FA 43mm Sharpness

billy moon · 02-28-2013, 11:45 AM

I have the Pentax K5, FA31mm and the FA43mm. I purchased all at the introduction of the K5. The idea was to use as if my Pentax 67, 90mm and 135mm lenses which have been my workhorse focal lengths.
Well as regards the FA43mm. It is fantastic for full and 3/4 length fashion and portraits shooting at about f5.6 - f8 and even close ups at f2. I have found that subjects at far distances say 20ft or more are soft and I mean really soft. Anyone have this sort of issue? The FA31mm is sharp at any given distance.

seventysixersfan · 02-28-2013, 02:54 PM

hmm, I haven't really noticed that with my FA 43 and K-x, but then again, I don't usually use it as a landscape lens or to take pictures of far away things. I use it for portraits mainly, and indoors, so I wouldn't care about things that are 20 feet away because they're not in the picture to begin with!

billy moon · 02-28-2013, 04:09 PM

well that's just it. never use it either for landscape but could not resist the look of this old wooden shed with vintage fork leaning against it while I was on location. It was soft, not out of focus so I tried some shots of my own shed from about the same distance and they also were soft.

tibbitts · 02-28-2013, 06:21 PM

Maybe you have a different idea of "really soft" than some forum members, so if you post some 100% crops you might get more helpful replies.

Paul

wlachan · 02-28-2013, 07:07 PM

I guarantee it's an AF issue.

billy moon · 03-01-2013, 10:49 AM

Originally posted by billy moon

well that's just it. never use it either for landscape but could not resist the look of this old wooden shed with vintage fork leaning against it while I was on location. It was soft, not out of focus so I tried some shots of my own shed from about the same distance and they also were soft.

I'll take a few shots today and post them. I have done a search, not my work, and have seen landscapes/cityscapes that look very sharp.

One3rdEV · 03-28-2013, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by billy moon

I'll take a few shots today and post them. I have done a search, not my work, and have seen landscapes/cityscapes that look very sharp.

How is your problem turning out? Have you verified AF using the Fine Adjustment feature with your copy of the FA 43mm? For instance, I had a brand new 50-135mm that required greater than the +10 adjustment limit of my new K-5 body- the result was that it could focus sharply on near objects but not distant. In this case I resolved it by having the camera and the lens adjusted to nominal (using an OEM master) by Pentax service.

Driline · 03-29-2013, 10:25 AM

Here's a far shot with my FA 43 F6.7 ISO 100. I'm thinking it looks sharp to me anyway?

billy moon · 03-30-2013, 03:09 AM

well just finished a location portrait shoot and they were very sharp, to sharp! have not tested at distance yet. all sorts of things came up but will give it a go this weekend.

02-28-2013, 11:45 AM	#1
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45	FA 43mm Sharpness I have the Pentax K5, FA31mm and the FA43mm. I purchased all at the introduction of the K5. The idea was to use as if my Pentax 67, 90mm and 135mm lenses which have been my workhorse focal lengths. Well as regards the FA43mm. It is fantastic for full and 3/4 length fashion and portraits shooting at about f5.6 - f8 and even close ups at f2. I have found that subjects at far distances say 20ft or more are soft and I mean really soft. Anyone have this sort of issue? The FA31mm is sharp at any given distance.

03-30-2013, 03:09 AM	#9
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45 Original Poster	Sharpness 43mm well just finished a location portrait shoot and they were very sharp, to sharp! have not tested at distance yet. all sorts of things came up but will give it a go this weekend.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Fa 35mm 2.0 versus Fa 43mm 1.9 limited	Ric	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	16	04-01-2012 09:44 PM
Sharpness, Fine Sharpness, Extra Sharpness	Taviali	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	8	03-31-2012 12:56 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA 43mm Limited, D-FA 100mm Macro WR	etscott	Sold Items	3	12-14-2011 07:04 AM
For Sale - Sold: PENTAX K-5 + 18-55MM WR KIT + 43mm fa and 77mm fa (Worldwide)	Tuukka Elias	Sold Items	5	05-19-2011 03:24 PM

02-28-2013, 02:54 PM	#2
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	hmm, I haven't really noticed that with my FA 43 and K-x, but then again, I don't usually use it as a landscape lens or to take pictures of far away things. I use it for portraits mainly, and indoors, so I wouldn't care about things that are 20 feet away because they're not in the picture to begin with!

02-28-2013, 04:09 PM	#3
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45 Original Poster	well that's just it. never use it either for landscape but could not resist the look of this old wooden shed with vintage fork leaning against it while I was on location. It was soft, not out of focus so I tried some shots of my own shed from about the same distance and they also were soft.

02-28-2013, 06:21 PM	#4
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,193	Maybe you have a different idea of "really soft" than some forum members, so if you post some 100% crops you might get more helpful replies. Paul

02-28-2013, 07:07 PM	#5
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	I guarantee it's an AF issue.

03-01-2013, 10:49 AM	#6
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45 Original Poster	Originally posted by billy moon well that's just it. never use it either for landscape but could not resist the look of this old wooden shed with vintage fork leaning against it while I was on location. It was soft, not out of focus so I tried some shots of my own shed from about the same distance and they also were soft. I'll take a few shots today and post them. I have done a search, not my work, and have seen landscapes/cityscapes that look very sharp.

03-28-2013, 09:34 PM	#7
One3rdEV Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: So-central, MI Posts: 285	Originally posted by billy moon I'll take a few shots today and post them. I have done a search, not my work, and have seen landscapes/cityscapes that look very sharp. How is your problem turning out? Have you verified AF using the Fine Adjustment feature with your copy of the FA 43mm? For instance, I had a brand new 50-135mm that required greater than the +10 adjustment limit of my new K-5 body- the result was that it could focus sharply on near objects but not distant. In this case I resolved it by having the camera and the lens adjusted to nominal (using an OEM master) by Pentax service.

03-29-2013, 10:25 AM	#8
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	Here's a far shot with my FA 43 F6.7 ISO 100. I'm thinking it looks sharp to me anyway?