David Oswald wrote:
Paul Stenquist wrote:
I agree. The DA 16-45 is an excellent wide for the *istD(S). It's the only zoom I use for serious work....
I haven't used the 16-45, but it does indeed sound like a nice lens. However, I have been surprised that in all this discussion of 20mm lenses, and wide angle zooms, nobody has mentioned the SMC Pentax-FA 20-35mm f/4 AL lens, for better or worse.
I've had the 20-35 for over five years now, initially using it on my ZX-5n, and now on my *ist-DS (where it behaves as a 30-55, approximately). Perhaps I'm not as discerning as the avid pro, but on the other hand, I've had my hands on more Pentax lenses over the years than some pros (I used to be a camera buyer for a chain of department stores in Salt Lake City, until the end of 1999, which in some ways does make me a pro, but not as a photographer).
Anyway, I've found the lens to be sharp corner to corner, reasonably fast (f/4 throughout its zoom range), versatile, and one of the better built plastic lens out there. Its build is just shy of being on par with the FA50 f/1.4. Its focus ring feels nice, though the fa 50 is a little more dampened. And the lens design seems to ontroll distortion reasonably well.
But those are just my own off-the-cuff thoughts on the lens. I would be very interested in hearing what others think of this lens.
By the way, I've got some samples from the SMC-Pentax FA 20-35mm f/4 AL at http://davido.perlmonk.org/pictures/zx5n
The shots were taken about four years ago at Sunriver, Oregon with my ZX-5n at very close range to subject (I was just trying to emphasize the perspective). You'll notice in the 2nd picture the corral bars appear a little curved. That's just about the only time I've noticed distortion with the lens. I surely was holding it at an unforgiving angle. ;)
These pictures were taken with Kodak Porta400VC and their 5x7 prints were scanned at 200dpi on a flatbed, and then reduced in Photoshop to web-friendly sizes. ...not exactly a recipe for well portrayed test shots, but you'll get the idea. Maybe in the next day or so I'll take some shots with my ist-DS using that lens.
Dave
--
I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime.
--P.J. O'Rourke
