The DA limited is 20-40? and WR?!

**Dice** · 12-12-2013, 09:56 AM

Admittedly, I am getting the lens...actually UPS is driving around with it today to delver to my home. Considering how few have this lens in their hands it is surprising how maligned the lens already is. Not fast enough, not sharp enough, too expensive, not as good as the DA primes. Everyone has their own reasons for selecting a lens and there are a number of very good options out there to select from. When I buy something I want it to be built for the long haul. For me the DA20-40 was a great option and ultimately got my $900. I looked at images from the Sigma Art zoom and they look very good. Excellent center sharpness and acceptable side/corner sharpness. Went to the store and held one and mounted it to a body for feel. But the size and look of the lens didn't work and given the amount of outdoor work that I do, I felt WR was a must. The other options out there while good do not have the solid feel of my pentax lenses. The images that I'm seeing with the DA 20-40 delivers on the DA prime color, microcontrast, compact size with the added necessity of WR. All of the things that I was hoping for from this lens. Do I expect it to deliver sharpness across the image as a prime....no...it would be great but for the convenience of a zoom and WR I was willing some compromise here. So I sold my DA primes and took the plunge. Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting it dialed in with some shooting this weekend.

VisualDarkness · 12-12-2013, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by Zygonyx

It can't agree with this / @20mm f/11 :

People seems to expect 100% flare resistance for all of the higher end lenses. Speed and zoom are often lowering flare resistance. This lens seems to beat many equal or slower primes despite being a relatively fast (F2.8 is a fast) zoom.

goubejp · 12-12-2013, 12:43 PM

The starbust effect of the SMC DA 21 will be lost on the HD DA 21 limited, anyway...

Zygonyx · 12-12-2013, 01:35 PM

Exact.
Meanwhile, i can't tell you how i managed to get this flare

JinDesu · 12-12-2013, 01:48 PM

That's not flare, someone was shooting a laser beam and you caught it.

David&karen · 12-12-2013, 02:18 PM

superman......

VisualDarkness · 12-12-2013, 02:44 PM

Run away!

SyncGuy · 12-12-2013, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by dankoBanana

dont like it :\ poor flare resistance

Hey, no offense here but looking at your lens collection, i don't think any of them are widely known and agreed to have awesome flare resistance.. Just saying.....

Give it a try before passing judgement...

One man's meat is another's poison..

Sandy Hancock · 12-12-2013, 09:31 PM

Sheesh! Tough crowd....

The flare test I did was pretty severe, and the 20-40 zoom did about as well as the DA21, which is no slouch. The DA15 is the only lens I have with better flare resistance, and it is pretty much legendary in that regard.

In other words, the flare resistance of the HD DA 20-40mm limited seems to be pretty good.

Transit · 12-12-2013, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

...
My DA 21 limited is pretty sharp across the frame at f/5.6, whereas my HD DA 20-40 limited at 20mm still has ordinary corners at 20mm and f/5.6. At the long it is good from the get-go though

shame to hear that, my 21 is pretty sharp by then

Sandy Hancock · 12-12-2013, 11:24 PM - **2 Likes**

One at 31mm, wide open. Click on the image to access a bigger file on flickr. It's not too shabby.

FA 31 simulation

Gray · 12-13-2013, 06:17 AM

Call me picky, but the lens seems quite pedestrian, not worth the high price being demanded.

**Dice** · 12-13-2013, 06:40 AM

Very nice wide open. I like how it renders. Beautiful dog by the way. Looks like he reluctantly obliged for your photoshoot.

Zygonyx · 12-13-2013, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by Gray

Call me picky, but the lens seems quite pedestrian, not worth the high price being demanded.

I'd worry in your place.
Japan is tempting to throw up inflation i.o. to reduce it's monstruous debt service.
There's litle chance for Hi-Tech prices to drop in the near future ; moreover for the roughly unchallenged and well exported part of it, like glass...

Sandy Hancock · 12-13-2013, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by Gray

Call me picky, but the lens seems quite pedestrian, not worth the high price being demanded.

Yes, I'd call you picky.
But hey, whatever: call it how you see it.

12-12-2013, 07:23 PM	#1043
SyncGuy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 821	Originally posted by dankoBanana dont like it :\ poor flare resistance Hey, no offense here but looking at your lens collection, i don't think any of them are widely known and agreed to have awesome flare resistance.. Just saying..... Give it a try before passing judgement... One man's meat is another's poison.. Last edited by SyncGuy; 12-12-2013 at 08:18 PM.

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12-12-2013, 09:56 AM	#1036
Dice Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Emeryville, CA Posts: 1,122	Admittedly, I am getting the lens...actually UPS is driving around with it today to delver to my home. Considering how few have this lens in their hands it is surprising how maligned the lens already is. Not fast enough, not sharp enough, too expensive, not as good as the DA primes. Everyone has their own reasons for selecting a lens and there are a number of very good options out there to select from. When I buy something I want it to be built for the long haul. For me the DA20-40 was a great option and ultimately got my $900. I looked at images from the Sigma Art zoom and they look very good. Excellent center sharpness and acceptable side/corner sharpness. Went to the store and held one and mounted it to a body for feel. But the size and look of the lens didn't work and given the amount of outdoor work that I do, I felt WR was a must. The other options out there while good do not have the solid feel of my pentax lenses. The images that I'm seeing with the DA 20-40 delivers on the DA prime color, microcontrast, compact size with the added necessity of WR. All of the things that I was hoping for from this lens. Do I expect it to deliver sharpness across the image as a prime....no...it would be great but for the convenience of a zoom and WR I was willing some compromise here. So I sold my DA primes and took the plunge. Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting it dialed in with some shooting this weekend.

12-12-2013, 10:30 AM	#1037
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Originally posted by Zygonyx It can't agree with this / @20mm f/11 : People seems to expect 100% flare resistance for all of the higher end lenses. Speed and zoom are often lowering flare resistance. This lens seems to beat many equal or slower primes despite being a relatively fast (F2.8 is a fast) zoom.

12-12-2013, 12:43 PM	#1038
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	The starbust effect of the SMC DA 21 will be lost on the HD DA 21 limited, anyway...

12-12-2013, 01:35 PM	#1039
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	Exact. Meanwhile, i can't tell you how i managed to get this flare

12-12-2013, 01:48 PM	#1040
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	That's not flare, someone was shooting a laser beam and you caught it.

12-12-2013, 02:18 PM	#1041
David&karen Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 327	superman......

12-12-2013, 02:44 PM	#1042
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Run away!

12-12-2013, 09:31 PM	#1044
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Sheesh! Tough crowd.... The flare test I did was pretty severe, and the 20-40 zoom did about as well as the DA21, which is no slouch. The DA15 is the only lens I have with better flare resistance, and it is pretty much legendary in that regard. In other words, the flare resistance of the HD DA 20-40mm limited seems to be pretty good.

12-12-2013, 10:59 PM	#1045
Transit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Whanganui NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,624	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock ... My DA 21 limited is pretty sharp across the frame at f/5.6, whereas my HD DA 20-40 limited at 20mm still has ordinary corners at 20mm and f/5.6. At the long it is good from the get-go though shame to hear that, my 21 is pretty sharp by then

12-12-2013, 11:24 PM - 2 Likes	#1046
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	One at 31mm, wide open. Click on the image to access a bigger file on flickr. It's not too shabby. FA 31 simulation

12-13-2013, 06:17 AM	#1047
Gray Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cape Town Photos: Gallery Posts: 536	Call me picky, but the lens seems quite pedestrian, not worth the high price being demanded.

12-13-2013, 06:40 AM	#1048
Dice Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Emeryville, CA Posts: 1,122	Very nice wide open. I like how it renders. Beautiful dog by the way. Looks like he reluctantly obliged for your photoshoot.

12-13-2013, 06:44 AM	#1049
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	Originally posted by Gray Call me picky, but the lens seems quite pedestrian, not worth the high price being demanded. I'd worry in your place. Japan is tempting to throw up inflation i.o. to reduce it's monstruous debt service. There's litle chance for Hi-Tech prices to drop in the near future ; moreover for the roughly unchallenged and well exported part of it, like glass...

12-13-2013, 06:56 AM	#1050
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by Gray Call me picky, but the lens seems quite pedestrian, not worth the high price being demanded. Yes, I'd call you picky. But hey, whatever: call it how you see it.