The FA 35 f/2, gimme shots

jsherman999 · 12-26-2008, 09:08 AM

Just got this a couple days ago from a forum member for a good price. I'm
planning on keeping it on the K-M for an in-the-house low-light D-normal
snapshooter combo (kid pics, etc.) I like using the limiteds on the K-M, but don't
like leaving them on there - my wife will be using the K-M to take snapshots and
I just envision jelly-coated hands grabbing the front element... The limiteds
should stay in their pouches and make supervised appearances.

But... I'm finding that this FA 35 isn't any knockabout cheapie - it's very sharp,
even pretty good wide open, is small, very nice looking on the camera with it's
hood, and is fun to use. It's very well built for a 'plastic' lens, much like the FA 50
1.4. The extra stop over the DA 35 is perfect for indoor use.

I'll have to do some serious testing to see how it compares with the DA for
landscape, etc, but here are some early shots.

Please feel free to show what you've done with yours if you have one.

f/13

f/3.5

f/8

Wide open (f/2), 1/30s, ISO 400, next two f/2, 1/125s, ISO 800:

wide-open crop

f/2.4 ISO 400:

Crop:

f/13

frank · 12-26-2008, 09:40 AM

Well, I can see the lens went to very capable hands

Probably you won't miss your FA31 if you can take similar great photos like these.

Had the lens for a while before I went for the FA31. A great performer indeed.

Jasvox · 12-26-2008, 10:10 AM

This is my favorite lens ans stays on my K10D often.

Jas

Deni · 12-26-2008, 02:25 PM

Definitely the next lens on my list (or a fast 17-50mm

) and IMO then lens Pentax should bundle as a kit with it's cameras.

ll_coffee_lP · 12-26-2008, 06:56 PM

Loving my copy!

c[_]

stevebrot · 12-26-2008, 07:30 PM

Hey Jay, those are great results for your initial foray with the FA 35/2. I originally bought mine as a general walk-around lens and as a fast aperture, fast focusing "normal" on the K10D. The fact that it could also be leveraged for street use on my 35mm film body was also a plus.

Nope, its not a "*" or "Limited" lens, but it has excellent optical performance and better-than-average build quality. If the FA 50/1.4 is the "value king" of currently available Pentax primes, the FA 35/2 is definitely the "value queen". My only complaint has been the relative difficulty using the manual focus with the hood attached.

Here is one of my favorites taken with this lens:

Steve

bimjo · 12-26-2008, 10:26 PM

Great shot Steve. I never seem to get a good shooting day when I hit the gorge. I may have to add a 35/f2 to my list.

stevebrot · 12-26-2008, 11:13 PM

Originally posted by bimjo

Great shot Steve. I never seem to get a good shooting day when I hit the gorge. I may have to add a 35/f2 to my list.

Thanks for the kind comment. Sure thing...if you buy the lens, the Columbia Gorge will grace you with good light!

On the other hand, why travel all the way downriver. Wallula Gap has some spectacular formations and it is less than half an hour away from Pasco!

Steve

axl · 12-27-2008, 01:47 AM

I have been playing with the idea of getting one for myself. At the begining when I was choosing fast-ish normal prime, I was deciding between FA35, DA40 and FA50. I went for DA40. Fabulous lens, and it did well indoors. Then by pure luck I got my hands on F50/1.7 and it showed me how much of a difference 1 or 1.5 stops make indoors. So now the argument that 35 is too close to 40 is not valid anymore. 40 would stay my main walkaround lens (I simply love it, and it took majority of my keepers since this May), but 35 and 50 would form my low light kit... now I just have to save

long live LBA

BR

wildman · 12-27-2008, 06:02 AM

Not really what this lens is intended for but it was on the camera at the time.

f/4, iso 1600, 1/2000 sec, K20D, Continuous focus and shutter release, cropped
Hummingbird Moth

axl · 12-28-2008, 11:35 AM

wildman, that's one stunning shot, congrats...

**Marc Langille** · 12-28-2008, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Here is one of my favorites taken with this lens:

Steve

I was there in mid-October... Columbia River Gorge, specifically the Vista House lookout... beautiful area...

Blue · 12-28-2008, 06:52 PM

Did you get the k-m to put it on so it doesn't compete with the DA 35mm ltd?

jsherman999 · 12-28-2008, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by Blue

Did you get the k-m to put it on so it doesn't compete with the DA 35mm ltd?

Need to keep that DA at the top of the heap, it gets jealous!

Truthfully, optically this FA is probably every bit as good as the DA, and faster,
just doesn't focus closer than 1:3. The DA may have better flare control, but not by much if so.
The FA is a winner.

.

Mechan1k · 12-29-2008, 02:26 AM

It was a toss up originally when getting my FA50 ... with the FA35 or the FA50 .... the 50 initialy won out.

BUT ... if I can find a nice FA35 ... it will be tooo tempting to get.

12-26-2008, 09:08 AM	#1
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	The FA 35 f/2, gimme shots Just got this a couple days ago from a forum member for a good price. I'm planning on keeping it on the K-M for an in-the-house low-light D-normal snapshooter combo (kid pics, etc.) I like using the limiteds on the K-M, but don't like leaving them on there - my wife will be using the K-M to take snapshots and I just envision jelly-coated hands grabbing the front element... The limiteds should stay in their pouches and make supervised appearances. But... I'm finding that this FA 35 isn't any knockabout cheapie - it's very sharp, even pretty good wide open, is small, very nice looking on the camera with it's hood, and is fun to use. It's very well built for a 'plastic' lens, much like the FA 50 1.4. The extra stop over the DA 35 is perfect for indoor use. I'll have to do some serious testing to see how it compares with the DA for landscape, etc, but here are some early shots. Please feel free to show what you've done with yours if you have one. f/13 f/3.5 f/8 Wide open (f/2), 1/30s, ISO 400, next two f/2, 1/125s, ISO 800: wide-open crop f/2.4 ISO 400: Crop: f/13

12-26-2008, 11:13 PM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by bimjo Great shot Steve. I never seem to get a good shooting day when I hit the gorge. I may have to add a 35/f2 to my list. Thanks for the kind comment. Sure thing...if you buy the lens, the Columbia Gorge will grace you with good light! On the other hand, why travel all the way downriver. Wallula Gap has some spectacular formations and it is less than half an hour away from Pasco! Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 12-27-2008 at 11:20 AM.

12-27-2008, 06:02 AM	#10
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	Not really what this lens is intended for but it was on the camera at the time. f/4, iso 1600, 1/2000 sec, K20D, Continuous focus and shutter release, cropped Hummingbird Moth Last edited by wildman; 01-29-2009 at 12:00 PM.

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12-26-2008, 09:40 AM	#2
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Well, I can see the lens went to very capable hands Probably you won't miss your FA31 if you can take similar great photos like these. Had the lens for a while before I went for the FA31. A great performer indeed.

12-26-2008, 10:10 AM	#3
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	This is my favorite lens ans stays on my K10D often. Jas

12-26-2008, 02:25 PM	#4
Deni Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tirana, Albania, South Europe, Planet Earth Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 621	Definitely the next lens on my list (or a fast 17-50mm ) and IMO then lens Pentax should bundle as a kit with it's cameras.

12-26-2008, 06:56 PM	#5
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	Loving my copy! c[_]

12-26-2008, 07:30 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Hey Jay, those are great results for your initial foray with the FA 35/2. I originally bought mine as a general walk-around lens and as a fast aperture, fast focusing "normal" on the K10D. The fact that it could also be leveraged for street use on my 35mm film body was also a plus. Nope, its not a "*" or "Limited" lens, but it has excellent optical performance and better-than-average build quality. If the FA 50/1.4 is the "value king" of currently available Pentax primes, the FA 35/2 is definitely the "value queen". My only complaint has been the relative difficulty using the manual focus with the hood attached. Here is one of my favorites taken with this lens: Steve

12-26-2008, 10:26 PM	#7
bimjo Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 967	Great shot Steve. I never seem to get a good shooting day when I hit the gorge. I may have to add a 35/f2 to my list.

12-27-2008, 01:47 AM	#9
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I have been playing with the idea of getting one for myself. At the begining when I was choosing fast-ish normal prime, I was deciding between FA35, DA40 and FA50. I went for DA40. Fabulous lens, and it did well indoors. Then by pure luck I got my hands on F50/1.7 and it showed me how much of a difference 1 or 1.5 stops make indoors. So now the argument that 35 is too close to 40 is not valid anymore. 40 would stay my main walkaround lens (I simply love it, and it took majority of my keepers since this May), but 35 and 50 would form my low light kit... now I just have to save long live LBA BR

12-28-2008, 11:35 AM	#11
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	wildman, that's one stunning shot, congrats...

12-28-2008, 12:00 PM	#12
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710	Originally posted by stevebrot Here is one of my favorites taken with this lens: Steve I was there in mid-October... Columbia River Gorge, specifically the Vista House lookout... beautiful area...

12-28-2008, 06:52 PM	#13
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Did you get the k-m to put it on so it doesn't compete with the DA 35mm ltd?

12-28-2008, 09:32 PM	#14
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237 Original Poster	Originally posted by Blue Did you get the k-m to put it on so it doesn't compete with the DA 35mm ltd? Need to keep that DA at the top of the heap, it gets jealous! Truthfully, optically this FA is probably every bit as good as the DA, and faster, just doesn't focus closer than 1:3. The DA may have better flare control, but not by much if so. The FA is a winner. .

12-29-2008, 02:26 AM	#15
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	It was a toss up originally when getting my FA50 ... with the FA35 or the FA50 .... the 50 initialy won out. BUT ... if I can find a nice FA35 ... it will be tooo tempting to get.