Fa 43 vs. Da* 55 - which "normal" would you choose on FF?

**bpv_UW** · 09-06-2015, 09:05 PM

I realize FL/FOV are different, and the answer will be subjective (depending on shooting style, etc), but I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on which of these will make a better "normal" lens on the upcoming FF camera. Look forward to your viewpoints...

-Brandon

Sandy Hancock · 09-06-2015, 09:55 PM

The only reason I have kept my FA43 (beyond sentimental and aesthetic concerns) is to be a compact "true" normal on 36x24 format. I have never really liked the field of view on APS-C, although it does render beautifully on occasions.

My DA*55 isn't going anywhere though. It should be great on either format.

HYS · 09-07-2015, 12:49 AM

I like my FA 43 Ltd. But it has to be stopped a bit. The corners are soft.

**UncleVanya** · 09-07-2015, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

The only reason I have kept my FA43 (beyond sentimental and aesthetic concerns) is to be a compact "true" normal on 36x24 format. I have never really liked the field of view on APS-C, although it does render beautifully on occasions.

My DA*55 isn't going anywhere though. It should be great on either format.

I rather like my DA 40 perspective on APSC. The 43 is close in focal length, Am I just odd?

Sandy Hancock · 09-07-2015, 06:18 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Am I just odd?

Obviously

Seriously though, I acquired a used FA43 because I wasn't happy with where my DA40 sat in my lens collection, and I sold the DA because I preferred the rendering of the FA. It still doesn't change that both are a bit nowhere on APS-C (for me at least).

**UncleVanya** · 09-07-2015, 06:24 AM

I like doing intimate short distance portraits with the DA 40 as well as just walk about shots. Give that it is a 60mm equivalent and 58mm was a rather common normal lens I don't see the awkwardness. But I also don't have a 31.

Sandy Hancock · 09-07-2015, 06:29 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I like doing intimate short distance portraits with the DA 40 as well as just walk about shots....
But I also don't have a 31.

And I do, which might be part of the difference.
Really these sort of threads are pretty pointless. Most of us want to justify what we have

**WPRESTO** · 09-07-2015, 06:46 AM

"Normal" focal length for 35mm cameras was 50mm in the early days largely because of the original lens designed for Leica. With the advent of SLR cameras in the 1950's both 55mm and even 58mm lenses became common "normal focal length" lenses. The old rule was that a normal focal length should have a FL equal to the diagonal of the film's dimensions*, which for FF 35mm is a bit over 43mm. Therefore even 40mm is "long" on APS-C, and 30mm or better 28mm would be very close to correct. However, way back (1960's?) one of the photo magazines decided to test human visual perception by comparing what an artist saw or included in a painting versus which FL on a 35mm camera would record the same scene. They went to France where artists had painted small towns such that the exact spot where the artist had been could be determined by the perspective of individual buildings and how they overlapped with more distant buildings. At least for those artists they examined, the camera lens that best matched as I recall was about 105mm. We tend to pay attention to a much narrower FOV than we can actually see, but that doesn't mean that a photograph that excludes our peripheral vision will look more "natural."

*This provides an diagonal coverage of about 53 degrees, thought to match the angular view of the human eye.

54nima · 09-07-2015, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by HYS

I like my FA 43 Ltd. But it has to be stopped a bit. The corners are soft.

Are there any tests on the conner sharpness of DA*55 on FF?

JibbaJab · 09-07-2015, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by 54nima

Are there any tests on the conner sharpness of DA*55 on FF?

Not specifically focused on corner sharpness, but this article does give a good overview:

SMC Pentax DA* 55mm f/1.4 on Sony A7R : ERPhotoReview

wibbly · 09-07-2015, 11:39 AM

Maybe I'm stupid, but I doubt that Pentax is going to go through its entire apsc optimized line of lenses and find the ones that cover the full frame image circle and unlock them for ff. I would put money on the da line being cropped for use with the full frame. Seems that everyone on this board is assuming that any lens that will cover the image circle will be 'full frame compatible'

So maybe the *55 isn't worth discussing until we find out

**WPRESTO** · 09-07-2015, 12:12 PM

I think it's been determined as a near certainty that any APS-C lens mounted on the new Pentax FF will trigger automatic sensor cropping to accommodate. Perhaps multiple manually-selected formats for APS-C only lenses would be available in the menu, perhaps a square format? or an APS-C rectangle that was vertical? Portrait shooters might like that.

**UncleVanya** · 09-07-2015, 12:21 PM

Pentax would be stupid not to determine the lenses that are FF and make accommodations for using them easily since they have such a small number of lenses new and ready to purchase available at launch.

StephenHampshire · 09-07-2015, 01:17 PM

In my days as a film-shooter (on Canon AE-1s!) I always preferred a 35mm as "Standard" rather than a 50mm. So my FA43 will e the first lens I put on my Pentax FF DSLR, probably followed by my FA35mm f2!

**Rondec** · 09-07-2015, 01:31 PM

I think Pentax will probably have an auto crop available, but I am sure it will be able to be turned off for those who wish to do their own cropping in post. Biggest thing with the DA *55 on film is that there is some decent vignetting wide open. But that's true of plenty of other full frame, wide aperture lenses out there. The FA 50 f1.4 has quite a bit of vignetting wide open as well.

(a couple of DA *55 shots on film)

09-06-2015, 09:05 PM	#1
bpv_UW Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 765	*Fa 43 vs. Da 55 - which "normal" would you choose on FF?** I realize FL/FOV are different, and the answer will be subjective (depending on shooting style, etc), but I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on which of these will make a better "normal" lens on the upcoming FF camera. Look forward to your viewpoints... -Brandon

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09-06-2015, 09:55 PM	#2
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	The only reason I have kept my FA43 (beyond sentimental and aesthetic concerns) is to be a compact "true" normal on 36x24 format. I have never really liked the field of view on APS-C, although it does render beautifully on occasions. My DA*55 isn't going anywhere though. It should be great on either format.

09-07-2015, 12:49 AM	#3
HYS Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 377	I like my FA 43 Ltd. But it has to be stopped a bit. The corners are soft.

09-07-2015, 06:08 AM	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock The only reason I have kept my FA43 (beyond sentimental and aesthetic concerns) is to be a compact "true" normal on 36x24 format. I have never really liked the field of view on APS-C, although it does render beautifully on occasions. My DA*55 isn't going anywhere though. It should be great on either format. I rather like my DA 40 perspective on APSC. The 43 is close in focal length, Am I just odd?

09-07-2015, 06:18 AM	#5
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by UncleVanya Am I just odd? Obviously Seriously though, I acquired a used FA43 because I wasn't happy with where my DA40 sat in my lens collection, and I sold the DA because I preferred the rendering of the FA. It still doesn't change that both are a bit nowhere on APS-C (for me at least).

09-07-2015, 06:24 AM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	I like doing intimate short distance portraits with the DA 40 as well as just walk about shots. Give that it is a 60mm equivalent and 58mm was a rather common normal lens I don't see the awkwardness. But I also don't have a 31.

09-07-2015, 06:29 AM - 1 Like	#7
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by UncleVanya I like doing intimate short distance portraits with the DA 40 as well as just walk about shots.... But I also don't have a 31. And I do, which might be part of the difference. Really these sort of threads are pretty pointless. Most of us want to justify what we have

09-07-2015, 06:46 AM	#8
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,107	"Normal" focal length for 35mm cameras was 50mm in the early days largely because of the original lens designed for Leica. With the advent of SLR cameras in the 1950's both 55mm and even 58mm lenses became common "normal focal length" lenses. The old rule was that a normal focal length should have a FL equal to the diagonal of the film's dimensions, which for FF 35mm is a bit over 43mm. Therefore even 40mm is "long" on APS-C, and 30mm or better 28mm would be very close to correct. However, way back (1960's?) one of the photo magazines decided to test human visual perception by comparing what an artist saw or included in a painting versus which FL on a 35mm camera would record the same scene. They went to France where artists had painted small towns such that the exact spot where the artist had been could be determined by the perspective of individual buildings and how they overlapped with more distant buildings. At least for those artists they examined, the camera lens that best matched as I recall was about 105mm. We tend to pay attention to a much narrower FOV than we can actually see, but that doesn't mean that a photograph that excludes our peripheral vision will look more "natural." This provides an diagonal coverage of about 53 degrees, thought to match the angular view of the human eye.

09-07-2015, 07:23 AM	#9
54nima Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: France Posts: 29	Originally posted by HYS I like my FA 43 Ltd. But it has to be stopped a bit. The corners are soft. Are there any tests on the conner sharpness of DA*55 on FF?

09-07-2015, 10:57 AM	#10
JibbaJab Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southern California Posts: 362	Originally posted by 54nima Are there any tests on the conner sharpness of DA55 on FF? Not specifically focused on corner sharpness, but this article does give a good overview: SMC Pentax DA 55mm f/1.4 on Sony A7R : ERPhotoReview

09-07-2015, 11:39 AM	#11
wibbly Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Edmonton Posts: 600	Maybe I'm stupid, but I doubt that Pentax is going to go through its entire apsc optimized line of lenses and find the ones that cover the full frame image circle and unlock them for ff. I would put money on the da line being cropped for use with the full frame. Seems that everyone on this board is assuming that any lens that will cover the image circle will be 'full frame compatible' So maybe the *55 isn't worth discussing until we find out

09-07-2015, 12:12 PM	#12
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,107	I think it's been determined as a near certainty that any APS-C lens mounted on the new Pentax FF will trigger automatic sensor cropping to accommodate. Perhaps multiple manually-selected formats for APS-C only lenses would be available in the menu, perhaps a square format? or an APS-C rectangle that was vertical? Portrait shooters might like that.

09-07-2015, 12:21 PM	#13
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Pentax would be stupid not to determine the lenses that are FF and make accommodations for using them easily since they have such a small number of lenses new and ready to purchase available at launch.

09-07-2015, 01:17 PM	#14
StephenHampshire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winchester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,523	In my days as a film-shooter (on Canon AE-1s!) I always preferred a 35mm as "Standard" rather than a 50mm. So my FA43 will e the first lens I put on my Pentax FF DSLR, probably followed by my FA35mm f2!

09-07-2015, 01:31 PM	#15
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	I think Pentax will probably have an auto crop available, but I am sure it will be able to be turned off for those who wish to do their own cropping in post. Biggest thing with the DA 55 on film is that there is some decent vignetting wide open. But that's true of plenty of other full frame, wide aperture lenses out there. The FA 50 f1.4 has quite a bit of vignetting wide open as well. (a couple of DA 55 shots on film)