Which 35mm 2.0 lens? SMC-FA or SMC-A?

MD Optofonik · 10-14-2014, 08:53 PM

Both are described as being in excellent condition.

The only lens I'm missing for my MX is a fast 35mm and thought a manual focus one would be the affordable choice then stumbled upon an FA priced less than the A. I like the idea that the FA can be used with it's auto focus on my K30 and K2000 and manually on the MX. However, and I hate to admit this, I can't help but notice how ugly the FA is on the MX. Still, for the amount I'll be spending on either lens I need to stay focused on IQ, not fashion. If there is little difference in IQ I guess I can live with the MX being dressed down in order to have a more versatile lens.

Anyone own both of these at one time or another?

**luftfluss** · 10-14-2014, 09:16 PM

Any particular reason you are looking at these lenses rather than the DA 35/2.4?

MD Optofonik · 10-14-2014, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

Any particular reason you are looking at these lenses rather than the DA 35/2.4?

The MX.

glasbak · 10-14-2014, 09:45 PM

De FA is significantly (read astronomical) better optical than any preceding 1:2.0 35mm pentax lens at the 1:2.0..1:4 apertures.

**luftfluss** · 10-14-2014, 09:55 PM

Originally posted by MD Optofonik

The MX.

The DA 35/2.4 covers full frame. It is supposedly just a slightly modified FA 30/2.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/119054-da-3...ny-photos.html

I thought this was generally known, but maybe its more a case of me spending too much time here...

**dms** · 10-14-2014, 10:00 PM

If you haven't seen this site before--it is (I think) very useful. And it has discussion about the lenses you are interested in.
stans-photography.info/
also the following (a contributor to the above) has a good review of the FA lens.
Yoshihiko's PHOTO site

BTW in Stans (Pentax) when you choose a lens/topic it toggles back and forth from more detailed to less detailed--and vice versa.

**kiwi_jono** · 10-14-2014, 10:29 PM

The FA35 f2 is a wonderful lens IMO. Small yet very capable. Have a look at reviews on this site.

manntax · 10-15-2014, 12:55 AM

FA is definitely a fantastic lens - very sharp and rendering + bokeh are very good. It is my go-to 35mm lens on AF bodies, but will work great on MX as it has aperture ring ( although it is not as smooth as M series ). Focusing manually is still pleasant - rubberized ring gives nice grip and it isn't very loose. So I say go for it as it will offer more flexibility, being AF lens. + optically simple superb. on manual bodies I can recommend a Zeiss Flektogon - it is slightly slower (f2.4) but very sharp from f2.8 onwards (some copies, as mine is , are very sharp from wide open ). Plus great focusing feeling and fully manual lens with A/M switch - so easy to focus and to meter. And the rendering is amazing

Na Horuk · 10-15-2014, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

The DA 35/2.4 covers full frame. It is supposedly just a slightly modified FA 35/2.

The problem with DA lenses is they don't always have an aperture ring. The DA 35mm does not have an aperture ring, which means it cannot be used well on old film bodies that don't understand aperture, and with bellows, extension tubes.. maybe this is why OP doesn't want DA 35mm f2.4. But I do agree that the DA is great value for money, wonderful modern rendering, nice and sharp, and very light. And the difference between f2 and f2.4 is minimal, especially since some posters claim the FA 35mm is not that great at f2 and improves a lot by f2.4 - whereas the DA at f2.4 is already pretty great.

**gofour3** · 10-15-2014, 07:13 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

The DA 35/2.4 covers full frame. It is supposedly just a slightly modified FA 30/2.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/119054-da-3...ny-photos.html

I thought this was generally known, but maybe its more a case of me spending too much time here...

The OP is using a film MX body which is 100% manual. The DA35/2.4 has no aperture ring so it is completely useless on a MX film body.

Phil.

stevebrot · 10-15-2014, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

since some posters claim the FA 35mm is not that great at f2

I don't know who claimed that, but it is not true for my copy. I shoot mine on both film and digital and it works well for both. The aperture ring operation is smooth and the manual focus is good too (long focus throw and well-dampened for an AF lens). My only complaint for manual focus is that the focus ring is a little hard to work with the hood attached.

Steve

JPT · 10-15-2014, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

I don't know who claimed that, but it is not true for my copy. I shoot mine on both film and digital and it works well for both. The aperture ring operation is smooth and the manual focus is good too (long focus throw and well-dampened for an AF lens). My only complaint for manual focus is that the focus ring is a little hard to work with the hood attached.

Steve

I also find my FA35 to be very sharp wide open - I don't hesitate to use f2 when appropriate. It's my go-to lens for low-light shooting. I've used it a little on film and mostly on digital and I haven't seen any major issues with it, unless you object strongly to hexagonal bokeh highlights. For what it's worth, its build quality is by far the best of my three FA lenses (others are FA24-90 and FA100-300), if not quite as good as a limited or DA* lens.

**Just1MoreDave** · 10-15-2014, 09:05 AM

I found the FA to be a lot better than the Pentax-M 35mm f2, which is supposed to be the same formula as the A version. I've read praise of the K 35/2 but that's going to look big on the MX. The MX really makes a lot of lenses look big. I could live with the looks.

**luftfluss** · 10-15-2014, 09:45 AM

@ Na Horuk & gofour3: Ah right, I forgot about that.

**gofour3** · 10-15-2014, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

@ Na Horuk & gofour3: Ah right, I forgot about that.

Yeah I run into this problem all the time with my “K” Series film bodies, which are like the MX.
I can’t use any Pentax lens newer than the FA Series. I’d love to try a lens from the FAJ or DA series, but with no aperture ring I’m out of luck.

Phil.

10-14-2014, 08:53 PM	#1
MD Optofonik Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 962	Which 35mm 2.0 lens? SMC-FA or SMC-A? Both are described as being in excellent condition. The only lens I'm missing for my MX is a fast 35mm and thought a manual focus one would be the affordable choice then stumbled upon an FA priced less than the A. I like the idea that the FA can be used with it's auto focus on my K30 and K2000 and manually on the MX. However, and I hate to admit this, I can't help but notice how ugly the FA is on the MX. Still, for the amount I'll be spending on either lens I need to stay focused on IQ, not fashion. If there is little difference in IQ I guess I can live with the MX being dressed down in order to have a more versatile lens. Anyone own both of these at one time or another?

10-14-2014, 10:00 PM	#6
dms Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,192	If you haven't seen this site before--it is (I think) very useful. And it has discussion about the lenses you are interested in. stans-photography.info/ also the following (a contributor to the above) has a good review of the FA lens. Yoshihiko's PHOTO site BTW in Stans (Pentax) when you choose a lens/topic it toggles back and forth from more detailed to less detailed--and vice versa. Last edited by dms; 10-14-2014 at 10:14 PM.

10-15-2014, 07:55 AM	#11
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Na Horuk since some posters claim the FA 35mm is not that great at f2 I don't know who claimed that, but it is not true for my copy. I shoot mine on both film and digital and it works well for both. The aperture ring operation is smooth and the manual focus is good too (long focus throw and well-dampened for an AF lens). My only complaint for manual focus is that the focus ring is a little hard to work with the hood attached. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 10-15-2014 at 08:05 AM.

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10-14-2014, 09:16 PM	#2
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,626	Any particular reason you are looking at these lenses rather than the DA 35/2.4?

10-14-2014, 09:38 PM	#3
MD Optofonik Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 962 Original Poster	Originally posted by luftfluss Any particular reason you are looking at these lenses rather than the DA 35/2.4? The MX.

10-14-2014, 09:45 PM	#4
glasbak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 369	De FA is significantly (read astronomical) better optical than any preceding 1:2.0 35mm pentax lens at the 1:2.0..1:4 apertures.

10-14-2014, 09:55 PM	#5
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,626	Originally posted by MD Optofonik The MX. The DA 35/2.4 covers full frame. It is supposedly just a slightly modified FA 30/2. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/119054-da-3...ny-photos.html I thought this was generally known, but maybe its more a case of me spending too much time here...

10-14-2014, 10:29 PM	#7
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	The FA35 f2 is a wonderful lens IMO. Small yet very capable. Have a look at reviews on this site.

10-15-2014, 12:55 AM	#8
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	FA is definitely a fantastic lens - very sharp and rendering + bokeh are very good. It is my go-to 35mm lens on AF bodies, but will work great on MX as it has aperture ring ( although it is not as smooth as M series ). Focusing manually is still pleasant - rubberized ring gives nice grip and it isn't very loose. So I say go for it as it will offer more flexibility, being AF lens. + optically simple superb. on manual bodies I can recommend a Zeiss Flektogon - it is slightly slower (f2.4) but very sharp from f2.8 onwards (some copies, as mine is , are very sharp from wide open ). Plus great focusing feeling and fully manual lens with A/M switch - so easy to focus and to meter. And the rendering is amazing

10-15-2014, 06:34 AM	#9
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by luftfluss The DA 35/2.4 covers full frame. It is supposedly just a slightly modified FA 35/2. The problem with DA lenses is they don't always have an aperture ring. The DA 35mm does not have an aperture ring, which means it cannot be used well on old film bodies that don't understand aperture, and with bellows, extension tubes.. maybe this is why OP doesn't want DA 35mm f2.4. But I do agree that the DA is great value for money, wonderful modern rendering, nice and sharp, and very light. And the difference between f2 and f2.4 is minimal, especially since some posters claim the FA 35mm is not that great at f2 and improves a lot by f2.4 - whereas the DA at f2.4 is already pretty great.

10-15-2014, 07:13 AM	#10
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Originally posted by luftfluss The DA 35/2.4 covers full frame. It is supposedly just a slightly modified FA 30/2. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/119054-da-3...ny-photos.html I thought this was generally known, but maybe its more a case of me spending too much time here... The OP is using a film MX body which is 100% manual. The DA35/2.4 has no aperture ring so it is completely useless on a MX film body. Phil.

10-15-2014, 08:26 AM	#12
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821	Originally posted by stevebrot I don't know who claimed that, but it is not true for my copy. I shoot mine on both film and digital and it works well for both. The aperture ring operation is smooth and the manual focus is good too (long focus throw and well-dampened for an AF lens). My only complaint for manual focus is that the focus ring is a little hard to work with the hood attached. Steve I also find my FA35 to be very sharp wide open - I don't hesitate to use f2 when appropriate. It's my go-to lens for low-light shooting. I've used it a little on film and mostly on digital and I haven't seen any major issues with it, unless you object strongly to hexagonal bokeh highlights. For what it's worth, its build quality is by far the best of my three FA lenses (others are FA24-90 and FA100-300), if not quite as good as a limited or DA* lens.

10-15-2014, 09:05 AM	#13
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	I found the FA to be a lot better than the Pentax-M 35mm f2, which is supposed to be the same formula as the A version. I've read praise of the K 35/2 but that's going to look big on the MX. The MX really makes a lot of lenses look big. I could live with the looks.

10-15-2014, 09:45 AM	#14
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,626	@ Na Horuk & gofour3: Ah right, I forgot about that.

10-15-2014, 01:12 PM	#15
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Originally posted by luftfluss @ Na Horuk & gofour3: Ah right, I forgot about that. Yeah I run into this problem all the time with my “K” Series film bodies, which are like the MX. I can’t use any Pentax lens newer than the FA Series. I’d love to try a lens from the FAJ or DA series, but with no aperture ring I’m out of luck. Phil.