Pentax 43mm limited for Leica???

emr · 07-25-2010, 03:41 PM

I was just browsing the getdpi.com forum and came by a for sale topic, where the item seems to be a Pentax FA 43mm limited for Leica screw mount. What the heck - never heard of such lenses. Are there others like this?

FS: Pentax-L 43mm f1.9 LTM (Leica screw mount) RARE! - The GetDPI Photography Forums

yeatzee · 07-25-2010, 03:47 PM

wasn't that the only pentax lens ever made in leica mount... because it was "that" good?

Ole · 07-25-2010, 03:58 PM

Note how PENTAX made the aperture ring and focusing ring turn opposite of what we Pentaxians are used to so as to match the Leica way of things!

Pentaxor · 07-25-2010, 04:18 PM

and I thought Leica lenses were the creme dela creme of lenses. why the need for such unless you want to go cheap and is unusual for someone who's going to invest in a camera brand that is known to be pricey?

Blue · 07-25-2010, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by emr

I was just browsing the getdpi.com forum and came by a for sale topic, where the item seems to be a Pentax FA 43mm limited for Leica screw mount. What the heck - never heard of such lenses. Are there others like this?

FS: Pentax-L 43mm f1.9 LTM (Leica screw mount) RARE! - The GetDPI Photography Forums

It has the 43 Ltd's optics. It came out around 2000 for the L system and includes the matching viewfinder. It was available in black and silver versions.

Originally posted by Pentaxor

and I thought Leica lenses were the creme dela creme of lenses. why the need for such unless you want to go cheap and is unusual for someone who's going to invest in a camera brand that is known to be pricey?

Even at the going prices the L Special is still a bargain compared to the Leica L glass. However, the prices are way up because it has been out of production and there wasn't that many of them made. I came close to getting a Voigtlander rangefinder and one of these about a year and a half ago.

**Digitalis** · 07-25-2010, 07:27 PM

Its a really good lens for leica M system, and it is even sought after by aficionados. Apart from the non standard focal length I use it on my konica Hexar as a kind of anti-leica statement. Even though I probably own more Leica equipment than anyone else in Adelaide.

brkl · 07-26-2010, 05:01 PM

It's a pretty standard focal length for a rangefinder. I've had a few with fixed lenses in the 40-45mm range.

**tranq78** · 07-26-2010, 05:48 PM

Sort of off topic here, but is there an advantage to using a 35mm focal length versus a 40-50mm focal length on a rangefinder versus using the same lenses on a 35mm film camera?

**Digitalis** · 07-26-2010, 06:04 PM

Originally posted by tranq78

Sort of off topic here, but is there an advantage to using a 35mm focal length versus a 40-50mm focal length on a rangefinder versus using the same lenses on a 35mm film camera?

well for starters lenses in the wide-angle category are much easier to design on rangefinders due to the fact that rangefinders don't have mirrors flipping up and down behind the lens, so wide angle lenses with simplified designs can achieve superior results to SLR based designs. not to mention they have a tendency to be half the physical size of SLR lenses at equivalent f stop values.

Blue · 07-26-2010, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

well for starters lenses in the wide-angle category are much easier to design on rangefinders due to the fact that rangefinders don't have mirrors flipping up and down behind the lens, so wide angle lenses with simplified designs can achieve superior results to SLR based designs. not to mention they have a tendency to be half the physical size of SLR lenses at equivalent f stop values.

The Pentax K & Auto Tak 35/3.5 was rather compact.

Pentaxor · 07-26-2010, 06:38 PM

also, the new concept of mirrorless dSLR's seems to nullify that advantage of rangefinders. although I'm not sure if this would affect Leica's pricing.

Blue · 07-26-2010, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

also, the new concept of mirrorless dSLR's seems to nullify that advantage of rangefinders. although I'm not sure if this would affect Leica's pricing.

mirrorless dSLR.

Wouldn't that be a dSL.

Pentaxor · 07-26-2010, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by Blue

mirrorless dSLR. :Hysterical: Wouldn't that be a dSL.

well, you know what I meant.

**tranq78** · 07-26-2010, 08:56 PM

Well, from a quick look at the rangefinders and Leica fora on the internet, it's obvious the RF crowd is even more fanatical than the SLR crowd. What's the plural form of Leica anyway?

**tranq78** · 07-26-2010, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

well for starters lenses in the wide-angle category are much easier to design on rangefinders due to the fact that rangefinders don't have mirrors flipping up and down behind the lens, so wide angle lenses with simplified designs can achieve superior results to SLR based designs. not to mention they have a tendency to be half the physical size of SLR lenses at equivalent f stop values.

Thanks. I just picked up a G2 NIB this week from someone who bought a complete new RF kit a number of years ago and then never even opened the boxes after that. Everything was still in the original wrapping. He wanted to sell locally to avoid being scammed, so we both ended up happy. I've got to buy some hoods and protective filters before I take this baby out for its first test drive.

I've never examined a RF closely before. So the first thing that crossed my mind when I looked at the camera body was, hey where's the mirror gone?? Ha ha ha!

Those Leicaphiles on the 'net are a hoot!

07-25-2010, 03:41 PM	#1
emr Guest	Pentax 43mm limited for Leica??? I was just browsing the getdpi.com forum and came by a for sale topic, where the item seems to be a Pentax FA 43mm limited for Leica screw mount. What the heck - never heard of such lenses. Are there others like this? FS: Pentax-L 43mm f1.9 LTM (Leica screw mount) RARE! - The GetDPI Photography Forums

07-25-2010, 04:41 PM	#5
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by emr I was just browsing the getdpi.com forum and came by a for sale topic, where the item seems to be a Pentax FA 43mm limited for Leica screw mount. What the heck - never heard of such lenses. Are there others like this? FS: Pentax-L 43mm f1.9 LTM (Leica screw mount) RARE! - The GetDPI Photography Forums It has the 43 Ltd's optics. It came out around 2000 for the L system and includes the matching viewfinder. It was available in black and silver versions. Originally posted by Pentaxor and I thought Leica lenses were the creme dela creme of lenses. why the need for such unless you want to go cheap and is unusual for someone who's going to invest in a camera brand that is known to be pricey? Even at the going prices the L Special is still a bargain compared to the Leica L glass. However, the prices are way up because it has been out of production and there wasn't that many of them made. I came close to getting a Voigtlander rangefinder and one of these about a year and a half ago. Last edited by Blue; 07-25-2010 at 04:49 PM.

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07-25-2010, 03:47 PM	#2
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	wasn't that the only pentax lens ever made in leica mount... because it was "that" good?

07-25-2010, 03:58 PM	#3
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	Note how PENTAX made the aperture ring and focusing ring turn opposite of what we Pentaxians are used to so as to match the Leica way of things!

07-25-2010, 04:18 PM	#4
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	and I thought Leica lenses were the creme dela creme of lenses. why the need for such unless you want to go cheap and is unusual for someone who's going to invest in a camera brand that is known to be pricey?

07-25-2010, 07:27 PM	#6
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Its a really good lens for leica M system, and it is even sought after by aficionados. Apart from the non standard focal length I use it on my konica Hexar as a kind of anti-leica statement. Even though I probably own more Leica equipment than anyone else in Adelaide.

07-26-2010, 05:01 PM	#7
brkl Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 497	It's a pretty standard focal length for a rangefinder. I've had a few with fixed lenses in the 40-45mm range.

07-26-2010, 05:48 PM	#8
tranq78 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,005	Sort of off topic here, but is there an advantage to using a 35mm focal length versus a 40-50mm focal length on a rangefinder versus using the same lenses on a 35mm film camera?

07-26-2010, 06:04 PM	#9
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by tranq78 Sort of off topic here, but is there an advantage to using a 35mm focal length versus a 40-50mm focal length on a rangefinder versus using the same lenses on a 35mm film camera? well for starters lenses in the wide-angle category are much easier to design on rangefinders due to the fact that rangefinders don't have mirrors flipping up and down behind the lens, so wide angle lenses with simplified designs can achieve superior results to SLR based designs. not to mention they have a tendency to be half the physical size of SLR lenses at equivalent f stop values.

07-26-2010, 06:30 PM	#10
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Digitalis well for starters lenses in the wide-angle category are much easier to design on rangefinders due to the fact that rangefinders don't have mirrors flipping up and down behind the lens, so wide angle lenses with simplified designs can achieve superior results to SLR based designs. not to mention they have a tendency to be half the physical size of SLR lenses at equivalent f stop values. The Pentax K & Auto Tak 35/3.5 was rather compact.

07-26-2010, 06:38 PM	#11
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	also, the new concept of mirrorless dSLR's seems to nullify that advantage of rangefinders. although I'm not sure if this would affect Leica's pricing.

07-26-2010, 06:41 PM	#12
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Pentaxor also, the new concept of mirrorless dSLR's seems to nullify that advantage of rangefinders. although I'm not sure if this would affect Leica's pricing. mirrorless dSLR. Wouldn't that be a dSL.

07-26-2010, 07:16 PM	#13
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by Blue mirrorless dSLR. :Hysterical: Wouldn't that be a dSL. well, you know what I meant.

07-26-2010, 08:56 PM	#14
tranq78 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,005	Well, from a quick look at the rangefinders and Leica fora on the internet, it's obvious the RF crowd is even more fanatical than the SLR crowd. What's the plural form of Leica anyway?

07-26-2010, 09:04 PM	#15
tranq78 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,005	Originally posted by Digitalis well for starters lenses in the wide-angle category are much easier to design on rangefinders due to the fact that rangefinders don't have mirrors flipping up and down behind the lens, so wide angle lenses with simplified designs can achieve superior results to SLR based designs. not to mention they have a tendency to be half the physical size of SLR lenses at equivalent f stop values. Thanks. I just picked up a G2 NIB this week from someone who bought a complete new RF kit a number of years ago and then never even opened the boxes after that. Everything was still in the original wrapping. He wanted to sell locally to avoid being scammed, so we both ended up happy. I've got to buy some hoods and protective filters before I take this baby out for its first test drive. I've never examined a RF closely before. So the first thing that crossed my mind when I looked at the camera body was, hey where's the mirror gone?? Ha ha ha! Those Leicaphiles on the 'net are a hoot!