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10-15-2011, 11:03 AM   #1
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FA 43 or DA 40 or FA 31?

Hey all,

I have sigma 50 1.4.. what do you guys recommend? FA 43 or DA 40 or FA 31..?

Since I have 50, i don't know if 43 or 40 would be that much of difference in terms of length... another option is to sell Siggi 50 and get FA 43 and FA 31... any suggestion?


Derek


Last edited by dr_romix; 10-15-2011 at 11:09 AM.
10-15-2011, 11:12 AM   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by dr_romix Quote
Hey all,

I have sigma 50 1.4.. what do you guys recommend? FA 43 or DA 40 or FA 31..?

Since I have 50, i don't know if 43 or 40 would be that much of difference in terms of length... another option is to sell Siggi 50 and get FA 43 and FA 31... any suggestion?


Derek
tough choice here.....but given the fact that you already have sigma 50 (which is quite praised lens itself) maybe FA31 would make more sense than 40 and 43 limiteds. Of those lenses I have experience only with FA43 and FA31....and to me they're quite different animals: FA43 has a distinctive characteristical rendering, FA31 is not that distinctive, but does everything very well and you can rely on its image quality. Rendering of FA43 might give you some edge if you like more artictic phtography - high contrast, impressionistic out of focus etc....
10-15-2011, 11:31 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by dr_romix Quote
Hey all,

I have sigma 50 1.4.. what do you guys recommend? FA 43 or DA 40 or FA 31..?

Since I have 50, i don't know if 43 or 40 would be that much of difference in terms of length... another option is to sell Siggi 50 and get FA 43 and FA 31... any suggestion?


Derek
What's the point? I.e. what do you want to get out of this lens purchase? Do you have a particular goal in mind or just collecting lenses?
10-15-2011, 11:33 AM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor Quote
What's the point? I.e. what do you want to get out of this lens purchase? Do you have a particular goal in mind or just collecting lenses?
walk around, street photography, portrait. 50 is bit too long for walk around, clubbing etc...

10-15-2011, 11:34 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor Quote
What's the point? I.e. what do you want to get out of this lens purchase? Do you have a particular goal in mind or just collecting lenses?
walk around, street photography, portrait. 50 is bit too long for walk around, inside local bar ...etc...
10-15-2011, 11:51 AM   #6
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I was also thinking of getting Tammy 17-50 2.8 which gives great versatility....
10-15-2011, 12:38 PM   #7
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Well I have the Tammy and the DA 40. The DA 40 is tiny so it's perfect to walk around with and coupled with good to excellent image characteristics (sharpness, resolution, colours, etc.) makes for a great lens that I would definitely recommend. It's also much cheaper than the 31 and a bit less than the 43. However I don't know if 40mm is wide enough for what you want.

The Tammy is a good all around choice in my opinion. It's not as small as the other lenses but it gives you versatility in what is a pretty impressive lens. And it sells for around the same price as the DA 40.

By all accounts the 31 and 43 are amazing (and faster) lenses. The extra speed will come in handy if you're shooting indoors a lot. Since you have a K-7 I don't know if bumping up the ISO is a viable option like it is in the K-5. The 31 is pretty expensive so I don't know if it's worth the extra money to you.

Good luck deciding and let us know what you picked up.

10-15-2011, 01:31 PM   #8
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If you keep a 50, I would get the 31 over the 43 just for the difference in focal length. I would want a little more variety before popping for a 31 and 43, which are a bit short for portraits and not something I would take to a club.
10-15-2011, 01:50 PM   #9
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The FA31mm complements nicely your 50mm in terms of focal lengths. In addition the FA31mm f1.8 is an amazing lens and its IQ is too often understated.
10-15-2011, 01:59 PM   #10
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The focal length difference between 50 and 43 is tiny. I'd go for the 31. Maybe consider the 21.

- Sam
10-15-2011, 02:24 PM   #11
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please... but I understood that the 43 is technically "normal" for this sensor crop. I know that I was very surprised and happy when I traded a 35mm limited for a FA 43. I LOVE the field of view, it is exactly what I expect normal to appear as in my images. I have a DA 40, but I haven't touched it since I got the FA43. Actually the only thing I did do with the DA40 was to borrow the lens hood off of it and use it on the 43! This is NOT a knock on the DA40, it's wonderful and compact, but the rendering and image quality of the FA43 makes it my second favorite FA Limited. The 77 is favorite, and (gasp, horrors) the FA31 is my least favorite and least used. I dunnow, the 31 is just a nowhere focal length for me, it just doesn't fit in well with my shooting preferences. Helluva lens, incredible images, but I just don't reach for it. Sell the 50, get a 43mm and go for a 21mm or if you don't mind the size, a DA 14mm. That is a very under appreciated piece of Pentax glass.
10-15-2011, 02:29 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by germar Quote
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please... but I understood that the 43 is technically "normal" for this sensor crop.
Actually, 43mm is very close to "normal" on film/FF. On a crop sensor, 28 is actually the closest to a "normal".

That said, I also really like the FOV of the 40/43 on crop.
10-15-2011, 02:58 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by dgaies Quote
Actually, 43mm is very close to "normal" on film/FF. On a crop sensor, 28 is actually the closest to a "normal".

That said, I also really like the FOV of the 40/43 on crop
Well said.

40/43 is going to be that perfect compromise lens - some portrait, some normal.
10-15-2011, 03:05 PM   #14
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don't ask me, I have all three.

I'm a sucker for great glass, and each of these fits that description. If I was forced to make a choice between the 31, 40 and 43, I'd probably choose the 43 because of its rendering, but given that you want something to contrast the siggy 50mm, the 31 gives the greatest difference in FOV, but then again the Da 40 is so tiny and cute and makes wonderful colourful images......

Like I said, don't ask me....
10-15-2011, 04:03 PM   #15
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Well based on focal lenght's, the 31mm would make the best partner to your 50mm.

Or......you could just sell the 50mm and get the 43mm
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