[Ztrejfer]

Rumours will have it a redesign of the precious FA 31mm is coming up later this year (when?). Member Oxidized doubts "that the new ones will be as great. They will likely round the aperture blades on them just like they did with the 15mm. Right now the 31mm has fantastic starburst effects bcs of the non rounded blades."

Oh, dear. Now I'm in trouble: the FA 31mm will be redesigned later this year??? I didn't know - and do we really know how this will affect My Precious? Buy now - or wait for one with for instance WR? - which IMHO is the only thing there seems to be missing on this gem.

Any comment and fact on this apparently upcoming redesign will be most welcome. Thank you!

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Last edited by Ztrejfer; 03-04-2014 at 01:33 AM.

[Jonathan Mac]

No WR was added to the new DA limiteds, I very much doubt it will be added to the FA limiteds. I think the changes will be:

HD coating
rounded blades
addition of quick-shift
price hike

[yusuf]

Hope it's not DA 31/f2.4

[topace]

My guess is it's much as Jonathan says. Rounded aperture blades, HD coating for better flare performance as well as microcontrast. No aperture ring. Quick Shift. I think the lens will score better, but maybe lose some of the magic.

Could be, they'll swap the built-in hood for a better solution.

As for f/2.4, that was IIRC how the lens was originally designed, but I don't think they would dare to make it slower at this point, and there's really no need.

[Apapukas]

If there is going to be a price hike for the 31, I hope it will be just a slight as an upgrade (HD, QS etc.).

[Rondec]

Biggest thing will probably be replacing the Pentax name and sticking Ricoh's name prominently on the lens...

[Apapukas]

Biggest thing will probably be replacing the Pentax name and sticking Ricoh's name prominently on the lens...

That would be blasphemous!

[RobA_Oz]

They already have the HD 2.8/35 Macro Limited, which seems to be what's being described here, albeit a scant 4mm longer FL. What earthly reason would they have for changing the FA 31/1.8 Limited to resemble it? Apparently, the only answer is because Pentax is doomed!

[monochrome]

Biggest thing will probably be replacing the Pentax name and sticking Ricoh's name prominently on the lens...

The hociR!! The hociR!!

[johnmflores]

I guess this wouldn't be a Pentax Forum if new/revised products weren't greeted with some FUD.

[Rondec]

Just trying to stir the pot.

[savoche]

Just trying to stir the pot.

You should be careful with that. I mean, you can steal my woman and spit on my religion, but don't you dare joke about some letters on some photography equipment!

[lytrytyr]

As for f/2.4, that was IIRC how the lens was originally designed.

Very interesting comment!

Do you have any available reference for this?

[ChristianRock]

Hey if they can do an f/2.4 version for the masses for under 300 dollars, what's the harm in that?

I'd rather have a DA 24mm 2.8 though... my "holy grail" would be a lens around 17-20 with f/2.8 sharp wide open - for under 300 dollars. One can dream, right?

Regarding the FA 31 redesign... if it does happen, I believe it will be part of the FA Limited redesign as a whole, not just that one lens. It's a rumour that has been going around for a while now... and it only makes sense that they would put HD coating on the FA Limiteds. So I'm pretty sure it will happen.

I know everybody loves the starbursts, but... if they put rounded blades that give even better bokeh than the current FA 31, will the world stop turning? Will Leica owners collectively faint? Something like that might happen! Stay tuned

[miltona580]

Rounded blades are not as likely to help it. Its great bokeh comes from the fact it has 9 blades already. Also, it has 9 lens elements, likely many of them are aspherical or low dispersion (which means high cost), and the front element is 58mm (so large). It has a lot of expensive glass pieces in it, which is why it costs a lot. Also, at least the front group is floating (which again increases complication so higher cost). Any redesign is likely to be similar.