Pentax Limited 21410 21mm
Die ultrakompakte Pancake-Bauweise mit nur 119g und die mehrschichtige HD-Vergütung für kontrastreiche, reflexarme Bilder heben das 21mm f/3.2 (31,5mm KB-äquivalent) von typischen Weitwinkeln ab. Eine 7-Lamellen-Rundblende erzeugt weiche Unschärfe, während die SP-Schutzbeschichtung das vordere Linsenelement vor Schmutz und Fingerabdrücken schützt. Es ist die erste Wahl für APS-C-Straßen- und Reisefotografen, die ein unauffälliges, immer-dabei-Objektiv mit hochwertiger Verarbeitung suchen.
Überblick
The 30-Second Version
Tiny, gorgeous, and built like a Swiss watch, but f/3.2 and no weather sealing mean it is not for everyone. Pentax shooters who want a pocketable prime with killer color rendering should buy it yesterday.
Pros & Cons
Vorteile
- Absurdly small and light at 119g, true pancake form factor 95th
- Build quality is best-in-class, all-metal Limited construction 81st
- Color rendering is genuinely lovely, HD coating earns its keep
- Sharp center performance, great as a compact walk-around prime
Nachteile
- f/3.2 max aperture is slow, bokeh is basically an afterthought
- Corner softness wide open, do not pixel-peep the edges
- No weather sealing, which stings on a Pentax body
- 21mm on APS-C is not wide enough for serious outdoor scenery work
Was Besitzer sagen
The Word on the Street
Wie sich die Meinung der Besitzer im Lauf der Zeit verändert hat
ExklusivBasierend darauf, wann Kunden ihre Bewertungen tatsächlich geschrieben haben - so sehen Sie, ob das anfängliche Lob anhielt.
Basierend auf 13 datierten Kundenbewertungen, gruppiert nach Kalenderquartal. Die Periodenanalyse ist in englischer Sprache.
Die Fakten
Performance
Sharpness is solid through the center, and the HD coating does real work keeping contrast and color punchy even in tricky light. Owners consistently rave about the color rendering, and our data backs that up. The f/3.2 maximum aperture is not going to blow anyone away, and bokeh sits near the bottom of our charts at the 14th percentile, so do not buy this expecting creamy background blur. Corner softness wide open is a real thing too, though it cleans up nicely by f/5.6. Autofocus is quick and quiet enough for street work, but it is screw-driven, so you will hear it working on older bodies.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 21 |
| Focal Length Max | 21 |
| Elements | 8 |
| Groups | 5 |
| Coating | HD coating, SP Protect coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/3.2 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 49 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 201 |
| Max Magnification | 1:5.9 |
vs Competition
The obvious alternative is the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN, which gives you a faster aperture and zoom flexibility, but it is bigger and heavier, and it is not a Limited. The Pentax smc DA 15mm f/4 Limited is the better pick if you actually need wide-angle coverage for outdoor scenes, since 21mm on APS-C just is not that wide. Against the Viltrox AF 9mm f/2.8 XF, the Pentax is not even playing the same game, that Viltrox is for ultrawide shooters on Fuji. For Pentax users who want a compact prime with character, the 21mm Limited is the one to get. For everyone else, the Sigma zoom is more practical.
| Spec | Pentax Limited 21410 21mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 XF | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 21mm | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 12-35mm | 9mm | 17-28mm |
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 119 | 590 | 290 | 306 | 175 | 450 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Autofocus | STM | Stepping Motor |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | wide-angle | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Produkt | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Nutzerresonanz | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentax Limited 21410 21mm | 54.1 | 14 | 94.6 | 80.5 | 38.6 | 21.4 | 64.1 | 33.6 | 55.6 | 34.9 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 97.7 | 80.6 | 64.2 | 84 | 96.6 | 68.8 | 91 | 97.9 | 52.5 | 80.2 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 85.3 | 84.2 | 85.4 | 89.9 | 81.7 | 86.1 | 80.8 | 78.7 | 90.9 | 34.9 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 54.1 | 84.2 | 84.7 | 49.1 | 86 | 86.1 | 91 | 80.7 | 86.5 | 96.7 |
| Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 XF Compare | 85.3 | 84.2 | 87.3 | 89.4 | 84.6 | 86.1 | 45.4 | 33.6 | 86.5 | 80.2 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 85.3 | 88.8 | 74.7 | 84 | 87.8 | 86.1 | 91 | 67.9 | 68.2 | 34.9 |
Preis
Value & Pricing
At USD 449 to USD 499 across US listings, this is not a cheap lens, but it is a Limited, and you are paying for that metal barrel and compact design. The CAD spread is wider, CAD 560 to CAD 679, so Canadian buyers should shop around. The best US deal in our data comes in at USD 449, which feels fair for the build quality and rendering you get. If you find one used in good shape, grab it.
Mehr erfahren
Overview
The Pentax HD DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited is the lens you buy when you want a camera that actually fits in a jacket pocket. At 119g and barely thicker than a body cap, this pancake prime turns any Pentax K-mount APS-C body into a genuinely portable setup. The 31.5mm full-frame equivalent field of view sits in that sweet spot between wide and normal, which makes it a natural walk-around lens for street, travel, and everyday shooting. Build quality is where this thing really shines, landing in the 95th percentile for our database. The all-metal Limited construction feels like a tiny precision instrument, not a plastic toy.
Common Questions
Q: Is the DA 21mm good for landscape photography?
Not really. The 31.5mm equivalent field of view is more normal than wide, so you will feel cramped shooting big scenes. Get the Pentax DA 15mm Limited instead if outdoor scenery is your main thing.
Q: Are the silver Limited lenses actually metal?
Yes. The Limited series uses metal lens barrels, hoods, and caps. That is a big part of why the build quality scores so high and why these lenses feel so good in hand.
Q: Will this lens work on my Pentax K-50?
Absolutely. It is a K-mount lens designed for APS-C bodies like the K-50. Autofocus will work fine, just expect a little screw-drive noise.
Who Should Skip This
If you need a fast lens for low light or shallow depth of field, this is not it. Go grab a 35mm f/1.4 or a fast zoom instead. If you want true wide-angle coverage for landscapes or interiors, the Pentax DA 15mm Limited is the better tool. And if you do not already shoot Pentax, there is no reason to switch systems for this lens, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 on other mounts is more versatile and faster.
Verdict
The Pentax HD DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited is a niche lens that nails its niche. If you shoot Pentax APS-C and want the smallest possible high-quality prime for street and travel, this is the best option in the system. The build quality alone justifies the price for people who appreciate mechanical precision. Just know what you are signing up for: a slow-ish prime with no weather sealing and a field of view that is more normal than wide. For the right shooter, it is a joy. For everyone else, it is a curiosity.
