[paolojackson]

I had a 43, but I got rid of it to get the DA35. Not that I regret getting the DA35, but I do regret getting rid of the 43. If I don't get a 50/1.4 for Christmas, I may just spend the extra money and get another 43 (I'm tempted to take 50 off my wish list). It's just such a solid piece of glass, petite without being too small, and produces great results.

Heather

I long for either a DA35 or 43 ltd. but wondered if it would be the right fit for me. Do you miss the speed of the 43? I have a 50/1.4 and sometimes feel it is too long, but I like shooting at aperture below 2.8 from time to time. Then the 43 would not be much of a difference (focal length) than the 50...

[heatherslightbox]

Since I don't do a whole lot of night shooting, I don't miss the speed that much, but that thing is so SHARP! For a walkaround, I find the 35 to be almost too wide sometimes, depending on what I'm shooting; the 43 is closer to my field of vision than the the 35. With that being said, if I got another 43, I'd still want to keep the 35 for it's macro ability in such a small package.

Heather

[TomInJax]

I had a 43, but I got rid of it to get the DA35. Not that I regret getting the DA35, but I do regret getting rid of the 43. If I don't get a 50/1.4 for Christmas, I may just spend the extra money and get another 43 (I'm tempted to take 50 off my wish list). It's just such a solid piece of glass, petite without being too small, and produces great results.

Heather

In my humble opinion, I think that the 43 is better than the 50/x.x. Sorry if some folks do not agree, but I am entitled to my opinion. I had the 31, 43, and 77 - which are some of the best lenses ever made. Not by my standards, but by Canon and Nikon owners who lust after the Pentax trio. If the Pentax trio could be converted and retain autofocus in the other two formats - they would bring twice the price. I guarantee ya, or my name isn't TomInJax!

[k100d]

heyhey TKH the Schalke fan is back
i remember before you said the 43 is the one you never let go and here you are again

[heatherslightbox]

Let's see...if I sell both my A50 and Tammy 28-75, I'll have almost enough towards another 43, if I can snag a good deal on a used one here or a new one from Prodigital2000. Since I've got the DA35/2.8 and would have the 43/1.9, I would pretty much have fast covered, along with a planned purchase of a Sigma 105/2.8. That Tammy is kind of heavy, anyhow.

Hmmm...

I've got a trip to Maryland coming up towards the end of the month and I'll be leaving the 28-75 at home, so I'll see how I do with the 16-45, 55-300, and 50. If I do OK, then that Tammy may be going up for sale when I get home. I really want another 43!

Heather

[jsherman999]

.

Got back tonight and found a package at my door from Canada.

Will need to try this out tomorrow, but here are literally the first shots,
wide open, ISO 800 or 1600, slight crops:

[TKH]

Since I don't do a whole lot of night shooting, I don't miss the speed that much, but that thing is so SHARP! For a walkaround, I find the 35 to be almost too wide sometimes, depending on what I'm shooting; the 43 is closer to my field of vision than the the 35. With that being said, if I got another 43, I'd still want to keep the 35 for it's macro ability in such a small package.

Heather

Yes the DA35 is a fantastic lens for a small price. As a non macro photographer I like the macro ability a lot:



As a 35mm imho its a really practical walkaround lens on a crop camera. The colors are nice, its a very sharp lens and the bokeh is OK:



But, I´m sorry, I cannot discribe it?!

I miss the damned FA43.

It has a special style of color and bokeh. And its the lens I like most when taking the camera in the hands. It feels like a perfect piece of craftmanship.
Also I like the history of the 43 as also being a "Leica lens" and being a masterpiece from the hands of Pentax master-craftsman Jun Hirakawa.

heyhey TKH the Schalke fan is back
i remember before you said the 43 is the one you never let go and here you are again

Hey Arsenal!
You perhaps have the contacts? We like to see Arsene Wenger and Amaury Bischoff here on Schalke? Any way you see to help us...

Yes the 43 let go was a big mistake.
I hope you can forgive me...

Best,
Rainer

BTW: I just found the best reason for buying the FA43. I´m 43 years old...

---

Last edited by TKH; 11-04-2008 at 12:37 AM.

[jsherman999]

.

This is a stellar lens.












f/2.4

Crop:


Reaction to noticing the 15-foot horse :


Wide open:

[jsherman999]

.

Congrats, TKH!!

I just got one myself yesterday. I think I may actually like it better than the 31ltd,
if that's possible - my 31 was just incredible, but that FL wasn't wide or long enough
for me - the 43 just seems to be a perfect FL, for some reason, and it's blisteringly
sharp with great colors.


cropped:

[legacyb4]

Slight crop around the sides.

[TKH]

.

Congrats, TKH!!

I just got one myself yesterday.

Congrats back!
Your pics look great.
Hope that prodigital2000 sends my at the end of the week.

Rainer

[Gooshin]

guys...

can we get a a 2-3 photos PER POST maximum?

even my work connection is getting bottlenecked, thats alot of bandwith.

if you want to post a tone of pictures just split it up in a number of posts, that way it just makes for more pages and less demanding on the browser.

here is a FA43 shot at wide open in a museum

[jsherman999]

.

Here's your 3 shots Gooshin!

[augustmoon]

sorry posted 5 last time, let me see if I can scrounge up 3 and try this again...



basic elephant skin test - she's very patient while I swap primes, although she used to try to grab my canon 70-200 L from me, maybe it was that beige color



ferrari, but handheld 1/15th and a whopping ISO 1250


presidio

[Lance B]

Some samples from my FA43: