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HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR Review RSS Feed

HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR

Sharpness 
 9.1
Aberrations 
 9.1
Bokeh 
 9.0
Autofocus 
 8.7
Handling 
 9.7
Value 
 8.8
Reviews Views Date of last review
64 280,803 Sun July 16, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
92% of reviewers $696.06 9.14
HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR

HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR
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HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR
supersize
HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR
supersize
HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR
supersize
HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR
supersize

Description:
The HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR is the first zoom lens to join the Pentax lineup of ultra-compact "limited" lenses. This lens features a sleek all-metal barrel manufactured to very high standards.

This is also the first Limited series lens to feature silent DC autofocus as well as a weather-sealed design. Like the other HD Limited lenses, this lens features Pentax's latest lens coating promising less ghosting and flare.

As is standard for all premium Pentax lenses, this lens allows for full-time manual focus adjustments (Quick shift) and it is treated with Pentax's Super Protect coating to protect the front element from dust and scratches

The lens covers a wide-angle to normal focal length range, and is compatible with Pentax APS-C DSLRs. It will be available in both black and silver in December, 2013 for $999.

HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
APS-C
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
No
Diaphragm
Automatic, 9 blades (rounded)
Optics
9 elements, 8 groups
Mount Variant
KAF3
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F2.8-4
Min. Aperture
F22-32
Focusing
AF (in-lens motor)
DC
Quick-shift
Yes
Min. Focus
28 cm
Max. Magnification
0.2x
Filter Size
55 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 39-70 ° / 33-62 °
Hood
MH-RA 55mm
Case
Soft pouch P70-150
Lens Cap
Metal push-on O-LW65A
Coating
HD,SP
Weather Sealing
Yes (WR)
Other Features
Diam x Length
71 x 68.5 mm (2.8 x 2.7 in.)
Weight
283 g (10 oz.)
Production Years
2013 to present (in production)
Pricing
$415 USD current price
Engraved Name
HD PENTAX-DA 1:2.8-4 20-40mm ED Limited DC WR
Product Code
23000 (black), 23010 (silver)
Reviews
User reviews
In-depth review
Unofficial Full-Frame Compatibility Tests by Pentax Forums
★★☆ Full coverage at some F-stop and focal length combinations
Show details
Notes
One aspherical element, one ED and one extra-low dispersion element.
No autofocus on older bodies (*istD series, K100D, K110D, and film).
Variants

Black and silver


Features:
Supersonic AutofocusQuick ShiftWeather SealedAutomatic ApertureAPS-C Digital Only
Purchase: Buy the HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR
In-Depth Review: Read our HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR in-depth review!
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



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Pentaxian

Registered: December, 2007
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 325
Review Date: May 3, 2020 Recommended | Price: $497.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, compact, excellent flare resistance, great build quality
Cons: Slight field curvature - requires careful focusing for best results
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-70   

This is a great little lens. When it first came out I wasn't interested, because most of the reviews from the major review sites were underwhelming. But as reviews from actual users started to accumulate I noticed that they were almost universally positive. Could all of these users be wrong? I decided to take a chance, and grabbed one when it went on sale. I am glad that I did. The lens is very sharp, it is a joy to handle, and it has great build quality. It also has excellent flare resistance--not just for a zoom, but for any lens.

The lens does suffer from a small amount of field curvature, so very careful focusing is required to get optimal results across the frame. Once you learn the optimal focus points it is extremely sharp across the frame (when stopped down). This, combined its small size and great flare resistance, makes it ideal for travel photography.

While the range of focal lengths seems a bit narrow, I find it to be a very useful range. I have a wide range of lenses, from 8mm to 400mm. But I noticed that about 90% of my photos are taken with lenses in the 20mm to 40mm range, so the range of this lens suits me just fine.

The lens is a real gem!
   
Site Supporter

Registered: January, 2013
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 4,172

8 users found this helpful
Review Date: April 10, 2020 Recommended | Price: $500.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Compact, Lightweight, Excellent Image Quality, Weather Resistance, Design and Construction
Cons: AF Fine Adjustment on my K-3 II (see below)
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 9    New or Used: New    Camera Used: Pentax K-3 II   

Why I acquired this lens
Although I’ve used my DA 18-135mm lens extensively for several years, I have not been entirely happy with it. I had purchased it mainly for the shorter half of its focal length range (i.e., 18-50mm), and treated the longer telephoto reach as a bonus. The 18-135 is fairly sharp between 20 and 60mm when stopped down, and it’s a versatile ‘walk-about’ or travel lens, as many users attest. However, I find its inherent contrast to be relatively weak; the bokeh is often not as pleasing as I’d like; the corners can be mushy or softer than in comparable images from some of my other lenses; and I've never seen any ‘pop’ or ‘dazzle’ in my pictures. Occasionally, I've missed having a wider aperture. In searching for a replacement zoom, I considered the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8, the Pentax DA 16-85, and other possible options. I wanted a weather-resistant lens and something that would compare well to my DA Limited lenses in terms of image quality. The DA 20-40mm Limited fit my needs.

Design, Construction, and Handling
In my opinion, the HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm Limited features a refined design and solid construction. Taking cues from the classic S-M-C Takumar line, of which I have several models, this lens is a handsome impression of simplicity and elegant appearance, perfectly complementing the other lenses of the DA Limited series.

On my copy, the zoom action is smooth yet sufficiently tight, while the lens also affords a perfectly usable, slightly-damped manual focus movement with a finely-ribbed ring at its front. The general construction seems to be tight. Although it’s not overly heavy at nearly 300 grams, this compact lens has a certain heft for its size that hints at its metal-and-glass construction.

The lens is handled easily and securely, fitting in the palm of my hand, and it fits readily in any of my camera bags. The slip-on lens cap still fits tightly after a year of use, although the flocked interior of the cap tends to attract dust over time. The included lens hood appears to be relatively shallow, but I haven’t observed any instances where it has failed to provide adequate shading.

Autofocus
I tend to take pictures mainly of static subjects with this lens, and I find that the autofocus is sufficiently quick on my K-3 II. As I have done with my other lenses, I conducted a rigorous AF Fine Adjustment (AFFA) for my DA 20-40, assessing the settings at 20, 30, and 40mm; at focus distances of at least 60 x FL; and variably focusing from the minimum focus distance and infinity positions. I found that the optimal AFFA calibration at 20mm is significantly different from that at 30mm and 40mm; the only setting that gives the sharpest autofocus at all focal lengths is AFFA = +2 when focused from infinity. So, I simply preset the focus to infinity before each shot, which is not a big deal, but this detail is reflected in my lower rating of ‘8’ for AF. Note, however, that the AFFA is a function of both the lens and the camera acting together, so this issue may not be entirely a fault of the lens itself.

Update 30 July 2021: AF calibration on K-3 Mark III. The variation of optimal AFFA settings is much less pronounced on my K-3 Mark III. Acceptable sharp focus is obtained at all focal lengths when focusing from the far or near focus positions. AFFA = -4.

The AF accuracy and shot-to-shot consistency are very good, which might suggest that the lens is constructed to tight mechanical tolerances and its in-lens AF motor is a good match.

Optical Quality
Here are my subjective observations, based on many images that I've taken with this lens. My copy is fairly sharp across the field at almost all focal lengths and aperture settings, although not as sharp at the corners at wide-open apertures. In my typical usage, I have no concerns with edge and corner softness; in fact, I am often pleasantly surprised at its good corner performance, especially compared to my DA 18-135. I’ve not noticed any serious field curvature effects, which a few other users have reported.

Its excellent colour, contrast, and overall image rendering are similar to my DA Limited primes. The out-of-focus areas exhibit pleasing bokeh most of the time, although not as smoothly as, say, my DA* 50-135mm. The lens seems to resists flare and ghosting very well.

The apparent vignetting at the widest apertures and geometrical distortions are corrected easily either in camera or in post processing (I use RawTherapee’s lens profiles), as are the minor aberrations. I’ve taken advantage of the relatively short minimum focus distance of 28 cm, especially when shooting wide open at 20mm.

Versatility, Comparisons, and Value
In short, I find the DA 20-40 to be an excellent lightweight zoom. I have used it in a variety of settings, including classic car shows, trail hikes, and city walks. I often carry it in a two-lens kit with the DA* 50-135, or sometimes three lenses adding the wide-angle DA 15mm Limited or FA 43mm Limited if I need a faster lens. While the zoom range is modest, it has a useful range on either side of ‘normal’, which provides a surprising degree of versatility. I’ve used this lens instead of carrying both the DA 21 and DA 35 Limiteds; I’ve not noticed any practical penalty in image quality although I have not compared these lenses rigorously.

As with other lenses, this one has pros, cons, and trade-offs. Compared to my DA 18-135, for example, I think the image quality is definitely better with my DA 20-40, but at the expense of less reach (hence, I may also carry my DA* 50-135). One might opt for the DA 16-85 – a good lens in its own right – but at the expense of slower apertures at the common focal lengths; a 60% heavier lens; a larger filter diameter; and perhaps an inferior manual focus action. The affordable Sigma 17-50mm is praised by many users; however, it’s not weather resistant and is significantly heavier and bulkier. The 20-40's widest aperture of f/4 at 40mm is perhaps a notable disadvantage, but that's a trade-off against lens size and mass.

When the DA 20-40 appeared on the market, I balked at its introductory price of CAD $1000, and acquired the DA 18-135 instead at $450. When the Limited zoom was offered eventually in Canada for CAD $725 (~ USD $500), the price was more palatable and I had saved up some funds in my ‘camera kitty’ so I jumped at it.


Conclusion
Overall, I find that the lens is a joy to use and it produces wonderful images with beautiful colour, high contrast, and 'depth'. It's one of my most-used lenses.


- Craig

   
Site Supporter

Registered: December, 2007
Posts: 1,159

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: January 5, 2020 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Look, finish, convenience
Cons: Filter size vs other limiteds
New or Used: New   

Have wanted this lens for quite a while in chrome to go with my K-3. Borrowed a friend’s copy last year and found it very usable on my K-1 from 24mm on and by using a 16x9 crop usable down to 20mm. So when the it went on sale prior to black friday, pulled the trigger. Below is cropped monochrome image at 40mm with my K-3
   
Senior Member

Registered: September, 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 156
Review Date: December 30, 2019 Not Recommended | Price: $399.00 | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: build quality
Cons: limited range
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 5    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 4    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K-01   

Look, its a fine lens, its beautiful, and its...fine. I don't love this lens, which is a rare thing to say with a Limited, especially for me and a DA Limited. I have a 40mm HD, and a 70mm HD, and those two primes I absolutely adore. This lens I got because I got a deal, and I couldn't justify spending the same for a 21mm I would have gotten to fulfill the prime set for my light bag. I guess I wish they would have thought about a few things - I rather this lens was a 15-35 because I feel unlike my 16-50 DA*, the range just isn't wide enough (one of the two complaints with my 24-70) and yet it doesn't reach very far on the other. I get that this is a Limited, and the history for Pentax is these are not standard ranges (having a 77 and 43). It just is a pretty face, and good quality lens, but it does nothing extraordinary like my other lenses.
   
Senior Member

Registered: June, 2011
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Posts: 235

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: December 19, 2019 Recommended | Price: $600.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: build quality, WR, 3D Pop, compact
Cons: needs stopping down for corner to corner sharpness
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: Pentax K-5   

Before acquiring this lens I mostly shot with high quality vintage primes on my K5. That spoiled me when it comes to sharpness ... but I was really starting to long for auto-focus and didn't want to move back to the kit-lens. I found this gem on Ebay and loved it from day 1.

Initially I was a bit worried about the limited () zoom range, but I discovered that 20-40 works well for me. This is now my #1 walk-around and travel lens. It feels like a modern Takumar. To have WR is great and the images have a very nice '3D pop'. It's definitely not a sharpness monster and needs some stopping down, but I don't need that. It just creates gorgeous looking pictures and is a joy for every day use.

Sample shot (36mm, F4, 1/2000):

   
Forum Member

Registered: December, 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 84

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 7, 2019 Recommended | Price: $299.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, light and Brilliant.....
Cons: N/A
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K70 and K-S1   

I have three camera system, Full frame Nikon D810 with many great Nikon and 3rd party lenses, Medium Format Pentax 645z, also with some great FA and D-FA lenses. My third system is Pentax APS-C, a K70 and K-S1....

For me, out of all these systems and lenses, this HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited is at the top of my list. Never does it come off either one of the APS-C bodies.
Its always a pleasure to use and shoot with, its light and focuses fast and never misses focus for me. It has this look and feel, some have said it pops, in a way yeah it makes things pop out, sorter 3D sorter way. Its sharp, even wide open, both and 20mm , 40mm and everywhere in between.....

I don't have a single negative to add to this lens.....

If Pentax made a lens like this primarily for the FF K-1, id sell my Nikon system and get a K1.......

Its Brilliant.... Its Beautiful...... and for me its the best.....

https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/photo-yellow-flower-57919/&u=117236
   
New Member

Registered: December, 2013
Posts: 7

6 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 8, 2019 Recommended | Price: $450.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: 3d, great handling, WR
Cons: AF, limited zoom range.
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 6    Handling: 10    Value: 8    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K70   

This zoom looks and feels great to use. I love having the Limited look and feel with added Weather Resistance, although it is quite a bit more chunky than a Limited prime. The AF on my k70 struggles to lock sometimes, oddly just like my 35mm Limited. Might be better on a different camera.

The zoom range feels slightly short. I have been using the 16-85 which is a very convenient range, and before that an 18-135 which is suppose you'd call a super zoom, so maybe if you are coming from 18-50 it won't seem too bad. It actually encourages me to use my wonderful 55-300plm and some nice telephoto primes more often, although that means carrying extra gear. I do use it as a one lens walk about option, and honestly it's fine, but I do sometimes miss a bit of extra reach. If you tend towards shooting at the wide end you may well find it's perfect.

It's good indoors, where the wider end offers a fairly fast aperture.

The colours are typical Limited. The sharpness is very good. Sharpness is a weird thing, it sometimes doesn't look as crisp as some lenses, with quite a smooth buttery look. However, if you pixel peep, there is actually plenty of detail. It's a bit like some vintage lenses in that respect, but I think that HD coating gives slightly more modern looking saturated colours.

By comparison the 16-85 is certainly quite crisp looking, with that fantastic super-handy focal range, and the AF is better. I can use a smaller bag for the 20-40, but where it really wins is with the sense of 3D depth. Some shots, even at f11, look like you can reach into the picture. It's classic Pentax through and through. It could simply be due to a relatively low number of elements? It's a bit like having a couple of Takumars in one, but with AF, weather sealing and all the other mod cons. It even looks like a Tak on steroids! I don't think it's just a coincidence, there is a retro vibe inside and out.

The 16-85 is convenient, and very competent. The 20-40 just has a slight touch of magic.
   
New Member

Registered: April, 2008
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 2

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 14, 2019 Recommended | Price: $500.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: everything - size, color, contrast, sharpness, focusing
Cons: none.
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-01   

I am in love with this lens!! I used to think lenses cannot make much differences in pictures taken with F/8.0+ on a sunny day (only the photographer does). Now I realize this lens actually makes differences. Pictures are so sharp and contrasty with this lens, I can almost recognize pictures taken with this lens without looking at the meta data. Too bad there is no DFA limited 30-60 for my K-1. My K-1 is in crop mode most of the time now.. and my K-01 is busy again. Whats the point of swapping lenses if a zoom is this good....
   
Senior Member

Registered: October, 2009
Location: Montreal (Quebec)
Posts: 117

8 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 29, 2018 Recommended | Price: $700.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Colour Signature, CA Control, Sharpness, Useful Focal Range, Built Quality, Quiet AF, SMALL!
Cons: Would LOVE a bit Wider, with a Fixed 2.8 Aperture
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-3   

In spite of its high price tag, and a somewhat limited production, this "HD Pentax DA 20-40mm" by Ricoh luckily ended up in my camera bag alongside an ageless K-3; it has quickly become one of my favourite normal zoom lenses ever!

Perhaps not the sharpest in theory versus the sharpest primes, nor with the broadest focal range either... Yet this tiny gem offers a sweet window of opportunity to travelers on APS-C sensor, for in practice things get mesmerizing as soon as the fireworks start dazzling:

A strickingly BRIGHT & CLEAR glass design; an especially RICH & VIBRANT color signature; a GENEROUS viewpoint refreshingly free from some of the most dreaded optical aberrations; a relatively FAST & QUIET, PRECISE AF too! All of these valued qualities in a STURDY, COMPACT retro-looking format.

An unduly under-explored PENTAX-Mount ASSET!



   
New Member

Registered: April, 2014
Posts: 5

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 10, 2018 Recommended | Price: $980.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp, cool design, light, bokeh, wr, nice zoom range
Cons: lens cap, metallic coating material
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 9    New or Used: New    Camera Used: Pentax kp/k30   

I needed a good-quality and light travel zoom to replace the DA 18-55mm wr. Therefore, I bought this lens which is very versatile despite the limited zoom range: 20 mm is ok for landscape photography, 35 mm is the typical normal focal lenght, 40 mm although not optimal, it's good for close-up and portraits.
The lens is very light and it's easy to handle with the KP. It's sufficiently sharp for my needs and the bokeh is also very pleasant. I didn't notice any CA or fringing.
Autofocus is silent and precise, but no so fast.

For me, the only drawabacks of this lens are: i) the cap, which falls easily; and ii) the black coating material of the knurled part of the lens that tends to get damaged.
Below a couple of photos taken with the K30.





   
Pentaxian

Registered: March, 2010
Location: Manila, Philippines
Posts: 1,421

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 21, 2018 Recommended | Price: $600.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: WR, metal build, retro design, surprisingly light
Cons: slow to focus, so-so sharpness, expensive

Let me begin by saying that I have tried all the DA limited lenses before I got this lens. My most favorite is the DA 21, followed by the DA 70 and the HD35 if you want super sharp images.

I bought this lens simply because of its the WR claim plus the rendering of a limited lens and the focal length is very ideal for my use as I really want a WR travel camera set up. Truly that the lens is light and a joy to hold because of the retro design and it is very light. The AF is silent but not that fast (maybe more on the slow side for me). The images that it produces are good but not that great as the 21 / 35 / 70. At 20 mm the HD 20-40 is sharp wide open but the 40mm f4 it is not. The color rendering, micro contrast is very nice and really punches as well as the micro contrast.

I think the lens should only cost about $500 brand new

If you plan get this lens and think that you can replace your existing 21/35 limited lenses, you might get frustrated as the primes produce better IQ overall. But if you want a small lens that is WR, silent, sexy and passable IQ during travel, this can do the job.
   
New Member

Registered: May, 2018
Posts: 5

5 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 4, 2018 Recommended | Price: $800.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Great for everyday usage and travel. Fast focus, razor sharp and beautiful colors.
Cons: I think that f4 on 40mm is a small problem, cons 2.8 will be better.
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: KP   

This lens is absolutely great for everyday usage and travel. Fast focus, razor sharp and beautiful colors. Before this lens, I use Tamron 17-50 2.8, and when first shot on DA 20-40 was being taken, I don't believe my eyes. Supper Color, absolutely great build quality and DC focusing. WR feature gives me freedom when going in mountains. Multicoating working well in all situations.
   
Junior Member

Registered: July, 2016
Location: Alps
Posts: 35

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: April 29, 2018 Recommended | Price: $530.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Compactness, limited handling, rendition
Cons: AF
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 8    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K-3 II   

Great lens, typical limited rendition / handling, a bit big for a Ltd though - but still really compact for a zoom with this specs, definitely lightweight.

After hesitating for a while for which normal prime I wanted, I ended choosing this Ltd zoom...
31 Ltd was a long time wish but so expensive. I owned the DA 35 but was not impressed and didn't like the cheap plastic feel. The FA 35 was going to be a bit similar. The Ltd 35 was almost my choice but the endless macro focus ring didn't appeal me. The Sigma Art 30 is just too big for my taste - compactness I value most over max aperture & bokeh (for my "art-ish" bokeh captures I use the M 50/1.4).
I already own a M 28/2 that's quite good but no AF, and the Sigma 17-50/2.8 which is bigger and heavier, doesn't have the Ltd handling and rendition, but a much better AF and zoom range, which is my choice when I need to be more reactive and versatile.

In the end I consider it an "adjustable prime" -zoom range absolutely not an issue- and it fits perfectly for my use : a high quality normal field of view with superb contrast and colors, and compactness. AF is quite slow and hunting so think about it for what you intend to use it. Sharpness is impressive and so is the bokeh (close-ups) considering the slow aperture.

Example @40mm F/4 ISO100 with K-3 II :



100% crop :


It fits well in a compact/quality kit, consisting of the additional Ltd 15 and PLM 55-300 (relative quality compared to Ltd's but still!) - and eventually M 50/1.4.
   
Senior Member

Registered: October, 2017
Location: Hannover
Posts: 163

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 19, 2018 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Rendering and colours, bokeh, low aberrations and flare, beautiful design and build.
Cons: Not terribly sharp nor fast, some distortion at 20mm
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 8    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K-S2   

Yes, is not that sharp until stopped down.
Yes, is f2.8 only between 20 and 25mm.
Yes, there is some distortion at 20mm.

But I couldn't care less, even if it's a bit expensive. It renders beautifully, reproduce gorgeous colours and has that limited's pixie dust magic....plus really nice bokeh, specially for a not so fast zoom.
It is lightweight, compact, weather sealed, silent focusing, has fantastic build quality, handling and tactile feedback from the focusing and zoom ring.
And oh my, it's a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL lens...a Pentax limited with Takumar breed, without superfluous switches or rubber rings.

A must buy if you have other limiteds (I've 15 and 35 macro) IMHO, and a worthy addition to your lens lineup, if you don't.

   
Forum Member

Registered: March, 2010
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 85

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 16, 2018 Not Recommended | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: Superb build, nice handling, good balance on hefty K-3
Cons: IQ at wide end (20~30) frankly poor. Weird hood probably not much use.
Sharpness: 5    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 3    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K-3   

Found an 'as new' copy from a highy reputable dealer but returned it. Using my K-3 this lens was very soft at 20mm and 30mm zoom settings unless stopped down to at least f5.6, so I did some careful indoor comparison shots against the 18~55 version II kit lens and an old 18~35 FA-J from the film era. These two budget lenses easily out-performed the 20~40 'Limited' at the wide end. That's not how it is supposed to be.

A big price for mediocre performance and not worthy of the 'Limited' tag, in my opinion. Possibly unlucky to be landed with a rogue copy, but that's enough to put me off searching for another one. A real pity, as it's beautifully engineered and great to handle. Judging by this experience and some other comments Ricoh maybe have a quality control issue here.
Add Review of HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR Buy the HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR



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