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Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited : Specifications and Opinions

Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited

The Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited is a wide-angle lens for APS-C, manufactured from 2006 to 2013 (discontinued). The focus is done by In-camera AF motor, it does not have image stabilization. The average price, when it has been added to the JuzaPhoto database, is 490 €;

13 users have given it an average vote of 9.1 out of 10.

Specifications
Focal lenght	21 mm
Angle of view	68.9° (equivalent to a 32mm in Fullframe 24x36mm format)
Format	APS-C
Max. aperture	f/3.2
Aperture blades	7
Lenses/Groups	8 elements in 5 groups
Min. focus distance	0.20 meters
Reproduction ratio	0.17x
Features
Stabilization	No
Focus	In-camera AF motor
Internal Focus	Yes
Built and notes
Tripod ring	No
Extenders	No
Filters	49 mm
Lens hood	Yes, supplied
Weather sealing	No
Weight	140 g
Dimensions	63 x 25 mm
Buy
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Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Jacopo Maffei

sent on April 19, 2025

Pros: Build quality, compactness, MAF speed even in manual on digital, optical quality

Cons: Sometimes in the automatic MAF you touch the barrel with your fingers right where it moves. Nothing else

Opinion: In this period I am slowly diversifying the kit: FF for services, APSC (KP) for "pleasure" and "reasoned". For this reason I bought the 21 limited, SMC series from RCE Livorno (impeccable pre-during and after-sales service), more than anything else out of curiosity and also because its focal length (31 mm equiv.) is the one closest to 28 mm, the most instinctive for me. Well, screwed to the KP you immediately understand two things: 1) The camera body has probably been designed specifically for the limited series because with it it creates a whole both aesthetic, tactile, and for use in general. 2) The lens is a "dwarf" as big as a demijohn cap that seems to "disappear", which goes unnoticed and initially gives the feeling almost of playing. One, two, three, clicks. The game is over. Fast in MAF with the slight hum of the motor, precise with side and front lights (rare AC and flare), excellent optical quality in hyperfocal over the entire frame, with a slight distortion that, together with the AC, can be easily corrected in Camera Raw. You can easily and accurately focus handheld and get very close to your subject, almost like in macro. The lens hood snaps on and the UV filter is housed (43 mm). What can I say... With it you find the taste and the time to weigh a moment before impressing it.

Mirko Fambrini

sent on September 30, 2024

Pros: size, size, size. Construction, weight, flare resistance, excellent starbust, lens hood,

Cons: for some uses it is considered dim. On k33 mono and does not allow focusing on the side points.

Opinion: I took this 21 when I found myself uncovered after the crash of the 12-24. Found in the second-hand at a great price (without bag alas) I decided to form the triad 15, 21, 35 limited to be used on the monochrome for street photo use and I must say that I was very happy. Small size and weight go very well with the cameras for light rides. The equivalent angle of view on apsc is similar to the one I use on FF of a moderate wide angle. Brightness is not a problem considering that I always use closed apertures. The AF is responsive and fast; Obviously it works with the PTO and you can hear the classic noise of the whisk whose use bothers some. It has good resistance to flare and backlight (I haven't tried it on color cameras, however, on the K1 it is unusable in FF mode due to strong vignetting, maybe I'll try it in crop mode). Being an outdated and multi-reviewed lens I have always read that it is not the best in terms of optical quality and in reality I was pleasantly surprised because in the center it is sharp but also at the edges it is not bad at all. Certainly it does not have the quality of the 35 macro but it is definitely better than the 15 (in the diversity of the focal length of course). As already noted on k33 mono and does not allow focusing on the side points (the same as the 15); It is hardly a problem for me but it is right to point it out. I will probably also take the old zoom (just to have a UWA when needed in the rare cases where I need it), however at the moment I feel like leaving it quite a while in front of the camera without any problem and with satisfaction. For street photos it is perfect, in my opinion not bad even for landscape. For ambient portraits I haven't tried yet, the blur at close range seems pleasant to me. In architecture I think he can honestly get by. Really good value for money for these 134 grams of metal.

Bonne1215

sent on February 28, 2019

Pros: Compactness, flawless construction all metal by Limited, Lens hood, minimum distance MAF, etc...

Cons: It lacks tropicalization, made to the edges not perfect up to f 5.6, addictive!

Opinion: Also this Limited I bought it used but equal to the new (I do not know some people like to treat so well the stuff:-), other than that... Goal that creates addiction, I almost completely abandoned the various zoom handyman, turns light and unnoticed. I use it on K5 with excellent results, the brightness is not extreme, but you know it and that's fine. Excellent solution in the middle, at the edges a little less, but just close to f 5.6 and everything is perfect. The lens hood is wonderful and helps both in backlight or with light, not to detach even seen the footprint really minimal!!! Contrast and colors are really good. For those who use with pleasure the medium wide-angle focal (equivalent to 32 mm on FF) is to be possessed. The minimum distance of MAF of only 20cm allows you to make close-up photos set. I think that Pentax, in addition to the various star lenses, also take for these Limited so compact but from the yield really exceptional. Update: The yield to the edges is actually already so good to F 4.0 (I do not know if it's me of good mouth, but the impression is this), creates really addictive, I can not use the zoom, you want for the weight and footprint, you want for the very good colors that returns.

Kingfisher

sent on March 22, 2016

Pros: Compact and light, AF. It goes totally unnoticed, focal ideal for street.

Cons: Dim (the compactness comes at a cost), not great considering it's a hard. Expensive if bought new

Opinion: LA His strength is in being is almost invisible to the camera. Highly recommended to those who have bought the 01 to have a very compact and light enough system. Excellent build quality. Barrel distortion contained, almost no chromatic aberrations. Overall not a knife but a good lens for a variety of photographic genres. Recommended. At the time of writing it has been replaced by the HD version and then is found only on the used market.

Photos taken with Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited

Dorze

by Cencio58
6 comments, 2939 views

HI RES 16.0 MP

Dancer

by Angelo68
8 comments, 756 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

Cidneon 2018

by LeonPH
8 comments, 813 views

Overseas Coffee

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7 comments, 391 views

HI RES 19.4 MP

Tricolour Arrows in Matera

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7 comments, 984 views

You?

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7 comments, 419 views

HI RES 13.1 MP

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Alfa Romeo Giulia SS

by Giampyero
11 comments, 609 views

HI RES 20.2 MP

Dorze

by Cencio58
1 comments, 2095 views

HI RES 16.1 MP

Metro BS

by LeonPH
3 comments, 689 views

Cristo Rè - now blue

by UmbertoY
20 comments, 390 views

HI RES 25.3 MP

S.t.

by Mirko Fambrini
9 comments, 378 views

Matera "the Sassi"

by Angelo68
3 comments, 526 views

Rivello

by UmbertoY
13 comments, 603 views

HI RES 25.4 MP

The scale of the Barozzi in Vignola

by Enrico Barone
1 comments, 937 views

Towards the goal

by LeonPH
0 comments, 680 views

Cliff

by Angelo68
1 comments, 411 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

Launch Appia Sport Zagato

by Giampyero
11 comments, 674 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

Lucanian Wall

by UmbertoY
16 comments, 558 views

HI RES 17.1 MP

Night of the Living Dead

by Simone_S
1 comments, 345 views

HI RES 24.4 MP

You

by Eko89
3 comments, 732 views

HI RES 15.0 MP

Take care

by Angelo68
5 comments, 691 views

HI RES 17.9 MP

Ethiopia

by Cencio58
1 comments, 1183 views

HI RES 14.4 MP

Basilica of San Biagio under the moon - blue hour

by UmbertoY
14 comments, 272 views

HI RES 25.3 MP

Porsche 356 Speedster

by Giampyero
9 comments, 591 views

HI RES 24.1 MP

Pffff ...

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1 comments, 1136 views

Sorrento

by Eko89
2 comments, 758 views

HI RES 14.7 MP

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0 comments, 1283 views

HI RES 10.7 MP

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1 comments, 1035 views

The sun altar

by Giangiotto
0 comments, 561 views

Untitled Photo

by Eko89
0 comments, 582 views

HI RES 15.9 MP

Unity Square

by UmbertoY
3 comments, 129 views

HI RES 27.2 MP

Unity Square

by UmbertoY
5 comments, 164 views

HI RES 28.2 MP

The Sicilian Cannoli

by Angelo68
3 comments, 488 views

HI RES 24.0 MP

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For Palestine

by UmbertoY
14 comments, 224 views

HI RES 29.8 MP

Geometric inputs

by UmbertoY
0 comments, 153 views

HI RES 25.3 MP

Fishmonger

by Eko89
2 comments, 611 views

HI RES 15.4 MP

Untitled Photo

by Eko89
0 comments, 701 views

HI RES 15.9 MP

The sample photos are selected automatically between all photos posted by JuzaPhoto members, using the camera and the lens selected in the techs. If you find evident errors (e.g. photos taken with cameras and lenses that are not available yet), you can contribute to improve the page by sending a private message to the user that has entered incorrect values in the photo caption.

Reviews » Lenses » Lenses Pentax » Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited

Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited : Specifications and Opinions

Buy

Offerte Usato RCE

Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

Photos taken with Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited