[MJKoski]

I need a lens with ~normal focal length for tripod usage stopped down to f/5.6 - f/8. Someone is selling 43mm limited for quite a good price locally so I started to search for full resolution FF samples but so far not much luck. Plastic 50/1.8 does not interest me, neither do older M-lenses. Leitaxed 50mm Zeiss planar seems to be an okay solution though.

What is your verdict, 43mm ltd stopped down on K-1? I do not care how bad aberrations it has wide open.

[Ole]

Our sample photo search page shows these samples.

[cali92rs]

Have you tried the A50mm f1.7? I bet you would be hard pressed to tell the difference at f5.6 and smaller apertures.

[MJKoski]

Oh well...indeed there were some samples. I decided to buy it. It was mint condition lens for 300 euros with all accessories and box. Sounded like a good deal.

I wanted native lens with auto aperture for exposure simulation in live view. 50mm zeiss ZK f/1.4 was twice as expensive. Same thing for 55/1.4 SDM.

[cali92rs]

You wont regret it...the 43mm has wonderful rendering, especially wide open (i know you mentioned this for tripod use).
I just wanted to give you a cheaper option, but if you could afford it, i wouldve made the same choice.

[MJKoski]

I had 50mm f/1.7 M lens but it went a little bad. A50/1.7 could have worked, true. 43mm ltd lenses seemed to go for 500-600 euros on ebay so this sounded like excellent deal And...it fits into the same lens pouch where I keep 100mm WR macro as it is so small.

[klavrack]

It was my go-to lens this summer for normal FOV landscape shots, especially with pixel-shift. Highly recommended.

[Jonathan Mac]

Oh well...indeed there were some samples. I decided to buy it. It was mint condition lens for 300 euros with all accessories and box. Sounded like a good deal.

I wanted native lens with auto aperture for exposure simulation in live view. 50mm zeiss ZK f/1.4 was twice as expensive. Same thing for 55/1.4 SDM.

That was an excellent deal.

[pakinjapan]

Someone is selling 43mm limited for quite a good price locally...

You mentioned it is a good price, and if you can meet up the seller and test the lens, it should be better than look for sample post online.

beside 43, DA40 and FA50 macro are another 2 very good lenses IMO. For FA50 macro, it sharp wide-open. You don't have to stop down if you don't want to.

[npc]

I second FA50 (or DFA 50) macro is the best one of the bunch for f5.6-f8. FA43 is fine too.
Leitaxed Contax 50 1.7 is also very very good, the 50 1.4 less so, but I don't have experience with the newer zk/zf/etc 50mm lenses.

[MJKoski]

Normal FOV landscapes was exactly my goal. Very pleased to hear it works fine with pixel-shift. It also shares same filter kit with 100mm macro which is huge advantage. I tried out FA50 macro earlier in July but did not like the construction quality that much. 43ltd on the other hand seems to be a mechanical marvel and shares some looks with 100mm WR macro.

[mikesbike]

It is a truly great lens. You will like it for a walk around lens too. It will make your K-1 into a much lighter, more compact package. A very versatile field of view, having a very natural sense of depth. Superb image quality.

[MadMathMind]

I wrote a review of this lens that got a whole lot of criticism because I heartily disagree with the assessment that it's great on the K-1. Or even good. I stopped short of calling it the worse lens I've ever used.

That said, I found it pretty good if you could stop down to f/8 or more. This helps reduce a lot of the outrageous field curvature the lens displays. But I wouldn't shoot anything I cared about much lower than that.

[candgpics]

Hi:

I have the 43 (along with the other two amigos).

I own a K5ii, K3, and K1. The 43 was one of my least used lenses on the K3 and K5ii, but it is one of my most used lenses on my K1 (for walk around and studio portraits).

It is a bit wider than the 31 is on my K3 and K5ii.

I have a silver 43. I like the retro feel to it. It is very light. I often shoot in low light (I shoot a lot of MMA and BJJ events). I tend to use the D FA 70-200 for these events (and I had a Sigma 70-200 before that). The 43, however, is great for when I am in a small gym or dojo. It is more than sharp enough wide "ish" open (I usually shoot around f/2.0 - f/2.8).

I also have used the 43 to photograph firefighter portraits (albeit at f/8).

AF is more than fast enough and the sound doesn't bother me (to be fair the sound is not an issue since I am in environments where silent AF is not needed).

Any questions, let me know!

[krazykat]

It's one of the best lenses on my K-1 (and I've got plenty). Fast focusing, great centre sharpness and fantastic rendering.


Of course it's important to take a probabilistic approach and understand that just because my copy is great (or terrible) doesn't mean yours would be (and that's not taking into account the subjectivity of expectations), but the weight of favourable reviews might give you an indication of likelihood.