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02-15-2021, 12:26 PM - 2 Likes   #946
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The most important Pentax lens offering in years!

As a longtime/dedicated Pentax user, I'm a little ashamed to admit that I'm just now finding out about this release - somehow this flew under my radar.


I literally have one of almost every Pentax screwmount camera made (including Pentax S), have most every lens up until the FA plastics... and currently am shooting with K1/K3/K5 iis. I mention this back story because I spent the weekend shopping for Sony a7R iv / a7R iii cameras and lenses- precisely because I don't feel that the available Pentax UWA (specifically 20mm) FF lenses really support the K1 36Mp focal plane. Before shopping for Sony over the weekend, I retested my Pentax 20mm lenses and confirmed that they're very sharp in the center, but very soft in the corners on FF (at f/8 'sweet spot'). I shoot a lot of UWA images, interiors, architecture, and while hiking. Many\most successful UWA shots utilize foreground objects to create interest, sense of scale, etc, so soft corners will ruin a large percentage of otherwise well-composed images. Maybe I have unique needs, but for me, this lens is literally the difference between abandoning Pentax and staying the course (that I've been on for 40 years).

For interiors, I already have an excellent Venus\Laowa 12mm f/2.8, so I would use this 21mm primarily for hiking (where 12-14mm is just too wide). Since I'd be carrying this on my back for many miles, I'd not only welcome, but will be elated, if it is f/4 versus 2.8! The world really doesn't need any more big, heavy UWA f/1.8 primes.


Now, if the Sony 61Mp sensor makes it into the next Pentax FF, I'll be set for the next decade or so!


Last edited by Starpacer; 02-15-2021 at 02:18 PM.
02-15-2021, 01:36 PM   #947
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QuoteOriginally posted by Starpacer Quote
Now, if the Sony 61Mp sensor makes it into the next Pentax FF, I'll be set for the next decade or so!
That is entirely too many mp for me!
Now, 24mp I could consider, but I don't examine detail at the edge of a wide angle photo - for me, the important stuff is in the center.
02-15-2021, 01:49 PM - 1 Like   #948
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QuoteOriginally posted by Starpacer Quote
big, heavy UWA f/1.8 UWA primes.
The Nikon 20/1.8 is only 355g! That's 10g more than the 31 Limited and 100g more than the FA 20/2.8 - Hardly gigantic. I hope Pentax can also make the D FA 21 Limited lightweight, since I also wanna bring it on hikes
02-15-2021, 02:10 PM - 2 Likes   #949
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QuoteOriginally posted by Serkevan Quote
The Nikon 20/1.8 is only 355g! That's 10g more than the 31 Limited and 100g more than the FA 20/2.8 - Hardly gigantic. I hope Pentax can also make the D FA 21 Limited lightweight, since I also wanna bring it on hikes
It will be indeed a lightweight lens - compared to the D FA* 85mm

02-15-2021, 02:11 PM - 2 Likes   #950
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QuoteOriginally posted by Serkevan Quote
The Nikon 20/1.8 is only 355g!
I was thinking of some of the new Sigma primes (14/20/28mm, all way too heavy for multi-day hikes)... I'd be replacing the M20/4 (150g), so everything seems gigantic!
02-15-2021, 02:18 PM - 1 Like   #951
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QuoteOriginally posted by Starpacer Quote
I was thinking of some of the new Sigma primes (14/20/28mm, all way too heavy for multi-day hikes)... I'd be replacing the M20/4 (150g), so everything seems gigantic!
That's my UWA as well! I bought it specifically because of the size. Such a lovely pancake.
02-15-2021, 02:54 PM - 1 Like   #952
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QuoteOriginally posted by lytrytyr Quote
f/4 never hurt this one:
The Fuji 14/2.8 is a superior lens by every metric, and isn't all that much bigger.
Really, the only APS-C limited lenses that impressed me in terms of optical performance were the 35/2.8, which was hobbled by its stupidly slow maximum aperture, and the 70/2.4 which I thought was every bit as good as the 77.

02-15-2021, 03:11 PM   #953
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
The Fuji 14/2.8 is a superior lens by every metric, and isn't all that much bigger.
Really, the only APS-C limited lenses that impressed me in terms of optical performance were the 35/2.8, which was hobbled by its stupidly slow maximum aperture, and the 70/2.4 which I thought was every bit as good as the 77.
I actually spent some time looking at the Fuji XT-4 plus 14mm as a good alternative to K1 plus 20mm, but I think for me, it will make more sense to stick with the K1 and this new 21mm... It's a heavier solution, but since I don't own the Fuji, a much cheaper option (and hopefully will .produce superior images). If I were starting from scratch, I think mirrorless APS-C is the optimal choice for lightweight hiking, but alas, I have a ton of Pentax DSLR equipment.
02-15-2021, 04:29 PM   #954
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QuoteOriginally posted by Starpacer Quote
If I were starting from scratch, I think mirrorless APS-C is the optimal choice for lightweight hiking, but alas, I have a ton of Pentax DSLR equipment.
It apparently depends on what type of photography you do - MILC apparently makes more sense if you use wide angle than if you use telephoto.
02-15-2021, 07:21 PM - 1 Like   #955
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
The Fuji 14/2.8 is a superior lens by every metric, and isn't all that much bigger.
Really, the only APS-C limited lenses that impressed me in terms of optical performance were the 35/2.8, which was hobbled by its stupidly slow maximum aperture, and the 70/2.4 which I thought was every bit as good as the 77.
I actually happen to think that 35/2.8 ltd is one of the best lens every made by anybody, even with its slow maximum aperture, all things considered.
02-15-2021, 08:18 PM   #956
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QuoteOriginally posted by Starpacer Quote
I actually spent some time looking at the Fuji XT-4 plus 14mm as a good alternative to K1 plus 20mm, but I think for me, it will make more sense to stick with the K1 and this new 21mm... It's a heavier solution, but since I don't own the Fuji, a much cheaper option (and hopefully will .produce superior images). If I were starting from scratch, I think mirrorless APS-C is the optimal choice for lightweight hiking, but alas, I have a ton of Pentax DSLR equipment.
I’ve barely used my Fuji stuff since I got the K1. Prior to the K1, I was in the process of building a nice Fuji kit.

---------- Post added Feb 15th, 2021 at 09:23 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by Fontan Quote
I actually happen to think that 35/2.8 ltd is one of the best lens every made by anybody, even with its slow maximum aperture, all things considered.
It is excellent, it just is ridiculously slow. I would have been OK with it if they had made a DA* 35/1.4 as well. I mostly used the 31 when I wanted a standard lens. I didn’t get much use from my 35/Ltd.
02-16-2021, 12:05 AM - 3 Likes   #957
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QuoteOriginally posted by Serkevan Quote
The Nikon 20/1.8 is only 355g! That's 10g more than the 31 Limited and 100g more than the FA 20/2.8 - Hardly gigantic. I hope Pentax can also make the D FA 21 Limited lightweight, since I also wanna bring it on hikes
Easiest solution for lightweight hiking: GR II(I). Excellent 18mm f2.8 for 245g. Including a sensor...!
02-16-2021, 03:54 AM   #958
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
I’ve barely used my Fuji stuff since I got the K1. Prior to the K1, I was in the process of building a nice Fuji kit.

---------- Post added Feb 15th, 2021 at 09:23 PM ----------



It is excellent, it just is ridiculously slow. I would have been OK with it if they had made a DA* 35/1.4 as well. I mostly used the 31 when I wanted a standard lens. I didn’t get much use from my 35/Ltd.
There is one more DFA * lens coming and it will probably be in the 30mm range, not? The chart shows "wide angle, large aperture single focus lens" with a line going from 28 to 35mm sort of range. I had thought 35mm f1.4 and it still could be, but with the updated HD FA 35 f2 maybe they'll make it a bit wider.
02-16-2021, 05:37 AM - 1 Like   #959
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QuoteOriginally posted by MMVIII Quote
Easiest solution for lightweight hiking: GR II(I). Excellent 18mm f2.8 for 245g. Including a sensor...!
But if one's already bringing the K-1 with 28-105 (and maybe the PLM), the M20/4 adds less weight (and is much wider) :P

The GR is a fantastic standalone option, but I find myself going from wide to tele very often on hiking so, for my use case, 28mm FF wouldn't be all that convenient.
02-16-2021, 06:00 AM - 1 Like   #960
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QuoteOriginally posted by Serkevan Quote
But if one's already bringing the K-1 with 28-105 (and maybe the PLM), the M20/4 adds less weight (and is much wider) :P

The GR is a fantastic standalone option, but I find myself going from wide to tele very often on hiking so, for my use case, 28mm FF wouldn't be all that convenient.
Sure, no question about that. Still, I like the GR as a wideangle option below my 20-40 ltd. with the KP. With the adapter it reaches 24mm (FFequ.) and including this grip is still at around 530g. This is still below e.g. an Irix Firefly 15mm lens at ca. 600g. But it's not a FF, that's for sure.
And from what can be seen for now, the D FA 21 limited might be lighter than that.
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