wrote:
In article , says...

JMW wrote:


You make a very common mistake.in your expectations. Compare the two
lenses at f8 and f11 - typical optimal settings.

I believe the Pentax will sell itself.

(The mistake - wider openings are for focus, being the most shallow in
DOF. Narrower openings are for shooting. Unless you buy a really big
bucks lens, don't expect wide open shots to represent what the glass
really can do.)


Ahem!!!

One of the defintions of a really good lens IS how it performs at wide
apertures.

At f/8 or f/11 you will probably see little difference between a pretty
good and a great lens - it's what they do at wider apertures that counts!


This is quite true. Another deffiniton of a good lens is "do you like
it". Some of my softer lenses I prefer becasue the photos have "life" in
color and contrast. My Nikor 180 ED is razor sharp but the pics look
bland and since in weighs a ton it gets left at home quite often.


I totally agree with you; I just thought that discussing the "look" of
lenses was wasted here...

My own top favorite is the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4: Not because I use it often
at f/1.4, but because it has a *special* look to it at all apertures.