DonThomaso's Reviews - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

I have had five out of the six Pentax-110 lenses for several years now (lacking the Pan-focus), and used them on and off as fun lenses. A few things are inherent in the lenses as they where designed as super-compact somewhat cheaper lenses already from the beginning, e.g. the aperture control was in the camera body. There are still things to be said for each of the lenses. General I have used the 20-40 on both Micro Four Thirds and APS-C. On m43 it covers the frame during the entire focal range, but on APS-C it covers the frame only at the long end. Build quality is together with the 70/2.8 best of the Pentax-110 primes, mainly metal build. Zoom is push/pull type and the front rotates with focusing. Negatives I had used the primes for some years when I purchased a mint 20-40/2.8 zoom. Especially the 50/2.8 and 70/2.8 primes was very impressive, so I had some hopes for the zoom. I am sorry to say it is of noticeable lower image quality. At or close to 40mm it gets very dreamy/soft look, lacking contrast and bokeh is bad (not even artistic fun bad like say a Helios-44). Both sharpness and contrast varies a lot in the focal range, but also the advertised "f/2.8" aperture gets a lot darker at the long end (at least one stop darker), so it takes some getting to know how to work with the lens. Positives I find that it performs best at shorter focal lengths and closer focusing distances, so I ended up using it mainly for close up work (sometimes together with a Hoya +3 closeup filter). Filter size is a positive, using very common 49mm filter shared with many Pentax lenses. Sharpness and contrast is much better at 20-30mm range, and bokeh has some character. Conclusion While being quite fun like the other Pentax-110 lenses, I think the lower and inconsistent performance combined with the higher price makes this the least attractive of the system. If you really need a Pentax-110 zoom this is the only choice, but I doubt that anyone needs that. My recommendation is to start with the 50mm prime first, as it is plenty available, best performance and covers APS-C fully. The 20-40 is still somewhat fun to use, and has it's place in a complete set.

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Olympus E-P5, PENTAX-110 20-40mm F2.8@~20mm, 1/800 sec at f/2.8, ISO 200, Hoya +3 Close-up filter.

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Olympus E-P5, PENTAX-110 20-40mm F2.8@~20mm, 1/320 sec at f/2.8, ISO 200.

http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50502214381_6f4250e753_c.jpg

Olympus E-P5, PENTAX-110 20-40mm F2.8@~30mm, 1/100 sec at f/2.8, ISO 500.

http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50432528923_87995a77a3_c.jpg

My PENTAX-110 pictures on Flickr

Review of: PENTAX-110 50mm F2.8 by DonThomaso on Tue September 22, 2020 | Rating: 9

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This review is for a near mint condition 50/2.8 bought second-hand in Sweden. PROS

Fun
Cheap
Usable focal length
Good image quality

CONS

Build quality
Lack of aperture control

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Fujifilm X-T2, PENTAX-110 50mm F2.8, 1/60 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600.

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Olympus OM-D E-M5, PENTAX-110 50mm F2.8, 1/160 sec at f/2.8, ISO 200.

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My PENTAX-110 pictures on Flickr

Review of: Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR/Super-Takumar 135mm F2.5 by DonThomaso on Wed August 7, 2019 | Rating: 9

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This review is for a good condition S-M-C TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5, model 1. PROS

Character (bokeh, transitions)
Build quality
Image quality (contrast, sharpness)
Fun to use

CONS

6-bladed aperture (no issue wide open, but can be unflattering stopped down)
A bit long on APS-C for general portraiture
Difficult to focus with optical viewfinder (K-3, K-3 II)

I USE IT FOR

Portraits (full body, half-body, headshots)

I have a lot of M42 S-M-C TAKUMARS, including the 85/1.8 and 105/2.8 that are two other nice portrait lenses. Also a lot of Limited lenses, e.g. both FA77 Ltd and DA70 Ltd. I shoot a lot of portraiture, and enjoy using manual glass when possible. Mainly for fun, but have used the S-M-C TAK 85/1.8 for paid work as well. Lets start with the negative. The 135mm focal length is fine on full frame, but becomes too long imho on APS-C (200mm equilv.). That together with the OVF of the Pentax DSLRs' makes it tricky to nail focus (I have not tried it on K-1 so might be a different experience). I have used it a lot on my Fujifilm X-T2 with a speedbooster (both Mitakon Lens Turbo II and Kipon Baveyes) with great results, as it gives back the full-frame properties, easy to focus with EVF + focus peaking, and the extra benefit of 1 stop brighter. Image quality wise the only issue I have is the 6-bladed aperture that will look unflattering if stopped down in portraiture work, fortunately I shoot it mainly wide open :) The rest is only positives. Build quality is great, solid construction of glass and metal, smooth focusing, proper aperture ring and so on. I take care of my things well, but this lens is the only one I've accidentally dropped, 1 meter to a wood floor - no harm done! Image quality is very pleasing, with good sharpness, character without being "gimmicky" as some russian vitage glass, good contrast (use the hood!). Fujifilm X-T2 w. speed booster, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5. 1/950 sec at f/2.5, ISO 200.

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Fujifilm X-T2 w. speed booster, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5. 1/640 sec at f/2.5, ISO 200.

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Pentax K-3 II, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5. 1/180 sec at f/2.5, ISO 100.

https://live.staticflickr.com/5536/30638169333_95176b14f0_b.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8 by DonThomaso on Wed November 7, 2018 | Rating: 10

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This review is for a excellent condition Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F1.8 bought second-hand in Sweden. PROS

Rendering - transitions, bokeh, contrast
Compact size
Build quality
Manual focus feeling
Flare resistance

CONS

Some aberrations (very little being 45 year old)
All manual comes with some limitations when using on modern bodies, e.g. lack of full-aperture metering/focusing

I USE IT FOR

Portraits (full body, half-body, headshots)
General short telephoto (where AF is not needed)

My main area in photography is portraits, mainly natural light outdoors or speedlights in studio. I've mainly been using this lens on my Fujifilm X-T2 together with a Mitakon Lens Turbo II (Zhong Yi Optics). I find the focus peaking in the EVF is superior to the OVF on my K-3 II for use with manual glass (especially with M42 lacking aperture control from modern bodies). This review could be quite short - the lens simply performs remarkably well and has no major weakness. I would be happy with the performance even from a modern lens, and keeping in mind it is around 45 years old at the time of this review it is simply spectacular. It is clearly a portrait lens, with good-enough but not overly much contrast or sharpness. Rendering is smooth, background is smooth with a bit of character (I like a bit of swirlyness so could be even more from my point of view). Flare resistance is good - quite modern performance with the S-M-C coating. It is a joy to use and only issues would be connected to the M42 mount on adapters, making e.g. full-aperture metering and focusing impossible. I will let the images tell the story. Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/2700 sec at f/1.8, ISO 200.

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Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/2400 sec at f/1.8, ISO 200.

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Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/1000 sec at f/1.8, ISO 200.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1824/42505502744_17b7c92fb8_c.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF] by DonThomaso on Fri August 5, 2016 | Rating: 9

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This review is for a good condition DA10-17 bought second-hand in Sweden, serial nr in the 5856xxx-range. PROS

Fun to use
Relatiively compact for a fish-eye zoom (not to many of those around anyway)
Usefull both uncorrected (fish-eye) and corrected (rectilinerar)
Sharpness
Close-focus capabilities
Flare resistant

CONS

Aberrations in backlight, also a bit difficult to correct fully
No filter thread (common for this type of lenses)

I USE IT FOR

Travel
Indoors
Creative fun

I mostly use prime lenses and in particularly I shoot portraits with the FA 43 & 77 Limiteds. I have the DA15 as well, which has been my go to wide angle since I bought it maybe five years ago. I'm very happy with the DA15, but it is just borderline to ultra-wide and the last year or so I realized that I wanted to try out the creative side of a fish-eye as well. When it came up for a good price second hand in Sweden I went for it! Firstly, filling the frame with a 10mm fish-eye is a challenge. I noted this already with the DA15, and it is even more so with the DA10-17. This is of course no fault of the lens, but as a portrait shooter it is a (fun) challenge! :) I got familiar with this lens during a 10 day trip in Scotland, where I only previously had been playing around with it around the house. It is a bit of dual-purpose, since at 10mm you get the full fish-eye effect, but you can both correct it in post (and loose a whole lot of frame) or zoom towards 17 to minimize the fish-eye effect and end up with a regular wide angle. This is very handy during travel, and it is great for landscapes, indoor and close-up fun. It is not a large lens, similar to the kit lens in size, weight and handling. It does not extend much when zooming and has internal focusing. No filter thread, as is the norm for this type of lens. Image quality is generally good. Sharp enough wide open, corners a bit soft but that's probably not where you place your subject anyway :) Being such a wide lens it is hard to say if it is field curvature, distortion effects, lack of sharpness.. it hasn't bothered me anyway. What can be a bit of pain is CA, which is plentiful in backlit scenarios. Usually it is a sharp purple or green border, a few pixels wide, but on the DA10-17 it is a more gradual smear.. and that is a bit more challenging to correct. It is not a deal-breaker for me, as dramatic wide angles has plenty of going on usually and that is what catches the eye. For the price I paid I could hardly complain about anything. The build quality is lacking a bit compared to Limiteds or DA* lenses, but nothing else is expected really. It is a good lens for fun, travel, indoors that for the price has great value. It is probably the person behind the camera that is the limiting factor for creating that impressive fish-eye/wide angle shot, can't blame the DA10-17 for that :) Pentax K-3 II, SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF]. 10mm, 1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100.

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Pentax K-3 II, SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF]. 17mm, 1/40 sec at f/4.5, ISO 400.

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Pentax K-3 II, SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED [IF]. 10mm, 1/1000 sec at f/8.0, ISO 100.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8251/28584232816_16a8cff4a7_b.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM by DonThomaso on Sun May 31, 2015 | Rating: 8

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This review is for a mint condition DA*55 bought second-hand in Sweden, serial nr in the 9124XXX-range. PROS

Sharpness
Bokeh - very smooth at all apertures
WR
Build quality

CONS

AF speed
AF accuracy

I USE IT FOR

Portraits (full body, half-body, headshots)
General short telephoto

Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM. 1/125 sec at f/1.8, ISO 100.

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I have been shooting with Pentax for 5 years now, staring with the K-x, advancing to the K-5 and now K-3. I have used all the Limiteds, and my most used lenses are the FA43 and FA77, so I am used to small high quality primes. Being very satisfied with those two, I wasn't really in huge need for a DA*55. But the WR and more modern construction interested me, as well as trying out a new focal length. When a nice second hand copy appeared, I decided to go for it. I have now been shooting with it for around three months. I mostly do portraits so that is the area of use this review will be based around. To start of with the positive, this lens delivers great image quality. It is sharp enough wide open, but benefits from stopping down as always. At around f/2 it starts to get very sharp. The real strong point for me on this lens is bokeh and rendering. It delivers very smooth backgrounds, at all apertures. The nine rounded blades definitely helps here. As a comparison, I used to shoot with a F50/1.7 that needed to be stopped down to f/2 or so for sharpness and contrast, but the six non-rounded blades on that one wasn't very good looking during some conditions. Anyway, the DA*55 really performs when it comes to image quality, just don't expect maximum sharpness at f/1.4. Bokeh is very smooth and technically / objectively almost perfect, but it also lack a bit of character. This might be a good or bad thing, depending on your taste. The only concern I have encountered with regards to image quality is flare resistance. During some back-lit scenes it seems to be more prone to flare than say my FA43, FA77 or DA70. It has a larger front element than those, so I guess it is to be expected. Build quality is good, but I prefer the metal build and more compact size of the Limiteds, but of course they are not WR. The hood is also high quality, with the Pentax-opening for adjusting a polarize filter. The size of the DA*55 is about the same as the FA31, but when you add the hood it gets much larger. It does balance nicely on the K-3 body though, both with and without the grip attached. The bad has mostly to do with autofocus, which is both on the slow side, but more importantly not so accurate. I have been shooting with the Limiteds for several years and are very used to them and the AF-system of the K-3. The DA*55 is slower than the Limiteds and hunts more and the keeper rate is worse, say 60-70 percent where I would get upwards to 80-90 percent during similar conditions with the FA77. This is based on use with the K-3. I have not really tried manual focus, but is has a reasonably long throw for an AF lens, but without aid of say a split-screen or peaking it might be hard on a standard APS-C optical viewfinder (not a fault of the lens). I think that this is an overall solid performer, but the AF problems simply can't be ignored and it is the only major drawback of this lens. There is no shortage of good performers around this focal length, so you have others to choose from if you wish, but this has to be a contender for any portrait shooter using Pentax. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM. 1/100 sec at f/1.6, ISO 400.

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Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM. 1/640 sec at f/2.0, ISO 100.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/17309711422_1a549564b0_z.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited by DonThomaso on Sat September 13, 2014 | Rating: 9

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This review is for a mint condition 'Made in Japan' FA43 bought second-hand in Sweden, serial nr in the 0026xxx-range. Initial review based on experiences with the K-5 mk1, now updated after 6 months use with the K-3. PROS

Rendering (transitions)
Very compact size (great handling on Pentax bodies)
Build quality
Autofocus speed
Full-frame compatible, aperture ring
Unique focal length (true normal on FF)

CONS

Soft corners at wide apertures (not a big deal for portraits)
Bokeh 'halos' (shared with the DA40)
Slight aberrations (longitudinal and lateral)
Showing age in some areas (no quick-shift, aberrations)
Autofocus inconsistency on some bodies

I USE IT FOR

Portraits (full body, half-body, headshots)
Weddings (indoor, outdoor)
General photography

The first Limited I got was the DA40, and soon I started buying them as mint second-hand samples came on the market. After a couple of years I got all the five DA Limiteds and I was pretty well covered (I don't shoot much longer telephoto). There was something mythical about the FA Limiteds though, so after a while I started to look for them as well. I got the FA43 and FA77 at about the same time, then finally the FA31. I always felt that the FA43 was the 'daddy' of the DA40 :) I have to admit that the focal length of around 40mm initially felt a bit weird, but I’ve been focusing more and more on portrait and I have come to like it more and more. I find between the FA43 and FA77 I have the optimal focal lengths for portrait. Both will work for full body to headshots, where the FA77 is on the long side for small spaces, the FA43 is around my limit for how short I will go for a general portrait. The FA43 is a very small and fast focusing lens, and it is impressive with full frame coverage, autofocus and pretty fast aperture in such a small package. However it is a bit too long for a general purpose lens, and it is too short to be considered a real telephoto. My favourite lens is the FA77 and I usually pick up the FA43 when there are not enough room to use the FA77, like shooting portraits/people indoors. It will also make a great companion for a two-lens-package with say a DA15 or DA21 for travel. Image quality is generally very good, but it has a few oddities. First of all, the rendering is very nice. It is also sharp in center at all apertures, but needs to be stopped down for the corners to be sharp, in fact much more so than pretty much all modern (and most vintage) lenses I've used. At f/2.8 and wider the corners are still very soft, almost appearing as they where OOF. For portraits this is not a very big deal though, on the contrary some might argue. Like the DA40 the FA43 does show some pretty weird halos when the OOF background contains bright spots of light (think "christmas light" bokeh shots). The center has a bright center and the outline is very distinct. Normally I like a lens with character, but sometimes this can be a bit distracting. Autofocus is fast, slightly behind the DA Limiteds. I think that the focus throw of the FA Limiteds is a bit of trade off between short-throw autofocus performance and long throw manual focus. Since the mass of glass is very low the AF still is fast and nothing to worry about. Quick-shift would have been nice though, I miss it more than I thought I would. On the K-5 mk1 I had problem nailing focus consistently. I had calibrated it properly, but it very often it front or back focused, being affected by backlight, color temperature etc. This has to do with the lens/body-combo, but I have read that many others have the same kind of problems. I used the DA40 more than the FA43 on the K-5 since I didn’t trust the AF. When I got the K-3 things changed however! The focusing system in the K-3 gets along very well with the FA43 and it is now very consistent performer and I feel confident using it at wide apertures, like it is supposed to be. On the K-01 with contrast detection AF it of course shows no problems with front- or back focusing. A proper aperture ring is always a good thing in my book. You can use it on old film and with adapters on newer bodies. It feels like a premium product with the metal build, tight tolerances and heavy weight (for its size). The green felt in the cap is a nice touch! The FA43 did replace my F50/1.7 and when my focusing issues was resolved with the K-3 I haven’t resorted to the DA40 any more, so I’ll probably let it go soon. The 50/1.7 was soft at f/1.7, but from f/2 it is as sharp as the FA43. The premium build, small package and rendering of the FA43 is what makes it special in my opinion, with some of that pixie-dust and odd focal length in the mix. But the F50/1.7 didn't show that weird halo and it costs a quarter of the FA43... I hope that the FA43 lives on in an updated “D-FA 43” with quick-shift, modern coatings and optimized for digital bodies, and dare I wish for WR?. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited. 1/500 sec at f/2.5, ISO 100

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Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited. 1/100 sec at f/2.2, ISO 1600

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Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited. 1/800 sec at f/2.2, ISO 100

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Pentax K-5, SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited. 1/100 sec at f/2.5, ISO 1600, Flash

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/8817941632_0814f1cd13_c.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: S-M-C/Super Takumar 24mm F3.5 by DonThomaso on Mon August 11, 2014 | Rating: 9

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This review is for a mint condition S-M-C 24/3.5 bought second-hand in Sweden. PROS

Great build quality
Fun to use
Proper feel in manual focus ring
Great for scale focusing
Very sharp in center and reasonable in corners

CONS

Not that special focal length on APS-C

I USE IT FOR

General wide angle on APS-C

I have a collection of S-M-C TAKUMARS and this is my preferred wide angle (I also have the 20/4.5, 28/3.5). The 20/4.5 is a bit slow and soft in corners and the 28/3.5 is not really a wide angle on APS-C. Like all of the other S-M-C TAKs it has great build quality and a nice manual feel to them. Pure glass and metal, built to last forever. I also like the quirky spelled out "Super Multi Coated"-sciencey sounding engraving. Anyway, the 24/3.5 is reasonably fast, sharp in center already wide open and surprisingly sharp in corners too. Scale focus markings works great for walk-around snapshots and it balances well on modern bodies. It would be fun to use this on a FF body in the future, where it offers a more unique focal length.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/9114073331_7e0beaf2fe_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/9116295752_a98f4456e5_b.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited by DonThomaso on Sun August 10, 2014 | Rating: 8

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Reviews: 97

This review is for a mint condition silver 'Made in Japan' FA31 bought second-hand in Sweden, serial nr in the 0027xxx-range. PROS

Build quality
Look and feel
Unique offering (like all other Limiteds)

CONS

Inconsistent autofocus
Wide open sharpness
Value for money

I USE IT FOR

General purpose (normal lens on APS-C)
Low light
Travel

The first Limited I got was the DA40, and soon I started to buy them one by one as mint second-hand samples came on the market. After a couple of years I got all the DA Limiteds and I was pretty well covered (I don't shoot much longer telephoto). There was something mythical about the FA Limiteds though, so after a while I started to look for them as well. The FA31 was the last one I got of the "three amigos" (FA31/43/77). Most of my serious work is portraits and I was well covered with the FA43/77 AND DA40/70 (the plan was to sell the DA's, still haven't a couple of years later...). I get that at fast wide-angle is expensive, and considering the parameters of the FA31 for what it offers on full frame it is simply outstanding.. but on APS-C it becomes a pretty expensive normal lens. To go trough the basics first. The lens is sharp. Like all lenses it is softer wide open, but it builds up gradually. It is sharp enough to use wide open for most applications, but I still feel a little bit disappointed. If I don't need the speed I will stop down to f/2.2 for a boost in sharpness. With nine apertures blades it the bokeh stays nice at most apertures, so you don't need worry about stopping down with respect to that. The bokeh is very pleasing, with a bit of character as well, just as I like it! One of the drawbacks of the lens is various aberrations, where lateral is an easy fix in PP, but where longitudinal is not. It might be disappointing if you are looking for perfection, but it hasn't bothered me. It adds to the character, just beware of it before spending the cash. I've read a few comments about "medium format feel" on APS-C, and I get that a fast wide angle is rare and shallow DoF with that wide (not so wide on APS-C) angle is not so common, but I don't feel that the FA31 offers something that other similar combinations would in that respect. Autofocus is fast, but not as fast as the DA Limiteds. I don't mind the screw-drive noise, but in these SDM-days it is worth mentioning. I have used the DA*50-135 for a while and even though it has SDM it was slower than the Limited-lenses (although more silent). Also I wouldn't think that I should miss quick-shift from my DA Limiteds, but I guess that I use it more than I thought. It can be small situations like when you are about to put the camera in the bag, you want to retract the lens (focus to infinity), and then you have to fiddle with the AF/MF-switch on the camera. Small things, but I think it is worth mentioning. Build quality is otherwise on par with the DA Limiteds, which is to say very good - tight tolerances, nice materials. The aperture ring has a very slight play though, but as does my FA43 and FA77, so I think it is supposed to be like that. The leather case of the FA Limiteds are a bit sturdier than the DA Limiteds, also the cap has a nice green felt, great premium feel :) The size of the lens is pretty small, but I just keep thinking that it would be really amazing on a FF sensor, now it is more what the FA43 would have been on FF. A letdown if the FA31 is autofocus consistency. On the K-5 it both front- and back focused so I rarely used it even near wide open, but on the K-3 it has gotten better (not perfect though). Actually, it fits very well on the K-01 and with its contrast detect it doesn't show the front/back focusing problems. It is also a good match for both size and looks :) It is not optimized for manual focus though, focus throw is very short (as with most AF-glass), but has a slightly longer throw than the DA-series. I have mixed feelings for this lens. It is not perfect, with a few aberrations and focusing problems (phase detection). It also goes from being a rare fast wide angle to becoming "just" a fast normal lens on APS-C. I keep thinking how wonderful it would be on FF (and that has been shown on film and the Sony A7-series). But, I don't feel that there is any real replacement. It has a nice character, it serves several purposes, and it has a very nice build and feel. If you are willing to compromise there are options like the Sigma 18-35, FA35/2, DA35/2.4 or Sigma 35/1.4. Each is a compromise of build quality and/or size, although they are cheaper :) Pentax K-01, SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited. 1/80 sec at f/2.0, ISO 1600.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/14781043503_4f31a167d8_b.jpg

Pentax K-5, SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited. 1/60 sec at f/3.2, ISO 100.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7353/9095768328_efc89ed635_b.jpg

Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited. 1/180 sec at f/4.0, ISO 100.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/14426587237_ecb6bccc66_b.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: S-M-C/Super Takumar 20mm F4.5 by DonThomaso on Mon January 27, 2014 | Rating: 8

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Reviews: 15

This review is for a mint condition S-M-C 20/4.5 bought second-hand in Sweden. PROS

Great build quality
Fun to use
Proper feel in manual focus ring
Sharp in center wide open
Works well with Speedbooster

CONS

Not that special focal lenght on APS-C
A bit slow
Soft in corners and does not benefit much from being stopped down
Distortion and vignetting even on APS-C

I USE IT FOR

General ultra wide angle on APS-C with Lens Turbo

I have a collection of S-M-C TAKUMARS and this is the widest to date. I had used the 24/3.5 earlier and got a hand of a mint 20/4.5 for a fair price. My experience with the 24/3.5 was positive and on APS-C the 20mm would be very useful as a general wide angle. The lens is pretty much the same size as the 24/3.5 (a tad smaller actually). I understand that when the lens was released it was an impressive wide angle, but for use today on Pentax APS-C it has mostly build quality and manual feel speaking for it. It is relatively slow, distorts, vignettes etc pretty bad compared to newer lenses. It is sharp in center but soft in corners at F4.5, but doesn't seem to benefit that much from stopping down either. Bokeh and transitions are surprisingly smooth. It makes a good lens for close up fun. I found the scale focusing a bit harder to use on this than the S-M-C 24/3.5, but it could be my copy that is a bit off on the scale (it is mint condition otherwise). Update: I have since my initial review used it quite a lot on a Fujifilm X-T2 with a Lens Turbo II adapter, giving it back it's full frame properties. The full frame 20 mm FoV is quite a large difference than using it with the 1.5x crop factor. 20mm is noticably wider and opens up for new possibilities compared to standard zooms typically starting at 24 or 28 mm. I have used it for travel as a kit of 20/35/85 mm focal lenght that covers my needs. The lens vignettes quite heavy on FF, and even a standard filter will impact vignetting even further. I did try the recommended setup with 77mm step-up ring and 77mm filter, that makes the setup look quite spectacular but still does not remove vignetting issues completely. Sharpness in center is good, but lacking in the corners. Still passing for acceptable for my purposes after stopping down a bit. Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 20mm F4.5 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/2700 sec, ISO 200.

http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1975/31724189838_b2d664bd99_b.jpg

Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 20mm F4.5 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/2700 sec, ISO 200.

http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/43640884995_45e199a699_b.jpg

Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 20mm F4.5 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/2700 sec, ISO 200.

http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/44498796971_6c3146dcea_c.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited by DonThomaso on Sat June 22, 2013 | Rating: 10

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Reviews: 107

This review is for a mint condition 'Made in Japan' FA77 bought second-hand in Sweden, serial nr in the 0014xxx-range. PROS

Rendering (transitions)
Compact size (great handling on Pentax DSLRs)
Build quality
Very sharp already at wide apertures
Autofocus speed
Full-frame compatible, aperture ring

CONS

Slight aberrations (longitudinal and lateral)
Showing age in some areas (no quick-shift, aberrations)
A bit pricey

I USE IT FOR

Portraits (full body, half-body, headshots)
Weddings (indoor, outdoor)
Sports (may be too short for some situations)

The first Limited I got was the DA40, and soon I started to buy them as mint second-hand samples came on the market. After a couple of years I got all the DA Limiteds and I was pretty well covered (I don't shoot much longer telephoto). There was something mythical about the FA Limiteds though, so after a while I started to look for them as well. The DA70 was my favorite of the DA Limiteds, working great for portraits, sharp wide open and so very small. I have read about the 'pixie dust' of the FA77, and it is also faster, full frame / film compatible (I use a ME Super sometimes), has an aperture ring and is a bit faster. I don't like big lenses, so I use the FA77 (and the DA70) as general purpose short tele/tele lenses. The main use for me is portraits (works for both full body, half and head), events and weddings. Since I have compared it a lot to the DA70 I will use that lens for comparison in this review, and maybe it can help someone choosing which one to buy. To go trough the basics first. The lens is VERY sharp. Like all lenses it is slightly softer wide open, but I wouldn't call it soft. It gradually builds up and I have used it mostly at F2.2 - F2.8. If you want a model in full focus F1.8 might give too shallow DoF, but that up to you what kind of look you want. With nine apertures blades it the bokeh stays nice at most apertures, so you don't need worry about stopping down with respect to that. The bokeh is very pleasing, but it certainly has a character. A few of the many 85/1.4 lenses around that I've inspected images from has a super clean and almost to perfect bokeh. I love some distinction in the halos and a bit of swirlyness :) One of the drawbacks of the lens is various aberrations. I think it is a combination of the age of the lens (designed for film) and the large aperture. All lenses struggle in backlit situations, but I would say that the FA77 fares a bit worse than average. Lateral CA is easy to correct in Lightroom 4, but longitudinal is more difficult. As long as you stop down a bit in these difficult situations you would fare pretty well. Autofocus is fast, but not as fast as the DA Limiteds. I don't mind the screw-drive noise, but in these SDM-days it is worth mentioning. I have used the DA*50-135 for a while and even though it has SDM it was much slower than the Limited-lenses. Also I wouldn't think that I should miss quick-shift from my DA Limiteds, but I guess that I use it more than I thought. It can be small situations like when you are about to put the camera in the bag, you want to retract the lens (focus to infinity), and then you have to fiddle with the AF/MF-switch on the camera. Small things, but I think it is worth mentioning. Build quality is otherwise on par with the DA Limiteds, which is to say very good - tight tolerances, nice materials. The aperture ring has a very slight play though, but as does my FA31 and FA43, so I think it is supposed to be like that. The leather case of the FA Limiteds are a bit sturdier than the DA Limiteds, also the cap has a nice green felt :) The size of the lens is pretty amazing, having in mind that it is full-frame, fast and feature autofocus as well as a proper aperture ring. There are not many like this around for other mounts. I mean, even the Olympus 75/1.8 for micro4/3 is larger and heavier! Size and weight is perfect for the small Pentax DSLR-bodies like the K-5, well balanced and still large enough to support the lens/camera with both hands. How does it compare to my old favorite then, the DA70? Well, it is sharper at the same apertures, but both are sufficiently sharp. Bokeh is both smoother and has more character than the DA70, but again - both are good. The FA77 has definitely more problems with abberations, you might want to be a bit cautions in some situations, where the DA70 can handle pretty much everything. The DA70 is also smaller and focuses faster, but both are fast and small compared to the competition. Now comes the big thing speaking for the FA77.. the mythical 'pixie dust'. I would say that it is mostly how the in-focus to out-of-focus transition is handled, which makes the subject almost pop out of the background. Combined with a certain character of the bokeh (and pretty lots of it being a fast lens) and good contrast at larger aperture will combined create the sought-after dust :) I have not yet decided on which one to keep, the DA70 or the FA77. Both has their advantages, and has any major weakness either. The FA77 is pretty expensive, but it also is pretty unique. Just don't expect perfection (super sharp and no aberrations wide open). Compact, high quality, short telephoto primes is an area where we Pentaxians are spoiled! :D Pentax K-5, SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited. 1/160 sec at f/2.2, ISO 400.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9040731540_0633eb3c41_b.jpg

Pentax K-5, SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited. 1/125 sec at f/2.5, ISO 1600.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5543/10857172695_571a296c47_b.jpg

Pentax K-5, SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited. 1/125 sec at f/2.5, ISO 100.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/9109319949_f2c4830d3c_b.jpg

Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited. 1/200 sec at f/2.5, ISO 200.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/13996469282_49c787c5af_b.jpg

Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited. 1/125 sec at f/2.5, ISO 400.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2937/14723145672_b0238f5e7f_b.jpg

My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-Q 01 Standard Prime 8.5mm F1.9 by DonThomaso on Sat March 30, 2013 | Rating: 9

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Reviews: 13

This review is for a brand new 01 Standard Prime that came with the Q body. PROS

Build quality
Sharpness
Size
Shows what the Q is capable of

CONS

Manual focus feel (goes for all focus-by-wire that I've tried)

This is what I am talking about! I started out with the 02 standard zoom, but since the Q was so cute and cheap, I bought one for my GF, then going for the 01 prime obviously. I am very glad that I did :) Having used only the 02 zoom, it never impressed me that much, mostly because lack of sharpness. The 01 prime certainly delivers in that area. Also, the size is just perfect for the Q. It even has the odd "F1.9" maximum aperture as the FA43 Limited. Speaking of Limiteds, I wouldn't hesitate to speak of the 01 prime in the same context. It is small, sharp and just a joy to use. With some close up fun it is also able to create some not to shabby bokeh with the Q. I would recommend all Q-users to get the 01 standard prime. My biggest concern with it is the focal length, I would have preferred a slightly wider lens for general purpose, say a 28 or 35 equiv. But Pentax has that on the roadmap, so I just have to wait and pray that it is as good as the 01 prime. Price indicated is half of the kit price with the Q. [IMGWIDE]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8355/8435946635_14e8fe1437_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8475945779_dc65c9aac3_b.jpg[/IMGWIDE] My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-Q 02 Standard Zoom 5-15mm F2.8-4.5 by DonThomaso on Sat March 30, 2013 | Rating: 6

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Reviews: 17

This review is for a brand new 02 Standard Zoom that came with my Q. PROS

Build quality

CONS

Sharpness not optimal
Too slow at tele end
Manual focus feel (goes for all focus-by-wire that I've tried)
Wished it went to 24mm equiv.
Distortion at wide end (eats pixels when correcting for it)

I'm mostly a prime shooter, but when the Q dropped in price I went for the zoom, thinking that the system would be small enough anyway, and sometimes missing the flexibility of a zoom for casual shooting. It is in no way a bad lens, but I never really enjoyed it either. Let me explain. Lets start with the obvious. It is a standard zoom, roughly equivalent to 28-80mm on FF. It has a somewhat faster aperture than normal, but that doesn't say much regarding the small sensor on the Q. The Q really needs fast lenses to stay on low ISO and DoF will still be pretty much non existing unless you are near the minimum focus distance. The build quality is pretty nice, a step up from other "kit zooms", but it's not a Limited :) The fun pretty much ends there. I wish it went to 24mm at the wide end, which would have opened up more possibilities for architecture, landscapes or interior shots. Like some micro four thirds-zooms, its maximum aperture at the tele end really goes below the optimum aperture range, leaving you very little playroom there. The largest problem for me is image quality, more precisely sharpness. At first I only had the 02 zoom, but after trying out the 01 prime it really showed me what the Q was capable of, and it is capable of more than the 02 zoom can deliver. Distortion can also be an issue. I normally always correct for distortion, usually in Lightroom, but you loose quite a bit of image since it distorts so much. For manual focusing, the combination of focus-by-wire and huge DoF makes it pretty much useless. Value is a bit hard, since prices on the Q-system has been a bit of a roller-coaster. I wouldn't recommend getting it at retail price, but you could probably pick it up in some cheap kit. If you need the flexibility of the zoom it would be alright to use, but I definitely would recommend also getting the 01 prime. Now I am wishing for the upcoming wide angle prime to be as good as the 01 prime. Price indicated is half of the kit price with the Q. [IMGWIDE]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8258144922_6036a975fb_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8372838159_018a6d5494_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8229779717_66b802318f_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited by DonThomaso on Tue November 20, 2012 | Rating: 9

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Reviews: 96

This review is for a mint condition DA21 bought second-hand locally in Sweden, serial nr is in the 0018xxx-range. PROS

Very small size and low weight
Build quality
AF-speed
Conversation piece

CONS

Distortion
A bit slow

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/8060971802_92b1ca288e_z.jpg

Build and parameters At first glance the DA21 might not seem that interesting. The focal length is covered by many zooms, including the kit lenses. The speed is right there between kit lenses at f/3.5 and more expensive zooms at f/2.8. However, when using the lens it speaks to a different crowd. It is unrivaled in size among wide-angle lenses for DSLRs, build quality and handling on the small Pentax DSLRs is great. It also looks very good with the cool square hood! Image quality The DA21 produces typical DA Limited sharp and contrasty pictures, already wide open. Corners will benefit of stopping down, but that is expected. Being relatively slow for a prime it is important that it usable on the maximum aperture – and it very much is! Bokeh is not a major aspect of a slow-ish wide angle lens, but it is generally fine, but sometimes a bit busy. Aberrations are low and easily (automatically) corrected in software. Distortion is high for a prime lens, about the same as many zoom lenses, and worse than the DA15. As with vignetting, though it might be present it is easily corrected in software if needed to be corrected, unfortunately it “eats” a bit of the image when you need to correct more. Flares might appear from time to time, a little bit more than most modern primes I have used. Flares and ghosting are more difficult to get rid of in post and could possibly be an issue under critical situations. For general snapshots I don't mind a flare or burst from time to time, but it must still be seen as a negative. I haven't noticed any major difference in flare resistance and ghosting if the hood is used or not.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8179582233_8247a31f45_c.jpg

Use and handling Like mentioned before, the lens fits perfectly on Pentax DSLRs, and it also works very well on the K-01 which really needs small primes to show its best side. The auto-focus is very fast on both the K-5 and K-01, and the short focus throw and low mass of the glass is key factors. Focus is accurate on my K-5 (and the K-01 of course as it uses all-time contrast detection). The perfect areas of use for the DA21 is too me indoors at parties, where the DA15 might be to wide (perspectives at edges might be weird looking), but flash might be needed because of the f/3.2 maximum aperture. It would also be good as a general walk-around or street lens. It might not be wide enough for interiors or architecture though. If only one lens can be brought, I like to think that a classic wide-angle is a great choice, and the DA21 sits right in between the classic 28 and 35 mm focal lengths. It actually gives me a preview of what the FA31 might be like on a full-frame DSLR... Much like the DA15, you don't really have many alternatives that can match the size at this focal length. Maybe a FA20, or some manual Voightländer, but they are either larger or only manual focus. Price is usually relatively low (second-hand) as many users might go for the DA15, which makes the value proposition of the DA21 a bit more interesting.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8090179965_de51696024_c.jpg

Overall impression The DA21 is yet another pretty unique Pentax-offering. At first glance it might not seem as special as the other DA lenses, with pretty standard focal length and aperture. But when size, build and handling are weighted in, it comes together in a unique offer. The DA21 is a great general wide-angle lens, right between the 28 and 35mm classic focal lengths. It is great for general use and especially indoors shooting people. If I had to choose between the DA15 and the DA21, it would be the DA15, but the DA21 stills holds a good value for the money and might be more suitable depending on your shooting style. My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited by DonThomaso on Tue June 5, 2012 | Rating: 10

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This review is for a mint condition DA70 bought second-hand on the Pentaxforums marketplace, serial nr is in the 00023xx-range. PROS

Very small size and low weight
Build quality
AF-speed
Image quality
Bokeh
Conversation piece

CONS

AF-accuracy
Purple Fringing

Build and parameters The DA70 might be a bit larger than the DA40, but I would say that the size and weight of this lens is even more impressive. I'm not aware of any other short telephoto lens of this size, and it still has a respectable f/2.4 maximum aperture. Equivalent to a 105mm focal length in 35mm format, a typical portrait lens one might say. I've used it mainly to that, but it is so small and nimble that it has also covered pretty much all my telephoto needs (I'm not a bird shooter). Build quality is top notch, and the pull-out and removable hood works very well and is a nice touch. You are given the option to go super slim or with the hood as protection (against flares, but also for mechanical damage to the lens).

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/9109325149_80e11aa347_c.jpg

Image quality The lens is sharp in center already wide open, and very suitable for portraits at f/2.4 and f/2.8. I use it for both headshots and full body. Stopping down to f/4 the corners will be very sharp as well and you can use it for events, motorsport and so on. Bokeh is smooth and never distracting, but one might say that it does not have any special character either. Personally I don't mind a bit of swirlyness in a portrait background, but technically you can't say anything bad about the DA70's bokeh. It has shown some purple fringing in high contrast situations, but it easy to correct in software, just as the vignetting and negligable distortion. Ghosting and flare is well controlled and the smart extendable hood does a good job here.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7335650790_9698d23cdc_c.jpg

Use and handling Typically for a DA Limited, the handling is great. The lens is very light weight and small size. Where a large lens like the DA* 50-135mm might get you tired after fifteen minutes, you can shoot all day with the DA70. Auto-focus is very fast, but the DoF is pretty thin and I miss some portrait shoots at f/2.4. I think this has to do more with the camera (K-5) then the lens though. Speaking of portraits, that is what I would say is the typical area of use for this lens, but like I said earlier I use it as a general telephoto. It is very sharp stopped down a little and will allow for a bit of cropping if needed. I liked the DA70 very much, and I ended up getting the FA77 which I would say is better for portraits, but the DA70 has advantages like lower CA, faster AF and smaller size and might be more all-round. The FA77 is probably the closest rival, regarless of system, but there are many other great portrait lenses. None of them will be as small as the DA70 though, and many will be manual focus only and softer wide open. With such a wide are of use and relatively low price, especially second-hand, I think that the DA70 offers great value.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8169/8042877325_11cf45aa8f_c.jpg

Overall impression The DA70 must be seen as a gem in the Pentax lineup. It offers a wide range of uses in a very small and high quality body, and at a reasonable price. I have compared it to the DA* 50-135mm and for me the DA70 does the same job at one fifth of the size and half the price. No other company will offer a lens with the same specifications either, a truly unique lens, with its greatest rival in the same stable (The FA77), both exceptional portrait lenses that will work as general telephoto as well.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/8155176455_f525448b2e_c.jpg

My pictures on Flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro by DonThomaso on Tue May 22, 2012 | Rating: 9

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Reviews: 123

This review is for a like new condition DA35 bought new on eBay from the UK, serial nr is in the 9288xxx-range. PROS

“Dual purpose” lens
Image quality
Build quality

CONS

Fear of loosing a shot (if AF hunts)
No focus limiter

Build and parameters A standard lens as well as a 1:1 macro, a true dual-purpose lens. It is the largest of all the DA Limiteds, yet it can't be called large or heavy. Despite having a long focus throw, protruding quite a bit when focusing close and having a built-in hood, the build quality is very good, on par with the other DA Limiteds. In full-frame there are lots of standard (50) macros, but for APS-C it is pretty rare. The Tokina sister of this lens is available for Canikon, but it is larger, mostly plastic, and lets face it – very ugly. Image quality The image quality of the DA35 Macro is easy to describe – very good. It is sharp already wide open, and very sharp stopped down. Bokeh is creamy when working in macro mode, since the DoF will be very thin. At moderately close focus distances the bokeh might be a bit busy, but not disturbing. Aberrations, distortion or vignetting is very well controlled. I never experienced any problems with ghosting or flare when working with this lens.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8291632621_f9eedfde57_c.jpg

Use and handling It might be the largest and heaviest of the DA Limiteds, but is is still a small lens. It fits nicely on the camera. Auto-focus is pretty fast, but only as long as it finds the correct focus at first try. If it misses and has to go trough the focus range it will take a while, since it has a long throw (normal and pretty much required for macro work). A focus limiter would have helped this. Regarding the macro mode (it is not really a mode, it just focuses very close) it goes all the way down to 1:1, but at 35mm focal length you subject pretty much touches the lens at closest focus. You must retract the lens hood when approaching 1:1. Another aspect of the very close working distance is that you might interfere with the lightning of the subject. If the subject requires a greater working distance, a 50 or 100mm macro might be more suitable. The focal length and macro feature pretty much is a giveaway for this lenses areas of use, which is pretty much everything. Standard lens works for portraits, vacation, general shooting etc, and the macro mode for close-up work. It is a bit of a compromise though. Personally I feel that standard lenses is a bit boring. For indoors, streets, architecture etc it will be to narrow, but yet it is too wide to be perfect for portraits, sports and similar. It will also be a bit limiting for serious macro work, because of the very short working distance. However, it is still an impressive package considering all things it will do, and if you will use it at its full potential, it will offer great value. There are some competition though, that are more specialized in certain areas, for example the FA31 (speed, bokeh), DA40 (size, AF-speed), D-FA100WR (macro).

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8362877590_94154c6b43_c.jpg

Overall impression A jack of all trades, a master of none. That would describe my feelings for this lens. I do not specialize in macro work, but still I can feel that the short working distance is limiting in some situations. The fact that it sometimes will hunt and have to go trough the whole focusing range will make me hesitate to use this lens for critical situations where you only get one change, for example at a wedding. Depending on what you shoot and in what situations, there might be a better lens or combination of lenses. My pictures on Flickr with this lens

Review of: Takumar 135mm F2.5 Bayonet by DonThomaso on Wed April 11, 2012 | Rating: 7

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Reviews: 70

For what it is, it is not that bad at all. I wanted a cheap and fast, yet useful, telephoto lens. For $40 and in like new condition, I couldn't expect more of it. At F2.5 it is soft and suffers from low contrast. I wouldn't use it at F2.5 unless it is in a low contrast situation. The positive thing is that it gets much better already at F2.8! There is lots of creamy bokeh (as expected from a 135mm F2.5 lens) that suffers from some abberations, but the focus transition is smooth. I compared the image quality to some of my other lenses, and at F2.8 I found it to be similar to the SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8@F2.8 and the SMC Pentax M 75-150mm F4@F4. All of these are better then my DA 55-300 in terms of general image quality. Haven't had a chance to try out it in terms of flare resistance yet. Handling is great as most of the lenses from the era. The manual focus ring is huge and well damped. It has a long throw so precise focusing is easy. Build quality puts most new lenses to shame (except lenses like the DA Limiteds and DA*). I find the coloring scheme to be somewhat to "happy" and signals that the lens is maybe not that serious. This might does not matter for use, but maybe for collectors. Mine has a 55***** serial number and is made in Japan [IMGWIDE]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5312/6922217204_a69fdb62ca_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/6922217280_cbcb2fbb36_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/7068298455_7abfd240c8_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE]

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED by DonThomaso on Tue March 20, 2012 | Rating: 8

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Views: 526533
Reviews: 119

PROS

No major weakness
Great value

CONS

Not "fun"
Wish it was weather sealed

I have some mixed feelings about this lens. For what it is (long range, low price) it is a pretty decent performer, probably the best choice out there. It has no major weaknesses. However, it doesn't really excel in any aspects either. Image quality is overall satisfying. It is reasonably sharp, but needs to be stopped down when possible. This is especially important the closer to 300mm you get, and at 300mm and ~F8 or so you usually need to start raising the ISO even in daylight. I never experienced any problem with aberrations, but I always shoot RAW and process with the lens profile in Lightroom. Bokeh, especially in transition areas, can be a bit nervous at times. The lens is not that heavy, but pretty large. Weight is pretty far out when at tele end, getting a bit clumsy (I like the limiteds...). Autofocus can hunt sometimes, and is pretty noisy. Even though it is great value, and has no major weakness really, I usually leave this lens at home. It just lacks that something extra to consistently make it into the camera bag. It is not super-sharp, it is not small, it is not fast (in terms of both aperture and autofocus). I used the DA-L 50-200mm quite a bit when I was new to Pentax, and this is like the big brother to that, a little better in most aspects, but I have somewhat the same feeling for both of these lenses. 6-7km distance to ship, F11, tripod ("ideal conditions") [IMGWIDE]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6802398400_46948277a2_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6522812701_9b613e0539_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6659525857_2e2d1e8c30_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE]

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED by DonThomaso on Mon January 2, 2012 | Rating: 7

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Reviews: 17

Got this as a part of the larger K-x kit. Price indicated is a approximated premium of the large vs standard kit (bought in Sweden early 2010). In my first 12 months as a Pentaxian, I used this more than the 18-55 kit lens. I found image quality at around 50mm (where they where overlapping) to be superior. However, when I got hold of some old cheap primes I was learning what the camera could produce and to be fair this lens does not do the K-x justice in terms of image quality that it is capable of producing. That said, I have taken lots of pictures that I am happy with, and since 98% or so of my images end up on the web or in small prints, this lens can produce acceptable image quality for that purpose. Image quality wide open is not great.. center sharpness is acceptable, but it lacks in corners. It is also a bit soft at longer focal lengths, say over 150mm. Stepped down it does improve quite a lot, but at F8 or so you need to be outside on a not to dark day to use it handheld, if you don't want to push ISO a bit. Aberrations are present, but given a little time in post-processing they can be handled to some extent. Bokeh is a mixed bag, sometimes pretty good, but often nervous. Contrast is fine though, as well as flare control. The lens is obviously a low-budget alternative, which shows in handling. Plastic mount, no quick-shift, no supplied hood etc.. but tolerances are pretty descent compared to kit-lenses from other brands. Also autofocus is quick and the lens weights in at just 235g and is pretty compact. Good for walk around and travel! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this lens to anyone seeking a low-budget alternative, but don't expect it to be super sharp or fast... Reasonable all-round performance for the price though. | Pentax K-x | ISO 200 | 200mm | F8 | [IMGWIDE]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5303/5574099773_f8d2ae08e3_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] | Pentax K-x | ISO 400 | 50mm | F8 | [IMGWIDE]http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4096/4772761100_1b3189b35a_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] Please note that the images provided is at the extreme ends of the zoom range, still very usable even though sweet spot is probably around 75-135mm or so. Second image is shot with a tripod, just to clarify that this is not a lens for handheld night photography :)

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited by DonThomaso on Sun October 23, 2011 | Rating: 10

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Reviews: 103

This review is for a mint condition DA15 bought second-hand on the Pentaxforums marketplace, serial nr is in the 9323xxx-range. PROS

Build quality
Small size and low weight
Built-in hood
Image quality
Flare resistance
Starbursts!

CONS

Corner sharpness
Velvet hood “dust magnet”

Build and parameters The DA15 is a pretty unique offering. It is on the border of wide to ultra-wide angle, it is not particularly fast at f/4, but not slow either. It comes in a small package though, at only 212g and a typical “Pentax” 49mm front thread. The build quality is excellent, with tight tolerances and all metal and glass. For its size it has a nice weight to it, but it is not heavy. The built-in hood has a nice velvet-covered inside, which does collect a bit of dust, but ads to the impression of a high quality lens. The lens does not need any special slim filters, a standard 49mm polarizer will be fine, not very common for wide-angle lenses, especially with small filter diameters.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/7988856868_197875ecc6_c.jpg

Image quality The image quality is very good. The center is very sharp already wide open, but the corners does need to be stopped down for optimal performance. If possible I will stop down to f/8, for example when working with a tripod for landscapes. As long as your subject isn't in the extreme corner f/4 will be fine though. Bokeh is actually pretty pleasing, but you really have to focus close (like half a meter or so) to be able to produce any of it, like closeups of food. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled and never bothered me with this lens, the same goes for distortion. These are things easily corrected in Lightroom anyway, as long as it is not too extreme. One of the major selling points for me with this lens, except for exceptional sharpness, is how it handles flares. There is no problem shooting with the sun or other bright light in the frame, the control of flares and ghosting is exceptional. Using a good filter, or none at all, may be a thing to keep in mind here though. For critical work I take of UV-filters, but they stay on for 95% of the time. Related to flare control, but also to the 7 blade aperture, is the DA15's ability to produce magical starbursts. Simply stop it down and bring in a bright and compact source of light, like streetlights, and you will see magic!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2869/8807373639_fd585fca3b_c.jpg

Use and handling Like all of the DA Limiteds, the small size and great build quality makes it a joy to use. It is very well balanced on the relatively small DSLR Pentax bodies like the K-5. I like screw-drive auto-focus, and the lens has a very short focus throw making auto-focus very snappy, but manual focus is very hard with the large DoF and short throw. The lens has many areas of use. I feel that it is wide enough for landscapes, cityscapes, interiors etc, and I have never looked for any wider lens since I got the DA15. I have used it for shooting weddings on my K-01, with the K-5 with a normal or short telephoto as the main camera. It will also work for close-up fun, general indoor shooting. Since it is sharp already wide open (except corners) it allows for a bit of cropping as well. That was one of the reasons I bought the DA21 as the last of the DA Limiteds, because the DA15 will work pretty good as a 21mm with a bit of cropping. There are not many alternatives, unless you can accept a larger lens. I had the Sigma 10-20 F3.5 previously, but that lens was simply too large to my liking. It was very front heavy on the petite Pentax bodies. It wasn't very sharp at the widest focal lengths either, so I used it mostly at 15mm anyway. There are not many alternatives for other DSLR systems either, you would probably need to look into the mirrorless market to find any competition, like the Olympus 12mm F2 for Micro 4/3.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/7087957999_9940495db8_c.jpg

Overall impression Overall I'm very impressed with the DA15. It often finds its place in the camera bag, usually being the first wide-angle choice. Sometimes I use the DA21 instead, but the DA15 feels more special. I managed to get a second-hand for a descent price, but they don't seem to come up that often on the market. I think the users simply like the lens and don't want to sell it :) I feel that as a Pentax user this is a great lens to add to your bag and that it offers a good value for your money. My pictures on Flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-A 35-105mm F3.5 by DonThomaso on Mon September 12, 2011 | Rating: 8

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Reviews: 79

Image quality Reasonably sharp lens, if not pixel peeping. I fell like the "stack-of-primes" nickname might be a bit of an exaggeration if you are looking at sharpness. Aberrations are handled very well for an older lens, I would say almost as good as today's lenses. Bokeh could be better, but when you take into considerations that it is an zoom lens from the 80's you really can't expect anything more than this. What I especially like is the smooth focus transitions, much smoother than most lenses I've used. I must say that I've not yet been amazed by the supposed color-rendering performance, but I'm still exploring some areas of this lens :) Handling & build Constant aperture at F3.5 is pretty fast, and the focal-length makes it a good walk-around lens (outdoors). Indoors it is simply not wide enough on APS-C. The A-series is somewhat of a sweetspot in time, old enough to sport the solid build quality from the say M and K-series, but still new enough to have an automatic aperture control and providing some more EXIF info. Focus ring is nice and large, the "gear-change" to close focus was somewhat strange at first, but you get used to it. What I still find somewhat disturbing is the zoom-ring though, a bit to small/far back for its size. Overall size and especially weight could be an issue if you have to spend a whole day with it. Overall comments For the price it is a great lens! Apart from the obvious limitations like focal length (not wide enough for some occasions) and manual focus (no problem for me) it has no major weaknesses. High image quality at all focal lengths, descent macro-mode accessible at all focal lengths, sharp, sufficient flare resistance, fast-ish maximum aperture. The complete package makes it a great all-round lens with a portion of that x-factor that makes it fun to use! My major issue is that it could be a bit on the heavy side for longer excursions. | Pentax K-x | ISO200 | F3.5 | Max magnification, focal length around 80mm and only light cropping | [IMGWIDE]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6144924554_957da1ebea_b.jpg[/IMGWIDE] | Pentax K-x | ISO200 | F4.5 | [IMGWIDE]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6105021109_e053a86eb6_b.jpg[/IMGWIDE]

Review of: SMC Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited by DonThomaso on Sat May 28, 2011 | Rating: 9

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Views: 575485
Reviews: 148

This review is for a mint condition DA40 bought second-hand in Sweden, serial nr is in the 0022xxx-range. PROS

Very small size and low weight
Build quality
AF-speed
Image quality
Conversation piece

CONS

Focal length
Fiddly front cap

Build and parameters This was my first Limited lens, and now I own all of them. I guess that says something about how great I found the DA40 to be. It is simply a very special lens. The high build quality and solidness of such a small item is very impressive, and with such a low weight it makes your DSLR (or K-01) very light and nimble. The screw-in metal hood is a nice touch and I usually have it on, but I've replaced the screw-in lens cap with a cheap pinch-type for easier everyday use. The focal length may be a bit unorthodox on APS-C, but the charm of the DA40 makes up for that and you will find ways to use it. Image quality The image quality is very good. Sharp already wide open and razor-sharp stopped down. Bokeh can be a bit nervous at some times, and halo rings will have a bit of inner glow, much like I have found on the FA43 as well. It adds some character and recognition though, but can not be seen as a strength. CA might occur in high contrast situations, but it is definitely on par with other lenses. Distortion and vignetting is nothing to worry about. Ghosting and flare is generally not a problem, but with a filter (modern Hoya HMC UV) it has shown some ghosting. Generally I've found that ghosting and flare usually is the product of using a filter, and not a fault in lenses. It has been pretty much the same results with cheap (Hoya HMC) as well as expensive (B+W XS-Pro MRC Nano, Kenko Zéta Super MC) filters. My advice is to remove the filter in critical work.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8423958338_bb134d46d8_c.jpg

Use and handling Being probably the smallest DSLR lens on sale, size and weight is obviously not a concern. Well, it might actually be an issue of the lens being too small, if you want to use the lens as a support. This has not been any concern from my side though. Auto-focus is probably the fastest I've seen, and it stems from that the focus throw is short and the mass of glass needed to be moved is very low. I did have some tendencies of back-focus, but I think it is more a problem with the body and (artificial) lightning situation than the lens. As it was one of my first primes, I explored and used it for many situations. I feel that it works best outside as a general purpose lens. It will work for isolating interesting subjects and might do fine for some portrait work as well. Indoors it will feel a bit tight for gatherings or several people, but as an indoor portrait lens it will be just about the right focal length (if shooting in your own home, where you might not have the size of a spacious studio). There are other small 40mm lenses, the DA40 is the smallest and one of the best built. Many, like the Voightländers for example, are pure manual focus. For a Limited, the DA40 is one of the most affordable, both new and used. I feel that it is a great lens to start of exploring primes.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7361066992_94550eca0a_c.jpg

Overall impression I like my DA40 very much. It is capable of delivering great pictures, and it makes you able to carry your camera all day. The biggest issue might be the focal length, which might not suite all. Like all of the DA Limiteds the maximum aperture is matching those of high quality zooms, but are beaten by the typically faster primes, but that is a compromise worth while, since you will get a very small size and good image quality wide open. Many of the faster primes will not perform as well very well wide open anyway. The DA40 shows of one of the unique things about Pentax and it will be conversation piece with your fellow photographers. My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-M 75-150mm F4 by DonThomaso on Wed May 11, 2011 | Rating: 9

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Reviews: 58

This review is for a mint condition copy bought second-hand here on the PF Marketplace, serial nr in the 811xxxx-range. PROS

Amazing sharpness already wide open
Small size for range and speed
Build quality and feel

CONS

Some purple fringing
Some general K/M-series handling issues to be aware of

INTRODUCTION Let me start by saying that this is my favorite "oldie". It is one of the few old zooms I've tried that actually is worth considering. When I think of this lens, one word comes to mind - SHARPNESS! I actually liked it so much that I bought me a second copy in mint condition and boxed! My first copy had a bad filter thread and no box, otherwise in flawless optical and mechanical condition. A constant aperture of F4 at this focal length is not too bad. The focal length on APS-C is a bit weird, it kind of hovers in the medium-telephoto range (112,5 to 225 equivalent). As a mostly prime user I don't feel limited by it though. HANDLING Build quality and materials are typical of other M-series - excellent! There is something special when using a proper lens with aperture ring, metal construction and solid feel. The lens itself is rather compact, in the same range as many new cheaper 55-200 and similar zooms. The zoom-action is the good-old push/pull- or "one-touch" zoom, which I actually like. It is nice to control both aspects without changing your grip. Contrary to most other similar lenses I've seen, it zooms towards tele when you pull it back towards you. I like this too, since you can start out at 75mm and then easily pull towards you to zoom in on your subject with more precision (I find it more controlled to pull back than push to front). The built in lens hood is pretty small and I don't think it will help much. If you are concerned with flare I think a larger screw-in hood would do better. Luckily it has the in Pentax-land very common 49mm thread, so I have a few hoods and filters laying around the house. Handling issues that I would like to point out is more general for the K- and M-lenses, being manual focus (obviously, but it limits them for some applications) and also that Av-mode on modern DSLRs will only work at wide open aperture. If you want to stop down it is all manual mode and green button. A specific issue for zooms from this era is that the shake reduction will not know at what focal length you are shooting. I usually go for the lowest value, 75mm in this case, and it seems to work fine. I guess it is not as efficient as it would have been on 150mm though. Ofcourse, if you "park" you zoom on a specific focal length, just enter that number. A positive note is that Pentax trap-focus method works very well, making it possible to use this kind of lens for at least medium speed action shots. [IMGWIDE]http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2689/5747992125_64083b66e4_b.jpg[/IMGWIDE] IMAGE QUALITY I have compared this with my DA L 50-200 and DA 55-300, and the 75-150 is much better in terms of sharpness and details. Also I prefer the color reproduction of the 75-150, with a bit more muted colors. The amazing thing I found is that this lens is VERY SHARP already wide open at all focal lengths. It does not seem to benefit that much in sharpness when stopping down, but the purple fringing gets better controlled though, which at wide open can be noticeable in high contrast situations. Bokeh is nothing special, not disturbing, but not spectacular in any way either. Compared to other zoom lenses from the 80's this one is by far the best one (others were Sigma and Makinon that was just garbage, and a Vivitar with A-setting that was somewhat alright). OVERALL A very solid performer, with moderately fast aperture and especially very high sharpness already wide open as main selling points. The negative is some purple fringing and more general K/M-series handing issues. I have used this lens mostly for motorsport and indoor shows. A bonus is that it looks really good on the K-x, with the silver details matching perfectly (goes for all K/M-series Pentax lenses) :) [IMGWIDE]http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6145/6026029320_397b7c96db_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7 by DonThomaso on Thu April 7, 2011 | Rating: 10

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Views: 940965
Reviews: 246

PROS

Build quality
Compact size
Sharpness
Amazing value
Handling

CONS

Purple fringing under some conditions

This has to be one of the most common old Pentax-lenses, and therefore fetches very low prices. I paid $50 for a mint copy with original box. For that kind of money, it has the highest price/performance ration of all my lenses! It is sharp already wide open, with a pleasing bokeh. That it is sharp wide open is good for use in Av mode on modern DSLRs, M-mode and green button is great, but makes for slower handling. Stopping down just one or two steps boost sharpness and contrast even more. It is very compact and well built, makes a perfect fit on the ME Super but also on the small K-x (and with matching chrome details!). Manual focus is very smooth and precise, simply a joy to use. I would very much recommend this lens to any user, beginners for great value and to exploring manual glass and all others simply for its performance. First picture is with "trap focus" on the K-x, second is on the ME Super. [IMGWIDE]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5227/5598418074_27ec00c6c4_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] [IMGWIDE]http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6188/6059777169_c362d905ca_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE] My pictures on flickr with this lens

Review of: SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8 by DonThomaso on Tue January 11, 2011 | Rating: 9

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Reviews: 58

For the price I got this lens is not much room for objections. Compact, solid feeling compared to new lenses, yet very light (about the same weight and slightly smaller size then the DA-L 18-55 kit-lens). Makes a very good companion on the K-x. The focus has a nice long throw, making it pretty easy to focus properly (I'm not used to manual focusing). It seems very durable as well, since my copy is looking like it has been used a lot (some dents on the body as well as some markings on the lens itself), but it still produces lovely pictures! The images are sharp (even wide open), has a nice bokeh. Colors seems like a modern lens, not like some other older lenses I've used. I will have to use it more outdoors to give a proper evaluation of flare resistance etc. All-in-all a lens that is fun to use, produces good images and you don't think twice to bring it because of size or weight. A bonus is that it looks very good on the K-x with it's polished metal details, black basis and white text (goes for both lens and camera). [IMGWIDE]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5523604904_d4f7d38bc6_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE]

Review of: Pentax-F 28-80mm F3.5-4.5 by DonThomaso on Sat January 8, 2011 | Rating: 7

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Views: 40886
Reviews: 10

A cheap and useful alternative to the DA-L 18-55 kit-lens. Bought this to experiment with reverse adapters, bellows etc where I needed manual aperture settings, but I ended up using it far more than the kit-lens (SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL), mostly because I find it sharper and the zoom-range is more to my liking. The colors are average, but poor contrast removes some of the depth in the pictures, some post processing can help a lot though. It is relatively sharp and useful wide open, but like always gains from being stepped down. It feels solid and it weighs considerably more then the DA-L 18-55. I wouldn't say "built like a tank" though, more that the fact that it is heavy that makes it feel pretty solid. Manual focus is not excellent (F-series has a very small focus ring), but possible. Auto-focus is pretty accurate and similar to the kit-lens, but it is far more noisy and very "clunky" (it hits the ends of the focusing range quite hard). Macro function useful and fun, although far from a true macro. | Pentax K-x | ISO 200 | 80mm | F11 | [IMGWIDE]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5333192100_da378d9309_b.jpg[/IMGWIDE] | Pentax K-x | ISO 200 | 80mm macro-mode | F11 | [IMGWIDE]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5333255504_aea00c9340_b.jpg[/IMGWIDE] | Pentax K-x | ISO 200 | 80mm macro-mode | F4.5 | [IMGWIDE]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/5698581251_6cf5fe5590_o.jpg[/IMGWIDE]