FA 35mm F2

Ed in GA · 12-20-2006, 11:04 AM

Anyone have experience with this lense?

I think I have a good case of LBA.

roscot · 12-20-2006, 11:10 AM

Superb lens. Just a notch below the 31 limited in IQ.
Here is an example:

Pentax K10D ,Pentax smc P-FA 35mm f/2 AL 1/180s f/7.1 at 35.0mm iso100

Ivan Glisin · 12-20-2006, 11:31 AM

My primary lens. After getting FA35/2AL I seldom use my A50/1.4 or A28/2.8. Light, very well built, pleasure to focus manually, excellent hood included, compact without the hood, convenient focal length (as normal on film). Great optics: good contrast, good DOF rendering, no distortions, no CA, equally and extremely sharp from f/2.8 to f/16 and just a bit softer at f/2 (just as any other fast lens ever produced, including mighty Leica's!) but still better than A/FA50/1.4 at f/2.

I often remove the hood and carry my DS with FA35/2 as a compact DSLR and I use it extensively for studio work.

All in all, I think it is one of the best lenses ever built by Pentax. I bet the upcoming DA35/2 on the 2007 lens road map is going to be repackaged FA25/2 to a DA lens design with no aperture ring and perhaps back element coating (similar to D-FA) but that should be it.

Ed in GA · 12-20-2006, 12:21 PM

Just got the FA-50 f/1.4 and think the FA-35 f/2 will be next on the aquisition list.

joele · 12-20-2006, 01:52 PM

My most used lens..

I have done a number of comparisons to James 31/1.8 Ltd and there is little difference in my opinion.. The only clearly noticable difference is in the bokeh (if you have bright spots) you can notice the apeture blades being less in the 35/2... not a big deal for most people..

Otherwise it is a great lens, very sharp even wide open, not very prone to PF wide open (like the 50/1.4 can be)... And an extremely handy walk around focal length (for me anyway)...

Highly Recommended (comfortably)

jfrejo · 12-20-2006, 02:10 PM

I bought one a few weeks ago to take pictures of my new son, born December 5th. I was able to get some really sharp pictures without using the flash on my K100 while in the hospital and overall am very impressed with the lens.
John

Edvinas · 12-20-2006, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by i.glisin

All in all, I think it is one of the best lenses ever built by Pentax. I bet the upcoming DA35/2 on the 2007 lens road map is going to be repackaged FA25/2 to a DA lens design with no aperture ring and perhaps back element coating (similar to D-FA) but that should be it.

My bet is that DA35/2 also will have "quick shift"

ccallana · 12-20-2006, 04:42 PM

Last roadmap I saw didn't have a speed marked for the DA35 - only that it was 35mm in the DA line - which means no aperature ring, and quick-shift for sure - maybe smaller image circle, maybe not...

Some have speculated it'll be 1.4 to take the "normal" place of the FA50 1.4

12-20-2006, 11:04 AM	#1
Ed in GA Guest	FA 35mm F2 Anyone have experience with this lense? I think I have a good case of LBA.

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12-20-2006, 11:10 AM	#2
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	Superb lens. Just a notch below the 31 limited in IQ. Here is an example: Pentax K10D ,Pentax smc P-FA 35mm f/2 AL 1/180s f/7.1 at 35.0mm iso100

12-20-2006, 11:31 AM	#3
Ivan Glisin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgrade Posts: 656	My primary lens. After getting FA35/2AL I seldom use my A50/1.4 or A28/2.8. Light, very well built, pleasure to focus manually, excellent hood included, compact without the hood, convenient focal length (as normal on film). Great optics: good contrast, good DOF rendering, no distortions, no CA, equally and extremely sharp from f/2.8 to f/16 and just a bit softer at f/2 (just as any other fast lens ever produced, including mighty Leica's!) but still better than A/FA50/1.4 at f/2. I often remove the hood and carry my DS with FA35/2 as a compact DSLR and I use it extensively for studio work. All in all, I think it is one of the best lenses ever built by Pentax. I bet the upcoming DA35/2 on the 2007 lens road map is going to be repackaged FA25/2 to a DA lens design with no aperture ring and perhaps back element coating (similar to D-FA) but that should be it.

12-20-2006, 12:21 PM	#4
Ed in GA Guest	Just got the FA-50 f/1.4 and think the FA-35 f/2 will be next on the aquisition list.

12-20-2006, 01:52 PM	#5
joele Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,308	My most used lens.. I have done a number of comparisons to James 31/1.8 Ltd and there is little difference in my opinion.. The only clearly noticable difference is in the bokeh (if you have bright spots) you can notice the apeture blades being less in the 35/2... not a big deal for most people.. Otherwise it is a great lens, very sharp even wide open, not very prone to PF wide open (like the 50/1.4 can be)... And an extremely handy walk around focal length (for me anyway)... Highly Recommended (comfortably)

12-20-2006, 02:10 PM	#6
jfrejo New Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 20	I bought one a few weeks ago to take pictures of my new son, born December 5th. I was able to get some really sharp pictures without using the flash on my K100 while in the hospital and overall am very impressed with the lens. John

12-20-2006, 03:25 PM	#7
Edvinas Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kaunas Posts: 1,458	Originally posted by i.glisin All in all, I think it is one of the best lenses ever built by Pentax. I bet the upcoming DA35/2 on the 2007 lens road map is going to be repackaged FA25/2 to a DA lens design with no aperture ring and perhaps back element coating (similar to D-FA) but that should be it. My bet is that DA35/2 also will have "quick shift"

12-20-2006, 04:42 PM	#8
ccallana Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Folsom, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 321	Last roadmap I saw didn't have a speed marked for the DA35 - only that it was 35mm in the DA line - which means no aperature ring, and quick-shift for sure - maybe smaller image circle, maybe not... Some have speculated it'll be 1.4 to take the "normal" place of the FA50 1.4