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NitroDC · 12-23-2013, 10:13 AM

If you plan to own the 31 at any point in the future, just go for the 31 now.

seventysixersfan · 12-23-2013, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by NitroDC

If you plan to own the 31 at any point in the future, just go for the 31 now.

Agreed on this. Assuming you have enough money, or are willing to part with that much to acquire the 31, you might as well go for it sooner rather than use other lenses that are serving as temporary place-holders.

For my part, although I lust after the FA 31 like many Pentaxians who don't own it, I've made peace with my FA 35 and F 28mm combination as a substitute. Someday I may sell both, along with others, to acquire the FA 31, or better yet, I'll just get a Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 to cover the FA 31 and then some. Or maybe get the DA 20-40 limited zoom instead of the FA 31.

**manishved** · 12-23-2013, 12:55 PM

The FA 31 is really magical - you will love it.

Driline · 12-23-2013, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by seventysixersfan

I'll just get a Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 to cover the FA 31 and then some.

That is one review I'll be waiting for. We'll have to wait until February or March though as that lens has been postponed a bit for Pentax.

Driline · 12-23-2013, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by seventysixersfan

I've made peace with my FA 35 and F 28mm combination as a substitute.

Yep been there done that. Not no more though. With the FA 43 and DA*50-135 I've tasted the best and cannot settle for less.

Driline · 12-23-2013, 03:07 PM

Originally posted by seventysixersfan

I will reach for my FA 35mm in low light situations because it's sharp even wide open at f/2.0

No doubt about that.

seventysixersfan · 12-23-2013, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by Driline

With the FA 43 and DA*50-135 I've tasted the best and cannot settle for less.

I think you have answered your own question about whether to acquire the FA 31.

starjedi · 12-24-2013, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by Driline

That is one review I'll be waiting for. We'll have to wait until February or March though as that lens has been postponed a bit for Pentax.

Me too... I am also considering Sigma 35mm F1.4. FA31mm is simply too expensive after last year price spike...

zmohie · 12-26-2013, 03:38 AM

I have both FA35 and FA 31. both are very sharp but FA31 is a winner considering the bokeh, color rendering and the BQ.

Driline · 12-26-2013, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by zmohie

I have both FA35 and FA 31. both are very sharp but FA31 is a winner considering the bokeh, color rendering and the BQ.

Yea. I would hate to get the FA35 only to wonder if I really should have just applied the extra $350 towards the FA31 anyway and been happier.

MegaPower · 12-26-2013, 07:14 PM

IMO, FA35/2 takes as good image on APSC sensor.
You will only notice significant difference when you are using FF or film.

Driline · 12-26-2013, 07:59 PM

Originally posted by MegaPower

IMO, FA35/2 takes as good image on APSC sensor.
You will only notice significant difference when you are using FF or film.

What? Ok the FA 31 is $1,000 more than the FA 35. Is it not worth the extra cash?

**ivanvernon** · 12-26-2013, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by Driline

I'm currently looking to purchase an FA 31 probably summer of next year. However I've been eyeing the FA 35 lens at ~$300. Will the FA 35 satisfy my appetite for high IQ and sharpness or should I just wait for the Holy Grail of all Pentax lenses

The 31 (or 35) will be used for low light indoors of family and landscape photo's.

My current arsenal of lenses are as follows:

DA 21

FA 43

DA*50-135

I am somewhat the same situation. I would really like to own the 31 ltd, but simply cannot afford it. Instead, I bought the Sigma 30 mm f 1.4, an excellent choice for low-light situations. This lens will almost take pictures in the dark, and in parties and in-door gatherings, you can pretty well forget about the use of flash. I recommend it as one of your options.

calculator01 · 12-26-2013, 10:57 PM

If I didn't get a steal on my 31, I would never have bought it. It was way down on the list of must haves, close to the don't needs.

I can't give a full review yet, as I have not had the 31 long enough yet. But my list of recommendations, based on my opinion, is the DA 35, FA 31, DA 35 Ltd, FA 35. In that order.

zapp · 12-27-2013, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by Driline

I'm currently looking to purchase an FA 31 probably summer of next year. However I've been eyeing the FA 35 lens at ~$300. Will the FA 35 satisfy my appetite for high IQ and sharpness or should I just wait for the Holy Grail of all Pentax lenses

The 31 (or 35) will be used for low light indoors of family and landscape photo's.

My current arsenal of lenses are as follows:

DA 21

FA 43

DA*50-135

Just sold my FA31. Nice lens, but completely overrated here. The lens has been designed for full frame cameras with all the flaws of a retro-focus construction. AF is noisy. The same lens designed for DA mount could have been much smaller and cost less. Performance of the lens is quite nice though.
I would opt for the DA35 if you think that the aperture is OK for you.
I preferred my 21/40 combo over the 31, so it had to go - I am still waiting for a large aperture DA wide angle!!!

12-24-2013, 07:07 PM	#23
starjedi Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 932	Originally posted by Driline That is one review I'll be waiting for. We'll have to wait until February or March though as that lens has been postponed a bit for Pentax. Me too... I am also considering Sigma 35mm F1.4. FA31mm is simply too expensive after last year price spike... Last edited by starjedi; 12-24-2013 at 07:16 PM.

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12-23-2013, 10:13 AM	#16
NitroDC Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 342	If you plan to own the 31 at any point in the future, just go for the 31 now.

12-23-2013, 10:17 AM	#17
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by NitroDC If you plan to own the 31 at any point in the future, just go for the 31 now. Agreed on this. Assuming you have enough money, or are willing to part with that much to acquire the 31, you might as well go for it sooner rather than use other lenses that are serving as temporary place-holders. For my part, although I lust after the FA 31 like many Pentaxians who don't own it, I've made peace with my FA 35 and F 28mm combination as a substitute. Someday I may sell both, along with others, to acquire the FA 31, or better yet, I'll just get a Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 to cover the FA 31 and then some. Or maybe get the DA 20-40 limited zoom instead of the FA 31.

12-23-2013, 12:55 PM	#18
manishved Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N. Calif Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,652	The FA 31 is really magical - you will love it.

12-23-2013, 03:03 PM	#19
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,708 Original Poster	Originally posted by seventysixersfan I'll just get a Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 to cover the FA 31 and then some. That is one review I'll be waiting for. We'll have to wait until February or March though as that lens has been postponed a bit for Pentax.

12-23-2013, 03:05 PM	#20
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,708 Original Poster	Originally posted by seventysixersfan I've made peace with my FA 35 and F 28mm combination as a substitute. Yep been there done that. Not no more though. With the FA 43 and DA*50-135 I've tasted the best and cannot settle for less.

12-23-2013, 03:07 PM	#21
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,708 Original Poster	Originally posted by seventysixersfan I will reach for my FA 35mm in low light situations because it's sharp even wide open at f/2.0 No doubt about that.

12-23-2013, 03:23 PM	#22
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by Driline With the FA 43 and DA*50-135 I've tasted the best and cannot settle for less. I think you have answered your own question about whether to acquire the FA 31.

12-26-2013, 03:38 AM	#24
zmohie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: egypt Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 435	I have both FA35 and FA 31. both are very sharp but FA31 is a winner considering the bokeh, color rendering and the BQ.

12-26-2013, 07:04 AM	#25
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,708 Original Poster	Originally posted by zmohie I have both FA35 and FA 31. both are very sharp but FA31 is a winner considering the bokeh, color rendering and the BQ. Yea. I would hate to get the FA35 only to wonder if I really should have just applied the extra $350 towards the FA31 anyway and been happier.

12-26-2013, 07:14 PM	#26
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	IMO, FA35/2 takes as good image on APSC sensor. You will only notice significant difference when you are using FF or film.

12-26-2013, 07:59 PM	#27
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,708 Original Poster	Originally posted by MegaPower IMO, FA35/2 takes as good image on APSC sensor. You will only notice significant difference when you are using FF or film. What? Ok the FA 31 is $1,000 more than the FA 35. Is it not worth the extra cash?

12-26-2013, 08:27 PM	#28
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Originally posted by Driline I'm currently looking to purchase an FA 31 probably summer of next year. However I've been eyeing the FA 35 lens at ~$300. Will the FA 35 satisfy my appetite for high IQ and sharpness or should I just wait for the Holy Grail of all Pentax lenses The 31 (or 35) will be used for low light indoors of family and landscape photo's. My current arsenal of lenses are as follows: DA 21 FA 43 DA*50-135 I am somewhat the same situation. I would really like to own the 31 ltd, but simply cannot afford it. Instead, I bought the Sigma 30 mm f 1.4, an excellent choice for low-light situations. This lens will almost take pictures in the dark, and in parties and in-door gatherings, you can pretty well forget about the use of flash. I recommend it as one of your options.

12-26-2013, 10:57 PM	#29
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	If I didn't get a steal on my 31, I would never have bought it. It was way down on the list of must haves, close to the don't needs. I can't give a full review yet, as I have not had the 31 long enough yet. But my list of recommendations, based on my opinion, is the DA 35, FA 31, DA 35 Ltd, FA 35. In that order.

12-27-2013, 04:13 AM	#30
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,389	Originally posted by Driline I'm currently looking to purchase an FA 31 probably summer of next year. However I've been eyeing the FA 35 lens at ~$300. Will the FA 35 satisfy my appetite for high IQ and sharpness or should I just wait for the Holy Grail of all Pentax lenses The 31 (or 35) will be used for low light indoors of family and landscape photo's. My current arsenal of lenses are as follows: DA 21 FA 43 DA*50-135 Just sold my FA31. Nice lens, but completely overrated here. The lens has been designed for full frame cameras with all the flaws of a retro-focus construction. AF is noisy. The same lens designed for DA mount could have been much smaller and cost less. Performance of the lens is quite nice though. I would opt for the DA35 if you think that the aperture is OK for you. I preferred my 21/40 combo over the 31, so it had to go - I am still waiting for a large aperture DA wide angle!!!

FA 35 or wait for FA 31

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