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Pentax FA-2 Eye-Level Finder | | | | Reviews | Views | Date of last review | | 5 | 14,009 | Tue May 4, 2021 | |  | | Recommended By | Average Price | Average User Rating | | 100% of reviewers | $90.00 | 9.50 | | | | 
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| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2020 Posts: 629 | | Review Date: May 4, 2021 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Gorgeous low profile look | | Cons: | Insane prices for it now - cheapest is $550... | |
I'm rating this finder as excellent, just because of the stunning style.
No-one 'needs' this, it's a question of want.
The standard FA-1 finder is much more useful with the hotshoe and aperture readout.
But this is so gorgeous!
But the price... as of 5/4/21 the cheapest one I could find is $550...
More than a very nice, full functioning LX camera with FA-1 finder. A lot more.
| | | | | | | Seeker of Knowledge Registered: August, 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Posts: 24,576 | | Review Date: January 16, 2021 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: N/A |
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according to the OEM paper instructions, diopter range [ - 1 indicated ] is adjusted by
1 finder release lever is moved counter-clockwise
2 gently slide finder away from the body until the diopter adjustment screw is visible [ photo indicates it is on the underside of the finder ]
3 with finder in this position, point camera toward light colored surface or wall
4 use the tool provided with Finder [ which I don't have ] turn screw until border lines of the center lines come in sharp and crisp
5 remove tool and push finder into position
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 3,235 | | Review Date: November 14, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Beautiful | | Cons: | Lack of aperture window and hotshoe | |
Although it lacks the aperture window, I don't miss it since it is easy enough to remember the very few aperture settings available on a lens. Since the LX can aperture priority auto aperture expose a scene for as long as it takes - literally see in the dark, who needs a flash . . . 
These very minor omissions, are nothing compared to the understated elegance it provides to the LX without the distraction of a hot shoe. Clearly Pentax reached back to the original beauty!
Magnification = 0.9
Diopter = -1.5 ~ 0
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: March, 2013 Location: S East England Posts: 2 | | Review Date: May 19, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Gives the LX the smallest possible form factor, ease of use, simplicity | | Cons: | Relatively rare, therefore the cost is high | |
I still use Pentax LX's as my every day camera's and carry one with the FA-2 finder and a 28, 50mm F2 and 100mm M series lenses in my Tenba laptop bag when I travel. One of the main reasons I still use the LX after more than 30 years of ownership is that it has a unique feel in the hands and it just gets out of the way of the picture taking process without making you feel like you are missing any necessary features. Adding the FA-2 finder improves the feel and handling of the camera when a flash is not required; its just that little bit easier to look into the finder without catching my spectacles on the hotshoe of the FA-1 or FA-1W finders. Looking away from the camera to survey what's happening outside the viewfinder is also that little bit easier.
Aesthetically, I think the LX does look cleaner and simpler with the FA-2, but given the cost of the FA-2 finder this might be a minor consideration to all but the most die hard LX users.
Overall, my view is that the FA-2 finder is worth having if you can find one at reasonable cost and if the items I mention matter enough to you.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Great Plain, Hungary Posts: 204 | | Review Date: August 13, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Not really other than cool looking | | Cons: | No | |
This finder is something which is not much of a use but is very likable. For practical reasons I do not see any point having one as it does not add much to the FA-1 finders' functionality, although it gives a funky, vintage look to the camera.
My recommendation is that unless you are desperate to have one as a collector and you can shovel out the money people nowadays ask for it then go get one. Otherwise just stick to the FA-1 or 1W. I really like it on my LX but I would not have paid more for it than I actually did.
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