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**fs999** · 05-16-2019, 08:28 AM

My little list : fs999 - View Profile - PentaxForums.com

**dwj130** · 05-17-2019, 12:56 PM

I just recently acquired a K1 and am looking for an ultra wide for landscapes. (The A and FA 20mms are both expensive and rare to find for sale.) For my main lens with a bit of landscaping, I have a Carl Zeiss 35mm f2. Sharp and colourful and I enjoy it very much.

reh321 · 05-17-2019, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by landofcourtness

FA 28-105 kit lens ($350)

I think this lens is amazingly sharp. It's a bit unfair to compare it to other kit lenses. This lens mostly comes out during the day-time when I need something versatile or need something more weather resistant. This was my first lens for the camera, and I really love the focal range. It's as good as any other lens, provided that you don't need the light. Best walk-around lens!

I think this is a "Jun Hirakawa" lens.

**ivanvernon** · 05-17-2019, 10:24 PM - **1 Like**

One of my personal favorites is the Pentax-D FA 50mm f 2.8 macro. If you use this lens and your images are not sharp, it is not because of the lens!

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**wtlwdwgn** · 05-20-2019, 09:20 AM

I shoot mostly with the D FA 28-105. For wildlife I use the D FA 150-450 occasionally with a Kenko 1.5x TC. For some landscapes I like my A 20mm f/2.8. I also have the Tamron 70-200 but I find I'm not using it much.

dwj130, for landscapes I would try the 35 in portrait view and make a panorama of several images. You might even have less distortion than with an ultra-wide lens. You'll also have more megapickles in your image for cropping and printing. Just my two cents.

texandrews · 05-20-2019, 04:58 PM

Recently I have been using the 24-70 and 15-30 for some event stuff. Very handy. The 24-70 is the workhorse here, but the 15-30 sometimes is the necessary lens.

Still like the FA 20, 35, 50 macro, 100 macro. Haven't been using the 28-105 much lately, and still need to work out my 31 and 77. Hope to get my 28's going as well. Trouble is, it's all backup to my Z....that is what I reach for first if it's not an event or a run and gun documentation.

**landofcourtness** · 05-20-2019, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by texandrews

my Z.

Backup to Z???

normhead · 05-20-2019, 06:43 PM - **1 Like**

A K-1 pixel shifted image, taken with the Sigma 70 macro

**monochrome** · 05-20-2019, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by reh321

I think this is a "Jun Hirakawa" lens.

Is that a descriptive reference? You do know he’s about to retire from Tamron, right?

**landofcourtness** · 05-20-2019, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by EstimatedEyes

1600-8000

There's an 8000 ISO????

texandrews · 05-21-2019, 07:11 AM

Originally posted by landofcourtness

Backup to Z???

645Z. I use the cameras for different things, but the Z is the main camera.

**clackers** · 05-21-2019, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Is that a descriptive reference? You do know he’s about to retire from Tamron, right?

I think Reh is right, the old FA 28-105 has been credited as an early Hirakawa design, the FA 17-28 Fisheye is another, IIRC.

**monochrome** · 05-21-2019, 04:18 PM

Originally posted by clackers

I think Reh is right, the old FA 28-105 has been credited as an early Hirakawa design, the FA 17-28 Fisheye is another, IIRC.

FA28-105 = 12 Elements in 11 Groups
DFA28-105 = 15 Elements in 11 Groups

Per K-Mount Page

**clackers** · 05-21-2019, 04:24 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by monochrome

FA28-105 = 12 Elements in 11 Groups
DFA28-105 = 15 Elements in 11 Groups

Per K-Mount Page

Yeah, those two lenses aren't related.

My guess is that the FA is a Hirakawa design, and the DFA a Saori.

**monochrome** · 05-21-2019, 04:36 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clackers

Yeah, those two lenses aren't related.

My guess is that the FA is a Hirakawa design, and the DFA a Saori.

A member that I trade PM’s with communicates with Hirakawa by email. IIRC he has been managing the Design Department at Tamron for several years and is (reportedly) now transitioning into retirement. We can infer what we will about the 15-30 and 24-70 from that information. I think the business and social relationships still exist, but I also think the design team at Ricoh Imaging is some really bright and creative younger (probably) men now.

05-20-2019, 09:20 AM	#125
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,853	I shoot mostly with the D FA 28-105. For wildlife I use the D FA 150-450 occasionally with a Kenko 1.5x TC. For some landscapes I like my A 20mm f/2.8. I also have the Tamron 70-200 but I find I'm not using it much. dwj130, for landscapes I would try the 35 in portrait view and make a panorama of several images. You might even have less distortion than with an ultra-wide lens. You'll also have more megapickles in your image for cropping and printing. Just my two cents. Last edited by wtlwdwgn; 05-20-2019 at 12:17 PM.

05-20-2019, 04:58 PM	#126
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,400	I'll update my answer Recently I have been using the 24-70 and 15-30 for some event stuff. Very handy. The 24-70 is the workhorse here, but the 15-30 sometimes is the necessary lens. Still like the FA 20, 35, 50 macro, 100 macro. Haven't been using the 28-105 much lately, and still need to work out my 31 and 77. Hope to get my 28's going as well. Trouble is, it's all backup to my Z....that is what I reach for first if it's not an event or a run and gun documentation.

05-21-2019, 12:25 PM	#132
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by monochrome Is that a descriptive reference? You do know he’s about to retire from *Tamron, right? I think Reh is right, the old FA 28-105 has been credited as an early Hirakawa design, the FA 17-28 Fisheye is another, IIRC. Last edited by clackers; 05-21-2019 at 12:33 PM.*

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05-16-2019, 08:28 AM	#121
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,648	My little list : fs999 - View Profile - PentaxForums.com

05-17-2019, 12:56 PM	#122
dwj130 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 119	I just recently acquired a K1 and am looking for an ultra wide for landscapes. (The A and FA 20mms are both expensive and rare to find for sale.) For my main lens with a bit of landscaping, I have a Carl Zeiss 35mm f2. Sharp and colourful and I enjoy it very much.

05-17-2019, 08:31 PM	#123
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,185	Originally posted by landofcourtness FA 28-105 kit lens ($350) I think this lens is amazingly sharp. It's a bit unfair to compare it to other kit lenses. This lens mostly comes out during the day-time when I need something versatile or need something more weather resistant. This was my first lens for the camera, and I really love the focal range. It's as good as any other lens, provided that you don't need the light. Best walk-around lens! I think this is a "Jun Hirakawa" lens.

05-20-2019, 06:20 PM	#127
landofcourtness Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 151	Originally posted by texandrews my Z. Backup to Z???

05-20-2019, 06:43 PM - 1 Like	#128
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	A K-1 pixel shifted image, taken with the Sigma 70 macro

05-20-2019, 06:47 PM	#129
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by reh321 I think this is a "Jun Hirakawa" lens. Is that a descriptive reference? You do know he’s about to retire from *Tamron*, right?

05-20-2019, 06:59 PM	#130
landofcourtness Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 151	Originally posted by EstimatedEyes 1600-8000 There's an 8000 ISO????

05-21-2019, 07:11 AM	#131
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,400	Originally posted by landofcourtness Backup to Z??? 645Z. I use the cameras for different things, but the Z is the main camera.

05-21-2019, 04:18 PM	#133
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by clackers I think Reh is right, the old FA 28-105 has been credited as an early Hirakawa design, the FA 17-28 Fisheye is another, IIRC. FA28-105 = 12 Elements in 11 Groups DFA28-105 = 15 Elements in 11 Groups Per K-Mount Page

05-21-2019, 04:24 PM - 1 Like	#134
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by monochrome FA28-105 = 12 Elements in 11 Groups DFA28-105 = 15 Elements in 11 Groups Per K-Mount Page Yeah, those two lenses aren't related. My guess is that the FA is a Hirakawa design, and the DFA a Saori.

05-21-2019, 04:36 PM - 1 Like	#135
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by clackers Yeah, those two lenses aren't related. My guess is that the FA is a Hirakawa design, and the DFA a Saori. A member that I trade PM’s with communicates with Hirakawa by email. IIRC he has been managing the Design Department at Tamron for several years and is (reportedly) now transitioning into retirement. We can infer what we will about the 15-30 and 24-70 from that information. I think the business and social relationships still exist, but I also think the design team at Ricoh Imaging is some really bright and creative younger (probably) men now.

K1 users: what lenses do you use?

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