Just to add another point to JonShick's pretty definitive list above - As a cosmetic re-work of a Tamron this lens does not have quick-shift focus which I find really useful on other Pentax DA lenses.

Glyn

I agree. I have the Samsung version and you get a nice green/blue refection off the front glass so it has some sort of coating. It just does not say SMC on it which I guess is because this trade mark is exclusive to Pentax.

The lens is not recognised by the Pentax Photo browser so I guess that it writes a different lens id into the exif data. PhotoMe returns a lens id of 4+56+0. I guess this might mean you will not get any auto lens correction with this lens version on a K-7 but I assume that this is probably not needed on a 100mm prime.

Glyn

Our posts are now locked after 30mins. See this thread.

Glyn

That list feels very familiar

I don't meet all of the items in my original list but I'm not too far off But to be honest I have a very small favourite set of lenses (DA*16-50, DA55-300, DA35 macro and at the moment, possibly because I've only have it a few weeks, the DFA100 macro). I know it makes sense to sell off the rest of the collection but it probably just needs a bit of a kick to initiate some commitment

Glyn

I don't know if its just me or an attribute of the British race but I've always liked to collect things and I think a Pentax fit lens collection must include a pancake lens

I only regularly use around 10% of my lens collection. Although I have to admit I have been considering selling one of my 4 mirror lenses, probably the Tamron 350mm, and have recently offered to donate one of my 4 camera bodies (k100D), with a pair of kit lenses to my father to get him started

Glyn

I have to admit that I have not done a detailed performance comparison between the two lenses. I had given up using the DA40 (bought in early 2006 when it cost 260UKP) long before the 35 limited was available. As a macro I knew that the 35's characteristics would be different but I got it, in August 2008, to create a similar frame coverage as a standard 50mm on a 35mm, ff, camera. Being a macro was a bonus and I've been very pleased with it. Its one of my few favourite, 3 or 4, lenses that get used often.

Glyn

Stefan - I think the DA35 limited is a far superior lens. It has a beautiful sliding, integral, hood and a lovely push-on metal lens cap. It also has the space for a set of DOF markings that I expect to find on a quality lens. I've not got one but I believe the 43mm limited to be even better


When about with the camera I like to put the lens cap back on between shots and this a pain with the DA40. As an aside why do they print the Pentax name on the inside of the lens cap or is this just a quirk of my DA40?

Glyn

I have one of these. It was on my must-have list as a pancake lens and at £216 certainly sounds very attractive.

However I hardly ever use mine. I prefer to use the FA50 or DA35 limited. The lens cap on the DA40 is a small screw-on disc, the hood is also screw on and these are a pain to remove quickly and I worry about loosing them. As a limited it is definitely very well made and performs well but I think a pancake is a bit of a gimmick. The focus ring is very, very, narrow. If I was starting afresh now I think I would hanker after a 43mm limited instead.

Glyn

I have been particularly interested in the recent discussions on what lenses you should have after the kit lens and suggestions on standard sets of lenses.

I was wondering if aspiring experts needed a broad range of knowledge not only in different focal length and speed lenses but different types as well. So I had a go at putting together a different sort of lens wish-list that might give a complete all-rounder a good grounding.


In no particular order I think the aspiring expert should have, or at least used, an example from each of the following:

Prime – probably starting somewhere between 30 & 55mm but could also be a long or wide prime. I started with a 50mm AF F1.7 and it certainly made me concentrate on my shot framing.

Macro lens – probably the 90, 100 or 105mm but could be a number of others.

Super Zoom – at one time this would have been a 28-200 or 300mm but now would be an 18-200 or 250mm.

Kit lens – easy, the 18-55 & 50-200mm but wasn’t the kit for the *istD something like an 18-35mm? You might also want to separately include the light weight versions.

A lens with a plastic mount – FA-J or one of the new light weight versions. Just so that you can comment on how good or bad these are.

Very long lens – something that gets to somewhere between 400 & 600mm

Fast lens – F2.8 or faster.

Constant aperture zoom – I still lust after a 70-200mm F2.8, but could equally be something like a Sigma 18-50 f2.8, DA*16-50 or DA*60-250mm F4.

Limited Lens

Pancake Lens – like the DA40 or manual equivalent. Makes your SLR look like a compact

Portrait lens – Not that I have one but I assume that the 77mm f1.8 limited is the definitive example.

Reflex (mirror) lens – The Pentax 400-600 reflex zoom is probably the most desirable but the Tamron 500mm or Sigma 600mm are good examples. I guess you might need to have at least tried a duff cheap one as well.

* lens – including DA* lenses but could be one of the older * lenses.

SDM lens

Power zoom – 28-105mm?

Weather resistant lens – WR or sealed DA*

Manual focus lens – Something like a Pentax A 50mm F1.7.

A soft lens – I’m not sure about this but I think Pentax produced some soft 85mm lenses, manual, F & FA for portraiture. I think there are issues with auto aperture.

Adaptall II lens – With both PK & PKA adaptors.

Super wide rectilinear – 10-20mm, 12-24mm, DA ED 14mm or a DA 15mm.

Fish eye lens – 10-17mm or one of the Sigma primes?



Not lenses but probably still relevant;

A Tele-Converter

Extension tubes

Reversing adaptor


Obviously any particular lens could cover one or more of these items. The trouble is that just having just one example maybe not enough

I’m sure I have probably missed some important items and maybe gone over the top with others but is this a good start or possibly just an excuse to defend the need for a large lens collection?

Glyn

I think its worth making sure you are going to make the best use of a super wide lens.

I got my 10-20 on a vague idea that it would be great for landscapes but I found that unless there was something in the immediate foreground I ended up with wide open expanses of ground & sky with trees dotted along the horizon.

However the 10-20 is good for shots of buildings in tight places and I found it really useful at bus and car rallies where you don't have to wait patiently for people to get out of the way as you can take an excellent shot of a double decker bus from just a couple of feet away

It does work well inside although it makes rooms look a lot bigger (great for budding estate agents) but it really needs a separate flash as this big, wide, lens can easily create a large shadow from the on-board flash. It is also a pseudo macro lens as you can get very close to a subject.

Having said that I probably only take this lens out 2 or 3 times a year.

I wonder if it might be better to think about supplementing the kit lens with something longer and would recommend the Pentax 55-300 which can still be found at a very reasonable price (but probably not for much longer). The other thing to think about would be something faster than the kit lens and the 17-70 is probably a good idea or the 16-45 which can still be found at attractive prices. A DA*16-50 would be a desirable objective but these are becoming unreasonably expensive.

I have the Pentax 18-250 which I got 2nd hand to take out as a single lens when cycling or walking. However I have been a little disappointed with it. Wide open there is a bit of distortion and I end up having to correct the verticals in photoshop. At the long end the smallish maximum aperture means it is only best in bright sunlight.

There is a big danger, of which I'm very guilty, of building a large collection of lenses as "must-haves". One of the problems then is deciding which ones to take out on a particular day. I usually only want to carry two lens (one on & one off the camera) and very often I end up thinking that I've got the wrong lens on today! I've found that I now have a small set of favourites, 3 or 4 lenses, and many of the other ones hardly get used.

Glyn