[ducdao]

DA15 at the beach

Great shot! I love that sunny effect. How do you achieve it? Is it specific to the DA15?

[rosetta]

Will DA35/2.4 be better than DA35 limited?

[wed7]

@ twitch

I like it!

@ Ducdao

I am also curious at that effect you are referring to, does our 40mm can do that?

[paperbag846]

Will DA35/2.4 be better than DA35 limited?

I have shot neither, but have asked a LOT of questions about the various 35's.

(DA 35 LTD) is one of the sharpest lenses pentax makes, with superb colour gradation and detail at a normal field of view. Lots of users find it incredibly flexible. The sharpness of the DA 35 LTD comes at a price - the out of focus areas for normal photography appear rather busy, but when shooting at macro distances, the out of focus areas are incredibly smooth.

(DA 35 2.4) is much less expensive, has no quick shift, and is simply not as sharp as the DA macro. However, the DA 35 2.4 is still very sharp, and has nicer bokeh than the DA LTD at normal shooting distances. However, it has no macro feature. Many people rave about the FA 35 2.0. This new DA 2.4 appears to be a very similar lens, optimized to allow more light in, and for better bokeh (out of focus areas), at the cost of some sharpness. The FA 35 2.0 is a razor sharp lens.

The DA 35 LTD is much more flexible, provided you do not mind the busy out-of-focus areas. If money is no object, the DA 35 LTD is likely the better lens overall, but if you need to invest wisely, and macro is not your thing, then the DA 35 2.4 will take very similar pictures.

[paperbag846]

I do not know about the DA 40 (I'll be able to tell you soon enough ), but that sunny effect is 2 things - an 8 bladed aperture stopped down past f8 to get the sun-spikes, and the superb flare rejection of the DA 15 ltd.

You can SORT of get the same effect with many lenses, but most lenses do not reject flares as well as the 15 LTD... it seems to be one of the prime reasons to buy this lens (besides the compact size).

[ducdao]

@ twitch

I like it!

@ Ducdao

I am also curious at that effect you are referring to, does our 40mm can do that?

I did a bit of research and that effect is called "sunburst"

More info here

[ducdao]

I do not know about the DA 40 (I'll be able to tell you soon enough ), but that sunny effect is 2 things - an 8 bladed aperture stopped down past f8 to get the sun-spikes, and the superb flare rejection of the DA 15 ltd.

You can SORT of get the same effect with many lenses, but most lenses do not reject flares as well as the 15 LTD... it seems to be one of the prime reasons to buy this lens (besides the compact size).

Thanks for the info. I'll try with both DA35 and DA40 tomorrow, if we have a sunny sky of course

[mattb123]

Thanks for the info. I'll try with both DA35 and DA40 tomorrow, if we have a sunny sky of course

The DA40 is much more susceptible to flare and doesn't do the starbursts like the da15. That being said, just about everything else about the da40 is fantastic. It's definitely sharper than the 15 (not to say the 15 isn't sharp). I do almost all my shooting with either the 15 or 40. I've been on a 40 kick for a little while lately but I know I'll be back to the 15 soon enough!

[paperbag846]

The DA40 is much more susceptible to flare and doesn't do the starbursts like the da15. That being said, just about everything else about the da40 is fantastic. It's definitely sharper than the 15 (not to say the 15 isn't sharp). I do almost all my shooting with either the 15 or 40. I've been on a 40 kick for a little while lately but I know I'll be back to the 15 soon enough!

If you could only own 2 limiteds, would you say that the 40 and 15 cover most of the things you would want to shoot? I'm debating between pairing the 40 with the 15 and the 40 with the 21.

[mattb123]

If you could only own 2 limiteds, would you say that the 40 and 15 cover most of the things you would want to shoot? I'm debating between pairing the 40 with the 15 and the 40 with the 21.

Definitely. Right now I CAN only own two Limiteds and I'm very happy with these two. At some point I may add the 70 or the 35 Macro but I can't say I'm missing not having either of those. I can use the 15 and 40 with a 2x Macro TC (Vivitar pk/a-r/pk) for macro work. Otherwise I would miss macro capability but these work well on that TC so my primary needs are well covered.

[Clarkey]

Paperbag, I'll let you try all three.

I've mentioned before that I like the 21mm, 40mm and 50-200mm as a travel rig.

I keep meaning to sell the 21mm to fund the 18-135 and I can't.
I would go so far as to say that If I could only keep one FL for travelling, then that would be it. It's just so..... useful. Not spectacular, but very, very useful. it tolerates filters and polarisers so nicely too. It's only competition around here is the E-pl1 and the 17mm f2.8 (=34mm) I have recently bought. I would travel with this in a heartbeat. Nice glass.

I've found the 40mm to be excellent for shooting through windows without getting clutter in the way (also good through chain link due to the small size, and like the slight telephoto presence it gives to images. Also, you like stitching panoramas, this is the lens for you - zero distortion.

I've just been playing with a cokin setup with the 15mm BTW. I used an extension ring to clear the hood, and used the "A" holder I have with a circ polarizer. Apart from a *tiny* bit of edge darkening, good results!

[leadfoot]

If you could only own 2 limiteds, would you say that the 40 and 15 cover most of the things you would want to shoot? I'm debating between pairing the 40 with the 15 and the 40 with the 21.

I have the 15/21/40/70. If I had to pick two it would be the 21 and 40 - I shoot mostly landscapes. Both are very sharp. And then I'd save up more and get the 15, for all the reasons in the "DA15mm rules my mind" thread.

[builttospill]

Will DA35/2.4 be better than DA35 limited?

I have shot neither, but have asked a LOT of questions about the various 35's.

(DA 35 LTD) is one of the sharpest lenses pentax makes, with superb colour gradation and detail at a normal field of view. Lots of users find it incredibly flexible. The sharpness of the DA 35 LTD comes at a price - the out of focus areas for normal photography appear rather busy, but when shooting at macro distances, the out of focus areas are incredibly smooth.

(DA 35 2.4) is much less expensive, has no quick shift, and is simply not as sharp as the DA macro. However, the DA 35 2.4 is still very sharp, and has nicer bokeh than the DA LTD at normal shooting distances. However, it has no macro feature. Many people rave about the FA 35 2.0. This new DA 2.4 appears to be a very similar lens, optimized to allow more light in, and for better bokeh (out of focus areas), at the cost of some sharpness. The FA 35 2.0 is a razor sharp lens.

The DA 35 LTD is much more flexible, provided you do not mind the busy out-of-focus areas. If money is no object, the DA 35 LTD is likely the better lens overall, but if you need to invest wisely, and macro is not your thing, then the DA 35 2.4 will take very similar pictures.

There's one more important item you're not listing. The Limited has the incredible build quality of a Limited; all metal, no plastic.

[Clarkey]

Yes, there is that.

[twitch]

Great shot! I love that sunny effect. How do you achieve it? Is it specific to the DA15?

Thanks. It's not specific to the DA15, although the DA15 does it best of the limiteds I own.

Here's a photo taken with the DA21 (that I posted earlier in the thread) with a similair effect.



My friend who was with me took that same photo with a Canon & zoom and the flare control wasn't as good. Here's his photo:

Canon 7D w/ 17-55 f2.8 zoom @ 17mm.