I am the idiot who sold the Lady Queen in Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited and replaced the Lady Queen with two lens with very different functionality in Sigma 28mm f/1.8 II and Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro. I bought the Sigma for its fast speed use and the I got my Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited with a good bargain price new with Prodigal2000. Do I miss the Lady Queen. Hell Yes unfortunately. I don't think either of the two replacements can replace the IQ in the 31mm limited. But darn it, I feel much easier in taking out my lens and shoot the lens as a tool as an equal partner and I don't want to give any of my lens any special treatment like others do. I could imagine some of my Pentaxian friends will have a shrink with lock to protect their 31mm limited and they would have a difficult time to take out the lens in traveling. I will always question why one buys a lens that they will worry in scratching and leaving marks rather than enjoy it for what it is good for -- taking pictures. Though I truly miss my Lady Queen for its enormous image quality and superb color, I do find significant comfort and ease of usage with my competent replacements for the 31mm limitedI don't use my Sigma 28mm f/1.8 II quite often as I would love to as I have a tendency to stay with zooms in outings in the weekends and vacation. I busted my prime with 28mm this weekend with Mid-Autumn festival with lanterns and moon cake and a visit to Don Edwards SF Bay Wildlife Refuge for its Shark Day event.
1/40 sec, f/1.7, 28mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
1/50 sec, f/2.2, 28mm, iso 1600, 0 Ev
1/10 sec, f/2.2, 28mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
Flare noted, not sure if I mounted the
lens hood
Flare noted, not sure if I mounted the
lens hood
1/10 sec, f/2.5, 28mm, iso 2000, -1/3 Ev
1/6 sec, f/2.5, 28mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
1/3 sec, f/2.5, 28mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
1/10 sec, f/1.7, 28mm, iso 3200, 0 Ev
We ended the day with mooncake
1/40 sec, f/1.7, 28mm, iso 500, 0 Ev
1/40 sec, f/1.7, 28mm, iso 500, 0 Ev
Impressions & Notes
- Though the lens maximum aperture was stated i f/1.8, all shots wide open in my K20D reported as f/1.7
- The lens is not big and has a 58mm filter size. It is not the same as the latest DG or EX Sigma lens, build is all plastic and not of the same quality as in DG and DC Ex lens lineup
- Lens is easy to handle like a 50mm in size. Close up is found decent on flowers but I don't think it has magnification ratio greater than 1:4, likely 1:6.
- Flare is noted in extreme lighting when my neighbor lighting shined through the front of my lens. It was possible that I forgot to mount the lens hood.
- An overall budget fast prime that do reasonably well at night but nothing in sharpness and color that would stand out like the 31mm limited. Color rendering is better in Pentax 35mm limited and the 31mm limited lenses.
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5 comments:
Nice shots, Hin. I especially like this one.
As you know, I own the Sigma 24mm f/1.8 EX DG. It's a lot bigger than your older version, using 77mm filters (the 28mm EX DG uses the same body as the 24mm). In comparison, the Pentax 31 Ltd is tiny. Oh, and my 24mm also reports f/1.7 to the camera when wide open; this must be a glitch in the Sigma aperture encoding.
I also suffered from ELUF (Expensive Lens Using Fear), but I am trying to get over it. To do that I am using the 31 Ltd as my normal prime and it stays on my K10D most of the time.
The other day I saw its first scuff mark :-( But, I spent good money buying that lens, and the only way to make that expenditure worth it is to use the damn thing. The most expensive lens is the one that stays at home and is never used!
I also discovered a scuff on my Cosina 55mm f/1.2. What I've figured out is that these marks are caused by the lenses rubbing against each other in the camera bag, not by the lens actually being used (unless you drop it). I am now buying little pouches for my metal primes so as not to scratch them in the camera bag.
Scuffs are good! It's like the saying 'scars are better than tattoos because they have a better story...'
unless the scar is from a horrific accident in where you lost family members and now you have a tattoo in remembrance... hmmm...
yea go ahead and get those little pouches...
Thank you to both of you. You two use your lens as tool and a great partner in taking good pictures. If I ever get my 2nd 31mm, I would put it to the most use to get its money worth with memorable pictures.
so, all in all, do you like the 28mm? im considering getting one.
Yes, I like the lens especially that I get a good used copy with a reasonable price under $150.0. This prime is all plastic and it does not have the good build quality that you find in other lenses in Sigma Ex series. I will suggest NOT to hold your expectation high on the build quality. Though I find it dependable with fast speed, lightweight, reasonably good sharpness. I find color good but it can be better.
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