[Jeff]

Now, who would have thought that high-quality photography with a compact, lightweight three-lens prime kit could be an attractive option?

I mean, seriously, could it be that lens trios like the FA31/43/77 and the DA21/35M/70 (where the DA15 can be substituted for the DA21) were designed, among other things, to make just that possible?

A dream that must be nearly as old as photography itself. Doesn't take away anything from the brilliance of the idea, of course.

Except for those times when you want something a bit wider or more telephoto, or when you want/need the flexibility of a zoom, which does happen with me on occasion. The charm of an interchangeable-lens camera.

It's their lightness, size, portability that I keep coming back to. I know how amazing the 50 DFA* 1.4 is because I own one and love it, but it is hefty. And this is the reason that I've decided to forgo the 85 DFA* 1.4 because it weighs 1.25kg , and the 77 1.8 comes in at 270g. Weight becomes an issue...

[SelrahCharleS]

I did something similar for a long time on APS-C with the DA 21mm, DA 70mm, and an M 28mm. Then I picked up a DA 35mm Macro which mostly replaced the 28mm. I have a few other lenses, but those three are still mostly what stays in my bag.

I recently purchased a K1, so now I'm eyeing a 31 and 77 since I've always wanted those.

[Jeff]

I don't have the 3 amigos, but I am doing the same thing with the HDFA35, FA50, FA77. I shot with the Tamron 28-75 for years and while it has produced many great images over the years I find myself enjoying the experience of shooting primes a lot more. I still have my APSC bodies so I picked up a used DA21 to fill the gap and have a similar lineup for my K3 with the DA15, DA21, HDFA35, FA50. One of my favourite options is to carry my K1 with the 77 and the K3 with the 15 or 21. I have 2 peak design clips so I can quickly swap cameras.

That's a great setup with your K3. I loved the 35mm 2.8 macro - one of the best lenses I ever owned. It's now gone to my brother for a pittance, but it is still in the family at least!

---------- Post added 05-21-21 at 05:30 PM ----------

I did something similar for a long time on APS-C with the DA 21mm, DA 70mm, and an M 28mm. Then I picked up a DA 35mm Macro which mostly replaced the 28mm. I have a few other lenses, but those three are still mostly what stays in my bag.

I recently purchased a K1, so now I'm eyeing a 31 and 77 since I've always wanted those.

Next week my eyeing will become buying! I hope I have the willpower to just have the 77 in my basket at checkout. On the other hand, maybe not so much..!

[ChatMechant]

I've bought and sold a lot of very good pentax lenses and now pretty much just use the three fa ltds. There's just no comparison. I have a couple special-use lenses: 17mm fisheye and the da300/tc. but 99% of the time its the ltds and k1 in a small domke satchel. When I used zooms, I often ended up at 31mm and 43mm anyway

[bdery]

I expect I'd toss in the 43 (never warmed up to 50 on FF)

Amen to that.

[grahame]

The 31, 43 and 77 are full frame lenses. But they work very well on APS-C as well.

FA43 is a little embarrassing on APS, but is great on FF.

Funny thing was, I was used to the view of FA 31 on APS, and didn't know what to do with this "re-discovered wide lens" when I put it on FF camera. had to rethink everything. I didn't use FA 31 on FF as much as 43. It was opposite on aps.

[northcoastgreg]

I'm very comfortable shooting primes in the 30mm to 50mm (on FF), so I will often take the FA 31 and either the FA 43 or FA 50 Macro along with the DFA 15-30 (or if I'm going lighter, the FA 20-35) along with the FA 80-320. On APS-C I'll take the DA 15 DA 21, DA35 Ltd, and DA 55-300. I would envy anyone who could just do with the three FA Limiteds and that's it. I just need more range.

[Jeff]

FA43 is a little embarrassing on APS, but is great on FF.

Funny thing was, I was used to the view of FA 31 on APS, and didn't know what to do with this "re-discovered wide lens" when I put it on FF camera. had to rethink everything. I didn't use FA 31 on FF as much as 43. It was opposite on aps.

One of the joys of the K-1 (and there are many) is being able to use these three lenses in their native FOV. This was one of the reasons I chose to go all-in with the K-1, and left my APS-C life behind. I really enjoy the FOV that my 43 gives me - a little wider than my 50mm 1.4 DFA* Big Beast - but small and portable. I expect that when the other two arrive I will find some happy ground. The 31 and 43 have a narrower FOV gap than say the 31 and 77, or the 43 and 77, but each will be just perfect when that wider or tighter angle is needed. Of course, being able to use the crop function on the K-1 give one a choice of six focal lengths (15MP on the cropped image should be enough for most people) from three lenses. I won't do the maths here as you all know the answers by rote!

[noelpolar]

I guess I'm a yes. I don't own any zooms in the normal range..... so no 16/18/24 to 85/105 zoom... because I wouldn't use it.

So ... my normal kit is 31/43/77 on K1.... all in one bag (I do have a small 20mm as well... voigtlander skopar)

For fun... I also have a similar older K kit.... SMC K 30/2.8, 50/1.2 and 85/1.8.

I've shot a few weddings and events this way.... no issues.... but do have a 70-200/2.8 I use for those as well.

For crop I have a DA 21 plus use the 43 and 77 mostly for small kit.... and a F*300/4.5 I take sometimes.

When in the bush with my DFA 150-450 (on K3III) I have the 21 and sometimes the 43 with me.

[redcat]

use these lenses, and only these lenses? Either crop sensor or full frame? Digital or film..?

i used only DA15mm, FA31mm, FA77mm on my K3 and never need anything else, it works for Apsc as a 3 lens combo from street to portrait

[Waffles]

FA43 is a little embarrassing on APS, but is great on FF.

Ive heard this before but I never enjoyed the 43 on film yet its my all-time favourite APS-C lens. Of course, we all have focal length preferences for the way we go about photography......

[zapp]

31/77 did not work on APSC for me. 77 is great on FF. Size and drawing capabilities are a huge plus. I really miss weather sealing! My 77 pulled in some dust. AF is not up to date and purple fringing can be visible, but this is no drawback since the optical formula is very nice.

[vijaykishan]

I'm planning to embark on this exact same path, 3 prime lenses and that's it. In my case though, that would be 31, 50mm Macro and 77mm. I tried the 43mm for sometime, liked the rendering very much, but since I have the 50 macro which is a lot more versative (IMHO of course) on long trails and treks. if push comes to shove, I'd probably drop the 50mm and take just the 31mm and 77mm. My dream would be a K1 + 31mm + 50mm Macro + 77mm + Gitzo Traveller 1 + Arcaswiss P0+ and a couple of ND filters. Still waiting for some reviews on the HD amigos before placing the order.

[bdery]

FA43 is a little embarrassing on APS

Why embarrassing? It's close to the (designed-for-APS-C) 40 LTD after all. I've always found I liked it on both formats.

[aslyfox]

. . . I have the smc 43mm 1.9 and love it. I know what happens when you get one...

and now there are the following choices for the FA Limited Lenses:

the SMC version - Made in Japan or Assembled In Vietnam

or the HD version

BTW there is a comparison being done for PF between the HD and SMC versions of the FA Limited Lenses