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02-13-2015, 03:59 AM - 5 Likes   #136
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A few more DA 55 shots.







Here are a couple with the 55 on B and W film.








Last edited by Rondec; 09-02-2017 at 02:48 AM.
02-13-2015, 06:34 AM   #137
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Beautiful work, as always, Rondec!! Love how they show the versatility of this great lens.
02-13-2015, 10:39 AM - 1 Like   #138
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Was home with a cold yesterday when my new DA*55mm arrived. Was sitting on couch checking it out when Rosie, my Goffin's Cockatoo landed on my knee and started preening - these are the first pictures with it.

Last edited by longbow; 09-10-2015 at 07:52 AM.
02-14-2015, 04:54 AM   #139
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QuoteOriginally posted by loco Quote
Beautiful work, as always, Rondec!! Love how they show the versatility of this great lens.
Thank you, Lori. I think folks think of this is a portrait lens, which it does very well, but it works well in a lot of other settings too.

02-14-2015, 11:47 AM   #140
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Nice shots Vincent and longbow !

My last one...
Pentax K-5 IIs • Reversed Pentax DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM
2x Kenko Pz-AF UniPlus Tube 25
Metz Flash 48 AF-1 Digital with softbox

02-14-2015, 01:47 PM - 2 Likes   #141
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works good for hummingbirds also
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PENTAX K-3  Photo 

Last edited by longbow; 02-18-2015 at 06:00 PM.
02-15-2015, 03:14 PM   #142
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This will be the last DA lens I will buy.

02-15-2015, 03:16 PM   #143
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spring is here !!

this is fast becoming my favorite lens

Last edited by longbow; 09-10-2015 at 07:55 AM.
03-17-2015, 01:43 PM - 2 Likes   #144
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Pentax K20D ,Pentax SMC P-DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM 1/1000s f/2.0 at 55.0mm iso160



Pentax K20D ,Pentax SMC P-DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM 1/2500s f/1.4 at 55.0mm iso100


Last edited by Piotr; 01-12-2016 at 01:05 PM.
04-28-2015, 09:46 AM - 2 Likes   #145
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DA*55mm at F1.6


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10-06-2016, 11:03 AM   #146
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Surprised this thread seems to have died.




10-07-2016, 02:05 AM   #147
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Is this lens really sharp

Hi Guys,

I'm new to this forum and I've been seriously torn between getting the DA 55mm f1.4 or not.
I already have a 24-70 f2.8 but I would like to get the 55mm because of its wider aperture.
However, the DxoMark scores for this lens seems to be quite low and I heard it doesn't look sharp at f1.4 (I'm really surprised how sharp your images are at f1.4 though).
Another great lens I like is the SMC 85mm f1.4 but it's significantly costlier so I might pass.
Is this lens really that good and worth purchasing. I do street photography and documentaries so I 'm not planning to shoot sports or anything quick.
I own a K-3.

---------- Post added 10-07-16 at 02:08 AM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by hjoseph7 Quote
This will be the last DA lens I will buy.
Do you plan to buy it.

I do but I have been hearing not so good reviews on the sharpness. :/
10-07-2016, 02:23 AM   #148
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QuoteOriginally posted by chima chinda Quote
Hi Guys,

I'm new to this forum and I've been seriously torn between getting the DA 55mm f1.4 or not.
I already have a 24-70 f2.8 but I would like to get the 55mm because of its wider aperture.
However, the DxoMark scores for this lens seems to be quite low and I heard it doesn't look sharp at f1.4 (I'm really surprised how sharp your images are at f1.4 though).
Another great lens I like is the SMC 85mm f1.4 but it's significantly costlier so I might pass.
Is this lens really that good and worth purchasing. I do street photography and documentaries so I 'm not planning to shoot sports or anything quick.
I own a K-3.

---------- Post added 10-07-16 at 02:08 AM ----------


Do you plan to buy it.

I do but I have been hearing not so good reviews on the sharpness. :/
Well, never mind the words of others, Chima Chinda, go back to the start of this thread and look at all the pictures people have actually taken.

What do you think?

Do the same exercise for the FA* 85, if you like.
10-07-2016, 02:48 AM   #149
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QuoteOriginally posted by clackers Quote
However, the DxoMark scores for this lens seems to be quite low and I heard it doesn't look sharp at f1.4 (I'm really surprised how sharp your images are at f1.4 though).
On the other hand, some years ago I've read reviews that the DA* 55mm is one of the best standard primes by any brand, ever. Even the FA 50mm f1.4 lineage used to have an amazing reputation. It is only now that big, heavy lenses like the Sigma Art and the Zeiss Otus are out that "old school" regular-sized 50mm lenses a re considered inferior. As if they became bad because some other lens was released at higher cost, larger size, more optical elements..
Also, I wouldn't really trust Dxo. As said above, just look at the User lens reviews, and the sample photo gallery, and possibly the rest of this thread. You can also check websites like 500px, Flickr..
10-07-2016, 08:11 AM   #150
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Focus tests just taken. All shots at same distance and focus point (no refocusing between shots).

DA* 55m f/1.4 at f/1.4, DA* 55m f/1.4 at f/2, DA* 55m f/1.4 at f/2.8


I feel the lens is noticeably soft in a focus test at f/1.4, but very sharp at f/2. But here are examples of real-world shots courtesy of my coworker sitting still for a minute:

DA* 55m f/1.4 at f/1.4


DA* 55m f/1.4 at f/2.8


I feel these are harder to find fault with at f/1.4, in fact the shot at f/2.8 is slightly soft because it was 1/20th of a second handheld whereas the f/1.4 is 2 full stops faster and therefore more usable. The DOF is really shallow at f/1.4, providing nice separation if you get the right portion of the subject in focus. It's sharp at f/2 and you can cut yourself on it from 2.8, I didn't see any difference between f2.8 and f11 in an earlier test.

For comparison's sake, here's the DA 50mm f/1.8:

DA 50m f/1.8 at f/1.8, DA 50m f/1.8 at f/2.0, DA 50m f/1.8 at f/2.8


The 50mm is a great lens for the money but it remains soft at f2.8.

I just bought my DA* 55, got it Monday, and have been very pleased with it. I tend to regret big purchases but have had zero cause to regret this lens, even though it struggles a bit with autofocus in low light and in high contrast situations.

For myself, I think an 85mm is too long for good portrait work, I already have to stand a long way away from my subject to get full body with the 55mm, and on a crop frame the 55mm is (roughly) the equivalent of 85mm full frame. That said, i haven't used the 85 1.4. It would be interesting to see focus test results at 1.4 with it, but I suspect they would be at least similar to these -- wide open most lenses just aren't as sharp as they are stopped down a bit.

Hope this helps.

Last edited by Archimedes the Dog; 10-07-2016 at 11:18 AM.
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