New HD DA Limited lenses

wed7 · 08-27-2013, 05:59 AM

I believe that Pentax users are mostly smart buyers (if not frugal), dumping lenses for just new coating designs would be very lucrative, and to quote Asahiflex " ... if the price would be higher than the MSRP of the current limiteds"

JinDesu · 08-27-2013, 06:29 AM

I would get them... because I broke my DA 21 F3.2's AF

Apapukas · 08-27-2013, 06:36 AM

HD coating reduces reflections by 50%.

Doesn't that mean, that the lens transmit 50% more light? For example, if 21Ltd has a T number of 3.5 (according to DxO), with the new coating it should have a T number of 3.35?

I hope I got something wrong, because it is really a very small upgrade.

**southlander** · 08-27-2013, 06:40 AM

I would think that if, say the Smc coating had 2% loss of transmission implying 98% transmission, the the Hd coating would have 1% loss, ie 99% transmission.

Kunzite · 08-27-2013, 06:41 AM

No, because reflections aren't 100% to begin with.
The 70mm is on the list.

gazonk · 08-27-2013, 06:46 AM

Hey, I just bought the 15mm! But I wonder how it's possible to reduce flare on that lens when there's almost nothing to begin with?

(...and will the rounded aperture blade destroy the nice starburst effect?)

Apapukas · 08-27-2013, 06:47 AM

So the upgraded lens shouldn't transmit any more light, but it might have a better color rendition and resolution?

* HD stands for High Definition, and signifies the lens’s capacity to reproduce images that excel in transparency, definition, resolution and rendition.

Asahiflex · 08-27-2013, 06:49 AM

Originally posted by Apapukas

So the upgraded lens shouldn't transmit any more light, but it might have a better color rendition and resolution?

* HD stands for High Definition, and signifies the lens’s capacity to reproduce images that excel in transparency, definition, resolution and rendition.

That's typical marketing babble which means nothing at all. All lens designers say the same.

Fogel70 · 08-27-2013, 06:49 AM

Originally posted by southlander

I would think that if, say the Smc coating had 2% loss of transmission implying 98% transmission, the the Hd coating would have 1% loss, ie 99% transmission.

But the SMC loss is 0.2% (or maybe even less on the latest generation), so going from 99.8% to 99.9% won't make that much difference.

lesmore49 · 08-27-2013, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

Always something. but I don't like that they changed the colour to red on the ring. Reminds me too much of Canon L lenses.

I agree. Red is Canon L.

I have the 40 and 70 Limited lenses ...I like the green...'Pentax' green in my view.

Clavius · 08-27-2013, 06:54 AM

So that HD DA 15 ltd will be even more resistant to flare then the SMC DA 15 ltd! Dang, I just bought the latter a few months ago.

**mike.hiran** · 08-27-2013, 06:58 AM

Any improvement is a welcome one. If bokeh is improved while being less prone to flare, fringing, or whatever, that's a good thing. Proof will be in the pudding though, so I'll withhold judgement until some tests are done.

What if Pentax added HD coatings and rounded blades to the the 31 43 and 77? OOOOohhhhh that would be nice! And expensive!!

goubejp · 08-27-2013, 07:00 AM

It means 2 times less flare. 2 % of reflection seems low, but it has to be multiplied by the number of air/glass interfaces, if you have 5 groups of elements, typically 5 * 2 = 10 % of light is reflected, and a part of it goes back to the sensor.
I agree that rounded blades will suppress starlight effects on the DA15... which is already really flare resistant. HD coating would be more appropriate with fast, complex zooms really prone to flare (ie the 12-24; but there is a replacement on the roadmap...)

Docrwm · 08-27-2013, 07:01 AM

K-30 becomes K-50
DA Limiteds with SMC become DA Limiteds with HD

Where is the new stuff?

lytrytyr · 08-27-2013, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

going from 99.8% to 99.9% won't make that much difference.

The improvement should be more apparent on the DA 15 and DA 35 Limiteds,
since they have more lens element groups.

08-27-2013, 06:36 AM	#18
Apapukas Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lietuva, Vilnius Posts: 627	HD coating reduces reflections by 50%. Doesn't that mean, that the lens transmit 50% more light? For example, if 21Ltd has a T number of 3.5 (according to DxO), with the new coating it should have a T number of 3.35? I hope I got something wrong, because it is really a very small upgrade. Last edited by Apapukas; 08-27-2013 at 06:42 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited (black), Sigma UV HD 58mm	CWyatt	Sold Items	3	05-11-2013 10:57 PM
For Sale - Sold: DA Limited 21mm / DA Limited 35mm Macro / DA Limited 70mm	top-quark	Sold Items	3	04-23-2013 05:01 AM
For Sale - Sold: SMCP Pentax-DA 15mm F/4 ED AL Limited and SMCP Pentax-DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited Lenses	Yosemite	Sold Items	3	04-02-2013 05:29 PM
UV filters for DA limited lenses	top-quark	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	8	04-25-2012 06:34 AM
For Sale - Sold: [EU] Pentax system, K10d, lenses (DA, DA Limited, DA*, F, M, K, Tak), flash	jensm	Sold Items	24	02-04-2010 04:44 AM

08-27-2013, 05:59 AM	#16
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	I believe that Pentax users are mostly smart buyers (if not frugal), dumping lenses for just new coating designs would be very lucrative, and to quote Asahiflex " ... if the price would be higher than the MSRP of the current limiteds"

08-27-2013, 06:29 AM	#17
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	I would get them... because I broke my DA 21 F3.2's AF

08-27-2013, 06:40 AM	#19
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	I would think that if, say the Smc coating had 2% loss of transmission implying 98% transmission, the the Hd coating would have 1% loss, ie 99% transmission.

08-27-2013, 06:41 AM	#20
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	No, because reflections aren't 100% to begin with. The 70mm is on the list.

08-27-2013, 06:46 AM	#21
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Hey, I just bought the 15mm! But I wonder how it's possible to reduce flare on that lens when there's almost nothing to begin with? (...and will the rounded aperture blade destroy the nice starburst effect?)

08-27-2013, 06:47 AM	#22
Apapukas Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lietuva, Vilnius Posts: 627	So the upgraded lens shouldn't transmit any more light, but it might have a better color rendition and resolution? * HD stands for High Definition, and signifies the lens’s capacity to reproduce images that excel in transparency, definition, resolution and rendition.

08-27-2013, 06:49 AM	#23
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Originally posted by Apapukas So the upgraded lens shouldn't transmit any more light, but it might have a better color rendition and resolution? * HD stands for High Definition, and signifies the lens’s capacity to reproduce images that excel in transparency, definition, resolution and rendition. That's typical marketing babble which means nothing at all. All lens designers say the same.

08-27-2013, 06:49 AM	#24
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by southlander I would think that if, say the Smc coating had 2% loss of transmission implying 98% transmission, the the Hd coating would have 1% loss, ie 99% transmission. But the SMC loss is 0.2% (or maybe even less on the latest generation), so going from 99.8% to 99.9% won't make that much difference.

08-27-2013, 06:52 AM	#25
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,342	Originally posted by Fogel70 Always something. but I don't like that they changed the colour to red on the ring. Reminds me too much of Canon L lenses. I agree. Red is Canon L. I have the 40 and 70 Limited lenses ...I like the green...'Pentax' green in my view.

08-27-2013, 06:54 AM	#26
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	So that HD DA 15 ltd will be even more resistant to flare then the SMC DA 15 ltd! Dang, I just bought the latter a few months ago.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-27-2013, 06:58 AM	#27
mike.hiran Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: portland Photos: Albums Posts: 1,491	Any improvement is a welcome one. If bokeh is improved while being less prone to flare, fringing, or whatever, that's a good thing. Proof will be in the pudding though, so I'll withhold judgement until some tests are done. What if Pentax added HD coatings and rounded blades to the the 31 43 and 77? OOOOohhhhh that would be nice! And expensive!!

08-27-2013, 07:00 AM	#28
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	It means 2 times less flare. 2 % of reflection seems low, but it has to be multiplied by the number of air/glass interfaces, if you have 5 groups of elements, typically 5 * 2 = 10 % of light is reflected, and a part of it goes back to the sensor. I agree that rounded blades will suppress starlight effects on the DA15... which is already really flare resistant. HD coating would be more appropriate with fast, complex zooms really prone to flare (ie the 12-24; but there is a replacement on the roadmap...)

08-27-2013, 07:01 AM	#29
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	K-30 becomes K-50 DA Limiteds with SMC become DA Limiteds with HD Where is the new stuff?

08-27-2013, 07:04 AM	#30
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Fogel70 going from 99.8% to 99.9% won't make that much difference. The improvement should be more apparent on the DA 15 and DA 35 Limiteds, since they have more lens element groups.