[dankoBanana]

I'm very interested in its performace. What I'm interested most is the flare control. Its really bad on my DA* 16-50 and I'm considering trading it for a DA 15 and this zoom.

[repaap]

Also one big thing with this lens, for me is 9-aperture blades, focuses 0.28 m(pseudo macro). Short focus travel, for fast focus with that new focus motor. With 9 blades and flare resistance I could see great starbursts coming!

[MMVIII]

This is exciting. If IQ is up to expectations - yes, there are some high ones, based on the limited designation, the limited zoom range etc. - this might be my core lens, for private use, but also for professional use, for aerial photography this offers the ideal focal lenght range! WR, light, compact, high quality build, (hopefully!) high image quality - what more can you ask for documentation purposes. With the robust K-3 this might be the ultimate instrument for professional documentation of cultural heritage etc. Way to go Pentax/Ricoh, that's a field the LX and 645 were a quasi-standard equipment, in the desert, the jungle, the dark inner of the church or up in the air

Sure, I might have special needs, but still I do have to wonder why so many feel the need to express their refusal for this lens. It is exactly what could have been expected for the concept of a limited zoom: compact, still lightweight, well built, limited zoom range - faster, more range, cheaper would sacrifice some of these charakteristika. However, if it does not fill your needs how about just skipping this offer, but for heavens sake, why bitching and whining about it? If you have followed Pentax history, this is exactly on track with their philosophy. Would you go to a Subaru-forum and diss them for not producing a pickup*, even if all your neighbours drive one? You have the choice, if you need something else, just get it
(sorry for the rant)

*Edit: I did not know that Subaru actually produced a pickup, but it never really appeared in Europe; anyway, just take it as yet another infamous car comparison...

[richard balonglong]

However, I was comparing the size with DA 18-55mm WR,
DA 18-55mm WR: 68 x 67.5 mm , 230 g
DA 20-40mm : 71.0 x 68.5 mm , 283 g

Damn it is slightly heavier and bigger than the 18-55 WR???

When you brought out the comparison between the 18-55 vs the 20-40 in terms of size, I immediately compared them both visually. It seems that the 20-40 is larger from what I have expected.
After all, it's a zoom and has a 2.8 aperture and is metal built to explain its size and weigh. Anyway, 283g is not that heavy, actually it's still light...

Here's a (closest) size comparison between Pentax DA 18-55mm VS the DA 20-40mm...

[Kunzite]

You should use a DA 20-40 Limited image with the hood on. It wouldn't change anything, it will still be shorter, but people won't complain that it's "unfair".

[H. Sapiens]

Ok. I am willing to pay the price if it is the right tool. DC and WR are big plusses. I am concerned about f/4. I am not going slower than the 2.8 of my 35mm which it would have to replace (together with 21mm). The price is as expected, I don't understand some are surprised. Where have you been the past 3-5 years?

For me, an 18-35mm f2.8 WR DC would have been perfect. How big would such a thing be? The Sigma offering is too huge a monster.

[RMabo]

Pentax Limiteds are the closest one can get to a Zeiss or Leica in Pentax-land. Metal, hand assembled, engravings on the lens instead of just printed text, DC motor and weather sealing plus the new and exclusive lens elements, all this cost. As a high-quality solution for a 3-in-one lens (21, 35 and 40) yeah, I like it.

[bdery]

To people whining about the price of the Limited. Honestly, what did you expect? A WR zoom limited with DC AF cheaper than a prime screw-drive with no WR?

The DA21 sells for what, 650$ new? And this is the suggested price, it will probably sell for about 900$ in real life. Which will be amazing if the IQ is where it should be.

This would be the perfect lens for outdoors people looking for pro-quality glass in a small package. Hikers, campers, climbers, THOSE are the natural clients for such a lens.

[audiobomber]

Nice lens, but the aperture range is not appealing. I'll stick with my previous plan, 18-135mm supported by primes, 16-45 on rare occasions.

Wouldn't it be a mind-blower if the 20-40mm Ltd covers full-frame? Any discussion of value would be out the window.

[ranchy]

I heard the DC motor is a ring-type... and max aperture at the wide side is f2.8. Wait where did you get those numbers?

Oh .. I got the information from here :
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[macTak]

I'll be interested to see the optical diagram of the Limited when it comes out; it uses less elements than than the old 24-50/4 and 20-35/4 designs. Also, while it has an ED and an SLD element, it has no aspherical elements (unlike both the 18-55 kit and the 24-35/4, which had two). Pentax again seems to be resistant to the trend of a lot of other manufactures of pumping their lenses full of elements and exotic glass. On the other side of things, something that has not been noted yet is that the new Q 08 lens has what I believe to be a type of lens element we haven't seen prior from them: a (glass-moulded) dual aspherical element, which they are calling Dual Super Aspherical (DSA). I presume that in part explains the price of the 08.

[ranchy]

When you brought out the comparison between the 18-55 vs the 20-40 in terms of size, I immediately compared them both visually. It seems that the 20-40 is larger from what I have expected.
After all, it's a zoom and has a 2.8 aperture and is metal built to explain its size and weigh. Anyway, 283g is not that heavy, actually it's still light...

Here's a (closest) size comparison between Pentax DA 18-55mm VS the DA 20-40mm...

Yup.. I get what you meant.. It's a zoom lens with F2.8 to F4. So it quite amazing for its weight and built. But when you just see the lens by itself, I was deceived by myself that it would be small.

I only got a actual DA10-17 really look and compare to the DA20-40 for a really to visual of the dimension.. Damn.. it aint small still.
DA 10-17mm : 68 x 71.5 mm, 320g
DA 20-40mm : 71.0 x 68.5 mm , 283 g

Anyway, I will wait and see its actual review for its IQ etc....
To pack WR, DC Motor into the DA20-40 and with metal build, it's actually quite impressive.

[Aristophanes]

For me, an 18-35mm f2.8 WR DC would have been perfect. How big would such a thing be? The Sigma offering is too huge a monster.

Pretty much as big as the Sigma. Wide to normal (excuse the generics here) has always been like that.

[richard balonglong]

To people whining about the price of the Limited. Honestly, what did you expect? A WR zoom limited with DC AF cheaper than a prime screw-drive with no WR?

The DA21 sells for what, 650$ new? And this is the suggested price, it will probably sell for about 900$ in real life. Which will be amazing if the IQ is where it should be.

This would be the perfect lens for outdoors people looking for pro-quality glass in a small package. Hikers, campers, climbers, THOSE are the natural clients for such a lens.

Very true! I see a lot of people whining about the price. Are they expecting something around $500ish price tag?
For me, before the official announcement, I was expecting like $1,999 or more because it has all those wonderful things on it...

[Clavius]

To people whining about the price of the Limited. Honestly, what did you expect? A WR zoom limited with DC AF cheaper than a prime screw-drive with no WR?

The DA21 sells for what, 650$ new? And this is the suggested price, it will probably sell for about 900$ in real life. Which will be amazing if the IQ is where it should be.

This would be the perfect lens for outdoors people looking for pro-quality glass in a small package. Hikers, campers, climbers, THOSE are the natural clients for such a lens.

Whining is one thing, comparing is the other. For $100,- less you buy a Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8. If they give the ltd zoom to me for free I'd sell it and buy the CZ.