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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 
 9.1
Autofocus 
 8.7
Handling 
 9.7
Value 
 8.8
Reviews Views Date of last review
65 282,305 Wed April 10, 2024
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
92% of reviewers $692.35 9.16
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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New Member

Registered: December, 2019
Posts: 7

5 users found this helpful
Review Date: December 1, 2020 Recommended | Price: $497.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Build Quality, Color Render, Compact, WR
Cons: Curve of Field, Little Bit Soft Corner
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 10    Value: 9    New or Used: New    Camera Used: KP   

Zoom range is narrow but weight is light and compact,and you'd like to take it outside for travel!
Color rendering is so beautiful, contrasty, and satruate.
Good for Travel, Street Snapshot, and Living style photo.

The Build Quality is awesome, all metal barrel just like the takumar lenses.
Trust me, it's a artcraft when you compare with plastic lens.

But the curve of field made the corner so soft, it is weak point, but just pay more attention for focus! It's fine!

Anyway, DA 20-40/2.8-4 Limited is wonderful lens, and I use it as my stardard zoom lens!



   
Senior Member

Registered: November, 2012
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 105

6 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 29, 2020 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros:
Cons:
Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-3   

The reviews and the evaluation of this new HD Pentax Limited zoom lens have been very different - some very negative and some very positive. I think that PentaxForums' test and evaluation of the lens is unfair with regard to sharpness (sample variation?). As soon as I received the lens I made some test footage, and I was admittedly a little confused about the results, but after some time I noticed an issue with back focus. It was subsequently adjusted to Back Focus + 5. Since then the results have been excellent. Back Focus + 5 was applied on two camera bodies (both K-3) with the same excellent result. The lens is sharp throughout the entire zoom range from 20 mm to 40 mm. I haven't noticed any decrease in picture quality in the long end of the zoom range. The color rendition is warm and very appealing - it can be compared with the DA *16-50 mm 2.8. The external parts of the lens are made of metal. I can highly recommend the lens. The reviews that have been negative may have forgotten that the lens is only one parameter of several in the process: photographer + camera/sensor + lens + image processing software + the photographer's ability to get all the qualities above. Lens quality is obviously very important - ultimately decisive, but so too the photographer's ability or skills. Thank you Ricoh/Pentax for this wonderful lens. It has lifted the pleasure of photography up to a higher level!
   
New Member

Registered: October, 2020
Posts: 4

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 10, 2020 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: A stack of primes
Cons: A constant aperture would have been nice...
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    New or Used: Used   

Hi Awesome Peeps

I am no pro here but I felt compelled to give my insights on this wonderful lens from a hobbyist's point of view.

Come to think of it for the value one gets for this lens it's like having the DA 21mm 35mm and 40mm Limited rolled into one. It's a bit faster than the DA 21mm at that focal. Slower than the DA 35mm and 40mm. One gets WR though in one stack of primes. Center sharpness is outstanding for a zoom through out its entire focal range. Stopping down to 6.3 onwards gives very good corner to corner sharpness. The nice bokeh it gives is a wonderful bonus. I find the colors lack a bit of warmth though at times but overall I am one happy boy when I shoot this lens.

I could not afford getting one but was able to swap some of my lenses for this. From a hobbyist's point of view this is one highly recommendable lens.

I've posted some shots. These won't win any awards but I just wanted to show how this lens renders. Cheers!!!



   
Site Supporter

Registered: July, 2020
Posts: 131

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: August 12, 2020 Recommended | Price: $528.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: good build, appearance; light weight; compact size; optics
Cons: lens cap and thin hood; no aperture ring; manual focus only on my K10D without firmware update; not designed for FF cameras
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 7    Value: 7    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K10D, K-3 II   

Great little zoom lens, covering a good range for me. I wish they made this for FF cameras, to go with my forthcoming K-1 and my old LX cameras. It autofocuses well on my K-3 II camera, but I discovered after I bought the lens new that it won't autofocus with my K10D; this is only a minor problem to me because I like to manual focus. [I see on the "Notes" at the top of this review page that there is "No autofocus on older bodies (*istD series, K100D, K110D, and film)", and I presume this list includes the K10D, so I have only myself to blame for not researching enough. I just didn't consider the possibility that this lens would not autofocus with my K10D because my DA 12-24mm f/4 lens autofocuses well with it; my K10D works quite well, thank you. [After I posted this initially, three readers have pointed out that I need to update my K10D firmware through the Ricoh website, and then I should have autofocus ability with this lens -- good to know.]

The lens cap is maddening to use, as is the thin lens hood. The cap takes a good pull to take off, and I wonder what thousands of such pulls can possibly do to the lens zoom structural elements over time. Also, the lens cap only fits over the lens hood, so you have to have the lens hood on to have the lens cap on. There aren't many good lens caps out there, and I can imagine designers/engineers going crazy trying to develop what one would think would be a simple item to be practical and easy in use.

The lens hood has to be removed to put on a filter, and this is a huge problem because the hood is placed then on top of the filter threads, which means you turn the lens hood with the filter and can only turn it counterclockwise (as seen from the viewfinder) because turning it clockwise will loosen the hood and not give good turning motion on the filter. I also have difficulty with filters sitting too tight on the lens, making them very hard to remove. The screwing in of the lens hood onto my polarizing filter definitely has the effect of tightening the filter onto the lens, making it hard to pull off. I've played with this quite a bit and am convinced I'm doing nothing wrong. Just bad design for filters.

I haven't really looked at bokeh, so didn't rate it. The lens' optical sharpness seems very good, and the aberrations seem very slight for a zoom lens encompassing these focal lengths (I'm very impressed at 40mm, and at 20mm the distortion is minimal with not much vignetting). I don't see color problems. I used a resolution chart to test the lens (with K10D at ISO 100 in direct sunlight) for sharpness and distortion at 20, 30, and 40 mm, and at f/2.8, f/3.5, and f/4.0 wide open (respectively), up to f/22, and the sharpness and lack of distortion is excellent -- even at 20mm. The sharpness improves at f/8 over wide open, but the wide-open sharpness is good for most purposes. The narrow focal-length zoom ring does its job, turning about 60 degrees to the left (counter-clockwise, as seen from behind the camera) from 40 to 20 mm; good design, with no possibility of "zoom creep" when pointing up or down. The filter does not rotate when the lens is focused or zoomed. The thin manual focusing ring turns about 90 degrees from infinity (also counter-clockwise as viewed from behind the camera) to closest focus, and it's not as good as typical manual focusing rings on older (pre-F-series) Pentax lenses, but it's adequate.

For me, the lens is over-priced (my listed price above includes sales tax, as bought from B&H with free shipping). But in terms of the optical quality, it seems impressive indeed, and worthy of being in the Limited family. I will keep it and probably use it a lot on my K-3 II cameras (though in practice, it has not come close to replacing my DA 12-24mm lens as my standard walkaround lens on my APS-C cameras, as I thought it might when I ordered it).

Below are photos showing the lens on my camera:


   
New Member

Registered: November, 2018
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 10

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: June 13, 2020 Recommended | Price: $420.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros:
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 9    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: KP   

The lens you can attach to your camera all day and take quality images. Sometimes wants some wider f stop but for the size I cannot complain.
   
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: 4,189

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: 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.
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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