Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
03-19-2014, 12:08 PM   #1
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,824
Replacing my FA 35mm F/2 and FA 50mm 1.4 for the FA 43mm 1.9. What do you think?

One fellow member replaced the FA 35mm F/2 and FA 50mm 1.4 for the FA 43mm 1.9 Limited.

I have both, the FA 35mm F/2 and FA 50mm 1.4.

The FA was my first prime and I can tell you a have very good memories captured using this lens. However, it was not wide enough and I decided to buy the FA 35mm F/2.

The FA 35mm F/2 is a great lens and untill today I was not even thinking on selling or replacing it. I was planning to keep this lens till it is taking off from my cold bare hands after I am dead. This is a perfect match for my indoor pics of my kids. I use it for portraits also. I simply love this lens.

I can't afford to buy a 43mm unless I sell both of them.

For this reason, the FA 50 1.4 and the other 50s that I own do not get much use.

So I am thinking is any one of you have replace this two for the 43mm limited?
Do I loose anything by replacing them by only one?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

03-19-2014, 12:16 PM - 1 Like   #2
Veteran Member
Na Horuk's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Slovenia, probably
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,186
Meh, because someone else did it, doesn't mean its the right choice for you. I would rather have a good 35mm and 50mm than just one prime. I would love to get the FA 43mm ltd, but I wouldnt want to lose the 35mm and nifty fifty.
If you are interested, you might want to try finding the FA 43mm limited at a store or at lens rentals and giving it a whirl to see if it can, for you, replace two pretty great primes.
03-19-2014, 12:24 PM   #3
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,824
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Na Horuk Quote
Meh, because someone else did it, doesn't mean its the right choice for you. I would rather have a good 35mm and 50mm than just one prime. I would love to get the FA 43mm ltd, but I wouldnt want to lose the 35mm and nifty fifty.
If you are interested, you might want to try finding the FA 43mm limited at a store or at lens rentals and giving it a whirl to see if it can, for you, replace two pretty great primes.
Thanks for the input and the suggestion to try one out before making the change.
03-19-2014, 12:31 PM   #4
Veteran Member
vrrattko's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2010
Photos: Albums
Posts: 753
Well...I did replace my FA35/2 and A50/1.7 with FA43/1.9 ..... it has bit narrower angle of view than 35, so it may be bit more challenging to get a shot in tighter spaces. Besides this - its like replacing good lenses with a good lens - sure FA43 has better build, is smaller and maybe little bit sharper. But if you dont like to switch permanently between 50 and 35. then I guess 43 is a good choice - it is pretty universal lens - good for landscapes, streets and even for portraits.

03-19-2014, 12:33 PM   #5
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,824
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by vrrattko Quote
Well...I did replace my FA35/2 and A50/1.7 with FA43/1.9 ..... it has bit narrower angle of view than 35, so it may be bit more challenging to get a shot in tighter spaces. Besides this - its like replacing good lenses with a good lens - sure FA43 has better build, is smaller and maybe little bit sharper. But if you dont like to switch permanently between 50 and 35. then I guess 43 is a good choice - it is pretty universal lens - good for landscapes, streets and even for portraits.
Thanks for your opinion.
03-19-2014, 12:34 PM   #6
Master of the obvious
Loyal Site Supporter
savoche's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Lowlands of Norway
Posts: 18,309
QuoteOriginally posted by jjdgti Quote
Thanks for the input and the suggestion to try one out before making the change.
I'm definitely with Na Horuk! There is no way I would blindly exchange a lens I know I like with one that I think I might would like more.
03-19-2014, 01:19 PM   #7
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southern California
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,236
Don't be afraid to give up the FA50/1.4, because it's easy to re-acquire one if needed. Actually, the FA35/2 is fairly prevalent too. But if you find it so useful you should keep it until you're sure the replacement is good. I had 2 copies of this lens (the FA35). I didn't like the way the IQ diminished wider than f/2.5. I sold them both. But I recently got a DA35/2.4 for my daughter. A much better value, because it's the same lens, and all it throws away is the unusable (to me) range between f/2.4 and f/2. Plus you can shoot it at f/2.4 and get both high IQ and nice bokeh. So you could save money here too.

If you get the FA43 you won't miss the FA50 (at least I didn't). Sharpness is better, colors are better than any lens I've seen - pretty much everything's better. But many people don't use the ~50mm lenses as much, unless they get a great one like the FA43 or DA*55. Despite having the FA43 and FA31, I still find I'm more likely to use either my 24 or 85mm lenses than something in-between.

03-19-2014, 01:55 PM - 3 Likes   #8
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
todd's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 6,769
This thread has been way too reasonable so far. What kind of LBA's are you people!? You must not sell any lens you enjoy, and you must acquire FA43 by any and all other means possible. You're welcome.
03-19-2014, 02:04 PM   #9
dms
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, NY
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,192
If you really like your 35mm I think it stands to reason you also (really) like its focal length--and there is (to me) a large difference between 35mm and 43mm! To sell it in hopes the 43mm will be OK seems like a losing proposition. At least wait till you have the 43mm and used it for a while!
03-19-2014, 02:12 PM   #10
Site Supporter




Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 309
I thought I would miss using my FA 50 f/1.4 when I got the FA 43 Limited. I haven't missed it in my bag one bit. In fact, I'll probably be selling it to help finance other lenses. The 43 is just so much better in every way, except speed. Even then, the FA 50 f/1.4 wide open is not particularly good. But hey, if you need f/1.4 at least it is available.
03-19-2014, 04:24 PM   #11
Veteran Member
johnha's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Lancashire, UK
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,155
I have an FA35/2, FA50/1.4 and recently acquired an FA43/1.9 - although I haven't used any of them long enough to get to know them properly. I bought the FA43 because I still shoot film and it's the perfect focal length for that, as such on film it would easily replace the other two. On digital (APS-C) it's not as clear, the 35/2 makes a good '50' equivalent and the 50/1.4 a good portrait equivalent, while the 43/1.9 comes in at the middle of nowhere for me (not wide or long enough).

John.
03-19-2014, 04:36 PM   #12
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
lmd91343's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,027
QuoteOriginally posted by jjdgti Quote
...

The FA 35mm F/2 is a great lens and untill today I was not even thinking on selling or replacing it. I was planning to keep this lens till it is taking off from my cold bare hands after I am dead. This is a perfect match for my indoor pics of my kids. I use it for portraits also. I simply love this lens.
...
.
You "love" the lens and it is "perfect". Those are you words.

Why would you get rid of it?



For a while, taking pictures of my son was the most important use for my camera. Keep using the 35 for that.
03-20-2014, 09:56 AM   #13
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,824
Original Poster
Thank you all. I think I will keep the 35mm f/2 and one of the many 50s I owned. When I have the chance to get the 43mm then I will deside what to go next.
03-20-2014, 08:13 PM   #14
Senior Member




Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 136
I have a 43mm and the A50/1.7 and I can't tell a difference in the quality of pictures between the two. But I like that the 43mm is wider and it has autofocus si I hit focus on more shots.

QuoteOriginally posted by vrrattko Quote
Well...I did replace my FA35/2 and A50/1.7 with FA43/1.9 ..... it has bit narrower angle of view than 35, so it may be bit more challenging to get a shot in tighter spaces. Besides this - its like replacing good lenses with a good lens - sure FA43 has better build, is smaller and maybe little bit sharper. But if you dont like to switch permanently between 50 and 35. then I guess 43 is a good choice - it is pretty universal lens - good for landscapes, streets and even for portraits.
03-20-2014, 09:10 PM   #15
Pentaxian




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,497
QuoteOriginally posted by jjdgti Quote
So I am thinking is any one of you have replace this two for the 43mm limited?
.
FA43 is good but not as good as to replace both. The difference is minimum, your FA50 @f2 is probably as good as FA43 @1.9, may be better. I yet to find any convincing comparison for me to replace my FA50 with FA43.

FA35 is perfect indoor and as you said, it's very good for portraits, a small little lens with amazing IQ.

I will suggest to keep both FA35/50 instead of replacing it with one FA43. Another non-technical reason, you will have two lenses, a backup if something goes wrong with one.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
35mm, 43mm, 50mm, f/2, f/2 and fa, fa, fa 35mm f/2, fa 43mm, fa 50mm, k-mount, lens, pentax lens, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How often do you use the FA 50mm f/1.4 @f/1.4? Reportage Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 15 02-10-2014 09:56 PM
Fa 35mm 2.0 versus Fa 43mm 1.9 limited Ric Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 16 04-01-2012 09:44 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA 50mm 1.4 and FA 35mm F/2 (Worldwide) jjdgti Sold Items 4 06-11-2010 05:41 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:28 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top