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02-15-2020, 12:49 AM   #1
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Pancake Lenses on K-1 Mark ii

Looking to find a nice Pancake lens or very low profile lens for my new K-1 Mark ii and I was hoping I could get some feedback from those who has used any of the following 3 lenses on their K1:
- SMC Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited
- HD Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited
- SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited

Trying to understand which one has the deepest contrast, the most fine clarity and sharpness and least amount of to no vignetting.
Thanks!

02-15-2020, 02:05 AM - 1 Like   #2
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Well there is this thread -- Is the 40mm 2.8 Pancake really that bad? - PentaxForums.com
From memory the take home from it was the DA 40 2.8 XS has severe sharpness drop off on the corners on full frame. And I understand the XS to be the same optics as the limiteds.
02-15-2020, 02:58 AM - 1 Like   #3
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Regarding vignetting, the 43mm would without question be the way to go. The DA lenses (not designed for full frame) do get by, but I'd only recommend them if you primarily care to get the physically smallest lens.

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02-15-2020, 03:29 AM - 1 Like   #4
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The DA 40 has pretty bad corners, even stopped down to f8. The rest of it is OK at about f4.

02-15-2020, 04:16 AM - 1 Like   #5
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While I love my DA 40 on the KP, the FA 43 is definitely the way to go for the K-1 as the corners far outshine the DA.
02-15-2020, 05:15 AM - 1 Like   #6
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The FA43 is easily the best option, if it's not low profile enough, I'd prefer the M40/2.8 over the DA versions - simply because it's made for FF.

Last edited by johnha; 02-17-2020 at 03:37 AM. Reason: Tpyo
02-15-2020, 05:18 AM - 1 Like   #7
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only the FA 43 Limited was built during the film era

thus it is built for the full frame sensor

the DA 40s, not do good:

QuoteQuote:
Full Frame Coverage of DA Lenses: Comprehensive Test
Which DA lenses cover the full 24x36 mm frame?
By PF Staff in Gear Guides on Jan 7, 2019

DA 40mm F2.8 Limited
40
WO D
F5.6 C
F11 A
Read more at: Full Frame Coverage of DA Lenses: Comprehensive Test - Gear Guides | PentaxForums.com

for looking at photos taken by members of the 40s and 43 Limited:

PentaxForums.com → Pentax Lenses and Accessories → Lens Clubs → the Pentax 40mm and 43mm Lens Club

Read more at: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/394919-pentax-40mm-43mm-l...#ixzz6E1dPskDk


Last edited by aslyfox; 02-15-2020 at 05:31 AM.
02-15-2020, 05:28 AM - 1 Like   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by GUB Quote
Well there is this thread -- Is the 40mm 2.8 Pancake really that bad? - PentaxForums.com
From memory the take home from it was the DA 40 2.8 XS has severe sharpness drop off on the corners on full frame. And I understand the XS to be the same optics as the limiteds.
it does

QuoteQuote:
Description:
The SMC Pentax DA 40mm XS is based on the optical design of the SMC Pentax DA 40mm Limited, but its exterior is designed by Marc Newson so as to match the design of the K-01 mirrorless camera. The lens will work with Pentax DSLRs as well as with the K-01.

It is smaller being only 9.2 mm thick. The aperture blades are rounded which produces a smooth bokeh. The front element has SP coating which repels dust, water and grease and which makes it easier to wipe the front element clean.
Read more at: SMC Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 XS Reviews - DA XS Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Last edited by aslyfox; 02-15-2020 at 05:39 AM.
02-15-2020, 09:28 AM - 2 Likes   #9
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Ultimately the DA design is based on the Pentax-m 40mm F2.8 which is a full frame lens. The XS has worse corners than the limited.
02-15-2020, 09:41 AM - 1 Like   #10
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The 43 is one of my favorites. As one of the Limiteds, I would say it checks the boxes for contrast, color, and rendering. It is center sharp wide open, but needs to stop down some for the corners, but I've never thought of it as a lens lacking sharpness. And as mentioned, since it was designed for film, no issues with vignetting. I'd put it top of the list.
02-15-2020, 09:59 AM - 1 Like   #11
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I have the 40XS and 43 Limited. The 43 lives on the K-1. It renders subjects with an organic, 3D look. It is also easier to use than the 40XS.
Thanks,
barondla
02-15-2020, 10:19 AM - 1 Like   #12
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this lens club back in 2011 defined a " pancake lens " for its purposes:

QuoteOriginally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden Quote
We don't have a pancake lens club! What a disgrace! A camera forum of the most pancaking lens maker of all, and we have no pancake club.

Better amend this mistake asap. Hereby I institute the Pentax Forums Pancake lens club!

Next step: Define what is a pancake lens. It is supposed to be thin. But compared to what?

Pentax have four lenses that has been outright marketed as pancake lenses:

The SMC Pentax-DA 21/3.2 ltd, 63mm wide x 25mm deep
The grandpa: SMC Pentax-M 40/2.8, 63mm wide x 18mm deep
The SMC Pentax-DA 40/2.8 ltd, 63mm wide x 15mm deep
The SMC Pentax-DA 70/2.4, 63mm wide x 26mm deep

One factor in common is that they all have a physical depth less than half of their diameter. That sounds like a plausible first order rule for what a pancake lens is
But that also declares a couple of other Pentax lenses as pancakes: M20/4, M28/2.8, M/A/F/FA50/1.7 and M/A50/2. Is that OK?

Are any of the Takumar lenses pancakes by this definition? That extremely flat fish-eye must be considered a pancake.

In K mount I know there were pancake lenses from Chinon, Ricoh (28mm and 40mm), Cosina, and more recently the Voigtlander Ultron 40/2.

There were at least one Nikon pancake lens, and several Zuiko Olympus pancakes for the OM system, as well as a Minolta 45mm pancake.

I have a Russian pancake, the 50mm industar, but there were at least also a 28mm pancake, maybe more.


And one of my favorites is the Konica Hexanon 40/1.8..



And for sure there must be lenses I don't come to think of right now.

With the arrival of the mirrorless digital cameras, a new generation of pancake lenses has been born.

So please, post your photos with pancake lenses, and of pancake lenses, mounted on Pentax cameras, or any other camera
Pancake lens club - Page 13 - PentaxForums.com

looks like some of the posters did used a " full frame " sensor camera body

Last edited by aslyfox; 02-15-2020 at 10:32 AM.
02-15-2020, 10:42 AM - 1 Like   #13
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DA 40 XS has very nice out of focus rendering while the 43 can render some scenes in a very busy and distracting way. I would prefer the XS for this reason.

Other thin lenses to consider would be the F 28 and F 50 f1.7. DA 70 as well but corners are dark at and near wide open. A very small lens trio would be the F 28, DA 40, and DA 70.
02-15-2020, 12:06 PM   #14
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Thank you to everyone who shared a response... WOW, I was not expecting so much feedback so quickly... Very thankful for the advice to everyone.

PixL8
02-15-2020, 12:23 PM - 1 Like   #15
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This thread needs some example photos!
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