HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR


I just checked Japan amazon, this lens alone cost about S$1.3k. It is priced quite similar as the FA 31 limited. No doubt this is a high quality

lens with WR+HD+DC. I think at this price point, the only let down is the variable aperture. It is more worth this price if it were a fixed F

2.8. :think:
 

18-55 WR advantage: (2) lightweight, weather-proof
16-50 advantage: (4) fast aperture, weather-proof, fast focus motor, great image quality
17-70 advantage: (1) fast focus motor
16-45 advantage: (0) none
primes: (2) lightweight, great image quality

20-40 advantage: (5) lightweight, fast aperture, weather-proof, fast focus motor, great image quality

so, 20-40 is the best of pentax features.

Erm how come Prime is only lightweight and great image quality only? It's also has fast aperture?

But for the DA20-40, at 20mm, maybe it will be consider as fast aperture, other than that at 40mm, it not even call fast to me.. DA40 is at F2.8, ok, somehow not a very good comparison.. lol.
 

Yeah.
It would have been a straight buy for me if it was less than $850.

But the size is a bit big more my taste.

Yup, I also felt the size is not as small as i expected. I compared by looking at the DA10-17 and FA31 to have a feel how the lenses will look like. The length is almost similar to a FA31 but the diameter is thicker than the DA10-17.

Oh well, the inclusion of DC motor and WR does make a difference. If there is no DC motor, my guess the diameter maybe smaller and shorter in length.. I think it is made for a video taking lens in mind, if it is the screw drive type, the noise will be distracting..
 

Yeah.
It would have been a straight buy for me if it was less than $850.

But the size is a bit big more my taste.

My sentiments exactly! It's a bit pricey. Taking the price into consideration, DA* 16 - 50 offer a better choice, as it is more wider & give a standard tele.
 

It is no doubt that the current price is a bit steep and quite difficult to justify the IQ vs price with many fixed Limited lens in its range. However, I think this lens is trying to address the need of many want to have a limited lens that could withstand the bad weather! Currently, the only option (with high IQ) is either using the DA* 16-50 or a DA* 55/1.4 but both of them can not provide the look and feel of either a DA21, a DA35 Macro or a DA40! Also, the SDM in the DA* lens is not actually the fast motor when compare to the new DC motor as in the DA18-135WR.

Just imagine you are the only one could shoot under the bad weather with a tiny piece of Aluminium! :)
 

Can someone please explain what use this lens has? I see the following problems:

- focal length crossover with so many lenses like 18-55mm WR, 16-50mm f2.8, 17-70mm, 16-45mm, tons of prime lenses

- This new lens is actually heavier than the 18-55mm, so less focal length zoom range does not mean lighter.

- Does a single stop reduction really mean that much? (I dont think so imho)

- It seems very not 3 not 4- not wide enough to be wide angle, not long enough to be portrait

- As mentioned above several times- it costs a lot! I'd rather get a Pentax K-5IIs and a 18-135mm for a just a little bit more...or maybe I'll take that trip to Europe I've been promising to myself lately ;P


So yeah- what's it for?:dunno:


I have traveled a bit with various prime combos.
They all center around a UWA; Normal; Short tele
UWA - 10-20; 15
"Normal" - 24, 31, 35, 40, 43
Short tele - 77, 85, 135mm

The 'Normal' selection varies a lot and they give different usage aspects, FOV and working distance.
The 24mm is a 35mm FOV equivalent to 135 format and gives a bit better environmental context imho.
The 24mm also wide enough to do lots of landscapes w/o excessive perspective distortion, barrel distortion and sharpness compromise.
The 31, 35mm comes close being the classic 50-55mm eq and typically better isolation as they are longer and faster.
The 40, 43mm is a bit of a 'long normal', good for a bit further shooting distance to shoot streets (and we do shoot the people around us during travels).
Again a bit tighter and better for isolation than the others above.
Often, on travels, I prefer small, which is why I like Pentax in the first place.


This one DA lens will span all these 'normal' just on one lens, while also proving 20mm as well as WR (don't care about DC, prefer screw drive actually)
I won't say its perfect of course, if it was f2.8 at 40mm and/or a bit smaller, it would be totally worth every cent.
Given the current price and the f4 at 40mm, yes, there are other lenses to choose from, but we will have to wait to see what is the actual performance of the lens to give a final (personal) evaluation and perhaps it may look smaller when view next to a 16-50; 17-50 to be more easily taken as a kit in the bag.



Taken with a 24mm
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5533727639_e1064895ec_z.jpg


6030291243_e9f8a586ab_z.jpg
 

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I actually wonder how big a market can there be for this lens. People who prefer to shoot with primes will likely not favor this lens. For people who like to shoot with zooms - the DA*16-50 offers the same (WR, 'fast' max aperture, covers normal FL) with less compromises - constant f2.8, 16-50mm - and at a lower price too. The only thing this new lens has conceivably over the 16-50 is the DC motor, while very good shouldn't impose that much of a price premium, and the fact that it is smaller and lighter - unless of course the IQ turns out to be much better to the DA*.

From a marketing perspective this is a perplexing product as well, as this lens really muddles up their product lines. It used to be that if you want small, light primes with great IQ but n WR - Limiteds; big, heavy zooms (and primes) with WR and good IQ - DA/FA*. Now you have this DA Limited which is not only the only Limited lens with WR, but also the first zoom. WEIRD...
 

I actually wonder how big a market can there be for this lens. People who prefer to shoot with primes will likely not favor this lens. For people who like to shoot with zooms - the DA*16-50 offers the same (WR, 'fast' max aperture, covers normal FL) with less compromises - constant f2.8, 16-50mm - and at a lower price too. The only thing this new lens has conceivably over the 16-50 is the DC motor, while very good shouldn't impose that much of a price premium, and the fact that it is smaller and lighter - unless of course the IQ turns out to be much better to the DA*.

From a marketing perspective this is a perplexing product as well, as this lens really muddles up their product lines. It used to be that if you want small, light primes with great IQ but n WR - Limiteds; big, heavy zooms (and primes) with WR and good IQ - DA/FA*. Now you have this DA Limited which is not only the only Limited lens with WR, but also the first zoom. WEIRD...

Well, to be fair, isn't it better to have small, light zooms with great IQ and WR? :bsmilie:

That said, I agree with you that there is a bit too much overlap with many other lenses.
 

Well, to be fair, isn't it better to have small, light zooms with great IQ and WR? :bsmilie:

That said, I agree with you that there is a bit too much overlap with many other lenses.

I agree wholeheartedly! The lens they should have launched is the FA*16-80 f1.4 WR DC, same size and weight as the 18-55 kit lens and all for $500 - going to be the best selling lens in the world! :bsmilie:
 

I agree wholeheartedly! The lens they should have launched is the FA*16-80 f1.4 WR DC, same size and weight as the 18-55 kit lens and all for $500 - going to be the best selling lens in the world! :bsmilie:

I won't buy it.

No 10mm. :bsmilie:
 

they should made a 10mm f2.8 pancake...
 

Hmm... I dunno what you guys think.. I believe Pentax is all about "pure" photography..

In photography,

Prime lens means fixed FL, don't matter what the aperture is.
Zoom lens means variable FL, don't matter what the aperture is.

Ultimately in photography, IQ matters the most, don't matter what the aperture is.

Therefore, a fast prime and a fast zoom is something that has been taken for granted for years.. Perhaps, that's the belief of Pentax when they design this 20-40 zoom lens; IQ matters more, don't matter what the aperture is, with WR and small size to boot.

So the most important consideration to take into account when buying any lens, particularly this 20-40 is, how good will the IQ be at it's given design, considering everything else as bonus?

;)
 

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Seems to Ricoh upping prices any new lens, Q08 lens $641 amazon japan
 

Seems to Ricoh upping prices any new lens, Q08 lens $641 amazon japan

what worth mention is that this new DA 20-40mm is priced more expensive than the DA* 16-50 in Jpn amazon. To own a

lens with HD+DC+WR means that we need to pay more for it. :sweat:.
 

I read everyone's replies and I'm sorry, I just can't see the value. For useablility, the 18-135mm is far better. It's a third the price, has a far better focal range, is WR and HSM, and has decent IQ, and looks good. The only minus is the 18-135mm is one stop slower. It's about 150grams heavier, but that's because it zooms further.

I think this 20-40mm lens is going to have to have exceptional picture quality to justify it's price.
 

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