Pentax smc P-FA 31mm f/1.8 Lens 35mm Primes

Pentax smc P-FA 31mm f/1.8 Lens 35mm Primes 

DESCRIPTION

The unique PENTAX smc P-FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited lens offers exceptionally high image and a wide-angle perspective. It incorporates a glass-molded aspherical lens element into its 9-element, 7-group optics, and offers sharp, crisp image reproduction, even at the maximum aperture of f/1.8. It features a beautiful aluminum body with metallic silver finish comes equipped with a flower-shaped lens hood.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-3 of 3  
[Aug 22, 2009]
Hwan Herr
Intermediate

Strength:

Sharpness of focus
Solid bulid
Reliability

Weakness:

Not yet

Content with the razor-sharp focusings and the tone of unique Pentax color.
Built so concisely and solidly that it can get consistency.
Comfortable weight and enchanting design.

Customer Service

not enough good in S. Korea

Similar Products Used:

Canon 35mm f 2

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 10, 2008]
Peter Zack
Expert

Strength:

Image qualities, Sharpness, Build, focus feel in both MF and AF accuracy.

Weakness:

For film the hood is fine, For a Digital with the APS-C crop, the hood does not offer enough coverage/protection and is not removable. The only option would be a straight sided hood (hard to find) or stack filter rings 3 or 4 deep. Does the job but can look odd. Stow the lens cap in the box and get a pinch lens cap.

For film a mid wide lens. On a D-SLR this is about a 'normal' focal length. So on today's cameras this is a very useful range and similar to what the 43mm would be on a film camera.

It is a solid metal construction and has a great feel with smooth manual focus. Better image quality and sharpness than almost an other lens at any length. Smooth bokeh and an almost 3D look to many images.

I've used it on the PZ-1p *istD, K110 and now the K10D. Focus is fast and accurate. brings the best out of each camera.

I would agree with the other review that although more $$ than other Pentax primes, it's worth the cost, particularly if you are going to do paid work.

Customer Service

Have only used Pentax service once in 26 years (and cause I dropped it) and owning over 100 products from Pentax. Solid gear and good customer service.

Similar Products Used:

40mm, 43mm , 77mm, Limiteds, FA* & DA*. Too many other lenses to list, cameras from the K1000, LX, 6x7 and now digitals

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 10, 2006]
danag42
Professional

Strength:

All metal construction, markings are engraved, not stencils, and are made to last. The lens screams QUALITY!.

It's tack sharp, even wide open. The out-of-focus areas are creamy smooth, probably because of the nine apeture blades (that's called "bokeh", a recent obsession).

Aurtofocus (with the D, at least) is fast and accurate. And the manual focusing ring is well-damped so you can use it in manual mode and actually feel the ring properly.

It may be expensive, but it's worth the money. I use it for group shots in my studio, and landscapes outside.

Weakness:

Very expensive, and the lens cap has a felt lining to hold it to the lens. But no law says you can't get a pinch-type regular lens cap.

This lens is a moderate wide angle on film cameras, and functions as a normal lens on the *st D. It is well-made, in the style of the old metal lenses. Very sharp, great "bokeh".

Customer Service

Never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax MX with winder (2) K-1000, Canon T70 with all sorts of lenses, Contax screw mount cameras, Nikon F, etc.

77mm Limited, 70-210 SMC-A f/4 zoom, 50mm f/1.4 M and A lenses, 12-24 wide angle lens, 16-45 zoom lens, 200mm f/4 M lens, 100mm A Dental Macro lens, 20mm f/4 M lens, 135mm ED IF f/2.8 FA lens, various third party K mount lenses both useful and odd and interesting. Even some odd Ricoh lenses that had to have a pin cut off to work with Pentax cameras.

This is not counting the medium format and 4x5 equipement.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-3 of 3  

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