Hello Shel, I'm not much into zooms either and usually sell or don't use them except in special circumstances. However, after trying the DA 16-45/4 I was quite impressed with it's optical qualities. It has a great manual focus feel (only way I use it) and is a constant F4 throughout the range. Finding another few primes in that focal range and optical quality is difficult and very pricey. My two biggest reasons for considering were that I was not having good luck shooting larger groups with the FA *24/2 (large prints and small details) and I wanted something quite wide for the *istD - you have to get below 18mm to really start getting wide on that crop factor.
-- Best regards, Bruce Monday, February 21, 2005, 5:26:53 PM, you wrote: SB> I didn't mean for a DSLR specifically. IAC, the idea of using a zoom is SB> something I've not come to grips with - I generally don't like them and, SB> with one exception, sold every one I had - and the small aperture is also SB> something I've never used, with the exception of a couple of wides in the SB> 3.5 - 4.0 range. Variable aperture is a frightening thing as it doesn't SB> allow me to meter properly. Plus I did say manual focus. Isn't the DA SB> auto focus? I may just go ahead and grab a 20/2.8 at some point and see how SB> I like it. Thanks for your thoughts, though. SB> Shel >> [Original Message] >> From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > I'm looking for a manual focus lens to fill the gap between >> 18mm and 24mm. >> > What would you suggest, Rob? I almost bought an A20/2.0 until >> you started >> > knocking them, and then I decided to hold off a bit. >> >> If you mean for a DSLR body, I would just buy the DA16-45mm f/4 >> and be done with it. The 20mm f/2.8 (whether A or FA) might or >> might not be slightly better on resolution, contrast or >> rectilinear correction, but the 16-45 is an excellent lens with >> excellent contrast, resolution, and very pleasing out of focus >> rendering. It focuses very crisply in the DS viewfinder too, >> whether manual or auto.
