[Fontan]

I know from my experience that lenses such as DA40 and DA70 can compare favourably with Leica's lenses. And they are even AF enabled lenses.

You just made me choke on my food.

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Last edited by Fontan; 04-30-2013 at 09:37 AM.

[deus ursus]

20-35 mm for FF .. Hmm... Maybe a better idea woud be 28-50mm/f4 or f3.2.
It covers the 28, 35 and 50 mm, all the most popular f-lengths. For many, that could be the one and only camera and lens.

Earlier I used a 28-80 zoom. The lens was cr**, but the zoom range was very versatile. For full frame I would love to have a lens with that zoom range of a better quality.

[Boris_Akunin]

Earlier I used a 28-80 zoom. The lens was cr**, but the zoom range was very versatile. For full frame I would love to have a lens with that zoom range of a better quality.

There's always the Tamron 28-75/2.8... (@ Pentax: why not rebrand a usefull Tamron lens for once?)

[Gray]

There's always the Tamron 28-75/2.8... (@ Pentax: why not rebrand a usefull Tamron lens for once?)

Please NO! Don't give Pentax ideas.

Pentax will force Tamron to stop sales under the Tamron brand and jack up the price of the rebranded Pentax 28-75 by 77% like they've done with the new Pentax 18-270 ($797), a rebranded Tamron 18-270, not available in K mount, but which sells in Canonikon mounts for $449.

I prefer Tamron lenses to be Tamron lenses. Good value for money.

[Medium FormatPro]

Earlier I used a 28-80 zoom. The lens was cr**, but the zoom range was very versatile. For full frame I would love to have a lens with that zoom range of a better quality

Which brand 28-80??

[deus ursus]

Pentax-A 28-80/3,5-4,5.. (In the post that you quoted, I had linked to another post where I commented on my copy of the lens, but I guess the link is not easy to find. Click on the word that I censored. )

[wed7]

It is already May, I am becoming impatient waiting for that Limited zoom lens on the road map Pentax enlisted.

[lytrytyr]

I am becoming impatient waiting for that Limited zoom lens on the road map Pentax enlisted.

If you need that kind of functionality right now,
you could pick up an FA 20 - 35.

[gazonk]

If you need that kind of functionality right now,
you could pick up an FA 20 - 35.

- even new! (Still not discontinued in Japan)

[wed7]

Heck! That 20-35 is kinda difficult to see around on our Marketplace

[Aristophanes]

The problem is that the DA 15mm isnt all that wide nor fast.

Wide enough, but also compact. You want faster, double the size/mass, easily.

[Aristophanes]

I'm not sure what is wrong with today's FA Ltd, DA Ltd and DA* lenses regarding their optical quality?
Can you enlighten us?
What do you exactly expect from such lenses, and at what price? What is your measuring "stick"? Or you are just trying to be mindlessly unrealistic and killing your time while waiting for an FF from Pentax, which in your disappointment renders everything Pentax makes disappointing too?

I know from my experience that lenses such as DA40 and DA70 can compare favourably with Leica's lenses. And they are even AF enabled lenses.

I concur.

The Leica myth is just that...a myth in the digital age. almost any CAD/CAM assembly using proper QC procedures in clean room environments can produce near flawless optics for any of today's sensors. Until the digital M all Leica sensors were...blah. You get excellent WA to "normal" 50mm quality from RF glass and after that it's highly subjective as to value and whether your sensor and PP can make any differences visible.

Leica charges a premium for the bling factor and after-market service. They have astounding initial QC but you pay bucketloads for indistinguishable IQ. There are many lenses as good as any Leica makes optically, my Hexar AF has as good a lens as anything Leica put out, and I'd say that Pentax makes some stunning lenses as well. Nikon astounds at times, and God's lens is the Nikkor 14-24. Olympus and Fuji also make stellar glass.

In fact, we are entering a time in photography where technically all optics are excellent and all sensors will perform nearly the same. Software calibrated design and testing to beyond visible spec are available to all suppliers, driving down the price and increasing value to all in the hobby.

[cali92rs]

Wide enough, but also compact. You want faster, double the size/mass, easily.

Wide enough for you...not wide enough for those buying Sigma 8-16mm, Sigma 10-20, Tamron 10-24, Pentax 14mm and Pentax 12-24mm.
But as long as it is wide enough for Aristophanes, that is all that matters

[Aristophanes]

Wide enough for you...not wide enough for those buying Sigma 8-16mm, Sigma 10-20, Tamron 10-24, Pentax 14mm and Pentax 12-24mm.
But as long as it is wide enough for Aristophanes, that is all that matters

Comparing a zoom to a prime is silly. The Pentax 14mm is a very large lens. The 15mm satisfies the compact prime category and as a WA exhibits stellar flare control. There is nothing like it for DSLR's. You need to venture into Fuji or non-AF M-mount to get its equivalent.

Wide, fast, or compact. You get 2 of 3. The 15 gets wide and compact at a resectable f/4 and fantastic close and infinity capacity. The 14 goes wider but much less compact. All the zooms go even wider but are less fast average throughout the FL range and have typical SLR lens flare control, perspective, and filter issues. If you want WA plus speed get out the checkbook and hire a Sherpa named Domke Sigma to carry that expensive beast.

[Iberia]

Because it cost money to make lenses of unlimited quality and the fact that any lens steal potential sales from another. They need volume and believe it or not, most DSLR buyers are happy with a couple of zoom lenses.
If you mean faster lenses with aperture quality, the fact is that fast lenses has never been less "needed" than now due to high ISO performance that was pure science fiction in the film days. And they don't sell well either.

Many people buy fast lenses for shallow DOF shooting.

And constant max. aperture at all focal lengths, practical when shooting manual.

R