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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-16-2023, 06:44 PM
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I own a silver 31 and a silver 20-40 and an FA* 300. All of these look fine on the black cameras I own. But I won’t go out of my way to buy one. It’s just what was offered or in the case of the fa* the only way it was made.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-16-2023, 06:44 PM
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What has sense got to do with ..... style ( you're style that is ).
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-16-2023, 02:42 PM
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If I didn't already have it I would get it in a New York minute. Here is why. When you shoot macro you get a VERY narrow DOF. With this new lens and the K3 M3 it will do a composite of things in focus. As a serious macro shooter I would LOVE to have that capability rather than have to process the images. But it is beyond my means right now. Wish I had a landscape lens that would do the same thing.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-15-2023, 07:43 PM
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You may be better off selling it through the forum's Marketplace, even if it takes a while. Meanwhile, you have a capable, nicely compact macro lens that handles well and provides a lot better flare resistance than other new lens offerings on the market (IRIX 150mm, Laowa 100mm) already in its smc WR incarnation. For me, PF has rarely shown up in macro use. More often, green/purple longitudinal chromatic aberrations has been troublesome and the most disturbing property was the foreground out-of-focus rendering. But that's all looking from a very critical standpoint, most of the my DFA100WR images are flawless as far as the lens is concerned. I'll try to borrow/rent it first to see how much better AW handles the LoCA and foreground at 1:1, which is hard to judge from the pictures which I have seen so far. Only if it comes close to my other macros in those categories, an upgrade would be worthwhile.
Doubling as a more general purpose lens, I can see that the limiter function would be a good reason to upgrade. But with the above quoted amount, a used FA77 Ltd. (I know, another PF-prone lens) might be more desirable and within reach for portrait use.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-15-2023, 01:21 PM
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A Pentax HD DFA 1.4x WR TC for FF is long overdue.
I think the macro replacement of the new HD DFA 100mm f/2.8 AW is a good idea. I have the previous DFA 100mm f/2.8 WR macro, and have enjoyed it, but I have not encountered the PF problems, not having shot subjects under lighting conditions where this will likely surface. So I am unsure as to whether I will bother getting the new superior model.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-15-2023, 07:03 AM
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HD DA converter has mostly DA like coverage. Even so some use beyond the apsc coverage is possible. On my FA* 300 the vignetting is pretty strong but a square crop is certainly possible.
---------- Post added 01-15-23 at 09:29 AM ----------
DFA 150-450mm converter with K-1 Il - PentaxForums.com
But this should probably move to a new thread if more discussion is needed.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-15-2023, 05:42 AM
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Exactly what I did. I got a silver HD DFA 100 mm f/2.8 ED copy from Camera Canada in London, Ontario. More than impressive results up to now on my K3 III. Nice Spring flower season in sight.
Regards
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-15-2023, 12:40 AM
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Depends if the priority is the best use of the money or wanting to have the best Pentax macro lens. So far, I've decided not to go for the 100 AW, not because the 100 AW isn't worth the money, but because the money I'd get for selling my 100 WR is ridiculously low, so low that my 100 WR looks like incredible value now. I had the Samyang 135 f/2 and it was excellent, only a bit tricky to focus manually on a DSLR , depth of field razor thin for portraits wide open. Instead of buying the 100 AW, I bought the DFA 21 limited, which definitely is excellent, small and open up possibilities I didn't have before getting it. The other option is to buy nothing.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-15-2023, 03:47 AM
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Unless you are bothered with purple fringing on your 100 macro, I would just keep it and save your money. I do see PF on my copy of the 100, but it is pretty fixable in post and so I am not planning to upgrade. Probably the other thing to mention is that there is a software enabled focus limiter for the new lens, which could make it more functional if you are shooting with a K-3 III or K-1 II camera.
Most of the people I have seen upgrade have done so because they want the silver version of the new lens.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
07-19-2020, 12:14 PM
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You didn't mention what type of photography you do. That's the most important thing to answer your question. We can't tell whether you'll benefit from f2.8 with the info provided so far, nor can we tell whether a larger, heavier lens will be a hindrance.
Factors in favor of the 70-200 f2.8: Event photography in low light. Kid's events such as outdoor sports after sunset, or indoor dance recitals. Anything where you want very thin depth of field, such as some types of portraits.
Factors in favor of the 70-210 f4.0: Hiking for landscapes that you're taking at f/8. Long photo sessions if a heavier lens will be hard to hold. You can still get a pretty thin depth of field at f4 when you need it.
Speaking from my own experience with the K-1, where I mostly photograph landscapes, architecture, street photography (unposed portraits), astrophotography, and night cityscapes. I almost never do portraits. All lenses below are Pentax brand unless otherwise mentioned. Listed in order of importance to me.
- My primary lens is the DFA 28-105. This can do almost everything I need when there's adequate light. The lens is very sharp, with good contrast, a versatile zoom range, light weight. This lens is always with me because it's so light.
- DFA 15-30 f2.8. I use this when the 28-105 isn't wide enough for a landscape or building. It's also my primary Milky Way astrophotography lens.
- Sigma 50-500 OS (no longer manufactured). Wildlife, air shows, and the very rare landscape where I need more than 105mm. It's a big heavy lens that I don't carry unless I know I'll need it.
- DFA 100 Macro WR. Used when the long end of the 28-105 is too slow or I want thin depth of field. It's a good lens for isolating people in parade crowds, and for astrophotography when 100mm is my desired focal length. The very long focus throw from near to far is not ideal for non-macro uses but has never been a big problem.
- FA 43. Street photography because it's a small lens (but a Ricoh GR is my main street photo camera). Low light landscapes.
- Tamron Adaptall 300/f2.8 (a very old discontinued lens): A special-purpose lens. It only gets used for wildlife in low light and astrophotography of smaller targets.
- DAL 55-300 (an earlier model no longer manufactured). If I'm hiking where I don't expect much wildlife, I'll take this as a lightweight alternative to the 50-500.
In other words, after many years with a K-1, I've done fine without the 24-70 f2.8 and any flavor of 70-200. If you're mostly a portrait photographer, though, maybe those are the 2 most important lenses for you.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
01-08-2023, 05:44 AM
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The new DFA100mm f/2.8 is indeed an ED lens, it isn't apochromatic. Apochromatic lenses invariably have a cemented triplet at the front that is aligned to tolerances within a few µm to focus light precisely at the same point.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
08-27-2022, 07:29 AM
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Hi Igor and welcome to the forum !
I was lucky to find a used D FA 150-450mm on ebay for a very nice prize. The only lense I have tested for astro objects and it is awesome !
Here is my test image:Andromeda from Tenerife - PentaxForums.com
Another solution could be getting a smaller telescope and use an adaptor to mount your K-1 II ? Some of them are cheaper than the 150-450 mm for sure.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-17-2022, 11:32 AM
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My trial on the Startracer option on the K1.
Tripod and camera set up and calibrated and activated the Startracer option.
Found where Andromeda was and did some 60 second shots. The outcome was for me very good, as I usually live in a lightpoluted area and the dark sky here was awesome !
Staked 3 of my best ones and here is the result:
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
10-14-2021, 08:18 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-10-2021, 10:40 AM
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If you're happy with the lenses image quality and function that is the main thing. However if it were mine and I got a really good deal on it I would break out the J-B Weld and be done with it after some touch-up paint.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-29-2021, 03:23 PM
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- For increasing the reach, i'd rather prefer the K-3 III with it's phantastic APS-C image sensor instead of the 2016 best available K-1 FF camera.
And then you can profit from the perfect astro lens DA* 11-18mm f2.8 whose exterior is designed with a lens heater groove to prevent dew condensation.
Product Overview | HD PENTAX-DA?11-18mmF2.8ED DC AW | PENTAX STAR LENS | RICOH IMAGING
- The Pentax D FA 15-30mm 2.8 is identical to the Tamron. It's quality is unquestionable.
- The D FA* 50mm 1.4 is one of the best AF 50mm primes and the Tokina Operia is identical. You can use it wide open.
- The Sigma 35mm Art offers high image quality at open aperture. If you wait until 2022, a Pentax D FA* 35mm prime might be announced (it's already on the Pentax lens roadmap). Remember Pentax offers native DNG in all cameras!
- The D FA 150-450mm offers much image quality for it's price tag and can compete with most competitors regarding fast aperture. If you switch from your other photo systems to Pentax, you'll even save money :cool:
- How high is the budget on your bank? If the D FA 150-450mm is out of your reach, the next 400mm option is a ised K 400mm f5.6.
<= 2990g Full Frame Lenses | PentaxForums.com
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-18-2021, 02:42 PM
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Have also heard nothing but good reports on the Sigma 35 mm. Condensation is usually solved by using a lens warmer - cheap ones available on fleabay. Suggest you have a good read through the the Astrophotography group on this forum. Lots of information there, and inspiration! Member PeteXL has done some ridiculously good stuff with a 50 mm lens (and trackers and dedicated astro cameras) and Mossyrocks regularly runs vintage 50 mm's. Most of the old 50's seem to perform well at f2.8.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-18-2021, 03:39 PM
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The D-FA suffers from coma at wider apertures. I'd usually look to using it stopped down a bit so that shouldn't be too much of an issue.
When it comes to the Samyang 135/2, I don't think I've come across a sharper lens across the frame. It's immense from wide open and the edges are excellent too.
As a side note, the 135's ability to capture information surgically also makes it quite a boring lens to use - it lacks character for normal shooting.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-18-2021, 04:18 PM
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The DFA 50mm struggles with aberrations off axis wide open (so the starts will not be points of light in the corners). I've included a review of this lens for astro at the end of my post. the long and the short is that once stopped down to f2.8 it should be looking good, but at that aperture, the M 50mm f1.4 that you already own will be looking just as good. That's the lens I'd be focussing on practising with if I was you.
The 70-200mm f2.8 should work well for astro. I've included another link, showing the coma performance of the Tamron version of this lens. I haven't used this lens, but I've used the second generation Tamron 70-200mm on another mount, and its one of the most impressive lens I've ever used around.
I don't have any info on the 77 f1.8 for astro, but my expectation would be thats its not great. This is based on its coma performance reported on Lenstip, also linked at the end of this post.
Regarding the Sigma 35mm f.4 it definitely works as is on the K1. I think it may have scratched the original K1 body very slightly above the lens mount, but I use a K1ii and I've never even seen a mark at all. In very cold conditions, I wrap a USB powered lens warmer around the 35mm to prevent condensation. I do this on every lens, its not specific to the Sigma 35mm, nor is it something that Pentax WR will prevent.
So once you get the K1ii, go out and practice with Pentax-M 50mm you already own, whilst you decide between the Sigma 35mm or the Samyang 135mm as your astro specific lens purchase (why not both hahaha).
Pentax D FA? 50mm f/1.4 Review - MilkyWayPhotographers.com
Tamron SP 70-200 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh - LensTip.com
Pentax smc FA 77 mm f/1.8 Limited review - Coma and astigmatism - LensTip.com |
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-18-2021, 12:02 AM
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Here is the LMC with the old SMC 135 F2.5 and a K3, just a tripod and stacked exposures
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