New HD DA Limited lenses

**Rondec** · 10-09-2013, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Andi Lo

Actually exept for starburst (and maybe flare?) DA 12-24 performs better than the DA 15.

I personally find that when I shoot primes, I become much more disciplined in composing, looking at subject, and observing how the light works on the subject. That alone make me prefer primes whenever I can afford to use it.

Also like I said previously, shooting strapless with DA 40 and a grip. Camera weight is distributed top to bottom instead of front to back. I just find it very ergonomic / comfortable. It's similar to enjoying a drive in the highway with one hand as opposed to two hands (dangerous I know, same as carrying a $1000 equipment with no strap)

You're right though that in regards to performance, modern zoom lenses are no worse than DA limiteds (except maybe regarding flare, most DA lims are invincible to flare)

FA limited is another story though as their rendering in the right light is quite special imo

Read more at: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/235400-new-hd-da-limit...#ixzz2hEWeVQ8F

My prime line up is DA 15 - FA 31 - DA 40 - DA 55 -- FA 77 -- DFA 100 WR. Honestly, I prefer the FA limiteds to the DA limiteds. I feel like I gain more with regard to sharpness and (of course) speed with them than with the DA limiteds. The DA 40 is sharper corner to corner than my DA *16-50, but the big thing is that it is tiny and of course, as you say, much more resistant to flare (should be better with HD coatings).

WerTicus · 10-09-2013, 09:16 PM

So the new HD versions are not weather sealed? Missed opportunity there

psychdoc · 10-10-2013, 05:43 AM

Originally posted by WerTicus

So the new HD versions are not weather sealed? Missed opportunity there

The selling point of the Limiteds are their size. Making them WR would increase their size. I for one, would rather have the small size. Something like the DA 70mm has quite a good teleophoto reach but you would never know just looking at it, and if you take the hood off its even smaller. The DA* 55 prime lens is not in the same category but has WR but rather too big...

gri · 10-10-2013, 06:22 AM

Hello everybody,

I have DA15 and FA 77, so I have gap between them and I am waiting for new Limited Zoom. Any ideas when we can expect it

Greetings from Bulgaria

Cynog Ap Brychan · 10-10-2013, 06:30 AM

Originally posted by gri

I have DA15 and FA 77, so I have gap between them and I am waiting for new Limited Zoom. Any ideas when we can expect it

Greetings from the UK. I believe the pigs are lining up on the runway as I write.....

Andi Lo · 10-10-2013, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Interesting discussion. I pretty well only use primes (DA Limited and legacy primes) which is the reason for using Pentax, imho. I may be wrong but I don't think you'll get the combination of sharpness and excellent OOF areas come bokeh at wide apertures with a zoom, or with not an average zoom.

Yes indeed, I haven't found any zoom that beats even the lowest of my primes in terms of bokeh, but that's just in my case

For nikon you can get really great zooms indeed but they come at a price... although the last AF-D generation lenses (equivalent to Pentax FA) are excellent, excellent value (I just scored an AF 80-200/2.8 for $300). They have no WR though.

Originally posted by Rondec

My prime line up is DA 15 - FA 31 - DA 40 - DA 55 -- FA 77 -- DFA 100 WR. Honestly, I prefer the FA limiteds to the DA limiteds. I feel like I gain more with regard to sharpness and (of course) speed with them than with the DA limiteds. The DA 40 is sharper corner to corner than my DA *16-50, but the big thing is that it is tiny and of course, as you say, much more resistant to flare (should be better with HD coatings).

I owe it to myself to try an FA limited someday after my lineup is complete regarding FL and speed that I need

Maybe I should trade my DA 40 for FA 43 but I like it that lens too much... what if I dont like the FA 43? Contrary to people's complaints about the 40's FL I find it perfect for my needs, not too wide, not too tele.

Originally posted by psychdoc

The selling point of the Limiteds are their size. Making them WR would increase their size. I for one, would rather have the small size. Something like the DA 70mm has quite a good teleophoto reach but you would never know just looking at it, and if you take the hood off its even smaller. The DA* 55 prime lens is not in the same category but has WR but rather too big...

I believe DA 55 is huge because of its optical design and sdm, not particularly because of wr. Nikon's AF-S lenses are huge compared to their AF-D counterpart. Sigma 50/1.4 which performs similarly to the DA* is also pretty big.

DA 1855 WR is practically the same size as the original 1855. However the construction is plastic, so the maybe why its easier to wr. I certainly wouldn't convert my DA Limited to DA L WR even if they're optically the same! Maybe some here would though.

**Rondec** · 10-10-2013, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by psychdoc

The selling point of the Limiteds are their size. Making them WR would increase their size. I for one, would rather have the small size. Something like the DA 70mm has quite a good teleophoto reach but you would never know just looking at it, and if you take the hood off its even smaller. The DA* 55 prime lens is not in the same category but has WR but rather too big...

I don't know. The DFA 100mm WR is pretty small for what it is. Feels like you could put a gasket on the lens mount and some kind of internal seal without adding a whole lot to the size.

Mistral75 · 10-10-2013, 07:44 AM - **1 Like**

WR isn't increasing size by anything noticeable. In-lens motor is.

les3547 · 10-10-2013, 08:52 AM

The lens I'd most like to see (and own) is a FA Limited 24mm. I haven't bought a lens in a long time, but I'd buy that in an instant. Right now my primes are all Voigtlander, 20 through 90mm, plus a Contax/Zeiss 28mm. I prefer the color rendering of the FAs, plus like the Voigtlanders and Zeiss, they keep me ready for FF. As the "normal" lens for APS-C, I use the 28mm more than any other, but I'd would like wider prime that doesn't quite behave as a "wide" lens (like the 20mm or 15mm do IMO), and 24mm would perfect.

Andi Lo · 10-10-2013, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by les3547

The lens I'd most like to see (and own) is a FA Limited 24mm. I haven't bought a lens in a long time, but I'd buy that in an instant. Right now my primes are all Voigtlander, 20 through 90mm, plus a Contax/Zeiss 28mm. I prefer the color rendering of the FAs, plus like the Voigtlanders and Zeiss, they keep me ready for FF. As the "normal" lens for APS-C, I use the 28mm more than any other, but I'd would like wider prime that doesn't quite behave as a "wide" lens (like the 20mm or 15mm do IMO), and 24mm would perfect.

Isnt' FA* 24mm basically 24mm limited?

lytrytyr · 10-10-2013, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by les3547

The lens I'd most like to see (and own) is a FA Limited 24mm. I haven't bought a lens in a long time, but I'd buy that in an instant. Right now my primes are all Voigtlander, 20 through 90mm, plus a Contax/Zeiss 28mm. I prefer the color rendering of the FAs, plus like the Voigtlanders and Zeiss, they keep me ready for FF. As the "normal" lens for APS-C, I use the 28mm more than any other, but I'd would like wider prime that doesn't quite behave as a "wide" lens (like the 20mm or 15mm do IMO), and 24mm would perfect.

In that situation, the ZK 25/2.8 Distagon is worth considering.

les3547 · 10-10-2013, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Andi Lo

Isnt' FA* 24mm basically 24mm limited?

I suppose I should be happy with what the FA* 24mm offers in terms of photo quality, but (no offence to FA owners) I am really turned off by the aesthetics of the bulky, windowed FA look. The relatively compact FA Limiteds, to me, are a beautiful design.

les3547 · 10-10-2013, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

In that situation, the ZK 25/2.8 Distagon is worth considering.

I actually owned that, but returned it because the resolution was so bad. I now assume I had a bad copy, though a member who owns one here called his a "brick" that didn't seem worth the price. I have, however, been tempted by the Contax-Zeiss 25mm, which can be picked up for about half the price (of course, then the adapter cost has to be added in). I don't know why, but have always thought of 24mm as a magic FL, plus 25mm is a bit close to my 28mm, so 25mm doesn't quite do it for me.

mrbrightside · 10-10-2013, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by Andi Lo

Yes indeed, I haven't found any zoom that beats even the lowest of my primes in terms of bokeh, but that's just in my case

For nikon you can get really great zooms indeed but they come at a price... although the last AF-D generation lenses (equivalent to Pentax FA) are excellent, excellent value (I just scored an AF 80-200/2.8 for $300). They have no WR though.

Getting a full frame, high quality zoom from Nikon is going to be cheaper than getting 3 Pentax HD primes.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) 2164

Quicksand · 10-10-2013, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by mrbrightside

Getting a full frame, high quality zoom from Nikon is going to be cheaper than getting 3 Pentax HD primes.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) 2164

And it weighs more than all five DA Limiteds put together.

If that's your thing, then by all means, go for it.

10-10-2013, 06:35 AM	#711
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Quote: Interesting discussion. I pretty well only use primes (DA Limited and legacy primes) which is the reason for using Pentax, imho. I may be wrong but I don't think you'll get the combination of sharpness and excellent OOF areas come bokeh at wide apertures with a zoom, or with not an average zoom. Yes indeed, I haven't found any zoom that beats even the lowest of my primes in terms of bokeh, but that's just in my case For nikon you can get really great zooms indeed but they come at a price... although the last AF-D generation lenses (equivalent to Pentax FA) are excellent, excellent value (I just scored an AF 80-200/2.8 for $300). They have no WR though. Originally posted by Rondec My prime line up is DA 15 - FA 31 - DA 40 - DA 55 -- FA 77 -- DFA 100 WR. Honestly, I prefer the FA limiteds to the DA limiteds. I feel like I gain more with regard to sharpness and (of course) speed with them than with the DA limiteds. The DA 40 is sharper corner to corner than my DA 16-50, but the big thing is that it is tiny and of course, as you say, much more resistant to flare (should be better with HD coatings). I owe it to myself to try an FA limited someday after my lineup is complete regarding FL and speed that I need Maybe I should trade my DA 40 for FA 43 but I like it that lens too much... what if I dont like the FA 43? Contrary to people's complaints about the 40's FL I find it perfect for my needs, not too wide, not too tele. Originally posted by psychdoc The selling point of the Limiteds are their size. Making them WR would increase their size. I for one, would rather have the small size. Something like the DA 70mm has quite a good teleophoto reach but you would never know just looking at it, and if you take the hood off its even smaller. The DA 55 prime lens is not in the same category but has WR but rather too big... I believe DA 55 is huge because of its optical design and sdm, not particularly because of wr. Nikon's AF-S lenses are huge compared to their AF-D counterpart. Sigma 50/1.4 which performs similarly to the DA* is also pretty big. DA 1855 WR is practically the same size as the original 1855. However the construction is plastic, so the maybe why its easier to wr. I certainly wouldn't convert my DA Limited to DA L WR even if they're optically the same! Maybe some here would though. Last edited by Andi Lo; 10-10-2013 at 06:45 AM.

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10-09-2013, 12:27 PM	#706
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Originally posted by Andi Lo Actually exept for starburst (and maybe flare?) DA 12-24 performs better than the DA 15. I personally find that when I shoot primes, I become much more disciplined in composing, looking at subject, and observing how the light works on the subject. That alone make me prefer primes whenever I can afford to use it. Also like I said previously, shooting strapless with DA 40 and a grip. Camera weight is distributed top to bottom instead of front to back. I just find it very ergonomic / comfortable. It's similar to enjoying a drive in the highway with one hand as opposed to two hands (dangerous I know, same as carrying a $1000 equipment with no strap) You're right though that in regards to performance, modern zoom lenses are no worse than DA limiteds (except maybe regarding flare, most DA lims are invincible to flare) FA limited is another story though as their rendering in the right light is quite special imo Read more at: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/235400-new-hd-da-limit...#ixzz2hEWeVQ8F My prime line up is DA 15 - FA 31 - DA 40 - DA 55 -- FA 77 -- DFA 100 WR. Honestly, I prefer the FA limiteds to the DA limiteds. I feel like I gain more with regard to sharpness and (of course) speed with them than with the DA limiteds. The DA 40 is sharper corner to corner than my DA *16-50, but the big thing is that it is tiny and of course, as you say, much more resistant to flare (should be better with HD coatings).

10-09-2013, 09:16 PM	#707
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	So the new HD versions are not weather sealed? Missed opportunity there

10-10-2013, 05:43 AM	#708
psychdoc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bham Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 949	Originally posted by WerTicus So the new HD versions are not weather sealed? Missed opportunity there The selling point of the Limiteds are their size. Making them WR would increase their size. I for one, would rather have the small size. Something like the DA 70mm has quite a good teleophoto reach but you would never know just looking at it, and if you take the hood off its even smaller. The DA* 55 prime lens is not in the same category but has WR but rather too big...

10-10-2013, 06:22 AM	#709
gri Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 25	Hello everybody, I have DA15 and FA 77, so I have gap between them and I am waiting for new Limited Zoom. Any ideas when we can expect it Greetings from Bulgaria

10-10-2013, 06:30 AM	#710
Cynog Ap Brychan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Gloucester Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Originally posted by gri I have DA15 and FA 77, so I have gap between them and I am waiting for new Limited Zoom. Any ideas when we can expect it Greetings from the UK. I believe the pigs are lining up on the runway as I write.....

10-10-2013, 06:46 AM	#712
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Originally posted by psychdoc The selling point of the Limiteds are their size. Making them WR would increase their size. I for one, would rather have the small size. Something like the DA 70mm has quite a good teleophoto reach but you would never know just looking at it, and if you take the hood off its even smaller. The DA* 55 prime lens is not in the same category but has WR but rather too big... I don't know. The DFA 100mm WR is pretty small for what it is. Feels like you could put a gasket on the lens mount and some kind of internal seal without adding a whole lot to the size.

10-10-2013, 07:44 AM - 1 Like	#713
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527 Original Poster	WR isn't increasing size by anything noticeable. In-lens motor is.

10-10-2013, 08:52 AM	#714
les3547 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sebastopol, California Photos: Albums Posts: 2,020	The lens I'd most like to see (and own) is a FA Limited 24mm. I haven't bought a lens in a long time, but I'd buy that in an instant. Right now my primes are all Voigtlander, 20 through 90mm, plus a Contax/Zeiss 28mm. I prefer the color rendering of the FAs, plus like the Voigtlanders and Zeiss, they keep me ready for FF. As the "normal" lens for APS-C, I use the 28mm more than any other, but I'd would like wider prime that doesn't quite behave as a "wide" lens (like the 20mm or 15mm do IMO), and 24mm would perfect.

10-10-2013, 08:56 AM	#715
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Originally posted by les3547 The lens I'd most like to see (and own) is a FA Limited 24mm. I haven't bought a lens in a long time, but I'd buy that in an instant. Right now my primes are all Voigtlander, 20 through 90mm, plus a Contax/Zeiss 28mm. I prefer the color rendering of the FAs, plus like the Voigtlanders and Zeiss, they keep me ready for FF. As the "normal" lens for APS-C, I use the 28mm more than any other, but I'd would like wider prime that doesn't quite behave as a "wide" lens (like the 20mm or 15mm do IMO), and 24mm would perfect. Isnt' FA* 24mm basically 24mm limited?

10-10-2013, 10:16 AM	#716
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by les3547 The lens I'd most like to see (and own) is a FA Limited 24mm. I haven't bought a lens in a long time, but I'd buy that in an instant. Right now my primes are all Voigtlander, 20 through 90mm, plus a Contax/Zeiss 28mm. I prefer the color rendering of the FAs, plus like the Voigtlanders and Zeiss, they keep me ready for FF. As the "normal" lens for APS-C, I use the 28mm more than any other, but I'd would like wider prime that doesn't quite behave as a "wide" lens (like the 20mm or 15mm do IMO), and 24mm would perfect. In that situation, the ZK 25/2.8 Distagon is worth considering.

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10-10-2013, 10:31 AM	#717
les3547 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sebastopol, California Photos: Albums Posts: 2,020	Originally posted by Andi Lo Isnt' FA* 24mm basically 24mm limited? I suppose I should be happy with what the FA* 24mm offers in terms of photo quality, but (no offence to FA owners) I am really turned off by the aesthetics of the bulky, windowed FA look. The relatively compact FA Limiteds, to me, are a beautiful design.

10-10-2013, 10:46 AM	#718
les3547 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sebastopol, California Photos: Albums Posts: 2,020	Originally posted by lytrytyr In that situation, the ZK 25/2.8 Distagon is worth considering. I actually owned that, but returned it because the resolution was so bad. I now assume I had a bad copy, though a member who owns one here called his a "brick" that didn't seem worth the price. I have, however, been tempted by the Contax-Zeiss 25mm, which can be picked up for about half the price (of course, then the adapter cost has to be added in). I don't know why, but have always thought of 24mm as a magic FL, plus 25mm is a bit close to my 28mm, so 25mm doesn't quite do it for me.

10-10-2013, 11:56 AM	#719
mrbrightside Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 46	Originally posted by Andi Lo Yes indeed, I haven't found any zoom that beats even the lowest of my primes in terms of bokeh, but that's just in my case For nikon you can get really great zooms indeed but they come at a price... although the last AF-D generation lenses (equivalent to Pentax FA) are excellent, excellent value (I just scored an AF 80-200/2.8 for $300). They have no WR though. Getting a full frame, high quality zoom from Nikon is going to be cheaper than getting 3 Pentax HD primes. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) 2164

10-10-2013, 12:02 PM	#720
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	Originally posted by mrbrightside Getting a full frame, high quality zoom from Nikon is going to be cheaper than getting 3 Pentax HD primes. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) 2164 And it weighs more than all five DA Limiteds put together. If that's your thing, then by all means, go for it.