Pentax 20-35mm

lazyeye · 08-30-2008, 01:07 AM

Hello,

Was this lens designed for film or digital? I'm shooting film only and I'm looking for something along this focal range (from really wide -almost fisyeye, even- to moderately wide). I found one (a brand new Pentax 20-35mm) but the seller wouldn't ship it because of some technicality. So I'm on the lookout for either the same lens or a similar one. But no digital. Manual focus and film.
BTW, the nomenclature in focal length designation differs whether the lens is intended for film or digital, why is that so? And why complicate things?

Thank you

Last edited by Unregistered User 8; 08-27-2017 at 02:19 AM. Reason: remove swearing

ftpaddict · 08-30-2008, 02:15 AM

If the Pentax lens in question is not designated DA, it will work on basically any K-mount Pentax 35mm or digital SLR ever produced.

lazyeye · 08-30-2008, 02:49 AM

it's FA. I suppose it's suited for film since I think it was around before digital SLRs. Anyway, it sounds like a really good lens, but pricey.

philmorley · 08-30-2008, 03:13 AM

its designed for film. I quite liked it, nice and small, sharp and has nice rendering BUT lots of CA. 'inbetween' for how common they are (not current production but more common than fa* lenses)

Phil

lazyeye · 08-30-2008, 04:42 AM

well, I usually get my film scanned and I process then in PS. CA can probably be fixed.

creampuff · 08-30-2008, 07:12 AM

I have one and I've never had an issue with CA. This lens is usable for 35mm film and digital. It was one of the last of the FA series before it was discontinued. The remarkable characteristic of this lens is the very punchy colour rendition.

clawhammer · 08-30-2008, 11:01 AM

I've got one and use it's just about the only lens on my film camera. On digital I did notice some CA, but I never saw it in a year and a half of shooting on chromes. Do be aware that it does vignette a little wide open at larger apertures (f/4, f/5.6). beyond that, it's a great lens.

One other option is the Pentax FAJ 18-35. A little wider, but I don't have experience in regards to the IQ.

A note on nomenclature:
FA: Auto focus lenses for film
FA*: Premium FA lenses
FAJ: FA lenses with the aperture ring removed (cannot be used on old bodies that cannot set the aperture value in-body
DA: Digital only lenses- designed around the smaller digital sensor, when used on film they either vignette or have poor Image Quality in the edges (most of them, anyway).
DA*: Premium DA lenses

Shashinki · 08-30-2008, 11:03 AM

Its very good on film, on digital it's so-so (DA16-45mm is better where they overlap, but it can't be used on film)

Used to be quite expensive too.

btw, the "J" in FA-J stands for "junk" don't buy it unless it's really really cheap.

clawhammer · 08-30-2008, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by Shashinki

btw, the "J" in FA-J stands for "junk" don't buy it unless it's really really cheap.

for the FAJ 28-80, sure. I wouldn't be so quick to apply that label to the other two (18-35, 75-300). I've heard good things about the 18-35, and the 75-300 holds it's own amongst it's contemporaries.

08-30-2008, 01:07 AM	#1
lazyeye New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: France Posts: 22	Pentax 20-35mm Hello, Was this lens designed for film or digital? I'm shooting film only and I'm looking for something along this focal range (from really wide -almost fisyeye, even- to moderately wide). I found one (a brand new Pentax 20-35mm) but the seller wouldn't ship it because of some technicality. So I'm on the lookout for either the same lens or a similar one. But no digital. Manual focus and film. BTW, the nomenclature in focal length designation differs whether the lens is intended for film or digital, why is that so? And why complicate things? Thank you Last edited by Unregistered User 8; 08-27-2017 at 02:19 AM. Reason: remove swearing

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08-30-2008, 02:15 AM	#2
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	If the Pentax lens in question is not designated DA, it will work on basically any K-mount Pentax 35mm or digital SLR ever produced.

08-30-2008, 02:49 AM	#3
lazyeye New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: France Posts: 22 Original Poster	it's FA. I suppose it's suited for film since I think it was around before digital SLRs. Anyway, it sounds like a really good lens, but pricey.

08-30-2008, 03:13 AM	#4
philmorley Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: in a house in Armidale, Australia Posts: 472	its designed for film. I quite liked it, nice and small, sharp and has nice rendering BUT lots of CA. 'inbetween' for how common they are (not current production but more common than fa* lenses) Phil

08-30-2008, 04:42 AM	#5
lazyeye New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: France Posts: 22 Original Poster	well, I usually get my film scanned and I process then in PS. CA can probably be fixed.

08-30-2008, 07:12 AM	#6
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	I have one and I've never had an issue with CA. This lens is usable for 35mm film and digital. It was one of the last of the FA series before it was discontinued. The remarkable characteristic of this lens is the very punchy colour rendition.

08-30-2008, 11:01 AM	#7
clawhammer Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Logan, Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 971	I've got one and use it's just about the only lens on my film camera. On digital I did notice some CA, but I never saw it in a year and a half of shooting on chromes. Do be aware that it does vignette a little wide open at larger apertures (f/4, f/5.6). beyond that, it's a great lens. One other option is the Pentax FAJ 18-35. A little wider, but I don't have experience in regards to the IQ. A note on nomenclature: FA: Auto focus lenses for film FA: Premium FA lenses FAJ: FA lenses with the aperture ring removed (cannot be used on old bodies that cannot set the aperture value in-body DA: Digital only lenses- designed around the smaller digital sensor, when used on film they either vignette or have poor Image Quality in the edges (most of them, anyway). DA: Premium DA lenses

08-30-2008, 11:03 AM	#8
Shashinki Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 355	Its very good on film, on digital it's so-so (DA16-45mm is better where they overlap, but it can't be used on film) Used to be quite expensive too. btw, the "J" in FA-J stands for "junk" don't buy it unless it's really really cheap.

08-30-2008, 11:24 AM	#9
clawhammer Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Logan, Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 971	Originally posted by Shashinki btw, the "J" in FA-J stands for "junk" don't buy it unless it's really really cheap. for the FAJ 28-80, sure. I wouldn't be so quick to apply that label to the other two (18-35, 75-300). I've heard good things about the 18-35, and the 75-300 holds it's own amongst it's contemporaries.

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