The strange case of the 35mm , nee 50mm

**RobA_Oz** · 08-05-2022, 03:44 PM - **1 Like**

Clearly, Richard L’s zoom is his “prime” lens.

I like both types of lens: zooms for versatility, primes for forcing me to look at things in a way that zoom lenses make it easy to avoid. I will often just put a single prime like the 31 or 43 Limited on my camera and use that for the day, especially when I know the area or subject well.

As good as they are now, zooms are still an optical compromise, and of course, you don’t have much choice for macro work.

gatorguy · 08-05-2022, 05:50 PM - **1 Like**

Things are getting way too personal between two posters in the thread. There will be one warning only to calm down or move on to a different discussion.

leekil · 08-05-2022, 09:29 PM

Originally posted by pres589

It's too bad that AOC didn't work harder to producing a competitor to Konica's 40mm f1.8 unless the FA 43 was supposed to be that lens. Which I doubt in the extreme.

I'm pretty sure the FA43 was supposed to be an answer to the Konica lens, but it has it's own charms and benefits (if you're not familiar).

**pres589** · 08-05-2022, 10:21 PM

The Konica 40 f1.8 was a kit lens; I doubt AOC was going for that area of the market when they created the FA 43. A serious comparison of the two with example images and checks for aberrations and distortion would be interesting. I've never been really tempted by the FA 43 and I really like a 40mm on full frame.

**RobA_Oz** · 08-06-2022, 01:15 AM

Originally posted by pres589

The Konica 40 f1.8 was a kit lens; I doubt AOC was going for that area of the market when they created the FA 43. A serious comparison of the two with example images and checks for aberrations and distortion would be interesting. I've never been really tempted by the FA 43 and I really like a 40mm on full frame.

I quite like the FA43 on my K-1. This was shot at f4, which is not its best aperture for sharpness:

Incidentally, from what I could find on a brief search, the Konica 40 and the Pentax 43 look fairly similar in MTF50 and MTF20 tests. Allowing for possible sample variation, the Konica could even be slightly better at some apertures. Colour fidelity and contrast are other matters, probably.

leekil · 08-08-2022, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by leekil

I'm pretty sure the FA43 was supposed to be an answer to the Konica lens, but it has it's own charms and benefits (if you're not familiar).

That was supposed to be *wasn't*!

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08-05-2022, 03:44 PM - 1 Like	#31
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,196	Clearly, Richard L’s zoom is his “prime” lens. I like both types of lens: zooms for versatility, primes for forcing me to look at things in a way that zoom lenses make it easy to avoid. I will often just put a single prime like the 31 or 43 Limited on my camera and use that for the day, especially when I know the area or subject well. As good as they are now, zooms are still an optical compromise, and of course, you don’t have much choice for macro work.

08-05-2022, 05:50 PM - 1 Like	#32
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Things are getting way too personal between two posters in the thread. There will be one warning only to calm down or move on to a different discussion.

08-05-2022, 09:29 PM	#33
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Originally posted by pres589 It's too bad that AOC didn't work harder to producing a competitor to Konica's 40mm f1.8 unless the FA 43 was supposed to be that lens. Which I doubt in the extreme. I'm pretty sure the FA43 was supposed to be an answer to the Konica lens, but it has it's own charms and benefits (if you're not familiar).

08-05-2022, 10:21 PM	#34
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	The Konica 40 f1.8 was a kit lens; I doubt AOC was going for that area of the market when they created the FA 43. A serious comparison of the two with example images and checks for aberrations and distortion would be interesting. I've never been really tempted by the FA 43 and I really like a 40mm on full frame.

08-06-2022, 01:15 AM	#35
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,196	Originally posted by pres589 The Konica 40 f1.8 was a kit lens; I doubt AOC was going for that area of the market when they created the FA 43. A serious comparison of the two with example images and checks for aberrations and distortion would be interesting. I've never been really tempted by the FA 43 and I really like a 40mm on full frame. I quite like the FA43 on my K-1. This was shot at f4, which is not its best aperture for sharpness: Incidentally, from what I could find on a brief search, the Konica 40 and the Pentax 43 look fairly similar in MTF50 and MTF20 tests. Allowing for possible sample variation, the Konica could even be slightly better at some apertures. Colour fidelity and contrast are other matters, probably.

08-08-2022, 07:11 PM	#36
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Originally posted by leekil I'm pretty sure the FA43 was supposed to be an answer to the Konica lens, but it has it's own charms and benefits (if you're not familiar). That was supposed to be wasn't!

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