| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2022 Location: Glyfada, a southern suburb of Athens Posts: 208
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 27, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $217.50
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | true "nifty-fifty" mm for APS-C, sharp, "Limited...XXL" quality | | Cons: | rough bo-keh and nothing unsolvable with one click at Adobe (CA, Vingetting) | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: KP
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 10
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If you can find it, buy it. This lens will make you to fall in love with it's Σpirit.
The lens is built like a tank and weights like a tank due to the plethora of Σigma magic inside.
It's humongous hood and enormous 74mm diameter are like a "Bonnie and Clyde" match with a gripped KP that makes you want to shoot things.
It's half the weight of FA* 50/1.4 and triple the weight of the Limited 40mm/F2.8 but it's as if it's a blend of both. I baptised mine "Fat Boys" leaning on the unique characters of Pentax's DA Limited collection lenses where I have & use all six of them.
Let me start with the disadvantage that is famous for. It's CA, it's purple fringing etc are bad in extreme scenarios. It also suffers from ~1 stop vingetting wide open. Yet all this are one click away and solved with digital TLC. Our lenses shoot digital and any digital correction by eg Adobe just lifts up this lens to FA* quality.
One thing I did not like is its rough bo-keh and it's "bad" when you compare it with legendary bo-keh masters like the "art deco" Pentax-A 50mm/F1.2 or the creamy yet perfect HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW. The only lens I can compare its bo-keh as almost awful yet better is Sony's 2000$+ FE 50mm f/1.2 GM that I still wonder why people buy it.
It's 30mm is P-E-R-F-E-C-T. In our APS-C it translates to a 45mm in FF standards and Pentax wisdom suggests that the HD Pentax-FA 43mm Limited F1.9 has the best "what you see is what you shoot" mm. And Pentax insisted on that mm on DA/APC-S cameras with the introduction of the superb HD Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited. Pentax did not introduce a 50mm Limited just for that and also markets the HD Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro as an ideal standard lens for "eye-sight / natural" photography!
It's F1.4 is phenomenal to the point I felt more comfortable in low light conditions to use a -1EV (!!!) for less bright results. If anything needs to be adjusted KP's EV tolerance in RAW and any software will simply vanish any unwanted darkness.
Some reviewers here and elsewhere complain that this lens is not sharp enough but fail to admit that this lens is sold at a fraction, price wise, of sharpness masters like the HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW. Yes, admittedly, the stellar HD Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro is unbelievably sharp, costs almost the same BUT it's 2 stops slower/darker and a little distanced from the utopian "natural eye-sight" mm on the view finder. Again, increasing the "clarity" on camera ( eg KP at Clatity +2 or more) or using a software does improve sharpness in wide open photos but the difference is negligible. I am sorry but people become pixel peepers when they try to find an excuse for the own lack of photographic skills and understanding that EVERYTHING in photography is a life full of compromises. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
One thing that amazed me with this lens is that, save for the "lens correction/profile" adjustment on Adobe, you really don't have to do anything else. In anything but portraits, you may use the "Landscape" profile on Adobe apps and have the same legendary vibrance like in HD Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited.
When you shoot people/portraits the Σigma has a greyish color character unlike the greenish OCD of eg the SMC Pentax-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited or the yellowish characteristic of Canon. Yet, it's the most neutral color that softens the skin in a beautiful way.
If you still read my long review, (thank you btw) allow me to explain that the second photo below is a crop of 100% of the first. The photo was not retouched. Just look how clean and sharp the toy is. You can see the fibers very cleary at F1.4
All the below photos are wide open ie F1.4.
Before I got this lens I had 3 lenses of 50mm. "Kaiser" the HD FA* 50/1.4 that I am scared to use in uncontrollable environments cause it's expensive. I also have the "Grenade", a great copy of Pentax-A 50mm/F1.2 that makes you bleed in order to tame it as "manual focus only" and with it's anything but DA elements. I also have a "Made in Japan" copy of SMC Pentax-FA 50mm F1.4 that existed for scenarios I dared not use Kaiser or could not bother tortuting myself with the Grenade.
Having now the Sigma DC HSM (Art) 30mm F1.4, I am in the dumping process of SMC Pentax-FA 50mm F1.4.
I love shooting in low light on the streets and a 1/2 stop difference between F1.2 with F1.4 is negligible when the KP and it's ISO magic and it's shake reduction sci-fi allow me to compensate any loss with a lower speed or a higher ISO.
One last thing. The lens has ULTRA FAST autofocus and it does not hunt in low light since my KP has that "AF strobe" that helps the lens to work things out.
So forgive me for the long review and the repetition. If you can find it BUY it!
PS: I still can't believe the price I got a mint copy with what the "japanese culture" describe as flaws ie a couple of hard to see "nail scratches" on the base of the hood. It came without a box and without a case but I got an original Sigma case for 20 euro (EX version) from Germany and I still can't believe the price. Even if you buy it at 400+$ it's still a bargain, it's still a great Value for Money.
PS: I hope an expert will make a contest/comparison of this lens with HD Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro in "normal light" conditions ie not just in day light or low/night darkness.
     
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2021 Posts: 88 | | Review Date: April 26, 2021 | Not Recommended | Price: $265.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Fast in aperture, fast to focus | | Cons: | Beaten in image quality by the HD 35mm F2.8 Limited | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 6
Camera Used: KP
New Or Used: Used
Autofocus: 9
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(Sold in spring 2018, so this isn't based on the most recent experience).
Focus throw: ~100 degrees
Sharpness:
Wide open, I'd rate the central sharpness as 6/10. This rises to 8/10 at f/2.8 and doesn't improve with further stopping down. The edges come close at f/5.6 and beyond.
Overall image sharpness deteriorates to 7/10 by f/11.
It's a step above a wide-normal zoom, but the 35 Limited is a step up again and that lens has virtually no CA.
Aberrations:
- CA at all apertures
- Vignettes until f/2.8
- Mild yellow colour-cast when comparing same subject with different lens
CA is noticeable wide open, improving to minor at f/2.8 and it stays at that level through the narrower apertures. I'd say it's equal parts green and purple.
Obviously more noticeable with some subjects rather than others, the colour-cast can be discerned when reviewing pictures after changing lenses, but could be mitigated by adjusting the Custom Image settings away from yellow. I generally use the Bright setting, which is probably the worst for this.
Bokeh:
Wide open shooting is not my style.
Handling:
Excellent. It may be broad, but it's comfortable for the left hand to support it and the camera. It may be dense, but its stubbiness doesn't shift the centre of gravity much: the combination is still manoeuvrable.
It's wide and has a focus throw of around 100 degrees - manual focus is no problem.
The lens hood is reasonable, but when reversed there is a gap between it and the lens body. A flower/petal design would be more compact, at the cost of protuding more forwards when mounted. I don't recall if I used any filters or what vignetting they might cause, but the lens hood permits good access.
Autofocus:
I had no issues with focusing - the HSM motor is quick and quiet. Remember to configure the AF Fine Adjust setting on your camera.
Recommended?
No. Unless you absolutely need precisely this focal length or f/1.4 aperture. The Pentax (HD) 35mm F2.8 Limited is a better lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2014 Posts: 6 | | Review Date: November 30, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, bokeh, low aperture | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3 II
New Or Used: Used
Autofocus: 8
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I am not a fan of shooting with widest aperture possible on any lenses. I just dont like those pictures and i have a headache of it. : ) I tend to stop down one or two steps all the time, and then i feel the mixture of sharp objects and blurry objects are becoming in sweet balance. Therefore i dont have ANY problems with this lense at all. Because all negative aspects disappear with F2, even the aberations are gone.
My piece is very well performing the autofocus. So the other reviewers, who feel it is a weak point, must have a dying motor inside, or the lense is asking for calibration. Although, i rate it with 8 out of 10, because at slightly lower light conditions, when i instantly put this lense on the body, the performance is not that great. But it is rather my mistake that i try to take pictures in the basement : ))
Mayyybe one small negative, it is a little heavier than i had expected. But anyway, when it first came to my hands i could immediately feel the quality and its perfect design. It is not only good working, but also hell of a good looking lense!
Beautiful and extremely good lense which i can recommend highly. Get it when you have chance.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Gothenburg, aka Göteborg Posts: 234 | | Review Date: August 3, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, compact, and affordable | | Cons: | No weather-sealing. | |
Hi all,
Sorry about barging in, as I rarely use my Pentax gear nowadays (got one camera and one lens, just as my wife does). But I got this lens!
I got this lens a few years back, and it is one that impresses me a lot, in DX format (or smaller).
It can be used on FX bodies, but you need to crop the extreme corners of your image, as the vignetting is a bit extreme, and the sharpness isn't the best there. A simple 16:9 takes care of the issue and then you just need a slight adjustment of the vignetting, if any at all.
I use it on all my cameras (except the Pentax K-x), from 1" to FX cameras, with no regrets at all, for all kinds of jobs, but mostly close-up.
Even better for close-ups if you add a close-up filter, like the Canon 250D (58mm size) + a 62-58mm step-down ring.
Delightful lens, small and compact, what more do you need.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2018 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 7, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, Contrast, Sharp | | Cons: | Focusing is great but not perfect | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-70
New Or Used: Used
Autofocus: 10
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It is good value for money. The focusing is not the best, but not also the worst. The image quality is amazing. I like this lens very much!
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2017 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 7, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $320.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp and wonderful bokeh | | Cons: | Adjustments are required to obtain contrast | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-3 II
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 8
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I love this Bokeh Master!!
This lens should be used manually.The reason is because you can enjoy it.
https://flic.kr/p/TG3cRS
F1.4 1/2000 ISO100
https://flic.kr/p/2eCyd4L
F1.8 1/25 ISO100
F1.4 1/6400 ISO100
F1.4 1/2000 ISO100
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania Posts: 266
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 30, 2018 | Not Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | Sharpness in the center | | Cons: | Chromatic aberrations, Purple fringing, Distortion, Flat rendering | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 2
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 5
Camera Used: Pentax k500
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 8
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Hello! I have used this lens about 10 months and I've sold it for my first limited, 31 of course! I won't make a comparison with 31, just my observations. The lens it's sharp no problem with that, autofocus was good with point focus... But, there are too many buts... The first one it's chromatic aberrations and purple fringing, they are coming together! Let's see:  Crop left:  Crop right:  This image was shot at f5.6 but I can tell you that even at f11 still could find aberrations! Let's see a winter shot:  Left crop:  As you can see, bad CA... Let's look at the bokeh:  And right crop:  When you have done with those troubles you have to deal with distortion:  For me, not an acceptable distortion. Well, when you have done with that you got to pp colors, contrast an other things, because to my eyes the rendering it's rather flat in comparison with what pentax lenses can deliver. Conclusion: This surely ain't an art lens and should not considered as one. It' s better than the previous Sigma but not at the bokeh chapter, it's got good sharpness but too many caveats, which I can't accept!
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2018 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 66
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 21, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Attractive yet Sturdy, Smooth Bokeh, Compact, Versatile | | Cons: | Low Contrast Wide Open, Dodgy AF, Heavy for its Size | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-70, K-3 II
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 5
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I purchased this lens in hopes of finding a reliable low light prime that I could use for a bunch of different applications. The 35mm version of this lens was out of my budget. I do a lot of indoor concert work and so having something like this was important. Despite the prolific (and true) statements about the AF, I decided to give it a go anyway. Very happy I did.
About the AF: Yes, it's bad. It's the only lens in my kit that I never use all the AF points on my camera with. It's just too unreliable in those regards. It doesn't hunt as much in good light but it is not accurate enough; especially for something that is advertised as a premium lens. I use this lens in a very challenging lighting situations and have pushed it to its limits. In dynamic, strobe lighting, I almost always go Manual. Tough lighting situations will confuse the AF and cause it to hunt for long periods of time. In other situations, I simply use a single AF point and adjust on the fly. This may be more work than others want to do. I didn't mind and the result of doing this on my K-70 resulted in much greater consistency. I used this lens on the K-3 II and I had way more trouble nailing a good shot. I suspect the K-70 being more modern affects its relationship with this lens in a positive way. Either way, I can't complain. This lens has produced some of my best work. I can't use all of the AF points on the camera reliably like I can my Sigma 17-70 for example but the image quality and how versatile it is makes up for it my opinion.
It's a wonderful lens only let down by its dodgy AF; which can be worked around. But the fact that I have to is why I give it a 9 and not a 10. I'd actually give it a 8.5 but I think it's closer to 9 than a 8. If you can deal with that, you'll be taking some gorgeous photos.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2015 Posts: 16
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 26, 2017 | Not Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Versatile focal length and aperture, decent IQ | | Cons: | Pants-on-head-retarded AF, purple fringing | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 7
Camera Used: K5II
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 3
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The sharpness is good, sure, but not worth playing Sigma Autofocus Roulette for.
Doesn't matter how carefully I calibrated the microadjustment, the lens would randomly miss focus completely on maybe 4/10 shots. Good light, bad light, BBAF, centre point only, nothing made a difference. i don't mean it was slightly soft or it locked focus on the background etc, I mean it'd be a totally unfocused, unusable shot. Tried using it for one model shoot and the a commercial job, and immediately sent it back. For £300 this should be the best damned walkaround lens on the planet, but Sigma's crappy AF makes it impossible to trust.
The detail and rendering is nice even at f1.4, but this comes at the price of pretty severe purple fringing, which seems to get WORSE as you stop down. Bizarre, I can only assume Sigma is building the ART lenses to look good in the all-important MTF charts rather than as balanced, useful tools.
If, like me, you're reading this thinking 'I'll be able to live with the dodgy AF if the image quality is really good'...trust me, you won't. This isn't something you can fix with microadjustment, the USB dock, focusing technique etc, it's just inconsistent. By all means give it a try, but only from a retailer with a decent returns policy.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2014 Posts: 16
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 15, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $345.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Sharp, nice designed, quite, comfortable to hold with lens hood attached, affordable, good in low light | | Cons: | bit short for big hands to hold without lenshood, unreliable AF, not weathersealed, heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-30
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 5
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As my first prime lens, i am sort of underwhelmed but still amazed by it's performance. I was looking for a replacement for the DAL 18-55mm f3.5 kit lens as light travel compagnion. Well, the Sigma is quite heavy for it's size BUT its extremely well build and definitely looks nice on camera. But still feels like it would weigh more than the K-30's body ... "Why would you get a Sigma Art Lense for light travel?" some might ask. Because I feel arty myself, that's why. And it strengthens your arms!
After a lot of time fiddeling around, producing unusable pictures and learning how to work with it, it produces beautiful results! Step down to f5,6 and you can crop the *§$# out of the pictures. Though a bit of barrel distortion, some vignetting and the colours it produces make for some fine, arty looking pictures.
As I said, I purchased it as walk around travel lens. When shooting the streets, you don't scare people with focus noise (the K-30's shutter will do that for you) and you got that one opportunity to fire at animals, before they flee. Its 30mm focal length is wide enough for landscapes and where possible, zooming in with your feet is always a fun thing to do.
So let me address my one and only problem what makes this lense quite hateful: The AF. If you use Live View, contrast autofocus will does its job perfectly, even at f1.4 and your object some meters away. Well, if you use the viewfinder, this lens will miss a lot of shots from f1.4 to at least f2.8. A LOT. Some are precise, some are not.
So it makes you start working on you MF-skills, so i would to some degree recommend the lens for rookies like me. This time, the machine will NOT do everything for you, oh no. Think for yourself! Want prefocus? You got the focus-distance-scale on the barrel and anticipate what's going on in front of the lens. Got lazy because of super-zooms? Use your feet to get into action.
And one last thing: It feels af if contrast autofocus and phase detection work the same speed.
Got other primes? No need for this one. Want your first prime and you feel, the big "A" on this lens appeals to what you want to achieve with your camera, go for this lense!
Some examples:
EDIT: Downgraded Autofocus (-1) and overall rating (-1) after a bit more usage.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2014 Location: Montreal Posts: 16 | | Review Date: December 5, 2014 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Wide aperture, doesn't feel cheap | | Cons: | auto-focus hunts and inaccurate | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-3
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 7
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Fantastic lens! Very sharp wide open (when you manage to get the focus right). Great for portraits, low light situations.
I already had an old Pentax A50 f1.4 which was producing soft shots wide open due to diffraction issues. Also, 50mm was getting a bit too narrow on aps-c. 30mm is just perfect.
The lens is a pleasure to use, very well constructed. The auto focus definitely has issues, but I think this kind of lens works best in manual focus anyways.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: August, 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,685
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 22, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $490.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, HSM focusing, somewhat compact | | Cons: | Still bigger than I like for K-01, CA wide open, focusing issues on DSLRs | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Camera Used: K-01, K-5II, K-30, K-r, K-x
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 9
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If you are looking for a fast lens with "standard" Field of View on APS-C and HSM focusing, there aren't a lot of choices, and even fewer that weigh less than 500g/1 lb (my limit for use on a K-01). The Art 30 is a very good lens, and can get excellent results, but you need to be aware of its limitations. Wide open, in bright light or with high-contrast subjects, there is chromatic aberration/purple fringing even in the center. Corners are sharper than the older Sigma EX 30, although still a little soft at wide apertures (and CA adds to that).
It's kind of large for a walk around lens and not subtle at all with the hood installed. It is flare resistant enough to use without the hood even outdoors in bright sunlight.
I can confirm the slow AF/no AF problem on newer DSLRs, but it only seems to happen in 11-point/5-point auto-select AF mode. Using center point or select-point AF, the lens focuses as fast as any of my screw drive lenses. The K-01 does not have any problems with this lens.
Link to my (lengthy) review of the Art 30 in the SLR Lens Discussion section:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/262745-my-s...rt-review.html | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: May 22, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great sharpness. Beautiful bokeh. | | Cons: | nothing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-3
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 9
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I am totally impressed by this lens. I rarely had a lens that already so can be a great sharpness at maximum aperture. With the auto focus so far I could not detect any problems. In contrast to other statements, the autofocus is true for most images.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2014 Posts: 4
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 11, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $499.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, superb built, nice feel, accurate focus | | Cons: | Min focusing distance longer than spec | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax k-01
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 8
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I have been using this lens on my pentax k-01 for over 3 weeks now. I don't have any focussing issues per se. I have tried 90% of my shots in very very low light just to put this through the ringer. It does struggle when focus distance is under 2 feet. Sometimes I have to go manual to get it to focus very close. It is possible that the min focusing distance is more than what the lens spec says. It is very sharp wide open and superbly built. Beautiful lens. Not sure if this is because k01 is mirrorless and used only CDAF done by the camera software. I love it so far.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: May, 2010 Location: Viet Nam Posts: 27
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 21, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | very sharp, 1.4, modern colorful, fill the lack fix 30 of Pentax | | Cons: | Ca from 1.4 - 2 (not important because of Lightroom), HSM very silly | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K3
New Or Used: New
Autofocus: 5
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I need a wide lens with large open Apeture 1.4 ( only SMC FA 31 1.8 but too expensive) so I decided to buy the only cheaper lens.... It's Sigma 30 1.4 Art.
That's great and exciting more and more.
The Sharpness 's so surprised...i'm very very satisfied...on my K3 (no AA filter)
color made strong impression on me.
But the AF on lens 's very stupid, slower than DA * 55..with my K3, I am trying to find the way to increase the speed and the accurate AF HSM...
Some Pics take from my lens ( max apeture 1.4)
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