31mm and 77mm Limited?

henryjing · 06-27-2010, 04:24 PM

31 on APS-C is around 50mm
31 43 77 are all good for portrait

**rparmar** · 06-27-2010, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by LFLee

I have them all.... so far I like the 77ltd most, I bought it used from a forum member, sad to find out it has a small dust inside (of course, not shown in image at all).

The 43 rendering is a bit different than other lens... hard to explain but it has a different feel.

Indeed the FA43 is the most distinctive of all Pentax lenses, in my limited primary (no pun) and almost infinite secondary experience. However, if I could have only one lens it would be the FA77.

hinman · 06-27-2010, 07:15 PM

I am a bit odd in my gear purchase. I generally bought too many and too soon and made a lot of mistakes. So you see my background and please read my inputs with a grain (or a jar) of salt.

I have both 31 and 77 at one point with my K10D. I sold the 31mm after a month. I found it too expensive to own and I didn't feel comfortable in the ownership. It is like buying an overpriced expensive car and I can only admire in the garage. I know I exaggerate but that was how I felt when I sold the lens. It was one of the best lens from Pentax but in the end, I chose the other limited and gave up for the 31 -- my LadyQueen which needs to go in a diet as I prefer something either wider in view, leaner in size or something that serves closer as a normal lens in the cropped view.

Do I miss the lens? Yes, maybe a bit. Had I kept it longer till now, I would have made a small fortune as the used lens was about $690 at the time. In hindsight to many, it was a stupid decision. To me, it was the right thing to do.

Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 purchase

The 77mm is a different story as I bought it for portrait purpose. It is one of the insanely good Pentax lens for ownership. If you don't care about FF, the DA 70mm f/2.4 limited can be just as good only half a stop slower.

Dilemma with FA 77 vs DA 70

Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 limited

I replaced the 31mm, my LadyQueen, with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8. It is a different lens for different purpose. And it is my best documentary lens. It is not as fast but its use is much more in my bag as I use it in traveling as a normal lens, flowers close up, many product shots in my blog page that the 31mm will not cover but left in the garage idle for appreciation.

Best documentary and product shot lens

**rparmar** · 06-28-2010, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by hinman

I sold the 31mm after a month. I found it too expensive to own and I didn't feel comfortable in the ownership. It is like buying an overpriced expensive car and I can only admire in the garage. I know I exaggerate but that was how I felt when I sold the lens. It was one of the best lens from Pentax but in the end, I chose the other limited and gave up for the 31 -- my LadyQueen which needs to go in a diet as I prefer something either wider in view, leaner in size or something that serves closer as a normal lens in the cropped view.

Emphasis added since I agree completely. Though I have never tried the FA31, and would no doubt love to, it would not be my first, second or even third choice to take when going out to shoot. I need something at 77mm, something at 24-28mm and a macro. After that would come wide angle.

My anti-LBA regime is that if a lens isn't in the top three it had better be cheap to justify its presence on my shelf.

06-27-2010, 07:15 PM	#33
hinman Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fremont, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,473	I am a bit odd in my gear purchase. I generally bought too many and too soon and made a lot of mistakes. So you see my background and please read my inputs with a grain (or a jar) of salt. I have both 31 and 77 at one point with my K10D. I sold the 31mm after a month. I found it too expensive to own and I didn't feel comfortable in the ownership. It is like buying an overpriced expensive car and I can only admire in the garage. I know I exaggerate but that was how I felt when I sold the lens. It was one of the best lens from Pentax but in the end, I chose the other limited and gave up for the 31 -- my LadyQueen which needs to go in a diet as I prefer something either wider in view, leaner in size or something that serves closer as a normal lens in the cropped view. Do I miss the lens? Yes, maybe a bit. Had I kept it longer till now, I would have made a small fortune as the used lens was about $690 at the time. In hindsight to many, it was a stupid decision. To me, it was the right thing to do. Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 purchase The 77mm is a different story as I bought it for portrait purpose. It is one of the insanely good Pentax lens for ownership. If you don't care about FF, the DA 70mm f/2.4 limited can be just as good only half a stop slower. Dilemma with FA 77 vs DA 70 Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 limited I replaced the 31mm, my LadyQueen, with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8. It is a different lens for different purpose. And it is my best documentary lens. It is not as fast but its use is much more in my bag as I use it in traveling as a normal lens, flowers close up, many product shots in my blog page that the 31mm will not cover but left in the garage idle for appreciation. Best documentary and product shot lens Last edited by hinman; 06-27-2010 at 07:27 PM.

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06-27-2010, 04:24 PM	#31
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	31 on APS-C is around 50mm 31 43 77 are all good for portrait

06-27-2010, 05:27 PM	#32
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	Originally posted by LFLee I have them all.... so far I like the 77ltd most, I bought it used from a forum member, sad to find out it has a small dust inside (of course, not shown in image at all). The 43 rendering is a bit different than other lens... hard to explain but it has a different feel. Indeed the FA43 is the most distinctive of all Pentax lenses, in my limited primary (no pun) and almost infinite secondary experience. However, if I could have only one lens it would be the FA77.

06-28-2010, 08:10 AM	#34
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	Originally posted by hinman I sold the 31mm after a month. I found it too expensive to own and I didn't feel comfortable in the ownership. It is like buying an overpriced expensive car and I can only admire in the garage. I know I exaggerate but that was how I felt when I sold the lens. It was one of the best lens from Pentax but in the end, I chose the other limited and gave up for the 31 -- my LadyQueen which needs to go in a diet as I prefer something either wider in view, leaner in size or something that serves closer as a normal lens in the cropped view. Emphasis added since I agree completely. Though I have never tried the FA31, and would no doubt love to, it would not be my first, second or even third choice to take when going out to shoot. I need something at 77mm, something at 24-28mm and a macro. After that would come wide angle. My anti-LBA regime is that if a lens isn't in the top three it had better be cheap to justify its presence on my shelf.