll start the price war! ... but doubtful.

AndrewG NY · 02-18-2009, 06:52 PM

Do we have any indication of how good or not good the corners are on the DA* 55? Understood this may not be the most critical feature at wide apertures for portraits, but is an attribute overall performance. This is an area where I believe the FA43 is somewhat better than the FA50/1.4.

ll_coffee_lP · 02-18-2009, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by farfisa

It's listed as "in stock" at Aden in Toronto now:
Aden Camera

$849 CDN, which is decent, if not awesome.

Hopefully that'll start the price war! ... but doubtful.

Now...that's more like it! Aden is about 1 hr away from me, but I do know that my local Henry's will price match them.

Aden's prices are always pretty good for a Canadian seller.

c[_]

**David Whiteley** · 02-18-2009, 06:56 PM

Ah, my Guelphite friend, I think you've just made my point again: it is steep, but I can go touch & taste it--but I'm afraid I'll like the taste. But seriously, that $1000 CND pricetag means I could only taste but not bite. Kinda frustrating.

Now if the 55 causes a crash in FA Ltd values (seems to me that with the promise of top-end isolated-subject portraiture a comparison to the 77 is also in order, even though the FL is even more <> than compared to 43), perhaps I can lighten your load when next I visit my parents back in ol' G-town.

ll_coffee_lP · 02-18-2009, 07:00 PM

lol...my 77 isn't going anywhere buddy!

If you are interested in picking one up though...Aden Camera has the 77 on for cheap right now ($549 I believe). If you have a Henry's nearby they will price match them too.

c[_]

**David Whiteley** · 02-18-2009, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP

Now...that's more like it! Aden is about 1 hr away from me, but I do know that my local Henry's will price match them.

Aden's prices are always pretty good for a Canadian seller.

c[_]

Hot topic! I was refering to the earlier post re $1000 CND and all these others snuck in.

Galaxy camera (the $1000 CND eBay seller is the brix & mortar store I was contemplating visitng) is pretty good at price matching other brix stores, so might go down to Aden's price.

But there's no freakin' way I'm spending even the lower price. Or any even lower price I'm realistically liable to encounter. *sigh*

**David Whiteley** · 02-18-2009, 07:21 PM

$599 CND actually. Stab me in the heart. I missed the $450 USD 77 sale here (30 minute 3am sale *shakes tiny fist*), opted for the DA50-135, and now will pass on owning a new 77 as well for $480 USD equivalent.

Sometimes I want to go into doing professional headshots for my fellow theatre artists just so I wouldn't be crazy to be buying more of these legendary lenses. But I digress.

To refocus the discussion:

I get the impression that the 43 advocates criticizing CA on the 55 may have a slight point, but really the CA is an issue at f/1.4. Compare equal apertures and the CA looks fairly minimal in comparison.

But with what looks like a clear sharpnes advantage through f/5, and with some testing putting the stopped down 43 as one contender for "sharpest Pentax ever" could the DA*55 be in the running to prove itself a new sharpest ever?So another lens comparison to add for the sharpness battle would be... oh whichever macro you think, I'm not going to get into that viper's nest!

dkittle · 02-18-2009, 07:29 PM

I could try to compare it with Sigmas 70mm macro - it's rumoured to be one of Sigma's sharpest ever made...

Class A · 02-18-2009, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by David Whiteley

But with what looks like a clear sharpnes advantage through f/5, and with some testing putting the stopped down 43 as one contender for "sharpest Pentax ever" [I][B]could the DA*55 be in the running to prove itself a new sharpest ever?

Could someone with more lens authority than I have please either confirm or dispel the statement that the 43mm is "one of the sharpest Pentax lenses ever"? I've seen one person state this but have never heard it before. Wouldn't the FA 50/2.8 macro or A 85/1.4 or FA 31/1.8 be stronger contenders for that title? BTW, I don't believe in photozone.de figures as much anymore as I used to. Unless the very same camera was used to measure resolution you cannot compare the results at all. Also, according to falconeye, many sharp lenses outresolve the K10D's sensor resolution. This casts some doubts on the validity of the resolution figures, doesn't it?

Alfisti · 02-18-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by farfisa

It's listed as "in stock" at Aden in Toronto now:
Aden Camera

$849 CDN, which is decent, if not awesome.

Hopefully that'll start the price war! ... but doubtful.

Sweet jesus that's a grand including taxes. That's outright insane, i'm sorry but it's a 50mm lens and you can pick up the FA50 for like $220 and i'll bet pounds for peanuts there is bugger all difference from f/2.8.

Man a grand! I can't get over that price. You can pick up a 200/2.8 for that price ... madeness, utter madness.

ll_coffee_lP · 02-18-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by dkittle

I could try to compare it with Sigmas 70mm macro - it's rumoured to be one of Sigma's sharpest ever made...

If you could do that - that would be awesome! The Sigma 70 is my favourite lens and I'd love to see how the two stack up with respect to bokeh and image creamy-ness.

David...you may end up with my 77 after all...

c[_]

ll_coffee_lP · 02-18-2009, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by Alfisti

Sweet jesus that's a grand including taxes. That's outright insane, i'm sorry but it's a 50mm lens and you can pick up the FA50 for like $220 and i'll bet pounds for peanuts there is bugger all difference from f/2.8.

Man a grand! I can't get over that price. You can pick up a 200/2.8 for that price ... madeness, utter madness.

You're right..., but the FA31 is also a $1K CDN and MANY people own it. You can p/u the FA35 which is also awesome (like the FA50) for 1/3 that price.

c[_]

farfisa · 02-18-2009, 08:17 PM

Originally posted by Class A

Could someone with more lens authority than I have please either confirm or dispel the statement that the 43mm is "one of the sharpest Pentax lenses ever"? I've seen one person state this but have never heard it before. Wouldn't the FA 50/2.8 macro or F 85/1.4 or FA 31/1.8 be stronger contenders for that title?

This is based on resolutions tests on photozone.de

Pentax SMC-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Review / Test Report

At f/4, it's off the charts, and the reviewer calls it "the one to beat on the K10D" or something to that effect.

02-18-2009, 08:00 PM	#71
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by David Whiteley But with what looks like a clear sharpnes advantage through f/5, and with some testing putting the stopped down 43 as one contender for "sharpest Pentax ever" [I][B]could the DA55 be in the running to prove itself a new sharpest ever? Could someone with more lens authority than I have please either confirm or dispel the statement that the 43mm is "one of the sharpest Pentax lenses ever"? I've seen one person state this but have never heard it before. Wouldn't the FA 50/2.8 macro or A 85/1.4 or FA 31/1.8 be stronger contenders for that title? BTW, I don't believe in photozone.de figures as much anymore as I used to. Unless the very same camera was used to measure resolution you cannot compare the results at all. Also, according to falconeye, many sharp lenses outresolve the K10D's sensor resolution. This casts some doubts on the validity of the resolution figures, doesn't it? Last edited by Class A; 02-18-2009 at 08:26 PM.*

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02-18-2009, 05:09 PM	#61
David Whiteley Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	Originally posted by farfisa Saw one ebay store in Canada finally has it (galaxycamera), but the price is still in USD ($749), so I'll see what the Canadian retail is. At least it made it this side of the border! Yeah, I just saw that eBay ad and came looking for the comments now that I realized it hit the shelves. GalaxyCamera is brix & mortar right here in Ottawa-Gatineau, baby! I'm half tempted to go over and mount one. Except that then I might want to buy it ! Seriously, I have to ease off on the LBA. What with the 50-135 and 300 which attempted delivery at 4:30 pm but I didn't get home from work till 6:30 and yet it's not showing as ready for pickup at my local outlet and and and I CAN HAS *ALL* THE LENSES?

02-18-2009, 05:53 PM	#62
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	David...$1000 CDN is pretty steep. I can wait until it's in stores and I can touch it and test it. c[_]

02-18-2009, 06:46 PM	#63
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP David...$1000 CDN is pretty steep. I can wait until it's in stores and I can touch it and test it. c[_] It's listed as "in stock" at Aden in Toronto now: Aden Camera $849 CDN, which is decent, if not awesome. Hopefully that'll start the price war! ... but doubtful.

02-18-2009, 06:52 PM	#64
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	Do we have any indication of how good or not good the corners are on the DA* 55? Understood this may not be the most critical feature at wide apertures for portraits, but is an attribute overall performance. This is an area where I believe the FA43 is somewhat better than the FA50/1.4.

02-18-2009, 06:55 PM	#65
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by farfisa It's listed as "in stock" at Aden in Toronto now: Aden Camera $849 CDN, which is decent, if not awesome. Hopefully that'll start the price war! ... but doubtful. Now...that's more like it! Aden is about 1 hr away from me, but I do know that my local Henry's will price match them. Aden's prices are always pretty good for a Canadian seller. c[_]

02-18-2009, 06:56 PM	#66
David Whiteley Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	Ah, my Guelphite friend, I think you've just made my point again: it is steep, but I can go touch & taste it--but I'm afraid I'll like the taste. But seriously, that $1000 CND pricetag means I could only taste but not bite. Kinda frustrating. Now if the 55 causes a crash in FA Ltd values (seems to me that with the promise of top-end isolated-subject portraiture a comparison to the 77 is also in order, even though the FL is even more <> than compared to 43), perhaps I can lighten your load when next I visit my parents back in ol' G-town.

02-18-2009, 07:00 PM	#67
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	lol...my 77 isn't going anywhere buddy! If you are interested in picking one up though...Aden Camera has the 77 on for cheap right now ($549 I believe). If you have a Henry's nearby they will price match them too. c[_]

02-18-2009, 07:00 PM	#68
David Whiteley Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP Now...that's more like it! Aden is about 1 hr away from me, but I do know that my local Henry's will price match them. Aden's prices are always pretty good for a Canadian seller. c[_] Hot topic! I was refering to the earlier post re $1000 CND and all these others snuck in. Galaxy camera (the $1000 CND eBay seller is the brix & mortar store I was contemplating visitng) is pretty good at price matching other brix stores, so might go down to Aden's price. But there's no freakin' way I'm spending even the lower price. Or any even lower price I'm realistically liable to encounter. sigh

02-18-2009, 07:21 PM	#69
David Whiteley Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	$599 CND actually. Stab me in the heart. I missed the $450 USD 77 sale here (30 minute 3am sale shakes tiny fist), opted for the DA50-135, and now will pass on owning a new 77 as well for $480 USD equivalent. Sometimes I want to go into doing professional headshots for my fellow theatre artists just so I wouldn't be crazy to be buying more of these legendary lenses. But I digress. To refocus the discussion: I get the impression that the 43 advocates criticizing CA on the 55 may have a slight point, but really the CA is an issue at f/1.4. Compare equal apertures and the CA looks fairly minimal in comparison. But with what looks like a clear sharpnes advantage through f/5, and with some testing putting the stopped down 43 as one contender for "sharpest Pentax ever" *could the DA55 be in the running to prove itself a new sharpest ever?*So another lens comparison to add for the sharpness battle would be... oh whichever macro you think, I'm not going to get into that* viper's nest!

02-18-2009, 07:29 PM	#70
dkittle Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 429	I could try to compare it with Sigmas 70mm macro - it's rumoured to be one of Sigma's sharpest ever made...

02-18-2009, 08:07 PM	#72
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Originally posted by farfisa It's listed as "in stock" at Aden in Toronto now: Aden Camera $849 CDN, which is decent, if not awesome. Hopefully that'll start the price war! ... but doubtful. Sweet jesus that's a grand including taxes. That's outright insane, i'm sorry but it's a 50mm lens and you can pick up the FA50 for like $220 and i'll bet pounds for peanuts there is bugger all difference from f/2.8. Man a grand! I can't get over that price. You can pick up a 200/2.8 for that price ... madeness, utter madness.

02-18-2009, 08:07 PM	#73
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by dkittle I could try to compare it with Sigmas 70mm macro - it's rumoured to be one of Sigma's sharpest ever made... If you could do that - that would be awesome! The Sigma 70 is my favourite lens and I'd love to see how the two stack up with respect to bokeh and image creamy-ness. David...you may end up with my 77 after all... c[_]

02-18-2009, 08:10 PM	#74
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by Alfisti Sweet jesus that's a grand including taxes. That's outright insane, i'm sorry but it's a 50mm lens and you can pick up the FA50 for like $220 and i'll bet pounds for peanuts there is bugger all difference from f/2.8. Man a grand! I can't get over that price. You can pick up a 200/2.8 for that price ... madeness, utter madness. You're right..., but the FA31 is also a $1K CDN and MANY people own it. You can p/u the FA35 which is also awesome (like the FA50) for 1/3 that price. c[_]

02-18-2009, 08:17 PM	#75
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Originally posted by Class A Could someone with more lens authority than I have please either confirm or dispel the statement that the 43mm is "one of the sharpest Pentax lenses ever"? I've seen one person state this but have never heard it before. Wouldn't the FA 50/2.8 macro or F 85/1.4 or FA 31/1.8 be stronger contenders for that title? This is based on resolutions tests on photozone.de Pentax SMC-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Review / Test Report At f/4, it's off the charts, and the reviewer calls it "the one to beat on the K10D" or something to that effect.