[hoopsontoast]

To start off, I have searched but only found the one thread:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/296987-one-...0-35mm-f4.html

And these related:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/294746-fa-2...-wit-k-s2.html
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/287684-advi...me-lenses.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandy_hancock/sets/72157647216869764/

I already have the FA 20-35 which I really like on film and is pretty good as a walk around lens, I would ideally like something a bit faster, and ideally a prime, something at 28mm. Now I have been looking at loads of images of the F and FA 28mm and they are not really taking my fancy, but the FA* 24mm on the other hand has me enchanted (and I can crop down a bit with the 24mm). I am not interested in the FA31.

LBA is kicking hard now I am not looking to buy a DA*200 (going to rent one for an event) and thinking that this FA*24mm might be ideal.

The FA* is a touch wider and shorter, probably around the same size with the hoods on. Its a reasonable amount heavier but 400g is not too heavy.

On the Photozone tests, the FA*24 is pretty much up there with the FA20-35 (I have) and the DA14 (I had) in terms of sharpness when stopped down for landscapes. The 24 reportably has excellent contrast wide open if a little soft, I like the idea of this as the 20-35 is both a little soft and lacks a some contrast wide open.

One other important feature is the excellent sharp 8-sided sun/light stars (like the FA43) that the FA*24 produces, with good flare control, the FA20-35 is not quite so great in that area (and my interest in the DA12-24 at some point as it has the same characteristics). The FA*24 also seems to have less distortion than the FA20-35.

I had looked at the Sigma 24mm f1.8 and 28mm f1.8 but they are quite a bit larger and heavier. I may pick up a Sigma 24mm f2.8 Super Wide AF II anyway if I find one cheap, I had one on my old Sigma SD15 and it was a great little lens.


Has anyone compared the FA* 24 and FA 20-35 directly? And I don't suppose anyone has an image of the FA*24 on a gripped K7/K5/K3?

[max_pyne]

If you don't find somebody else i have both FA 24 & 20-35 never did a direct shootout but i'm going to do this this evening... maybe some indoor trials as the weather forecast says rain rain rain....
Pics with the FA 24 on the K-7, K-5, K-3 with grip will do as well, let me know which body...:-) K5 / K3 are silver the K-7 is black...

[hoopsontoast]

If you don't find somebody else i have both FA 24 & 20-35 never did a direct shootout but i'm going to do this this evening... maybe some indoor trials as the weather forecast says rain rain rain....
Pics with the FA 24 on the K-7, K-5, K-3 with grip will do as well, let me know which body...:-) K5 / K3 are silver the K-7 is black...

Thank you very much, really appreciated. Photo on a Silver K3 and Black K7 would be lovely

[Sandy Hancock]

I used the FA*24 every day last December. It's a ripper!

Wide open



f/4.0



Action



More action, less light



Family fun (wide open!)



Fashion



Bokeh



That should be enough to convince you

[Sandy Hancock]

Photo on a Silver K3

You rang?

[Kozlok]

I recently acquired the Sigma 24. I find it wonderful. Sharp, nice bokeh, nice rendering. Terrible for flare, but I have a DA21 for that. What I really love, though, is the close focus. It focuses to about where the front element is.

[hoopsontoast]

I used the FA*24 every day last December. It's a ripper!

Wide open



f/4.0



Action



More action, less light



Family fun (wide open!)



Fashion



Bokeh



That should be enough to convince you

You rang?

Thanks Sandy, I saw your photo stream with the FA*24, looks most excellent. Really lovely shots, especially the Leaves and 'Fashion'

[sholtzma]

So, how is the 24 wide open? I've heard plenty of judgments that it is soft. By what aperture does it become killer sharp, as one would expect a star lens to be?

[KDAFA]

...Now I have been looking at loads of images of the F and FA 28mm and they are not really taking my fancy, but the FA* 24mm on the other hand has me enchanted (and I can crop down a bit with the 24mm). I am not interested in the FA31.

Has anyone compared the FA* 24 and FA 20-35 directly?

I only have experience with FA*24. It is truly a fabulous lens - lovely rendering, delicate micro-contrast, fantastic colours and contrast, nice bokeh. Creates very beautiful pictures. A lovely gem of Pentax.

Only available second-hand now, so be careful to get a good copy. Watch out for fungus. Be careful also that there is no delamination of the aspherical element.

A bonus: 24mm works out to about 35mm equivalent focal length in APS-C, thus perfect for photo journalism-type applications. Add to that its fast f2.0 aperture plus its short minimum focusing distance and nice bokeh character, and you've got a GREAT street-photography lens with the ADDED versatility of doing lovely closeup shots with good isolation and beautiful background blur. Case in point: I've shot scenes inside an old-style, bustling, traditional, cramped Chinese coffee shop (24mm works great here), stopped down for DOF. And I was able also to get a tight close-up of the quaint porcelain coffee cup I was drinking from, with ample isolation and gorgeous bokeh (using wide aperture).

[ogl]

To start off, I have searched but only found the one thread:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/296987-one-...0-35mm-f4.html

And these related:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/294746-fa-2...-wit-k-s2.html
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/287684-advi...me-lenses.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandy_hancock/sets/72157647216869764/

I already have the FA 20-35 which I really like on film and is pretty good as a walk around lens, I would ideally like something a bit faster, and ideally a prime, something at 28mm. Now I have been looking at loads of images of the F and FA 28mm and they are not really taking my fancy, but the FA* 24mm on the other hand has me enchanted (and I can crop down a bit with the 24mm). I am not interested in the FA31.

LBA is kicking hard now I am not looking to buy a DA*200 (going to rent one for an event) and thinking that this FA*24mm might be ideal.

The FA* is a touch wider and shorter, probably around the same size with the hoods on. Its a reasonable amount heavier but 400g is not too heavy.

On the Photozone tests, the FA*24 is pretty much up there with the FA20-35 (I have) and the DA14 (I had) in terms of sharpness when stopped down for landscapes. The 24 reportably has excellent contrast wide open if a little soft, I like the idea of this as the 20-35 is both a little soft and lacks a some contrast wide open.



Has anyone compared the FA* 24 and FA 20-35 directly? And I don't suppose anyone has an image of the FA*24 on a gripped K7/K5/K3?

I have both...But never compared My subjective opinion -
If we say about K200D photos - 20-35/4 has not worse 24 mm's sharpness as FA*24/2 at center. The edges are better at f4-5.6.
But the situation is equal at f6.3-8.

If we say about K-5IIs photos - it seems to me FA*24/2 looks sharper at the center with worse edges as well.

---------- Post added 06-16-2015 at 07:39 AM ----------

So, how is the 24 wide open? I've heard plenty of judgments that it is soft. By what aperture does it become killer sharp, as one would expect a star lens to be?

At K-5IIs it's very good from f2.5 already. f2.8 is sharp.
f2 and 2.2 are soft, but not much.

[max_pyne]

here we go :-)

[hoopsontoast]

here we go :-)

Amazing thanks, looks to be basically the same size on the K-3 as the FA20-35

[max_pyne]

quick comparison, guess what is what?

[max_pyne]

2:1 in Lightroom F4

[max_pyne]

Amazing thanks, looks to be basically the same size on the K-3 as the FA20-35

FA20-35 is a tiny bit taller...