Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
09-07-2017, 04:24 AM   #16
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Sandy Hancock's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,254
If you love the FA43, I would strongly recommend against you buying the DA*55 and FA77; it may be the end of a beautiful relationship

Seriously though, buying more great lenses is always a good idea!

09-07-2017, 04:47 AM   #17
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
pres589's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Wichita, KS
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,507
While it doesn't open past f2.8, the DA 40XS might also be worth consideration.
09-07-2017, 05:18 AM - 1 Like   #18
Pentaxian
bdery's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Quebec city, Canada
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 9,352
QuoteOriginally posted by pakinjapan Quote
am toying with an idea of let go my FA50 macro & M50 f1.7 in favor or FA43. What do you think?
I think when I was using the K-3 I replaced a 50 with the DA40 because the slightly wider FOV was more comfortable. I never regretted that decision.

Now I'm using the K-1, I got another 50 and used the 40 for a while, then replaced both with the 43. And it's been my most-used lens ever since.

On APS-C 40/43 is a little tight for walkaround, on FF it's perfect. But in any case, the 43 is a gem, I like it better than the 40 and that's saying something.

QuoteOriginally posted by pakinjapan Quote
I haven’t seen city night photo and long exposure type of image taken from this lens that much. If I want to let my FA50 macro go, I want to make sure I can get a lens which can produce starbursts as beautiful as the FA50 macro. Many say FA43 is a lens with characteristic, does it extend to lens’s starbursts effect?
The best lens I've used (and I've used MANY lenses) for starbursts is the DA21. The 15 is similar.

That benig said, the 43 surprised me a lot regarding starbursts. Adam posted a fine example, here's another one, shot at F2.5 and F8:





QuoteOriginally posted by KDD Quote
How about SMMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited??
That's neither here nor there, now is it?
09-07-2017, 05:24 AM   #19
Pentaxian
normhead's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Near Algonquin Park
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 40,442
Macro lenses do things other lenses don't do. The 43 ltd. doesn't. But you still have to draw your own conclusions.

Personally I don't see macro lenses, I collect them.

Of the last 50 images I've kept on my hargrove taken over the last few days, 23 couldn't have been taken without a macro lens, 6 were taken with a macro lens but just because it was the lens on the camera. Your mileage may vary.

If you shoot like I do selling macro lens would be blasphemy. I have the FA 50, the Sigma 70, the tamron 90 and the D FA 100, and they all get used, based on the kinds of conditions I'm likely to be facing that day.


Last edited by normhead; 09-07-2017 at 05:29 AM.
09-07-2017, 05:49 AM   #20
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
twilhelm's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Florida
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,369
I'm a big fan of the 43, but the 77 is probably my favorite lens. I've spent weeks with the 77 stuck to my main body.
09-07-2017, 07:08 AM   #21
Forum Member




Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 93
I have had the 43 for a few years now and absolutely love it. While some find the tight framing odd on a crop sensor, I find it often adds very positively to a scene whether landscape, portrait or street. It is a joy to use on a small body.

I finally got my hands on a 31 a couple of months ago and thought that would be the end of my love for the 43. Oh how wrong I was!!!
09-07-2017, 09:49 AM   #22
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2016
Location: East Coast
Posts: 2,903
QuoteOriginally posted by Sandy Hancock Quote
If you love the FA43, I would strongly recommend against you buying the DA*55 and FA77; it may be the end of a beautiful relationship

Seriously though, buying more great lenses is always a good idea!
normally I'm not one to recommend juggling romances, but this is one where I don't think they'll talk and swap notes. I might be able to slip the 77 in, and the 43 will never know

If I could only buy shares in B&H - would be nice to make some money back on my LBA!

09-07-2017, 04:51 PM   #23
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Southeastern Michigan
Posts: 4,509
I have and am very fond of the FA 43mm LTD. I acquired this lens years ago for use on my film bodies. I liked its versatile FL and normalcy of perspective, and its excellent image quality. I have used it and like it also on APS-C DSLRs, but don't use it as much, since it is effectively a short tele lens.

For nighttime cityscapes and other uses as well, where you'd rather not have a tele effect, you might consider the very fine FA 35mm f/2, which I also have had for many years and like very much. Both are full-frame lenses, being made for film bodies, so if you should ever get a K-1 or subsequent FF body, these lenses also serve very well in that capacity.
09-07-2017, 05:02 PM   #24
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Tokyo
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,041
Original Poster
Thank you a lot for all of your comments. They are very helpful. Its starbursts look good to me based on sample images from @bdery and @Adam
I might have to get a copy of the lense and see which one I want to keep.

@bdery I am very appreciated for the 2 samples you did. and Yes, I got both 15 and 21. I couldn't agree more with you. they are 2 of my best lenses for night walk.

People mentioned a bout DA40. I was looking at a 40 and hand on testing it a
few times. I like the size, sharpness and contrast a lot but it is a shame that its starbursts couldn't convince me.
09-08-2017, 06:12 AM   #25
Pentaxian
bdery's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Quebec city, Canada
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 9,352
QuoteOriginally posted by pakinjapan Quote
People mentioned a bout DA40. I was looking at a 40 and hand on testing it afew times. I like the size, sharpness and contrast a lot but it is a shame that its starbursts couldn't convince me.
I've owned the 40 also until very recently. A very dependable lens, trustworthy, it delivers good results in most situations.

It's not good for starbursts.

It also lacks some of the character that the 43 has. Images are quantitatively sharper in the corners, but do not have the same 3D pop as the 43 images offer.
09-10-2017, 10:49 PM - 2 Likes   #26
Pentaxian




Join Date: Oct 2010
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 6,241
Here is couple starburst shots with my FA 43





I just noticed that I don't have so many starburst shots with this lens...it works so well with different shots too, but that starburst is really how it is with this lens, signature of 43.

here is shallow Dof shot too, nothing special, but shows how it is on FF.



it shows it s bokeh characteristics too IMO.
EDIT: ofcourse if you get closer to the target bokeh is more pleasing, but there in that last shot it is quite typical WO bokeh. it is wild, but I have quite come to lik it's faults and what it offers. Fast 50 will be smoother.
09-11-2017, 02:45 AM   #27
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Tokyo
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,041
Original Poster
@repaap thank you very much for the sample photos. Serously, I will want to get a copy of 43mm and try it myself.
I like what I see on your second image, city landscape.
Yes, good looking starbrusts effect is a major part of my decision but it is not everything. I am also after size and weight, IQ for city night photography. Fast and autofocus are bonus.
so far, Sample image I see here are looking good.
09-11-2017, 03:31 AM - 2 Likes   #28
Veteran Member
StephenHampshire's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Winchester
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,523
Another sample, F2.5 on a K1


09-11-2017, 12:44 PM - 1 Like   #29
Pentaxian




Join Date: Oct 2010
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 6,241
QuoteOriginally posted by pakinjapan Quote
@repaap thank you very much for the sample photos. Serously, I will want to get a copy of 43mm and try it myself.
I like what I see on your second image, city landscape.
Yes, good looking starbrusts effect is a major part of my decision but it is not everything. I am also after size and weight, IQ for city night photography. Fast and autofocus are bonus.
so far, Sample image I see here are looking good.
You are welcome, I really think that it is worth to try it, especially if any of these shots makes it for you. It is what you'll get, if you get good copy.

good luck!
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
exposure, fa43, fa50, k-mount, lens, macro, night, pentax lens, photo, slr lens, starbursts, time, type
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FA43 - Favorite light to shoot in loji Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 4 03-28-2017 04:42 PM
How to get the best out of FA43 chesebert Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 57 07-11-2013 02:15 PM
Should I get compensated if magazine used image - even if cc? pete_pf Photographic Industry and Professionals 3 02-22-2012 04:42 PM
Keep K-x buy premium lens, get K-r and get good lens, get the K-7 w/ lens or K-5? crossover37 Pentax DSLR Discussion 19 02-06-2011 10:38 PM
Persuade me to get a FA43?! yyyzzz Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 38 10-24-2010 09:29 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:06 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top