FA 35mm and 20-35mm available at B&H?

baj · 04-07-2011, 02:15 PM

I was just browsing B&H and to my great surprise the discontinued 20-35mm f/4 and FA 35mm f/2 lenses are listed as in-stock (for $660 and $475 respectively). No mention of these that I can see on the Pentax website.

Adam · 04-07-2011, 07:51 PM

Indeed it looks like it! If they're listed in stock, then they've still got them- sounds like they might have some old ones left over.

baj · 04-07-2011, 08:00 PM

I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued?

Adam · 04-07-2011, 08:04 PM

Should be the same price as they've got listed right now. Before that, they were $299.

See here for some reviews: SMC Pentax-FA 35mm F2 AL Reviews - Pentax Lens Reviews & Pentax Lens Database

Adam
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dgaies · 04-07-2011, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by baj

I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued?

No idea what they were right before they were discontinued, but I bought my FA35/2 from B&H in early 2007 for $299.

Blue · 04-07-2011, 08:29 PM

If it is "NOS," BH got it from Pentax because they would have been selling the lens otherwise. It isn't out of realm of possibility that Pentax ran some batches in their Vietnam plant like they have done with the A 50mm/1.2 and AF 1.7x TC.

Adam · 04-07-2011, 08:34 PM

Full-frame around the corner?

Adam
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Blue · 04-07-2011, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Full-frame around the corner?

That FA 20-35mm gives it some credibility.

bhairavp · 04-07-2011, 08:39 PM

The FA35/2 has been available in Japan for a while now - check Amazon.jp and mapcamera.
I think they're still producing it.

pz1fan · 04-07-2011, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by baj

I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued?

Similarly, I'd love the 20-35, but not for that price. F4 is too slow for that much in the FA regular series. There's a better value (faster, more range, wider) in DA*16-50? Or a third party wide zoom.

The real mystery is whether these are new old stock or new? If they are new production, why are they making them and not keeping up with the DA* 300mm demand (out of stock for a month now). As a favor for the few customers who still use an out of production full frame film camera?

stevebrot · 04-07-2011, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by baj

I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued?

I paid $299 for mine about six months before they became scarce and then finally disappeared from these shores (NA). As noted above, there are several lens models that continue to be available at retail in Japan and it would not surprise me if the FA 35/2 were one of them. It might also be worth noting that both the 645NII and 67II medium format film SLRs are still active models in Japan.

Steve

Pentaxor · 04-07-2011, 10:46 PM

there were several times that I considered selling my FA35 for either FA43 or FA31. guess the FA35 is here to stay.

Spotmatic · 04-08-2011, 03:43 AM

At $475 for the 35 I'd for for the DA 35 for a few $$ more.

**NaClH2O** · 04-08-2011, 04:54 AM

Originally posted by baj

I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued?

IIRC I paid about $275 for mine about 4-5 years ago.

NaCl(since I now have the DA 35mm 2.4 maybe I should sell the FA 2.0)H2O

Abbazz · 04-08-2011, 04:59 AM

I saw the FA 35/2 at 849 Euros in a shop in Paris last week, so $475 sounds like a bargain to me!

Cheers!

Abbazz

04-07-2011, 02:15 PM	#1
baj Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 43	FA 35mm and 20-35mm available at B&H? I was just browsing B&H and to my great surprise the discontinued 20-35mm f/4 and FA 35mm f/2 lenses are listed as in-stock (for $660 and $475 respectively). No mention of these that I can see on the Pentax website.

04-07-2011, 07:51 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Indeed it looks like it! If they're listed in stock, then they've still got them- sounds like they might have some old ones left over. 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: Last edited by Ole; 04-08-2011 at 08:02 PM.

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04-07-2011, 08:00 PM	#3
baj Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 43 Original Poster	I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued?

04-07-2011, 08:04 PM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Should be the same price as they've got listed right now. Before that, they were $299. See here for some reviews: SMC Pentax-FA 35mm F2 AL Reviews - Pentax Lens Reviews & Pentax Lens Database 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:

04-07-2011, 08:10 PM	#5
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by baj I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued? No idea what they were right before they were discontinued, but I bought my FA35/2 from B&H in early 2007 for $299.

04-07-2011, 08:29 PM	#6
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	If it is "NOS," BH got it from Pentax because they would have been selling the lens otherwise. It isn't out of realm of possibility that Pentax ran some batches in their Vietnam plant like they have done with the A 50mm/1.2 and AF 1.7x TC.

04-07-2011, 08:34 PM	#7
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Full-frame around the corner? 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:

04-07-2011, 08:36 PM	#8
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Adam Full-frame around the corner? That FA 20-35mm gives it some credibility.

04-07-2011, 08:39 PM	#9
bhairavp Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 399	The FA35/2 has been available in Japan for a while now - check Amazon.jp and mapcamera. I think they're still producing it.

04-07-2011, 09:18 PM	#10
pz1fan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: United States Posts: 183	Originally posted by baj I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued? Similarly, I'd love the 20-35, but not for that price. F4 is too slow for that much in the FA regular series. There's a better value (faster, more range, wider) in DA16-50? Or a third party wide zoom. The real mystery is whether these are new old stock or new? If they are new production, why are they making them and not keeping up with the DA 300mm demand (out of stock for a month now). As a favor for the few customers who still use an out of production full frame film camera?

04-07-2011, 10:10 PM	#11
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by baj I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued? I paid $299 for mine about six months before they became scarce and then finally disappeared from these shores (NA). As noted above, there are several lens models that continue to be available at retail in Japan and it would not surprise me if the FA 35/2 were one of them. It might also be worth noting that both the 645NII and 67II medium format film SLRs are still active models in Japan. Steve

04-07-2011, 10:46 PM	#12
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	there were several times that I considered selling my FA35 for either FA43 or FA31. guess the FA35 is here to stay.

04-08-2011, 03:43 AM	#13
Spotmatic Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ft. Myers Florida Posts: 169	At $475 for the 35 I'd for for the DA 35 for a few $$ more.

04-08-2011, 04:54 AM	#14
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Originally posted by baj I would love to have the 35mm, but I wouldn't $475 love it. Out of curiosity does anyone happen to know what these sold for new before they were discontinued? IIRC I paid about $275 for mine about 4-5 years ago. NaCl(since I now have the DA 35mm 2.4 maybe I should sell the FA 2.0)H2O

04-08-2011, 04:59 AM	#15
Abbazz Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 667	I saw the FA 35/2 at 849 Euros in a shop in Paris last week, so $475 sounds like a bargain to me! Cheers! Abbazz