The 40 Ltd...Brutally Sharp lens. Who else is using it?

benjikan · 03-18-2009, 12:31 PM

I cannot count how often the 40 Ltd lens has been used for my fashion stuff and has been blown up to over 8x12 feet for some expos. Other than looking totally ridiculous on the camera, this lens IMHO is the ipso facto normal lens for me under most in studio full silhouette shooting conditions.

Not only that, it is tack sharp and I mean brutally so from wide open to f16.0. Now how many other primes can make that claim, other than perhaps the 70 Ltd?

I would be interested in hearing others impressions of this lens.

Ben

Attached Images

farfisa · 03-18-2009, 12:54 PM

Gus had a couple threads on it--seriously an underrated lens, probably because, as you said, it looks ridiculous on the camera!

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/43272-da-40-wh...-use-more.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/52478-da-40mm-...o-shooter.html

Igilligan · 03-18-2009, 01:01 PM

I absolutely agree with you on the DA-40. The first shot I posted in My DA 40 thread has crazy level of sharp detail.
Truly an amazing little lens...

Unfortunately it will not focus for beans on my K20, so until I finally put down the
K20 long enough to send it in, My DA 40 rides on the front of my K100 all the time.

Love the lens though.

er1kksen · 03-18-2009, 01:03 PM

It's expected to by my next large lens purchase... after I grab a cheap kit lens for wide-angle and a laptop that can actually handle K20D files... It could be a little while.

filmamigo · 03-18-2009, 01:10 PM

The 40 doesn't look ridiculous... it just looks like you left the body cap on!

The 40 is definitely at the top of my LBA list. Your photos aren't helping any!

I have the FA 50, but don't use it as often as I should because it's a little long.

maxwell1295 · 03-18-2009, 01:16 PM

I've often though about the 40 for the size alone. I already have the DA35 Ltd, which is brutally sharp as well and too close in FL. I think the main advantages of the 40 are size and AF speed (macros are understandably slower).

Now I'm considering getting rid of my FA50 (pretty sharp) and grabbing the FA43 (another brutally sharp lens). That leads me to this: Are there any Limiteds that aren't brutally sharp?

khardur · 03-18-2009, 01:58 PM

It's my most used lens. The only "con" I have is that I have trouble manually focusing it, partly because of its focal length and partly because of the smallish K200D viewfinder. Other than that minor gripe, I love it.

I've used it on for portraits, landscapes, and super macro... (it looks equally as embarrassing with 72mm of extension tubes attached)
I've posted these before in the forum, but not all together. These are all with the 40mm Ltd.

AndrewShirley · 03-18-2009, 02:09 PM

I've commented on this before, its the most natural rendering lens I own. And yes, I agree that its brutally sharp.

- Andrew

SloPhoto · 03-18-2009, 02:23 PM

I never found it to be brutally sharp.

My 43 LTD was far sharper at 2.8 and 4 vs my 40 LTD.

My analysis would line up more with that of photozones (although I think my 43 is better wide open than his was).

43mm
Pentax SMC-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Review / Test Report

40mm
Pentax SMC-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited Review / Test Report

43 LTD with + 40mm Lens Hood + cap to a 35mm film tube as a lens cap = best combination I have ever used.

JHfwp · 03-18-2009, 02:26 PM

It is a pretty pathetic looking lens isn't it? I'll have it on and I know people look at it and automatically assume it and my camera are some cheap entry-level thing. Even though I know better, I have to laugh myself when I go to unscrew the lens cap (that I constantly misplace). I don't know that it's tack sharp, mine certainly isn't wide open like a lot of people say theirs are, but it is a darn nice lens. It's priced way cheaper than it ought to be. And it's usually attached to my camera or close by.

ll_coffee_lP · 03-18-2009, 03:16 PM

I'm not using the DA40 unfortunately. I find the FA35 to be sharper, easier to focus with (manually), and better in low light. I also find the FA50 to be sharper, easier to focus with and better in low light.

DA40 isn't going to find it's way into my camera bag because it's focal length is too close to the FA35/50's. Too bad though...I like the idea of having more limited lenses.

c[_]

Igilligan · 03-18-2009, 04:08 PM

Not like me to be disagreeable

But no way is the FA 50 sharper than the DA 40.... at least not my copies of them... I seldom even let the FA on the camera prefer many other of my 50mm ish lens at F2.8 and below than the FA 50... but that's just me. Now you get to F4 and I might agree, but I am a disagreeable sort by nature...

I would go with you on the DA 35 macro though. That looks to be a sharp lens. But my the time it AF'ed my kids would be long gone...

Just kiddin'

For me I would take a cheap MF 50 1.4 + a used DA 40 over a new FA 50 any day... your mileage may vary.

jsherman999 · 03-18-2009, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by benjikan

I cannot count how often the 40 Ltd lens has been used for my fashion stuff and has been blown up to over 8x12 feet for some expos. Other than looking totally ridiculous on the camera, this lens IMHO is the ipso facto normal lens for me under most in studio full silhouette shooting conditions.

Not only that, it is tack sharp and I mean brutally so from wide open to f16.0. Now how many other primes can make that claim, other than perhaps the 70 Ltd?

I would be interested in hearing others impressions of this lens.

Ben

Funny you should mention prints with this lens - to this day, one of the sharpest prints I ever made came from a casual snapshot from this lens - still the best way to judge true sharpness is a good large print.

fearview · 03-18-2009, 06:42 PM

hai Ben...

--

pingflood · 03-18-2009, 07:00 PM

The 40 is a GREAT lens and at the prices the used ones are going for it's a damned crime not to own one!

03-18-2009, 12:31 PM	#1
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	The 40 Ltd...Brutally Sharp lens. Who else is using it? I cannot count how often the 40 Ltd lens has been used for my fashion stuff and has been blown up to over 8x12 feet for some expos. Other than looking totally ridiculous on the camera, this lens IMHO is the ipso facto normal lens for me under most in studio full silhouette shooting conditions. Not only that, it is tack sharp and I mean brutally so from wide open to f16.0. Now how many other primes can make that claim, other than perhaps the 70 Ltd? I would be interested in hearing others impressions of this lens. Ben Attached Images

03-18-2009, 01:01 PM	#3
Igilligan Guest	Hi Ben... I absolutely agree with you on the DA-40. The first shot I posted in My DA 40 thread has crazy level of sharp detail. Truly an amazing little lens... Unfortunately it will not focus for beans on my K20, so until I finally put down the K20 long enough to send it in, My DA 40 rides on the front of my K100 all the time. Love the lens though.

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03-18-2009, 12:54 PM	#2
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Gus had a couple threads on it--seriously an underrated lens, probably because, as you said, it looks ridiculous on the camera! https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/43272-da-40-wh...-use-more.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/52478-da-40mm-...o-shooter.html

03-18-2009, 01:03 PM	#4
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	It's expected to by my next large lens purchase... after I grab a cheap kit lens for wide-angle and a laptop that can actually handle K20D files... It could be a little while.

03-18-2009, 01:10 PM	#5
filmamigo Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 797	The 40 doesn't look ridiculous... it just looks like you left the body cap on! The 40 is definitely at the top of my LBA list. Your photos aren't helping any! I have the FA 50, but don't use it as often as I should because it's a little long.

03-18-2009, 01:16 PM	#6
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703	I've often though about the 40 for the size alone. I already have the DA35 Ltd, which is brutally sharp as well and too close in FL. I think the main advantages of the 40 are size and AF speed (macros are understandably slower). Now I'm considering getting rid of my FA50 (pretty sharp) and grabbing the FA43 (another brutally sharp lens). That leads me to this: Are there any Limiteds that aren't brutally sharp?

03-18-2009, 01:58 PM	#7
khardur Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Massachusetts Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,560	It's my most used lens. The only "con" I have is that I have trouble manually focusing it, partly because of its focal length and partly because of the smallish K200D viewfinder. Other than that minor gripe, I love it. I've used it on for portraits, landscapes, and super macro... (it looks equally as embarrassing with 72mm of extension tubes attached) I've posted these before in the forum, but not all together. These are all with the 40mm Ltd.

03-18-2009, 02:09 PM	#8
AndrewShirley Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 421	I've commented on this before, its the most natural rendering lens I own. And yes, I agree that its brutally sharp. - Andrew

03-18-2009, 02:23 PM	#9
SloPhoto Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 133	I never found it to be brutally sharp. My 43 LTD was far sharper at 2.8 and 4 vs my 40 LTD. My analysis would line up more with that of photozones (although I think my 43 is better wide open than his was). 43mm Pentax SMC-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Review / Test Report 40mm Pentax SMC-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited Review / Test Report 43 LTD with + 40mm Lens Hood + cap to a 35mm film tube as a lens cap = best combination I have ever used.

03-18-2009, 02:26 PM	#10
JHfwp Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 876	It is a pretty pathetic looking lens isn't it? I'll have it on and I know people look at it and automatically assume it and my camera are some cheap entry-level thing. Even though I know better, I have to laugh myself when I go to unscrew the lens cap (that I constantly misplace). I don't know that it's tack sharp, mine certainly isn't wide open like a lot of people say theirs are, but it is a darn nice lens. It's priced way cheaper than it ought to be. And it's usually attached to my camera or close by.

03-18-2009, 03:16 PM	#11
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	I'm not using the DA40 unfortunately. I find the FA35 to be sharper, easier to focus with (manually), and better in low light. I also find the FA50 to be sharper, easier to focus with and better in low light. DA40 isn't going to find it's way into my camera bag because it's focal length is too close to the FA35/50's. Too bad though...I like the idea of having more limited lenses. c[_]

03-18-2009, 04:08 PM	#12
Igilligan Guest	Not like me to be disagreeable But no way is the FA 50 sharper than the DA 40.... at least not my copies of them... I seldom even let the FA on the camera prefer many other of my 50mm ish lens at F2.8 and below than the FA 50... but that's just me. Now you get to F4 and I might agree, but I am a disagreeable sort by nature... I would go with you on the DA 35 macro though. That looks to be a sharp lens. But my the time it AF'ed my kids would be long gone... Just kiddin' For me I would take a cheap MF 50 1.4 + a used DA 40 over a new FA 50 any day... your mileage may vary.

03-18-2009, 06:27 PM	#13
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by benjikan I cannot count how often the 40 Ltd lens has been used for my fashion stuff and has been blown up to over 8x12 feet for some expos. Other than looking totally ridiculous on the camera, this lens IMHO is the ipso facto normal lens for me under most in studio full silhouette shooting conditions. Not only that, it is tack sharp and I mean brutally so from wide open to f16.0. Now how many other primes can make that claim, other than perhaps the 70 Ltd? I would be interested in hearing others impressions of this lens. Ben Funny you should mention prints with this lens - to this day, one of the sharpest prints I ever made came from a casual snapshot from this lens - still the best way to judge true sharpness is a good large print.

03-18-2009, 06:42 PM	#14
fearview Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jakarta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,067	hai Ben... --

03-18-2009, 07:00 PM	#15
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	The 40 is a GREAT lens and at the prices the used ones are going for it's a damned crime not to own one!