Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

View Poll Results: Which lens should advance to the next round?
FA 31mm F1.8 Limited 12472.51%
DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro 4727.49%
Voters: 171. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
10-28-2014, 03:52 AM   #1
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
Lens Tournament: FA 31mm Limited vs DA 35mm Limited Macro (Best Normal Lens)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves on; the loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results.

After this match, we'll be able to crown the best Pentax normal lens. The contenders are the FA 31mm F1.8 Limited and the DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro.

Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account.
Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours.


Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:
10-28-2014, 05:16 AM   #2
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Sandy Hancock's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,254
I have, and adore, them both.
I know which lens will win, but I'm actually leaning towards the other one for sheer versatility and its unique place in the panoply of APS-C lenses. The fact that it looks and feels so much like a FA77 helps too
10-28-2014, 05:39 AM   #3
Senior Member
sinjin's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 242
Yes Sandy, it appears it is the end of the line for the 35mm macro Limited. I've not tried the 31mm Limited, but there is no denying the amount of text that gets written about its ability to render magic.

The 35mm may or may not reach the same level of magic, but it has to be close. And it has some great tricks in addition (macro, flare resistance, low CA).

Last edited by sinjin; 10-28-2014 at 06:25 AM. Reason: Typo
10-28-2014, 06:03 AM   #4
Pentaxian
Hippone's Avatar

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Some where in time !!
Posts: 684
Both are so great lenses , with high performance. The FA is better since we can use it with FF cameras.

10-28-2014, 06:24 AM   #5
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
monochrome's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Working From Home
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 26,276
With all due respect to the Princess, the 35 Ltd. Macro is probably a better lens on our current cameras. It might just be a better lens, period, for all but the most accomplished photographers. The FA31 is better than I am - too good, in fact - but the DA35 sort of . . . . . isn't.
10-28-2014, 06:47 AM   #6
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Gladys, Virginia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 27,603
The DA 35 is better with regard to close focus ability and less purple fringing. The FA 31 has better rendering (the DA 35 isn't bad the FA 31 is just better) and it is faster (both speed of aperture and auto focus). I used to own the DA 35 limited and I loved it while I owned it, but the FA 31 is better.
10-28-2014, 06:49 AM - 1 Like   #7
Veteran Member
Clavius's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: De Klundert
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,150
QuoteOriginally posted by Rondec Quote
The DA 35 is better with regard to close focus ability and less purple fringing. The FA 31 has better rendering (the DA 35 isn't bad the FA 31 is just better) and it is faster (both speed of aperture and auto focus). I used to own the DA 35 limited and I loved it while I owned it, but the FA 31 is better.
Actually, the AF speed of the 31 and DA 35 ltd are exactly the same. The latter just has a much wider focal range to hunt in. It could have really used a limitter.

10-28-2014, 06:59 AM   #8
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Gladys, Virginia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 27,603
QuoteOriginally posted by Clavius Quote
Actually, the AF speed of the 31 and DA 35 ltd are exactly the same. The latter just has a much wider focal range to hunt in. It could have really used a limitter.
True. In practice, unless you actively turn your lens to infinity before using auto focus, the 35 takes longer. It is brutal on a body like the K-01. I agree about the focus limiter, but for whatever reason, Pentax has decided to forgo those (the DFA 100 macro could use one too).
10-28-2014, 08:27 AM - 1 Like   #9
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Sandy Hancock's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,254
QuoteOriginally posted by Rondec Quote
True. In practice, unless you actively turn your lens to infinity before using auto focus, the 35 takes longer. It is brutal on a body like the K-01. I agree about the focus limiter, but for whatever reason, Pentax has decided to forgo those (the DFA 100 macro could use one too).
That is why the Pentax gods gave us Quick Shift. If I care about AF speed, I prefocus the DA35 on either infinity (for anything more than a metre away) or minimum focal distance (for close-ups) before I frame the shot. If you do that, speed is at least equal to the FA31.
10-28-2014, 08:49 AM   #10
Veteran Member
mtux's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: the Netherlands
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,444
I don't have the FA31, used it once in the photo exhibition, and it had so much PF/CA/whatever for so much expensive lens.
But I know it has more lovers than DA35ltd.

My vote still goes to DA35ltd.
10-28-2014, 08:52 AM   #11
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Gladys, Virginia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 27,603
I'm fine with whichever lens wins. I just clicked a lot more with the FA 31 than the DA 35 limited.
10-28-2014, 03:58 PM   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southern California
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,236
The FA31 is kind of like a fine sports car - you actually have to know how to drive to make it work for you. But if you do (know how to use it, that is), there are few lenses on the planet that can match its ability to give you smooth backgrounds and transition to Out-Of-Focus - especially in a lens this wide.

The DA35 macro is more like a turbocharged Corolla wagon - easy to drive, practical, and anyone can use it. Better than an non-turbo model, but not that special.
10-28-2014, 04:24 PM   #13
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
monochrome's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Working From Home
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 26,276
QuoteOriginally posted by DSims Quote
The FA31 is kind of like a fine sports car - you actually have to know how to drive to make it work for you
One can always go to Bondurant or Skip Barber or SCCA and learn how to drive.
10-28-2014, 04:42 PM   #14
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cork
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,882
Probably less than 10% of Pentax owners will ever get to try the 31, less than half of these will actually get to understand and explore its capabilities. More will use the 35 as it is 1/3 of the cost and will spoil you with sharpness, colour rendition and overall ease of use. It is probably a better lens to more people more of the time and for that it should be applauded.

Last edited by robbiec; 10-28-2014 at 04:58 PM.
10-28-2014, 08:17 PM   #15
Forum Member




Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 84
On the way to Round 3, FA 31 had to fight with DA* 55 F1.4 and FA 43 limited. On the other way, DA 35 F2.8 Macro just had to fight with two legacy lenses, A 50 F1.7 and Super Takuma 50 F1.4. The path of the FA 31 is harder, so a victory will be more glorious.

I have the FA 31 and have tried the DA 35 F2.8 from a friend. While the DA 35 F2.8 Macro is a very good lens, it did not bring special feelings to me like the FA 31. Obviously, the FA 31 gets my vote. To me, the only lens that can "win" FA 31 is its brother, FA 77.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
31mm, 35mm, da, database, fa, k-mount, lens, lenses, macro, pentax, pentax lens, reviews, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Lens Tournament: DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited vs Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 Adam Pentax Forums Giveaways 8 10-27-2014 11:12 PM
Lens Tournament: FA 77mm F1.8 Limited vs D FA 100mm F2.8 WR Macro Adam Pentax Forums Giveaways 17 10-27-2014 07:19 AM
Lens Tournament: FA 31mm F1.8 Limited vs FA 43mm F1.9 Limited Adam Pentax Forums Giveaways 38 10-26-2014 08:24 PM
Lens Tournament: DA 15mm F4 Limited vs DA 21mm F3.2 Limited Adam Pentax Forums Giveaways 14 10-26-2014 05:48 PM
Lens Tournament: DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro vs M 50mm F1.7 Adam Pentax Forums Giveaways 19 10-23-2014 07:25 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:31 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top