Lens Tournament: DA 21mm F3.2 vs K 28mm F3.5

Adam · 10-20-2014, 08:12 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves to Knockout Round Two. The loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results.

In this wide-angle knockout match, the SMC Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited faces the SMC Pentax 28mm F3.5.

Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account.
Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)

PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

JinDesu · 10-20-2014, 08:24 PM

Title could use some correction.

**luftfluss** · 10-20-2014, 08:26 PM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by JinDesu

Title could use some correction.

So could the DA21...

JinDesu · 10-20-2014, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

So could the DA21...

Hey hey! Cheap shot

Lightroom makes it an easy correction~

**clackers** · 10-20-2014, 08:32 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

So could the DA21...

That's very good.

**luftfluss** · 10-20-2014, 10:18 PM

Ah, gentlemen, I tease the DA21 because I love the DA21. Its a cheerful, exuberant lens.

hoanpham · 10-21-2014, 12:10 AM

It is a typo on the tittle.
21mm vs 28mm are different focal. On a pentax dslr, they result different view: 31mm vs 42mm. The numbers seem not much, but they are different.

Naruto · 10-21-2014, 12:39 AM

Difficult to compare:
Pro 21: lighter, more compact, better looking (for me) , very sharp center, nice overall to use.
Con 21: Sigma zoom lenses sharper on chart tests, aspherical element is made of "plastic" as all AL lenses except the FA31. These make me feel uneasy to vote for it as "Greatest Pentax Lens".

Pro K28 f3.5: build quality, very sharp in the center of frame.
Con K28: heavy, "slow"(OK for landscape), no AF and not better then a lot of competition there at 28mm.

At the end, may be it mainly comes to compare 21 vs 28.

chrisfer · 10-21-2014, 03:57 AM

"Lens Tournament: DA 31mm F3.2 vs K 28mm F3.5"
DA 21mm not DA 31 !!!!

Wild Mark · 10-21-2014, 04:56 AM

Interesting matchup and in saying this I note the absence of the K 28/2 from the contest (eek)

Anyway, sour grapes aside, this is a contest that will be fought on two fronts:

1. Are you an AF person or not
2. Do you travel light or not

Other differences such as FoV and FF capability also weigh in but probably to a lesser degree.

At this focal length, AF is, for me, of negligible benefit. I do not travel so, the sharpness and FF capabilities of the manual K 28/3.5 decide it for me.

K28/3.5 for me

**monochrome** · 10-21-2014, 06:43 AM

Even owning my new-to-me FA31, K28/3.5 is my favorite lens altogether, so this is easy.

[EDIT:] But since this round is 1. vs. 8. I think I'm about to be disappointed.

jimr-pdx · 10-21-2014, 08:23 AM

I fear that we've contaminated the results by voting 21 vs 31 vs 28..

carrrlangas · 10-21-2014, 09:08 AM

28mm correspond to the field of view of the 43 ltd on film, which is considered a normal. And 21mm corresponds to the field of view of the 31ltd on film, which is considere a wide angle.

How can they compit in the same category!?

**c.a.m** · 10-21-2014, 09:14 AM

Hmm... hard choice.

Along with the KM, KX, and K2 cameras, the SMC Pentax lenses ('K' series) introduced the venerable 'K mount' to the Pentax line. The 28/3.5 was (and still is) a highly respected wide-angle lens. I use my copy frequently, and am always happy with the resulting images. For its heritage, optical quality, robustness, and utility, it gets my nod between these two as the greatest Pentax lens of all time.

- Craig

DSims · 10-21-2014, 09:29 AM

I've used both. The K28/3.5 is the better lens.

View Poll Results: Which lens should advance to the next round?
DA 21mm F3.2 Limited	90	69.77%
K 28mm F3.5	39	30.23%
Voters: 129. You may not vote on this poll

10-20-2014, 08:12 PM	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Lens Tournament: DA 21mm F3.2 vs K 28mm F3.5 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves to Knockout Round Two. The loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results. In this wide-angle knockout match, the SMC Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited faces the SMC Pentax 28mm F3.5. Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account. Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours. SMC Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax 28mm F3.5 Reviews - K Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-21-2014, 06:43 AM	#11
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Even owning my new-to-me FA31, K28/3.5 is my favorite lens altogether, so this is easy. [EDIT:] But since this round is 1. vs. 8. I think I'm about to be disappointed. Last edited by monochrome; 10-21-2014 at 04:38 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: DA 21mm F3.2 LTD / FA 35mm F2 / Tamron 10-24mm F3.5-4.5	freerider	Sold Items	7	02-16-2014 08:12 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited Lens	jft	Sold Items	3	09-21-2013 05:08 AM
For Sale - Sold: PK/A Adaptall-2, P/K Adaptall-2, 70-210mm F3.5, 75-250mm F3.8-4.5, Good Deal Inside!!	MightyMike	Sold Items	48	03-01-2013 09:12 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax K10D with 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens and Pentax-DA-21mm F3.2 Limited Lens	k9lover	Sold Items	12	11-19-2012 12:51 PM

10-20-2014, 08:24 PM	#2
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Title could use some correction.

10-20-2014, 08:26 PM - 4 Likes	#3
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,626	Originally posted by JinDesu Title could use some correction. So could the DA21...

10-20-2014, 08:27 PM	#4
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by luftfluss So could the DA21... Hey hey! Cheap shot Lightroom makes it an easy correction~

10-20-2014, 08:32 PM	#5
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by luftfluss So could the DA21... That's very good.

10-20-2014, 10:18 PM	#6
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,626	Ah, gentlemen, I tease the DA21 because I love the DA21. Its a cheerful, exuberant lens.

10-21-2014, 12:10 AM	#7
hoanpham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Strand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,366	It is a typo on the tittle. 21mm vs 28mm are different focal. On a pentax dslr, they result different view: 31mm vs 42mm. The numbers seem not much, but they are different.

10-21-2014, 12:39 AM	#8
Naruto Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 66	Difficult to compare: Pro 21: lighter, more compact, better looking (for me) , very sharp center, nice overall to use. Con 21: Sigma zoom lenses sharper on chart tests, aspherical element is made of "plastic" as all AL lenses except the FA31. These make me feel uneasy to vote for it as "Greatest Pentax Lens". Pro K28 f3.5: build quality, very sharp in the center of frame. Con K28: heavy, "slow"(OK for landscape), no AF and not better then a lot of competition there at 28mm. At the end, may be it mainly comes to compare 21 vs 28.

10-21-2014, 03:57 AM	#9
chrisfer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Albi, Tarn, France Photos: Albums Posts: 101	"Lens Tournament: DA 31mm F3.2 vs K 28mm F3.5" DA 21mm not DA 31 !!!!

10-21-2014, 04:56 AM	#10
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	Interesting matchup and in saying this I note the absence of the K 28/2 from the contest (eek) Anyway, sour grapes aside, this is a contest that will be fought on two fronts: 1. Are you an AF person or not 2. Do you travel light or not Other differences such as FoV and FF capability also weigh in but probably to a lesser degree. At this focal length, AF is, for me, of negligible benefit. I do not travel so, the sharpness and FF capabilities of the manual K 28/3.5 decide it for me. K28/3.5 for me

10-21-2014, 08:23 AM	#12
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	I fear that we've contaminated the results by voting 21 vs 31 vs 28..

10-21-2014, 09:08 AM	#13
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	28mm correspond to the field of view of the 43 ltd on film, which is considered a normal. And 21mm corresponds to the field of view of the 31ltd on film, which is considere a wide angle. How can they compit in the same category!?

10-21-2014, 09:14 AM	#14
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,191	Hmm... hard choice. Along with the KM, KX, and K2 cameras, the SMC Pentax lenses ('K' series) introduced the venerable 'K mount' to the Pentax line. The 28/3.5 was (and still is) a highly respected wide-angle lens. I use my copy frequently, and am always happy with the resulting images. For its heritage, optical quality, robustness, and utility, it gets my nod between these two as the greatest Pentax lens of all time. - Craig

10-21-2014, 09:29 AM	#15
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	I've used both. The K28/3.5 is the better lens.