Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

percy · 09-02-2013, 05:44 AM

Originally posted by Primes4ever

Good choice as the 31 is a relative bargain and earns its legendary reputation. Once you have it, you will not be using your 35, the 31 is that good.

I agree. With the horizontal angle of view only about 4 degrees different between the 31 and 35, I'd sell the 35 to get some more funding towards the 15 & 31.

reeftool · 09-02-2013, 08:28 AM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

I think I have more need for the 15mm considering my style of shooting..

I think you answered your own question. Buy what you need. The 31 will be a poor investment if it just sits in your bag and you will still need a wide lens.

innivus · 09-02-2013, 08:40 AM

If you're looking at similarly priced 15mm and 31mm... either the 31 is a bargain or the 15 is way overpriced. You can always find an overpriced lens, can't always find a bargain, especially on a lens like the 31.

**Hattifnatt** · 09-02-2013, 08:43 AM

Well... if I get the 31mm, probably it will become my workhorse pretty fast. Right now my most used lens is the cheap 35mm 2.4, 80% of my photos are made with this little gem. Guess the 31 should do the same thing only better, as somebody said above?

But I got your point... the thing is that this offer seems just too good to let by. Remember, the 31 is almost unused, with warranty.

**Hattifnatt** · 09-02-2013, 08:51 AM

Originally posted by innivus

If you're looking at similarly priced 15mm and 31mm... either the 31 is a bargain or the 15 is way overpriced. You can always find an overpriced lens, can't always find a bargain, especially on a lens like the 31.

The 31 will cost me like 740$. I suppose the best offers for the DA 15mm are cheaper... but not that much cheaper. If I were to buy the 15 at my local store, it will be considerably more expensive than this 31 bargain.

innivus · 09-02-2013, 08:54 AM

KEH currently has an EX 15mm for $484 (though at that price it shouldn't last long). Just sayin'.

**savoche** · 09-02-2013, 09:04 AM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

The 31 will cost me like 740$. I suppose the best offers for the DA 15mm are cheaper... but not that much cheaper. If I were to buy the 15 at my local store, it will be considerably more expensive than this 31 bargain.

A new 31 is around $1600 here. Oh well, I'll live with my 35/2.4 for a good while more - unless I find a deal like yours

percy · 09-03-2013, 12:09 AM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

The 31 will cost me like 740$. I suppose the best offers for the DA 15mm are cheaper... but not that much cheaper. If I were to buy the 15 at my local store, it will be considerably more expensive than this 31 bargain.

Seems like a bit of a no brainer to me - you obviously want this lens, otherwise you wouldn't vacillating about it now.

If the 31 is being sold at what appears to be well below your current local market price, then take the opportunity. You can always sell it again later if you decide you don't like it and probably not lose any money on it.

Class A · 09-03-2013, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

Remember, the 31 is almost unused, with warranty.

Is it silver?

If you don't want it after all, can I buy it?

I'm desperately looking for a silver FA 31/1.8 that I can afford.

In any event, you should check the FA 31/1.8 for barrel wobble. I guess there are only a few copies with no wobble at all, but it shouldn't be excessive as it will then impact on IQ (the lens elements will align differently, depending on whether you use it in portrait or landscape "mode").

Primes4ever · 09-03-2013, 09:31 AM

Trust me, the 31 will become your workhorse. I have four other Limiteds including the 15 and I use the 31 the most. But I would not sell any of the other four because they have their place.

mikeSF · 09-03-2013, 09:56 AM

get that 31. you know you need to own both the 31 and the 15 eventually, so just postpone the 15 for next time. you can sell the 35

**Hattifnatt** · 09-03-2013, 03:47 PM

Today I went to test the 31... WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT !! this guy has absolutely no idea what is he selling. It was not his lens, it belonged to his father (who unfortunately died) and he's selling all the stuff. He doesn't have a clue about SLR lenses. He identified the stuff based on photos he found on the net, so he's not actually selling the FA 31 1.8, he's selling the 77 limited. Still a good price for a fantastic lens, considering that new is about 1050$ on bh, and the lens is brand new.

Apart from this, he's also selling the 40mm f/2.8 and the 35mm f/2, plus the K-5 body. The whole kit was purchased in 2011 (one month of warranty left), but it was almost never used (the body has less than 100 frames taken).

Too bad there is nothing wide there...

mikeSF · 09-03-2013, 04:00 PM

oh, the 77 is my favorite lens!

**Hattifnatt** · 09-03-2013, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by mikeSF

oh, the 77 is my favorite lens!

I know the lens is great... still I was in need of a wide lens

Class A · 09-03-2013, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

I know the lens is great... still I was in need of a wide lens

The FA 31 is not wide on APS-C.

It gives you what a normal 50mm would have given you on a film camera.

If you want wide, you can only consider the FA 31 if you shoot film or Pentax releases an FF camera (which won't be in the next couple of days...).

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FA 43 1.9 vs DA 40 2.8 limited	slip	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	12	07-28-2013 11:59 AM
Wanted - Acquired: Pentax-FA 1:1.8 31mm Limited	VictorDA	Sold Items	6	12-17-2012 05:49 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited	loveisageless	Sold Items	2	10-15-2012 08:54 AM
For Sale - Sold: FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited, FA 50mm f/1.4, Da 14mm f/2.8 and more!	nuaabill	Sold Items	14	10-09-2009 02:30 PM

09-02-2013, 05:44 AM	#16
percy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Herefordshire, UK Posts: 197	Originally posted by Primes4ever Good choice as the 31 is a relative bargain and earns its legendary reputation. Once you have it, you will not be using your 35, the 31 is that good. I agree. With the horizontal angle of view only about 4 degrees different between the 31 and 35, I'd sell the 35 to get some more funding towards the 15 & 31.

09-02-2013, 08:28 AM	#17
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,555	Originally posted by Hattifnatt I think I have more need for the 15mm considering my style of shooting.. I think you answered your own question. Buy what you need. The 31 will be a poor investment if it just sits in your bag and you will still need a wide lens.

09-02-2013, 08:40 AM	#18
innivus Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bronx NY Posts: 340	If you're looking at similarly priced 15mm and 31mm... either the 31 is a bargain or the 15 is way overpriced. You can always find an overpriced lens, can't always find a bargain, especially on a lens like the 31.

09-02-2013, 08:43 AM	#19
Hattifnatt Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,626 Original Poster	Well... if I get the 31mm, probably it will become my workhorse pretty fast. Right now my most used lens is the cheap 35mm 2.4, 80% of my photos are made with this little gem. Guess the 31 should do the same thing only better, as somebody said above? But I got your point... the thing is that this offer seems just too good to let by. Remember, the 31 is almost unused, with warranty.

09-02-2013, 08:51 AM	#20
Hattifnatt Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,626 Original Poster	Originally posted by innivus If you're looking at similarly priced 15mm and 31mm... either the 31 is a bargain or the 15 is way overpriced. You can always find an overpriced lens, can't always find a bargain, especially on a lens like the 31. The 31 will cost me like 740$. I suppose the best offers for the DA 15mm are cheaper... but not that much cheaper. If I were to buy the 15 at my local store, it will be considerably more expensive than this 31 bargain.

09-02-2013, 08:54 AM	#21
innivus Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bronx NY Posts: 340	KEH currently has an EX 15mm for $484 (though at that price it shouldn't last long). Just sayin'.

09-02-2013, 09:04 AM	#22
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Originally posted by Hattifnatt The 31 will cost me like 740$. I suppose the best offers for the DA 15mm are cheaper... but not that much cheaper. If I were to buy the 15 at my local store, it will be considerably more expensive than this 31 bargain. A new 31 is around $1600 here. Oh well, I'll live with my 35/2.4 for a good while more - unless I find a deal like yours

09-03-2013, 12:09 AM	#23
percy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Herefordshire, UK Posts: 197	Originally posted by Hattifnatt The 31 will cost me like 740$. I suppose the best offers for the DA 15mm are cheaper... but not that much cheaper. If I were to buy the 15 at my local store, it will be considerably more expensive than this 31 bargain. Seems like a bit of a no brainer to me - you obviously want this lens, otherwise you wouldn't vacillating about it now. If the 31 is being sold at what appears to be well below your current local market price, then take the opportunity. You can always sell it again later if you decide you don't like it and probably not lose any money on it.

09-03-2013, 08:25 AM	#24
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by Hattifnatt Remember, the 31 is almost unused, with warranty. Is it silver? If you don't want it after all, can I buy it? I'm desperately looking for a silver FA 31/1.8 that I can afford. In any event, you should check the FA 31/1.8 for barrel wobble. I guess there are only a few copies with no wobble at all, but it shouldn't be excessive as it will then impact on IQ (the lens elements will align differently, depending on whether you use it in portrait or landscape "mode").

09-03-2013, 09:31 AM	#25
Primes4ever Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 179	Trust me, the 31 will become your workhorse. I have four other Limiteds including the 15 and I use the 31 the most. But I would not sell any of the other four because they have their place.

09-03-2013, 09:56 AM	#26
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622	get that 31. you know you need to own both the 31 and the 15 eventually, so just postpone the 15 for next time. you can sell the 35

09-03-2013, 03:47 PM	#27
Hattifnatt Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,626 Original Poster	Today I went to test the 31... WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT !! this guy has absolutely no idea what is he selling. It was not his lens, it belonged to his father (who unfortunately died) and he's selling all the stuff. He doesn't have a clue about SLR lenses. He identified the stuff based on photos he found on the net, so he's not actually selling the FA 31 1.8, he's selling the 77 limited. Still a good price for a fantastic lens, considering that new is about 1050$ on bh, and the lens is brand new. Apart from this, he's also selling the 40mm f/2.8 and the 35mm f/2, plus the K-5 body. The whole kit was purchased in 2011 (one month of warranty left), but it was almost never used (the body has less than 100 frames taken). Too bad there is nothing wide there...

09-03-2013, 04:00 PM	#28
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622	oh, the 77 is my favorite lens!

09-03-2013, 04:07 PM	#29
Hattifnatt Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,626 Original Poster	Originally posted by mikeSF oh, the 77 is my favorite lens! I know the lens is great... still I was in need of a wide lens

09-03-2013, 05:57 PM	#30
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by Hattifnatt I know the lens is great... still I was in need of a wide lens The FA 31 is not wide on APS-C. It gives you what a normal 50mm would have given you on a film camera. If you want wide, you can only consider the FA 31 if you shoot film or Pentax releases an FF camera (which won't be in the next couple of days...).

FA 31mm 1.8 vs DA 15mm Limited

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!