LIMITEDS - FA43mm vs DA35mm

krebsy75 · 12-01-2013, 08:44 AM

Not in the same league? 4 years ago the 40 and 43 were priced within $50 of each other.

The 40 was designed as an unobtrusive walk around for general purpose shooting. It's sharp wide open, focuses quickly and features the same build as the 43. I see these lenses as having different applications. One isn't "better" than the other.

Driline · 12-01-2013, 10:52 AM

Originally posted by krebsy75

Not in the same league? 4 years ago the 40 and 43 were priced within $50 of each other.

Yep. Not..... in....... the....... same....... league. Keep repeating it. There you go

krebsy75 · 12-01-2013, 11:22 AM - **1 Like**

You're....not...funny.

**TopherTheME** · 12-01-2013, 04:59 PM - **1 Like**

I own the DA35, FA43, and have owned the DA40. Personally, I wouldn't use any of them for landscape work as its a rather strange focal length for the application. But if you put a gun to my head I would say DA35 without much thought if you're using it for landscape work. The DA35 just has awesome edge to edge sharpness, a very flat field, and not much vignetting. Its also relatively flare resistant (almost as good as the DA15) which is a great feature to have for landscapes. A close second would be the DA40 as it has excellent edge to edge sharpness as well, although I experienced a little more vignetting and a bit of distortion when I compared it to the DA35. The FA43 is a fantastic lens, and I've only had mine for a few weeks, but landscapes is just not something it does well. It excels at low light portraits and situations, which is what I use it for, but its poor corner sharpness and vignetting don't make it a good lens for landscapes.

If I had to choose a single lens for landscapes it would be hands down my DA15. It just renders landscapes beautifully and corner edge sharpness is pretty good when stopped down.

And on a side note, the FA43 is the same size as the DA70, not the DA40. They actually have almost identically bodies and similar focal lengths.

krebsy75 · 12-01-2013, 05:41 PM

The 43 has vignetting issues on APS-C?

**TopherTheME** · 12-01-2013, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by krebsy75

The 43 has vignetting issues on APS-C?

I wouldn't call it an issue, just a little bit more pronounced than the DA35. Its certainly less far less than say the 18-135.

stewh · 12-04-2013, 06:27 PM

Thanks again to everyone who contributed. Certainly a lot of diverse opinions. I ended up buying a used DA 40mm Limited that came for sale at a local camera shop for a reasonable price.

12-04-2013, 06:27 PM	#22
stewh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 284 Original Poster	Settled Thanks again to everyone who contributed. Certainly a lot of diverse opinions. I ended up buying a used DA 40mm Limited that came for sale at a local camera shop for a reasonable price.

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12-01-2013, 08:44 AM	#16
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804	Not in the same league? 4 years ago the 40 and 43 were priced within $50 of each other. The 40 was designed as an unobtrusive walk around for general purpose shooting. It's sharp wide open, focuses quickly and features the same build as the 43. I see these lenses as having different applications. One isn't "better" than the other.

12-01-2013, 10:52 AM	#17
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,705	Originally posted by krebsy75 Not in the same league? 4 years ago the 40 and 43 were priced within $50 of each other. Yep. Not..... in....... the....... same....... league. Keep repeating it. There you go

12-01-2013, 11:22 AM - 1 Like	#18
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804	You're....not...funny.

12-01-2013, 04:59 PM - 1 Like	#19
TopherTheME Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 147	I own the DA35, FA43, and have owned the DA40. Personally, I wouldn't use any of them for landscape work as its a rather strange focal length for the application. But if you put a gun to my head I would say DA35 without much thought if you're using it for landscape work. The DA35 just has awesome edge to edge sharpness, a very flat field, and not much vignetting. Its also relatively flare resistant (almost as good as the DA15) which is a great feature to have for landscapes. A close second would be the DA40 as it has excellent edge to edge sharpness as well, although I experienced a little more vignetting and a bit of distortion when I compared it to the DA35. The FA43 is a fantastic lens, and I've only had mine for a few weeks, but landscapes is just not something it does well. It excels at low light portraits and situations, which is what I use it for, but its poor corner sharpness and vignetting don't make it a good lens for landscapes. If I had to choose a single lens for landscapes it would be hands down my DA15. It just renders landscapes beautifully and corner edge sharpness is pretty good when stopped down. And on a side note, the FA43 is the same size as the DA70, not the DA40. They actually have almost identically bodies and similar focal lengths.

12-01-2013, 05:41 PM	#20
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804	The 43 has vignetting issues on APS-C?

12-01-2013, 07:23 PM	#21
TopherTheME Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 147	Originally posted by krebsy75 The 43 has vignetting issues on APS-C? I wouldn't call it an issue, just a little bit more pronounced than the DA35. Its certainly less far less than say the 18-135.