| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: UK Posts: 53
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 4, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, sharp, great FoV, superb contrast, ideal street shooter | | Cons: | f3.2 not enough for some? | |
I feel a bit predictable giving this a 9, but I can't give it any less. Thing is, already owning the DA35 and DA70, I kind of knew what to expect - supreme quality in a beautifully built, small package. And that's exactl what you get!
I don't review lenses as a career, I don't do statistics - I put the lens on my camera, I go out and I shoot.
So, what this lens offers me in use is:
the obvious - compact size. I see people lugging big Canons around or big zooms, and I have a sense of smugness that I am getting so much quality out of such a small, unassuming lens. It's been said before, but for street shooting, this makes it ideal.
Great contrast - I convert a lot of my photography to black and white, and the contrast you get out of the DA primes makes for beautiful B&W conversions.
Sharp - well, it's a DA prime, nuff said
Fast AF - no complaints here
I think this lens gets overlooked because of it's f3.2 widest aperture, but people shouldn't judge a lens on this alone. The DA21 offers so much and I am more than happy to recommend it to any and everyone. I just wish I was going somewhere like Venis where I could give it a thorough work out!!
Cheers
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2009 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: July 4, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | perfect for snapshots, walkround, landscape | | Cons: | hood design | |
a little bit heavier than i expected when i first hold it, but still it is very attractive on its weight and size.
my K100D super is now rountinely mounted with this lens. A very high quality prime lens, really nothing else to say.
| | | | | Moderator
Site Supporter Registered: June, 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Posts: 17,377
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 27, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, Build, Performance | | Cons: | speed | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
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I really like this lens. It is built like one would expect a DA ltd to be built. I got it primarily to use on trips by air travel when space for gear was limited. I had to leave my 20-40mm f2.8 sigma and missed some shots because I didn't have a wide lens on that trip. C.A. are very well controlled for a lens in this focal range.
 | | | | | Giveaway winner! Registered: December, 2007 Location: beantown Posts: 944
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 28, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $395.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | weight, size, quality of build, sharp | | Cons: | cost relative to performance | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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It has been handy to have and I like the results so far. The side by side comparing against my DA 16-45mm set to 21mm was given almost identical levels of performance, but at times I detect a slight edge from the 21mm. The place where the lens shine is in the daily use area. It gives a nice shoot from the hip FOV and the 3.2 is a little more wiggle room and as well as easy pouch carry. Focus is a little better in low light. Stopped down to around 5.6 it is very solidly sharp, but very nice wide too. Wish I could have found it a little cheaper, but don't regret getting it.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI. USA. Earth. Posts: 139
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 27, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $370.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | color and contrast, sharpness, size, build quality | | Cons: | barrel distortion | |
The lens feels very solid, and I like the included hood and metal lens cap. Focus is smooth with good grip, though it can be difficult, due to the size, in some positions to use the ring without letting your bent hand get in the frame.
Colors are saturated and punchy. the lens is very sharp (not extremely sharp), and the awesome contrast intensifies this for practical purposes. The only downside is the noticeable but not extreme barrel distortion.
It's fast enough for indoor work under normal lighting conditions, and has a very useful focal length. Those qualities combined with its size has made it the lens that stays on the camera just in case I need to take a quick photograph.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783 | | Review Date: March 25, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small, compact, high contrast and strong colour | | Cons: | Could be sharper in the corner stopping down | | New or Used: New
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I bought this lens primarily for street shots. The lens is very light, small and non-intimidating.
For landscape, the images quality are reasonable. The contrast and colour are in deed typically pentax. The compact size makes it a good companion for outdoor adventure
My DA 21mm f3.2 shots
A very worthwhile lens
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Posts: 1,784
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 23, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small size, quality build, great IQ | | Cons: | Odd hood design | |
I picked up my DA 21mm for a really nice price from a local forum member and was immediately pleased with the FOV. It gives you a film "wide" angle of 31mm which is sufficient for most of my needs.
Tack sharp, fast focus (although it does sometimes focus off but that's more of a camera issue than the lens itself), and very nice contrasty, saturated output makes this one a keeper for me.
My only concern is that hood is a special design am not quite sure if you can fit a filter under the hood; also, it has the same velvet lined metal lens cap as the FA Limiteds. Beautiful pieces of work but I'm deathly afraid of dropping one and damaging it!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: May, 2008 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,343 | | Review Date: January 15, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, light, superb build, fast AF, MF override | | Cons: | "only" f/3.2 | | New or Used: New
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This is my favorite lens at the moment. I love the focal length. Amazingly good optics, it's sharp, great rendering, focuses fast and is just well-built. All metal and well-designed.
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| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 2, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $380.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Crazy small, ltd rendering, micro contrast | | Cons: | Distortion for the price | |
As the "Pancake" moniker suggests this lens is very small and sits almost flat on the camera. Invaluable as my quality WA option when hiking as the large wildlife lens takes up a lot of room in my bag and this tiny lens sits in my pocket. Build quality is as the 'Limited' name suggest, outstanding in every respect.
IQ is strong all around,though for the rather steep price it's not a stunning optical performer but it's all about portability. Excellent micro contrast and focuses surprisingly closely.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2006 Location: Spokane,WA Posts: 25 | | Review Date: May 26, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small,Sharp,Wonderful Color | | Cons: | Hood is a little weird, but whatever... | |
A very cool little lens with a field of view that is great in a lot of situations, kinda has 3D look to the images | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,056 | | Review Date: March 28, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $380.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small and sharp | | Cons: | not compatible with film cameras :( | |
Very sharp for a lens this wide, even wide open. A tiny little thing that weighs almost nothing and is gorgeously constructed entirely of metal. I just wish I could use it on film!
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2007 Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 5, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small. Light. Sharp. | | Cons: | Barrel distortion. Chromatic aberration. | |
Slight chromatic aberration in very high contrast situations (1-2px). Barrel distortion is greater than it should be in a quality wide-angle. On the plus side, it's quite sharp, even wide open.
| | | | | | | | Review Date: May 25, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $650.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small, very good resolution, contrast, colors | | Cons: | a bit of barrel distortion, quite pricey | |
Even with the slight barrel distortion I use it for interior photos. You can easily work around that. It's size and wide angle make it perfect for street shots.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: Tokyo Posts: 962
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 26, 2007 | Not Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | versatile focal length, size/weight, autofocus | | Cons: | hood and cap design; colours not great | | New or Used: New
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I was reluctant to write anything about this lens because it's the only auto-focus lens I've used extensively. As a mostly-manual shooter, I miss the aperture ring and tactile feeling of manual-focus gear.
That said, the ~31mm focal length equivalent on the 35mm frame is very versatile, suiting urban, landscape and indoor settings. It is a sharp lens with little distortion, making the entire frame useful.
I've made some of my favorite photos with this lens, but notice that these tend towards subtle colors in discreet lighting. This lens has disappointed me with weird color rending in bright light.
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The second sample shows the resolving power of this lens. At ISO 200 and f/8, in the RAW file you can make out facial features details of the fellow standing on the far side of the street, partially visible through the speeding bus.
Some "cons"
I've found this lens gives me curious color cast, with reds and violets becoming too livid or pronounced. I've even had photos of the sea turn out purple. I've never had this problem with my other Pentax lenses.
I don't find the rendering of shapes to be particularly engaging. My SMC 28mm f/3.5 and Zenitar 16mm do a much better job.
The design of the hood and cap puts form before function. The cap does not fasten to the lens for some reason. Mine fell to the street during the first week that I had the lens. The fall dented the hood rendering it useless but I didn't notice that it was dented until I'd tried putting it back on the lens, scratching the lens in the process. The clip-on hood makes the accessory thread unusable, so I shelved it in favor of using filters and a hood that can attach to the lens.
[edit: 2010.07.02 -- downgraded my rating on this lens, as I've essentially stopped using it. It is a good lens but not excellent. ]
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: January, 2007 Location: UK/Canada/wherever work takes me Posts: 95
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 23, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | lightweight, beautifully built, sharp | | Cons: | lens hood turns a bit too easily | |
This lens is amazing. It is really small and complements my DS perfectly. The close focus distance makes it surprisingly good for close-ups.
I have used it on my DS wide open, in dark situations and I never have a problem with autofocus (although I don't have many autofocus lenses so maybe I have different expectations). Meters perfectly too, as you'd expect from a DA lens.
The only cons are
a) the lens hood. I don't normally use hoods but this one is so small and cute it stays on my lens the whole time. Only problem is it turns too easily and I have taken the odd shot where it has been knocked out of place taking the lens cap off. I've also twisted it off by accident when I was trying to manually focus on a tripod in the dark. I was being a prat but can attest the hood is well made; it fell about 6 foot onto the pavement and there is not even a dent. I'm not sure the actual lens would stand that but it is _very_ well made. Better made than even my old M series lenses. Such build quality is rare these days.
b) the ridiculous cost in the UK. This isn't the lenses fault. To be fair, all lenses are expensive in the UK, but the pricing seems a bit random compared with UK and Europe. Some lenses are very well priced compared with elsewhere and some lenses can be double the price.
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