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sb in ak · 12-01-2014, 12:23 PM

I'm looking to make a little jump back into the Pentax world (shoot Canon FF digital) mostly for film shooting on a LX. I was thinking it might be nice to get a prime around 35-50mm that would also work on my mom's K5, which I have access to and is a stellar little DSLR. The FA31 is the elephant in the room, as it would work on both types and it's been on the list for a long time. It's over budget, however. The FA35 doesn't have the aperture ring, so that wouldn't work on the older cameras. Perhaps I just need to concentrate on some older manual focus glass in the 35-50mm category. I want solid optics, ideally faster than f/2. Let's keep it under $500. Thanks for your advice.

redrockcoulee · 12-01-2014, 12:30 PM

The FA 35 2 has an aperature ring, the DA 35 2.4 does not.

sb in ak · 12-01-2014, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by redrockcoulee

The FA 35 2 has an aperature ring, the DA 35 2.4 does not.

Oh! So it does. That might be perfect. Thanks.

alamo5000 · 12-01-2014, 12:43 PM

You have about 1000 choices

what focal length are we talking? Which direction are you leaning? I would go 28mm and 50mm... And that is easily doable under $500 for both. But the 28mm will be f2.8 for the most part.

I have a nice 50mm f1.4 that I picked up for $100.

sb in ak · 12-01-2014, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by alamo5000

You have about 1000 choices

what focal length are we talking? Which direction are you leaning? I would go 28mm and 50mm... And that is easily doable under $500 for both. But the 28mm will be f2.8 for the most part.

I have a nice 50mm f1.4 that I picked up for $100.

50 and 28 is good. 2.8 is fine on a wide angle. Mostly just looking for something faster than f/2 for the 50.

alamo5000 · 12-01-2014, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by sb in ak

50 and 28 is good. 2.8 is fine on a wide angle. Mostly just looking for something faster than f/2 for the 50.

If you are not familiar with the site look in the lens database...you can see almost all your options and get stuff that is a little better regarded...that way you're not just buying in the dark.

**todd** · 12-01-2014, 01:01 PM - **2 Likes**

FA43 for the win.

**jatrax** · 12-01-2014, 01:02 PM

Lenses in the K, M, A, F and FA series will have aperture rings. F and FA will be auto focus.

Originally posted by sb in ak

50 and 28 is good. 2.8 is fine on a wide angle. Mostly just looking for something faster than f/2 for the 50.

F series 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.7 are both good but should be used with a hood on digital.
F series 28mm f/2.8 is also quite nice

There are FA equivalents as well, I prefer the F series, but that is just personal preference, optical performance is similar.

Na Horuk · 12-01-2014, 01:10 PM

Or get a M 50mm f1.4, for much less than $500. Fast, good quality, slap on a lens hood and it can compete with many modern 50mm lenses. But manual - its older than Auto-aperture an AF! Or FA 50mm f1.4, can still be bought as new, but has all the things you need to use it on digital cameras as well, A setting on aperture, and AF.

alamo5000 · 12-01-2014, 01:14 PM - **1 Like**

A 43mm would be a great choice. Just a tad under $500 in the used market and its one of the nicest lenses out there. Equal to Canon's L series glass.

mbukal · 12-01-2014, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Lenses in the K, M, A, F and FA series will have aperture rings. F and FA will be auto focus.

F series 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.7 are both good but should be used with a hood on digital.
F series 28mm f/2.8 is also quite nice

There are FA equivalents as well, I prefer the F series, but that is just personal preference, optical performance is similar.

we agree to as a puzzles

sb in ak · 12-01-2014, 01:32 PM

I think it might be the FA43 for win here. Normal focal length on full frame, slight tele on a K5 with AF ability. The limited goodness. Hopefully a "one lens" solution as a walkaround prime on a 35mm body. Can anyone comment on how it is to use this lens for manual focus work? The ring looks pretty small.

**TER-OR** · 12-01-2014, 01:32 PM

My Sigma 28mm f1.8 macro has an aperture ring and is full-frame. Nice lens, but not petite. It's a pleasant focal length on APSC. I haven't bothered to investigate how well it handles on a film body, though. I keep saying I'm going to play with my K1000 or the later autofocus film body I have but never seem to take the time to do so.

The Sigma's focus ring in manual doesn't have a lot of resistance, not like the old M or A series lenses.

**todd** · 12-01-2014, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by sb in ak

Can anyone comment on how it is to use this lens for manual focus work?

I don't MF a ton with it, but it did take a bit of getting used to when I first started with it, because the ring is small. But once I was familiar with where to reach for it, it's no problem for me. This lens is pretty much the only lens I use for my film shooting now.

giofi · 12-01-2014, 01:52 PM

The FA 31 IMO is too large for the LX, the FA 43 just the perfect size and the finish fits very well with the LX. The FA 35 size wise is perfect, but the finish does not really fit with an LX, you need a plasticky camera for that

But quality wise both the 43 and the 35 are great!

12-01-2014, 12:23 PM	#1
sb in ak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 612	Lens for LX and K5 I'm looking to make a little jump back into the Pentax world (shoot Canon FF digital) mostly for film shooting on a LX. I was thinking it might be nice to get a prime around 35-50mm that would also work on my mom's K5, which I have access to and is a stellar little DSLR. The FA31 is the elephant in the room, as it would work on both types and it's been on the list for a long time. It's over budget, however. The FA35 doesn't have the aperture ring, so that wouldn't work on the older cameras. Perhaps I just need to concentrate on some older manual focus glass in the 35-50mm category. I want solid optics, ideally faster than f/2. Let's keep it under $500. Thanks for your advice.

12-01-2014, 01:10 PM	#9
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Or get a M 50mm f1.4, for much less than $500. Fast, good quality, slap on a lens hood and it can compete with many modern 50mm lenses. But manual - its older than Auto-aperture an AF! Or FA 50mm f1.4, can still be bought as new, but has all the things you need to use it on digital cameras as well, A setting on aperture, and AF. Last edited by Na Horuk; 12-01-2014 at 01:16 PM.

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12-01-2014, 12:30 PM	#2
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,306	The FA 35 2 has an aperature ring, the DA 35 2.4 does not.

12-01-2014, 12:40 PM	#3
sb in ak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 612 Original Poster	Originally posted by redrockcoulee The FA 35 2 has an aperature ring, the DA 35 2.4 does not. Oh! So it does. That might be perfect. Thanks.

12-01-2014, 12:43 PM	#4
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	You have about 1000 choices what focal length are we talking? Which direction are you leaning? I would go 28mm and 50mm... And that is easily doable under $500 for both. But the 28mm will be f2.8 for the most part. I have a nice 50mm f1.4 that I picked up for $100.

12-01-2014, 12:50 PM	#5
sb in ak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 612 Original Poster	Originally posted by alamo5000 You have about 1000 choices what focal length are we talking? Which direction are you leaning? I would go 28mm and 50mm... And that is easily doable under $500 for both. But the 28mm will be f2.8 for the most part. I have a nice 50mm f1.4 that I picked up for $100. 50 and 28 is good. 2.8 is fine on a wide angle. Mostly just looking for something faster than f/2 for the 50.

12-01-2014, 12:56 PM	#6
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	Originally posted by sb in ak 50 and 28 is good. 2.8 is fine on a wide angle. Mostly just looking for something faster than f/2 for the 50. If you are not familiar with the site look in the lens database...you can see almost all your options and get stuff that is a little better regarded...that way you're not just buying in the dark.

12-01-2014, 01:01 PM - 2 Likes	#7
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,800	FA43 for the win.

12-01-2014, 01:02 PM	#8
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Lenses in the K, M, A, F and FA series will have aperture rings. F and FA will be auto focus. Originally posted by sb in ak 50 and 28 is good. 2.8 is fine on a wide angle. Mostly just looking for something faster than f/2 for the 50. F series 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.7 are both good but should be used with a hood on digital. F series 28mm f/2.8 is also quite nice There are FA equivalents as well, I prefer the F series, but that is just personal preference, optical performance is similar.

12-01-2014, 01:14 PM - 1 Like	#10
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	A 43mm would be a great choice. Just a tad under $500 in the used market and its one of the nicest lenses out there. Equal to Canon's L series glass.

12-01-2014, 01:20 PM	#11
mbukal Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: zagreb Posts: 668	Originally posted by jatrax Lenses in the K, M, A, F and FA series will have aperture rings. F and FA will be auto focus. F series 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.7 are both good but should be used with a hood on digital. F series 28mm f/2.8 is also quite nice There are FA equivalents as well, I prefer the F series, but that is just personal preference, optical performance is similar. we agree to as a puzzles

12-01-2014, 01:32 PM	#12
sb in ak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 612 Original Poster	I think it might be the FA43 for win here. Normal focal length on full frame, slight tele on a K5 with AF ability. The limited goodness. Hopefully a "one lens" solution as a walkaround prime on a 35mm body. Can anyone comment on how it is to use this lens for manual focus work? The ring looks pretty small.

12-01-2014, 01:32 PM	#13
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	My Sigma 28mm f1.8 macro has an aperture ring and is full-frame. Nice lens, but not petite. It's a pleasant focal length on APSC. I haven't bothered to investigate how well it handles on a film body, though. I keep saying I'm going to play with my K1000 or the later autofocus film body I have but never seem to take the time to do so. The Sigma's focus ring in manual doesn't have a lot of resistance, not like the old M or A series lenses.

12-01-2014, 01:38 PM	#14
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,800	Originally posted by sb in ak Can anyone comment on how it is to use this lens for manual focus work? I don't MF a ton with it, but it did take a bit of getting used to when I first started with it, because the ring is small. But once I was familiar with where to reach for it, it's no problem for me. This lens is pretty much the only lens I use for my film shooting now.

12-01-2014, 01:52 PM	#15
giofi Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Espoo Posts: 68	The FA 31 IMO is too large for the LX, the FA 43 just the perfect size and the finish fits very well with the LX. The FA 35 size wise is perfect, but the finish does not really fit with an LX, you need a plasticky camera for that But quality wise both the 43 and the 35 are great!

Lens for LX and K5

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