lens heresy

nostatic · 03-20-2008, 01:31 PM

So far I'm not digging the 31ltd. Heresy I know, but it just isn't popping for me. I dearly love the 77ltd and that is a total keeper. But I think the 31 will go back. I might go for the 35ltd macro instead, as that would kill two birds with one lens. So to speak. As it were.

Part of it seems to be AF-related. I get a tad better images manually focusing. I could use the K20's focus adjust for the lens, but I'm also not really "seeing" what I want with it. If it had quick shift it would make it easier to live with as well, but it doesn't. The 77 by comparison is spot-on, as are the zooms.

On a positive note, the 50-135* is an incredibly contrasty lens (especially for a zoom) and the 16-45 is under-rated imho. And the 77 is just magic...to me.

tybeck · 03-20-2008, 02:31 PM

Among very good to excellent lens which on you like is just that, the one you like. I have the 31 and 77 limited as well, but like the 31 more than the 77, only because I tend to shoot wide. Knowing myself however I'll probably keep both because I could sell either one later for a pretty good price. Just me.

Buddha Jones · 03-20-2008, 04:24 PM

Ugh... I want both!

TomInJax · 03-20-2008, 04:48 PM

Hmmmm.... Have you thought about sending your camera in for a check up? I sent my K10D back because of a back-focus issue. I bought a *istDL for a backup and the 31 is phenominal and phantastic! :-) Anyway... I sent a Pentax 14mm lens back, and it turned out to be my camera.

Bottom line: the 31mm is very, very, very sharp!!! (after you have a camera that will focus!)

edit: The problem I had showed up only on 35mm and shorter lenses - fixed (prime) only!

Last edited by TomInJax; 03-20-2008 at 04:50 PM. Reason: clarification

twinda1 · 03-20-2008, 05:08 PM

I had much the same impression as you did; the FA77 really popped as compared to the FA31. Then I found my K10D has a front focus issue with the FA31 (I'm pretty sure; confirmed with shooting a focus chart). I've been playing with selecting a closer focus point, and I'm getting much better results, but I need to shoot more before I can say for certain.

TomInJax · 03-20-2008, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by twinda1

I had much the same impression as you did; the FA77 really popped as compared to the FA31. Then I found my K10D has a front focus issue with the FA31 (I'm pretty sure; confirmed with shooting a focus chart). I've been playing with selecting a closer focus point, and I'm getting much better results, but I need to shoot more before I can say for certain.

I don't know about you, but I cannot manually focus the 31 that accurately! It is tough. Especially for old eyes like mine.

nostatic · 03-20-2008, 05:25 PM

I've done a lot of testing with it today, and have gone back and forth between the 31, 77, 16-45 and 50-135. The bottom line is that AF is unacceptable with the 31. It is fine with the other lenses. If I run the 31 manual I can get a decent image, but like TomInJax my eyes aren't getting any younger either (even though I'm 20-20). I tried doing the focus adjust in the K20d and it really didn't solve it.

If I get good AF with 3 lenses and not with this one, I don't think I can blame the body (but I always can blame the pilot). It's going back. I shouldn't have to work that hard to get a decent image. But as I said above, this back-to-back does show me how good the two zooms are. I really want to find an excuse to exchange the 16-45 for a 16-50* but I can't...I consistently get good sharp images with the 16-45. Plus the devil you know...

I'm still totally smitten with the 77. Beautiful stuff, and I'm actually shooting decent portraits which have always been a weakness of mine.

Next, to solve my macro issue. Gotta have one for abstract. Going to shoot a 50 and 100 at the store and see which one speaks to me. But I'm still thinking that I'm going to pick up a 35ltd macro. So if I do that, the 100 macro seems to make more sense.

LBA while trying to stay down to like 4 or 5 lenses. Tough...

twinda1 · 03-22-2008, 01:01 AM

Originally posted by nostatic

If I get good AF with 3 lenses and not with this one, I don't think I can blame the body (but I always can blame the pilot). It's going back.

Next, to solve my macro issue. Gotta have one for abstract. Going to shoot a 50 and 100 at the store and see which one speaks to me. But I'm still thinking that I'm going to pick up a 35ltd macro. So if I do that, the 100 macro seems to make more sense.

LBA while trying to stay down to like 4 or 5 lenses. Tough...

Depending on what/where you shoot the FA31 could prove very useful with its extra stop and shorter focal length. You won't try for another sample?

As for your macro, I can tell right now that not having the Voigtlander SL 125 is going to bother you to no end... might as well start hunting it down now.

03-20-2008, 01:31 PM	#1
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	lens heresy So far I'm not digging the 31ltd. Heresy I know, but it just isn't popping for me. I dearly love the 77ltd and that is a total keeper. But I think the 31 will go back. I might go for the 35ltd macro instead, as that would kill two birds with one lens. So to speak. As it were. Part of it seems to be AF-related. I get a tad better images manually focusing. I could use the K20's focus adjust for the lens, but I'm also not really "seeing" what I want with it. If it had quick shift it would make it easier to live with as well, but it doesn't. The 77 by comparison is spot-on, as are the zooms. On a positive note, the 50-135* is an incredibly contrasty lens (especially for a zoom) and the 16-45 is under-rated imho. And the 77 is just magic...to me.

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03-20-2008, 02:31 PM	#2
tybeck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 452	Among very good to excellent lens which on you like is just that, the one you like. I have the 31 and 77 limited as well, but like the 31 more than the 77, only because I tend to shoot wide. Knowing myself however I'll probably keep both because I could sell either one later for a pretty good price. Just me.

03-20-2008, 04:24 PM	#3
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	Ugh... I want both!

03-20-2008, 04:48 PM	#4
TomInJax Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 531	Hmmmm.... Have you thought about sending your camera in for a check up? I sent my K10D back because of a back-focus issue. I bought a istDL for a backup and the 31 is phenominal and phantastic! :-) Anyway... I sent a Pentax 14mm lens back, and it turned out to be my camera. Bottom line: the 31mm is very, very, very sharp!!! (after you have a camera that will focus!) edit: The problem I had showed up only on 35mm and shorter lenses - fixed (prime) only! Last edited by TomInJax; 03-20-2008 at 04:50 PM. Reason: clarification*

03-20-2008, 05:08 PM	#5
twinda1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 142	I had much the same impression as you did; the FA77 really popped as compared to the FA31. Then I found my K10D has a front focus issue with the FA31 (I'm pretty sure; confirmed with shooting a focus chart). I've been playing with selecting a closer focus point, and I'm getting much better results, but I need to shoot more before I can say for certain.

03-20-2008, 05:10 PM	#6
TomInJax Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 531	Originally posted by twinda1 I had much the same impression as you did; the FA77 really popped as compared to the FA31. Then I found my K10D has a front focus issue with the FA31 (I'm pretty sure; confirmed with shooting a focus chart). I've been playing with selecting a closer focus point, and I'm getting much better results, but I need to shoot more before I can say for certain. I don't know about you, but I cannot manually focus the 31 that accurately! It is tough. Especially for old eyes like mine.

03-20-2008, 05:25 PM	#7
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575 Original Poster	I've done a lot of testing with it today, and have gone back and forth between the 31, 77, 16-45 and 50-135. The bottom line is that AF is unacceptable with the 31. It is fine with the other lenses. If I run the 31 manual I can get a decent image, but like TomInJax my eyes aren't getting any younger either (even though I'm 20-20). I tried doing the focus adjust in the K20d and it really didn't solve it. If I get good AF with 3 lenses and not with this one, I don't think I can blame the body (but I always can blame the pilot). It's going back. I shouldn't have to work that hard to get a decent image. But as I said above, this back-to-back does show me how good the two zooms are. I really want to find an excuse to exchange the 16-45 for a 16-50* but I can't...I consistently get good sharp images with the 16-45. Plus the devil you know... I'm still totally smitten with the 77. Beautiful stuff, and I'm actually shooting decent portraits which have always been a weakness of mine. Next, to solve my macro issue. Gotta have one for abstract. Going to shoot a 50 and 100 at the store and see which one speaks to me. But I'm still thinking that I'm going to pick up a 35ltd macro. So if I do that, the 100 macro seems to make more sense. LBA while trying to stay down to like 4 or 5 lenses. Tough...

03-22-2008, 01:01 AM	#8
twinda1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 142	Originally posted by nostatic If I get good AF with 3 lenses and not with this one, I don't think I can blame the body (but I always can blame the pilot). It's going back. Next, to solve my macro issue. Gotta have one for abstract. Going to shoot a 50 and 100 at the store and see which one speaks to me. But I'm still thinking that I'm going to pick up a 35ltd macro. So if I do that, the 100 macro seems to make more sense. LBA while trying to stay down to like 4 or 5 lenses. Tough... Depending on what/where you shoot the FA31 could prove very useful with its extra stop and shorter focal length. You won't try for another sample? As for your macro, I can tell right now that not having the Voigtlander SL 125 is going to bother you to no end... might as well start hunting it down now.