| Author: | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Posts: 9,363
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 7, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $340.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, colours, contrast, size, AF speed, quick-shift, 3D effect | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
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I believe each lens should be considered with its intended use in mind. A portrait photographer has no need for an ultra-wide lens.
So what is the intended purpose of the DA 21? For me, its purpose is to work as a portable, handheld task force with the F50 f1,7. Those two lenses allow me to leave home for night shoots without a tripod, and without anything except the camera and a small coat pocket.
Seen in this optic (no pun intended) the DA 21 is perfect. f3.2 is more than enough for handholding shots at 21 mm with SR and ISO 800. AF is extremely fast and reliable. Flare is minimal even without the hood. The size is amazing, hard to believe until you actually hold the lens in your hand. Optical qualities are what I would have expected from a limited. I have not used a test chart but in real life, I see no obvious differences in sharpness between f3.2 and smaller apertures.
Close focusing is a nice addition : it’s not a macro but allows for nice close-ups. Which brings me to another unique feature : bokeh. This lens is far from the smooth, perfectly creamy bokeh of the FA 50 macro (or similar lenses) but its busier bokeh actually contributes in a large part to creating what many have called the “3D effect” this lens produces. The pictures below are the best examples:
The effect is hard to describe, but quite visible to me. And it is a great perk of this lens.
The build quality is nothing less than what I expected. Light but rugged, gorgeous to behold, smooth focus (though my used copy is tighter at short focus distances. I’ll have to investigate that). I like the hood design but tend not to use it much. For starters, it’s not really needed. It also hides the beautiful red LIMITED lettering on the front, and adds something like 25% to the length of the lens… I confess that part of me does not want to use the hood just so I can show off… I might bet to use it in time.
People complaining that it gets less sharp at smaller apertures than f8 : why did you ever purchase this lens? It is meant to be used at wide apertures. There is no need for a limited prime to shoot at f16! And with a wide lens, DOF increases extremely fast anyway.
There is nothing wrong with this lens. Again, that statement is true for the purpose I have in mind. So it’s a clear 10 for me.
EDIT : I had the lens serviced because of the tight focus ring (at a local Quebec city shop). The lens came back today, some bearings were misaligned apparently (it looks like the lens got a hit from the pervious owner, apparently). The AF speed, now that the lens has been fixed, is nothing short of blazing! Fast, extremely reliable, and did I mention fast?
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,249
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 9, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, punchy colors, light, build quality, close focus | | Cons: | barrel distortions, "only" f/3.2, vignetting wide-open, some flare in contra-light | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 5
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I feel this is one of the most underrated limited prime lens. I think there are many reasons for this:
- the focal length feels odd for some. Interestingly it would have the same FOV as the FA 31mm Ltd mounted on a FF camera. Myself I like the FOV.
- It's "only" f/3.2. For a WA lens I don't think this is significant, especially considering the diminutive size.
- Barrel distortion. It annoys me too but since more and more software correct it (in-camera, LR3, etc.) it becomes a non-issue and most of time I don't see it.
- A bit expensive compared to the DA 40mm Ltd but not out of touch for a WA lens.
The rendering is special, the colors are very punchy, it seems that the lens is optimized for Landscape rendering.
There are also some vignetting wide-open, I kind of like it actually as I sometimes add vignette to my pictures.
The min. focus distance is quite short and close-ups are possible, add a Raynox DCR-250 and you almost have a macro lens.
In the end I use this lens much more than I thought because of its small size, it always finds a place in the bag.
Rue de la Couronne (Quebec City)
With the Raynox DCR-250
Butterfly and Orange Flower
Pictures taken with this lens | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2008 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Posts: 2,456
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 5, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, Quickshift, Fast AF, close to my ideal FL, good colour | | Cons: | 3.2, some distortion, CA in high contrast | |
According to my catalog, this is my second most used lens (behind the 40mm). The focal length is very good for street shooting, and walks in the woods.
While not as sharp as the DA 40mm, it is still very respectable.
I have noted CA to be an issue when shooting in high contrast situations.
Of any of the DA limiteds, now that the 15mm is available, I wish this was redesigned as a 22 or 23mm (to give a 35mm equivalent) with a 2.8 aperture, and the distortion eliminated (not an issue on the K-7/ K-X if you are shooting jpgs - same with the CA).
The Travel kit of 21mm, 40mm and 50-200mm is very capable.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 92
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 21, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | everything | | Cons: | barrel distortions | |
Like the compact size, it was really a pleasure to travel with it. The auto focus is fast (for landscape it is not noticeable). Like the color, even against the sunshine. Most of the time the barrel distortion is not a issue. The sharpness is not as excellent as DA40 even I used f/8-11 most of the time, but probably just my copy.
Overall it is great lens. I would rate it as 9.5 if possible.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2007 Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland Posts: 262
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 31, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, build quality | | Cons: | Cost of a new lenscap! | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
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I first bought this lens both as a compact walk-round lens and as something that could be put in a jacket pocket to give a wider option when walking with the DA* 50-135 or even the big Sigma 100-300 f4 attached. It fulfils these roles admirably, but has also proved the ideal lens for stitched panoramas with the camera mounted vertically - barrel distortion hasn't been an issue here.. However, if your other half loses the lenscap (!) get them to buy you a new one, because they cost an arm and a leg! I'm still using the hood with a filter atached inside for protection!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2008 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 428
1 user found this helpful
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 15
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 3, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Fast Autofocus, Small size, Build Quality | | Cons: | Lens hood/ Filter usage | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
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My take on this lens is as follows:
1) It had great image quality, I find that the colors are very pleasing to the eye. I find that the colors are saturated but not overly so. The Bokeh is also very nice, which comes in handy when you are close-focusing with this lens. Speaking of close-focusing, this lens does focus in close very nicely. Although it is not a true macro lens. I find myself using it to get up close with many of my subjects.
2) The auto focus is very fast and accurate. I especially like the manual focus adjustments that are capable with Pentax lenses. If you feel that the focus is a little off you can make manual corrections to the focus without having to switch the lens to manual focus to do it.
3) The build quality of the DA limited series lens is superb. They are almost works of art themselves. It has an all metal construction with a metal lens mount. I find this to be very important especially if you change lenses often. The wear and tear on a plastic lens mount would become a problem over time.
4) Compact size. This lens goes with me everywhere because it's just so portable. The lens comes with a lens pouch, when you put the lens in it you can easily fit the lens into a jacket pocket. It takes up almost no room in any camera bag even if it's in the pouch.
5) The only real negative for me, and it's not much of one, is that the lens hood locks on to the outer edge of the lens which means that you can not use screw in filters and the lens hood at the same time.
This really is my favorite lens in my arsenal.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2010 Posts: 13 | | Review Date: January 20, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small, construction, quality | | Cons: | some times to much distorsion on lens | |
I would recomend this lens for all street photographers. Discrete lens, sharp and small...it's a goal for travel photography too.
Love the colours
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: North of switzerland Posts: 1 | | Review Date: February 22, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $710.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | build qualitiy, construction, Limited lens, AF, IQ, sharp | | Cons: | filter attachment, cost, "only" 7 blades | |
Really a good lens. Nice wide angle focal lenght. I love the Limited's build and construction quality. The lens is super slim and a real lightweight. The lens has an excellent sharpness. Mechanical and optical quality is excellent. Uncommon but cool lenshood. Highly recommended.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 4,884
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 1, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $650.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | size, sharpness, lens hood | | Cons: | In ability to use filters with lens hood | |
This lens was not a priority on my list as I already had the DA15 so I bought it on a whim (well with some unexpected money burning a whole in my pocket...). I used it daily for the month of March and found the focal length awkward at first - too wide or not wide enough. What I have found over time is that this lens has a very nice way of rendering detail and in good light can easily be stopped down to 9.5 or smaller to produce amazingly deep DOF handheld. The ability of the lens to capture texture allows for very effective monochrome conversion. I am looking forward to using this lens if and when spring arrives in earnest.
I hear many debating between this lens and the DA 15 Ltd. If you are not sure about the ultrawide which can bring challenges of composition, this would be the lens to start with. If you are naturally a wide angle shooter I would start with the 15 because for some landscape and architecture uses 21 will not be wide enough. Both lenses you will be pleased to know, produce those fine and fun starbursts. And, in the end, having both is not redundant, the lenses complement each other (or any other limited prime for that matter).
Some images with the DA 21 Ltd:
Retired fighter #2 by jmschrei, on Flickr
Rocky outcrop by jmschrei, on Flickr
Solitary tree - B&W by jmschrei, on Flickr
Downtown reflected by jmschrei, on Flickr
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610 | | Review Date: July 8, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Barrel distortion | | Cons: | Barrel distortion | |
Even more so than DA15, one should notice this weird barrel distortion with this lens. I for one like the distortion. Most masterful pictures I take with this lens are instantly recognizable because of that feature. I think this will be a cool lens to have on (even permanently in similar fashion to X100) if Pentax went insane and produced a rangefinder.
No matter how well the other aspects of this lens appear to be, if you don't care for this distortion you ought to pass on it. Sure, lens correction and all that, but I think that feature makes the processing too slow - mainly a pain in the arse. As I said, I think it is a very interesting lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2010 Posts: 16
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 17, 2011 | Not Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Size, weight, construction, design, AF speed, bokeh, colors, focal | | Cons: | distorsion, vignette, not sharp, aberrations, odd hood and cap | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 7
New or Used: New
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It´s a Limited, but for me it´s not a Limited... A very simple lens, it´s strengths are size and construction. But this is not so important when the optics are not in a level according to this. High distortion and vignette, low sharpness in general. The colors are accurate and Typically Pentax, with nice, high contrast.
The 21 is very nice for my purpose, as a street photography lens. I chose it because of its size and convenient focal, with is perfect for my purposes. Using a 35 for a long time, I wanted something wider and this was the best option. I reed a lot of websites and reviews of this lens, and my expectatives were a bit higher. Of course, I knew it is not as good as the 31 limited or as a Leica, but it is worse than I expected. I think it´s also overpriced.
I love Pentax, and I love that original, small pancake lenses, but I think the 21mm is not the perfect lens for my K5, in optical quality.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Near Sydney, NSW Posts: 331 | | Review Date: November 25, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $720.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Focal length with f3.2, bokeh, clarity, COLOURS, CONTRAST, size, build quality... everything? | | Cons: | There aren't enough limiteds | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
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Honestly, I didn't think I'd like a 21mm. I mean, it's not THAT wide, but it's not long. But it just makes landscapes look perfect. Horizons are SO straight - lines are SO straight... and all of them are in stunning detail, contrast and colour. I can't get enough of this lens - all I wish was that there was a Pentax LTD of 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30, 40 (there is a 40), 50 (why isn't there a 50!!), 60, 70 (again, there is one), 80... and every 30mm through to 400mm! If there was that, I'd be extremely broke. 
Absolutely gorgeous lens - if it's $600 US or less, buy it. That simple.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 327
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 20, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | size, versatile FL, colours, great walkabout prime lens especially for street shooters | | Cons: | only f3.2, a little distortion evident, lens cap | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 7
New or Used: New
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if you're looking for a small prime setup, this is a must have lens
great colours, and a very versatile focal length for street shooting, as well as the tiny size
i have moved on to the fa31 but would say that this lens is more of a specialty lens for those who want a small size walkabout lens and not obsessed with "bokeh"
there's a little distortion evident but not noticable in most of the photos ive done with it
highly recommended for street shooters who want a compact setup and dont mind slower speed
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2007 Location: North West UK Posts: 390
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 3, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, Build, sharpness. | | Cons: | Slight pincushioning, slight CA, can't use hood with poloriser. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-5
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One of a pair of Limiteds I have recently bought, the other was the 40mm. Both are my first ownership of Limiteds.
To be honest, I can't believe it has taken this long to indulge in some Limited lenses.
So, what do I think? Well I love the build, the size, and even more, the sharpness. This lens is something special.
Lets mention the Build. Well metal bodied (like K and M lenses of yesteryear) so it is a tactile delight. The focus ring is beautifully damped and smooth, you just want to keep turning it.
So the size. Well it is tiny, but not small enough to be useless. On the contrary, it is a nice discreet lens that people won't notice.
Sharpness? One thing I can say is yes. This lens is sharp!
Dedicated hood. Great, nice thinking Pentax, a small hood that works. Only downside is that you can't use it with a poloriser.
Oh and yes, as with all Limiteds (save the 40mm) you get a velvet lined cap. How luxurious is that? Wonderful!
Downsides (and they are minor)
The hood, as mentioned above
There is a slight pincushion in the images. I did'nt notice until I processed through LR3, and then it was "oh gosh there IS pincushion" Still, throw it through software and what is there can be easily corrected.
There CA, but again it is only in extremis, and again Software will rid it.
Overall.
Yes, it is "only" F3.2, but in reality that is not a problem, this lens is small and you are more than likely use it at its sweet spot of F8-F11 anyway, especially for landscapes and cityscapes (remember it is a wide lens and at these apertures most things will be in focus anyway - well for panoramas)
Conclusion
A lens that clearly matches the old legends, and if you get this the 15mm, 35mm and 40mm Limiteds, you will never want to use a zoom again.
MediaCityUK by IHD Photography, on Flickr
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but it has not. THe size makes a camera almost invisible and easy to handhold.
