On Mar 28, 2007, at 7:40 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Well, I ordered the DA 50-200 from Adorama. It was in stock when I > ordered, > but they tell me that now it's out, and I'll have to wait. > Probably that > rebate thing. > > I'd also like a fast prime. Something for stealth photography, as > when I > want to do "street photography," i.e. unaware people shots. > Something shorter > than a long zoom -- less conspicuous. Guess one couldn't get much > shorter than > the DA 40. > > Opinions? Focus good? Any focus fall off? CA? Whatever? What would > the crop > factor on this one be on digital? Come out to about 55mm? > > TIA, Marnie aka Doe ;-) Course if I do order it, it is bound to > go out of > stock just when I do.
I have no experience shooting with the DA40 Limited. I handled it at the store and found the focusing ring to be just a bit too thin for my taste. I suspect it would be fine with a real lens hood fitted (hate that little flat disk...) and presuming that you weren't going to do much manual focusing with it. From all reports and examples I've seen, it is quite sharp and produces very nice results. AF with it is supposedly amongst the very fastest available. The focal length of this and the 43 Limited proves to be a "long normal" ... nice for people pictures and such in the middle range, or tighter compositions at a still comfortable distance. Can't believe all the hooey about it "not being fast enough for general use" ... IMO, f/2.8 is just fine even for a lot of low light shooting, particularly with good, clean ISO 800 available. I remember doing available light street photography with ASA400 film and a Elmar 35mm f/3.5 on a Leica IIc body ... no slow shutter speeds or flash available. Get real. A faster lens is, of course, a nice thing in a pinch. The FA35/2 and FA43/1.9 are both excellent. BTW: I've often found gear available through Amazon.com at the 18th Street Photo retailer that wasn't available elsewhere. They seem good folks ... One time, when the only example of a lens they had in stock had a crushed box, they called to apologize and ask if it was all right. I decided not to take it, waited for the next one, and the compensated by giving me an additional discount on another item I was looking at. G -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
