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**monochrome** · 05-17-2013, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by robbiec

Agree, contemplating parting with the K35 f/3.5 hurts though...

IMHO

The rank of Pentax 35's is FA35/2>K35/3.5 >> K35/2>M35/2. Keep the K35. They don't make anything like this any more and nothing does colors the same.

K55/1.8 is a tricky lens to rate. Below (Wider than) f/8 mine is soft, but it competes with any 50 I own at and above f/8 for sharpness. I've had at one time or another almost everything but the A50/1.2. It has some kind of mild 3D effect I haven't seen in another lens (I read the FA31 is the queen of this), and it sells for so little money neither keeping it nor selling it matters. Maybe give it to a young K-mount user.

FA50/1.7 really doesn't bring anything special to the table against your other lenses.

**robbiec** · 05-18-2013, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

IMHO

The rank of Pentax 35's is FA35/2>K35/3.5 >> K35/2>M35/2. Keep the K35. They don't make anything like this any more and nothing does colors the same.

K55/1.8 is a tricky lens to rate. Below (Wider than) f/8 mine is soft, but it competes with any 50 I own at and above f/8 for sharpness. I've had at one time or another almost everything but the A50/1.2. It has some kind of mild 3D effect I haven't seen in another lens (I read the FA31 is the queen of this), and it sells for so little money neither keeping it nor selling it matters. Maybe give it to a young K-mount user.

FA50/1.7 really doesn't bring anything special to the table against your other lenses.

Could swap the K35 for an FA35 for €50 difference :-)

Normal run of the mill FAs just feel cheap, and tactile feel is high on my list of prerequisites when buying lenses which counts against it for me.

**monochrome** · 05-18-2013, 11:41 AM

I know what you mean about the tactile pleasure of a Tak/K/M lens versus an FA, but as FA's go the 35/2 is very good when manually focusing. The focus ring is wider than normal and a grippy material. The engineering plastic barrel feels comparatively solid and doesn't bother me at all. The tulip hood is above average for the vintage. I don't care what it looks like. And I'll tolerate it for the IQ anyway.

That's why I have both (and why I preceded my comment with IMHO).

**robbiec** · 05-18-2013, 12:06 PM

And an appreciated and valued opinion IMO :-)

Truth be told I don't use the K35 f/3.5 enough, or the 55 or the FA50 and its no use having lenses in your bag if they don't get pulled out.

**monochrome** · 05-18-2013, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by robbiec

its no use having lenses in your bag if they don't get pulled out.

Well then. I understand and agree. I have many lenses I should sell. And a few I should just pull out more often. Good luck with the 55.

**robbiec** · 05-18-2013, 03:29 PM

K's gone. Anything I don't use often is going to a new home. Zeiss 25 is my next target.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-18-2013, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by kerrowdown

I'd ditch the K's and the FA50 F1.7, just leaving you a great outfit of 31, 43, 50 and 77

Originally posted by robbiec

K's gone. Anything I don't use often is going to a new home

So did I win the prize then?

**robbiec** · 05-18-2013, 03:55 PM

Looks like it

tuco · 05-18-2013, 04:37 PM

I'd add a wide angle and more telephoto to the kit and thin down redundant focal lengths.

TOUGEFC · 05-18-2013, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by robbiec

FA43 f/1.9
FA50 f/1.7
A 50 f/1.2
K55 f/1.8

Pick one out of these and sell the rest, too many close focal lengths in this range

**robbiec** · 05-18-2013, 05:02 PM

FA50 in the Marketplace, K55 sold an hour ago or so and I like the 43 and 50 f/1.2 too much plus they are very different animals

bvg · 05-19-2013, 12:52 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

Even the 25/2.8 is now hard to find.

It seems not so hard:
https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/epages/cz.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/CZ/Categories/Objektive/ZS

**robbiec** · 05-19-2013, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by bvg

It seems not so hard:
https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/epages/cz.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/CZ/Categories/Objektive/ZS

These are the M42 variants not the rarer and discontinued PKA that lytrytyr and I were discussing.

**robbiec** · 05-24-2013, 05:06 PM

Started with this:

A week has come and gone, I've been wheeling and dealing and I have one more lens to find to complete my set for this year.
After the cull (and it was quite a cull

) i'm left with these 4 fine optics.

What do you reckon? Too harsh? just right? nice little line up? not enough?

scratchpaddy · 05-24-2013, 06:13 PM

The Three Amigos and a Zeiss, eh? That collection would make a lot of people jealous. But, wait a minute...

The A50's gone!! Surely you just forgot to include it in the picture??

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05-17-2013, 05:28 PM	#16
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by robbiec Agree, contemplating parting with the K35 f/3.5 hurts though... IMHO The rank of Pentax 35's is FA35/2>K35/3.5 >> K35/2>M35/2. Keep the K35. They don't make anything like this any more and nothing does colors the same. K55/1.8 is a tricky lens to rate. Below (Wider than) f/8 mine is soft, but it competes with any 50 I own at and above f/8 for sharpness. I've had at one time or another almost everything but the A50/1.2. It has some kind of mild 3D effect I haven't seen in another lens (I read the FA31 is the queen of this), and it sells for so little money neither keeping it nor selling it matters. Maybe give it to a young K-mount user. FA50/1.7 really doesn't bring anything special to the table against your other lenses.

05-18-2013, 11:29 AM	#17
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882 Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome IMHO The rank of Pentax 35's is FA35/2>K35/3.5 >> K35/2>M35/2. Keep the K35. They don't make anything like this any more and nothing does colors the same. K55/1.8 is a tricky lens to rate. Below (Wider than) f/8 mine is soft, but it competes with any 50 I own at and above f/8 for sharpness. I've had at one time or another almost everything but the A50/1.2. It has some kind of mild 3D effect I haven't seen in another lens (I read the FA31 is the queen of this), and it sells for so little money neither keeping it nor selling it matters. Maybe give it to a young K-mount user. FA50/1.7 really doesn't bring anything special to the table against your other lenses. Could swap the K35 for an FA35 for €50 difference :-) Normal run of the mill FAs just feel cheap, and tactile feel is high on my list of prerequisites when buying lenses which counts against it for me.

05-18-2013, 11:41 AM	#18
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I know what you mean about the tactile pleasure of a Tak/K/M lens versus an FA, but as FA's go the 35/2 is very good when manually focusing. The focus ring is wider than normal and a grippy material. The engineering plastic barrel feels comparatively solid and doesn't bother me at all. The tulip hood is above average for the vintage. I don't care what it looks like. And I'll tolerate it for the IQ anyway. That's why I have both (and why I preceded my comment with *IMHO*).

05-18-2013, 12:06 PM	#19
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882 Original Poster	And an appreciated and valued opinion IMO :-) Truth be told I don't use the K35 f/3.5 enough, or the 55 or the FA50 and its no use having lenses in your bag if they don't get pulled out.

05-18-2013, 01:16 PM	#20
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by robbiec its no use having lenses in your bag if they don't get pulled out. Well then. I understand and agree. I have many lenses I should sell. And a few I should just pull out more often. Good luck with the 55.

05-18-2013, 03:29 PM	#21
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882 Original Poster	K's gone. Anything I don't use often is going to a new home. Zeiss 25 is my next target.

05-18-2013, 03:51 PM	#22
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,866	Originally posted by kerrowdown I'd ditch the K's and the FA50 F1.7, just leaving you a great outfit of 31, 43, 50 and 77 Originally posted by robbiec K's gone. Anything I don't use often is going to a new home So did I win the prize then?

05-18-2013, 03:55 PM	#23
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882 Original Poster	Looks like it

05-18-2013, 04:37 PM	#24
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,032	I'd add a wide angle and more telephoto to the kit and thin down redundant focal lengths.

05-18-2013, 04:48 PM	#25
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by robbiec FA43 f/1.9 FA50 f/1.7 A 50 f/1.2 K55 f/1.8 Pick one out of these and sell the rest, too many close focal lengths in this range

05-18-2013, 05:02 PM	#26
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882 Original Poster	FA50 in the Marketplace, K55 sold an hour ago or so and I like the 43 and 50 f/1.2 too much plus they are very different animals

05-19-2013, 12:52 AM	#27
bvg Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 340	Originally posted by lytrytyr Even the 25/2.8 is now hard to find. It seems not so hard: https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/epages/cz.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/CZ/Categories/Objektive/ZS

05-19-2013, 03:44 AM	#28
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882 Original Poster	Originally posted by bvg It seems not so hard: https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/epages/cz.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/CZ/Categories/Objektive/ZS These are the M42 variants not the rarer and discontinued PKA that lytrytyr and I were discussing.

05-24-2013, 05:06 PM	#29
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882 Original Poster	Started with this: A week has come and gone, I've been wheeling and dealing and I have one more lens to find to complete my set for this year. After the cull (and it was quite a cull ) i'm left with these 4 fine optics. What do you reckon? Too harsh? just right? nice little line up? not enough?

05-24-2013, 06:13 PM	#30
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	The Three Amigos and a Zeiss, eh? That collection would make a lot of people jealous. But, wait a minute... The A50's gone!! Surely you just forgot to include it in the picture??

So......!

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