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The HD PENTAX-D FA 21mm F2.4ED Limited DC WR is announced

LennyBloke
Posted 14/10/2021 - 09:37 Link
LennyBloke
RobL
Posted 14/10/2021 - 09:53 Link
Radical for a Limited lens, it has weather resistance and a built-in motor. The only drawback with these is you cannot use a square filter system because of the fixed lens hood, but still tempting seeing how much lighter it is than the 15-30mm.
pschlute
Posted 14/10/2021 - 12:15 Link
RobL wrote:
but still tempting seeing how much lighter it is than the 15-30mm.

Agreed....416g versus 1040g
Edited by pschlute: 14/10/2021 - 12:16
Pwynnej
Posted 14/10/2021 - 12:32 Link
Disappointed no aperture ring. Probably won't be available in time for my NYC trip (my trinities will be coming with me - 31.43.77 and 15-30/24-70/70-200).

Shame I don't work for a Japanese company any more, always an excuse to spend, spend, spend (my 77 is Japanese bought).

Amazing responses on DP review about the lens, especially from KP/K3ii users complaining it's not wide enough for them....
Z-1p, K-1, P50
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. HD-FA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon
pschlute
Posted 14/10/2021 - 12:50 Link
Pwynnej wrote:


Amazing responses on DP review about the lens, especially from KP/K3ii users complaining it's not wide enough for them....

I guess they failed to see the designation "D FA"
LennyBloke
Posted 14/10/2021 - 13:08 Link
I have to admit I'm a sucker for shiny new Pentax lenses, but my buying (and selling) habits have changed over the last couple of years and I won't just buy a Pentax because it is new (the D FA 150-450 for example - a fine lens by all accounts but I doubt it would get used much because of it's bulk/weight). However, I've always liked the 20mm focal length particularly in Prime form, and reading the well crafted stories of this soon to be legend I think this would fit well with my kit.....

...anyone after a second hand Pentax FA 20mm

I wonder how many more of us are likely purchasers
LennyBloke
1stEverPentax
Posted 14/10/2021 - 13:37 Link
I'm sure it will be a fine lens optically...BUT continuing the trend of no manual aperture control is not to my liking and the price of 1500 Euros in EU (likely to be about £1300-£1350 in UK) means I would never consider buying one anyway.

It may be that my last new Pentax branded lens purchase of a 55-300 WR about 3 years ago was my last ever such purchase. I will be buying mainly used lenses from now on with the odd new one from Samyang or Irix as they offer better value for money and still give me manual aperture on lens.
LennyBloke
Posted 14/10/2021 - 14:53 Link
I understand the frustrations for much of the existing Pentax user base with the lack of manual aperture control and other incompatibilities such are no aperture control for "older" digital cameras (KAF4) - these things coupled with the move towards the high end (high price) lenses signals the movement to increase the desirability and market position of Pentax.

We've been fortunate in the recent past to have had a fine APS-C range of lenses covering low, moderate and high prices - producing multiple formats can't be cheap and must stretch Ricoh's resources, hence the perceived slow rate of lens release. I doubt we'll see many more cheap and moderate priced lenses in the near future - the build up of the Star and Limited full frame lenses has been impressive from a quality perspective although not from a price perspective

I'm not a market expert but I assume Ricoh knows who they want to keep and attract with this strategy. Who they will lose I'm not sure - many won't be able to justify or afford the high end lenses but I'm not sure what the alternatives really are now? Mirrorless is "the future" according to the industry, but I know many who still prefer a DSLR - and it is possible there will be a number of new users discovering the virtues of looking through a viewfinder?

Strange Times
LennyBloke
robbiec
Posted 14/10/2021 - 21:47 Link
Ticks all the right boxes for me. Showdown between it and my Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/25 for bag space.
Bokeh at close quarters looks delicious and further out has plenty of resolution.
My Gallery
[url=http://pentaxphotogallery.com/Robbie Corrigan]ppg[/url]
pschlute
Posted 14/10/2021 - 22:10 Link
1stEverPentax wrote:
I'm sure it will be a fine lens optically...BUT continuing the trend of no manual aperture control is not to my liking

Complete manual aperture control disappeared over 15 years ago on Pentax bodies. Backward compatibility is important to Pentax as far as the body is concerned (new functionality with the K3 III for example), so that old lenses can be used on modern bodies.

But do you really expect them to create a lens today that can be used on an old body ?
robbiec
Posted 14/10/2021 - 23:46 Link
LennyBloke wrote:
I have to admit I'm a sucker for shiny new Pentax lenses, but my buying (and selling) habits have changed over the last couple of years and I won't just buy a Pentax because it is new (the D FA 150-450 for example - a fine lens by all accounts but I doubt it would get used much because of it's bulk/weight). However, I've always liked the 20mm focal length particularly in Prime form, and reading the well crafted stories of this soon to be legend I think this would fit well with my kit.....

...anyone after a second hand Pentax FA 20mm

I wonder how many more of us are likely purchasers

Me
My Gallery
[url=http://pentaxphotogallery.com/Robbie Corrigan]ppg[/url]
Jonathan-Mac
Posted 15/10/2021 - 10:33 Link
Strange the Ricoh page doesn't include anything but wide-open close-ups. I'd have thought some street, cityscape and landscape photos would have been good to include for a lens like this.

Looks like a nice lens though and out to provide a nice alternative to the single big ultra-wide zoom.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
robbiec
Posted 15/10/2021 - 10:58 Link
Jonathan-Mac wrote:
Strange the Ricoh page doesn't include anything but wide-open close-ups. I'd have thought some street, cityscape and landscape photos would have been good to include for a lens like this.

Looks like a nice lens though and out to provide a nice alternative to the single big ultra-wide zoom.

There is a couple of pages in the Special site for D FA Limited and the photographers interviewed show some street, cityscape stuff.

https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/limited_lens/evidence/

Keita Sasaki has posted some of what you're looking for
My Gallery
[url=http://pentaxphotogallery.com/Robbie Corrigan]ppg[/url]
Edited by robbiec: 15/10/2021 - 10:59
RobL
Posted 15/10/2021 - 17:55 Link
I see the latest lens roadmap has another FF compatible wide-angle prime in the pipeline, a star lens perhaps to join the 85mm and 50mm primes? Intrigued by the idea that the new 21mm Limited could replace my DFA 15-30mm I am considering disposing of my sets of Lee Filters SW150 but the new prices are heavily discounted (from a list price total of £1700 to £1150), lowering used prices and showing poor responses on eBay so having second thoughts. I would be interested to hear what others think.
LennyBloke
Posted 15/10/2021 - 19:06 Link
RobL wrote:
I see the latest lens roadmap has another FF compatible wide-angle prime in the pipeline, a star lens perhaps to join the 85mm and 50mm primes? Intrigued by the idea that the new 21mm Limited could replace my DFA 15-30mm I am considering disposing of my sets of Lee Filters SW150 but the new prices are heavily discounted (from a list price total of £1700 to £1150), lowering used prices and showing poor responses on eBay so having second thoughts. I would be interested to hear what others think.

I've got it in my head that the "missing link" is a D FA* 35mm f1.4 - at a similar price to the 85

Rob - I know the SW150 filters are large, but couldn't you make use of them on other lenses or is it just the D FA 15-30 you use them on?
LennyBloke

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