31mm Limited

benjikan · 04-06-2007, 09:56 AM

Howdy...Getting my Pentax 31 Limited next week. Looking forward to trying it out. I've heard that it makes an exceptional "Normal" lens for the 1.5 crop factor sensor, effectively being a 46.5 mm f1.8 lens.

Ben

roscot · 04-06-2007, 11:41 AM

You have heard correctly. It is one of the best lenses for 35mm ever produced. - I'm jealous.

benjikan · 04-06-2007, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by roscot

You have heard correctly. It is one of the best lenses for 35mm ever produced. - I'm jealous.

It's just a tool..no more no less. I would just like to have that coverage where the 40L might be a bit too long in the studio and the 21 a bit too wide for certain applications. I find in studio I am averaging between 25 & 45mm in 1.5 ratio. For interior location I am wider, i.e. 14-30 on average.

Ben

Finn · 04-06-2007, 05:35 PM

Originally posted by benjikan

It's just a tool..no more no less. I would just like to have that coverage where the 40L might be a bit too long in the studio and the 21 a bit too wide for certain applications. I find in studio I am averaging between 25 & 45mm in 1.5 ratio. For interior location I am wider, i.e. 14-30 on average.

Ben

It may be just a tool, but I'm still waiting on baited breath for mine to arrive next month...

Dr_Watso · 04-06-2007, 06:25 PM

I was literally just drooling over that lens on the Pentax website... They want $1149.00 US for it.

Someday...

Finn · 04-06-2007, 06:50 PM

I ordered one here: http://www.thecamerastore.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=32483

Still crazy expensive, but the exchange rate works in your favor (Sorry Canada!).

Dr_Watso · 04-06-2007, 09:02 PM

Can it really be that good at 1.8? Does anyone know where the "sweetspot" is?

roentarre · 04-07-2007, 03:04 AM

Sweet spot is around f2.4 to f4...

But at f1.8, the image is definitely sharp from centre to corner, really usable wide open unlike other competition brands.

This lens is unique in the sense that it produces more 3D feel typical of german glass quality, different from traditional Canon or Nikon images (rather flat).

Fa 31 ltd sure would give Benjikan's images another upgrade with the skills he has.

sharpshoota · 04-07-2007, 05:13 AM

very 3 dimensional feel to subjects. I love it. Since I got it - it's my favorite all - around lens and is almost always on my camera.

Thanks again to my mom for a great Christmas/birthday gift.

Lazar · 04-07-2007, 09:07 AM

I heard it's AF isn't very fast... can anyone confirm this and compare it with the FA* 24mm f2, FA 35mm f2 or FA50mm f1.4? Thanks!

sharpshoota · 04-07-2007, 09:10 AM

AF is not very fast...then again Af sucks on my K10D. I usually use it in MF just because it always focuses eiter in front or behind the subject. What crap!

benjikan · 04-07-2007, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by sharpshoota

AF is not very fast...then again Af sucks on my K10D. I usually use it in MF just because it always focuses eiter in front or behind the subject. What crap!

Since when and for how long...Get that baby looked at really. I wouldn't accept it if any of the bodies I use was chronically FF or BF'ing. That can be taken care of. Take all your lenses and the body to Pentax. I think they have an office in New York. I wouldn't be with Pentax if the problem was endemic. I had a problem with a 21 Limited and had them change it for one that "Worked"...You shouldn't have to not use the AF.

roentarre · 04-07-2007, 04:30 PM

My 31mm does not BD or FF. It works fine, relatively fast in AF. Of course this is no way faster than Fa 35 f2 which is probably the fastest lens in Pentax line up...

Asad_Masede · 04-07-2007, 04:42 PM

The 31mm is my regular normal, it's simply fantastic.

About wide open, James (roentarre) is correct, sharp corner to corner, but you wouldn't want to use it wide open in back-lit, high contrast situations unless you want to do some CA correction later on, otherwise the lens has almost no flaws to speak of.

I agree about F2.4-4 being sweet spots, I use it starting at 2.2, though.

BF, FF? Have your K10D checked ASAP, mine's perfect when it comes to AF.

Cheers,
-Asad

Dana G · 04-07-2007, 06:42 PM

I have the 31 and 77 Limiteds. They are the best lenses for 35mm or digital cameras I have ever seen. Period.

31mm is the best normal on the digitals, and the 77 is perfect for headshots.

04-06-2007, 09:56 AM	#1
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	31mm Limited Howdy...Getting my Pentax 31 Limited next week. Looking forward to trying it out. I've heard that it makes an exceptional "Normal" lens for the 1.5 crop factor sensor, effectively being a 46.5 mm f1.8 lens. Ben

04-06-2007, 01:00 PM	#3
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	Don't be jealous Originally posted by roscot You have heard correctly. It is one of the best lenses for 35mm ever produced. - I'm jealous. It's just a tool..no more no less. I would just like to have that coverage where the 40L might be a bit too long in the studio and the 21 a bit too wide for certain applications. I find in studio I am averaging between 25 & 45mm in 1.5 ratio. For interior location I am wider, i.e. 14-30 on average. Ben

04-07-2007, 05:13 AM	#9
sharpshoota Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 107	31mm is awesome. very 3 dimensional feel to subjects. I love it. Since I got it - it's my favorite all - around lens and is almost always on my camera. Thanks again to my mom for a great Christmas/birthday gift.

04-07-2007, 09:07 AM	#10
Lazar Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 126	I heard it's AF isn't very fast... can anyone confirm this and compare it with the FA* 24mm f2, FA 35mm f2 or FA50mm f1.4? Thanks! Last edited by Lazar; 04-16-2007 at 01:39 AM.

04-07-2007, 03:44 PM	#12
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	Whoa.....Wait a Second. Did I hear you correctly? Originally posted by sharpshoota AF is not very fast...then again Af sucks on my K10D. I usually use it in MF just because it always focuses eiter in front or behind the subject. What crap! Since when and for how long...Get that baby looked at really. I wouldn't accept it if any of the bodies I use was chronically FF or BF'ing. That can be taken care of. Take all your lenses and the body to Pentax. I think they have an office in New York. I wouldn't be with Pentax if the problem was endemic. I had a problem with a 21 Limited and had them change it for one that "Worked"...You shouldn't have to not use the AF.

04-06-2007, 11:41 AM	#2
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	You have heard correctly. It is one of the best lenses for 35mm ever produced. - I'm jealous.

04-06-2007, 05:35 PM	#4
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	Originally posted by benjikan It's just a tool..no more no less. I would just like to have that coverage where the 40L might be a bit too long in the studio and the 21 a bit too wide for certain applications. I find in studio I am averaging between 25 & 45mm in 1.5 ratio. For interior location I am wider, i.e. 14-30 on average. Ben It may be just a tool, but I'm still waiting on baited breath for mine to arrive next month...

04-06-2007, 06:25 PM	#5
Dr_Watso Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 65	I was literally just drooling over that lens on the Pentax website... They want $1149.00 US for it. Someday...

04-06-2007, 06:50 PM	#6
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	I ordered one here: http://www.thecamerastore.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=32483 Still crazy expensive, but the exchange rate works in your favor (Sorry Canada!).

04-06-2007, 09:02 PM	#7
Dr_Watso Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 65	Can it really be that good at 1.8? Does anyone know where the "sweetspot" is?

04-07-2007, 03:04 AM	#8
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Sweet spot is around f2.4 to f4... But at f1.8, the image is definitely sharp from centre to corner, really usable wide open unlike other competition brands. This lens is unique in the sense that it produces more 3D feel typical of german glass quality, different from traditional Canon or Nikon images (rather flat). Fa 31 ltd sure would give Benjikan's images another upgrade with the skills he has.

04-07-2007, 09:10 AM	#11
sharpshoota Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 107	AF is not very fast...then again Af sucks on my K10D. I usually use it in MF just because it always focuses eiter in front or behind the subject. What crap!

04-07-2007, 04:30 PM	#13
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	My 31mm does not BD or FF. It works fine, relatively fast in AF. Of course this is no way faster than Fa 35 f2 which is probably the fastest lens in Pentax line up...

04-07-2007, 04:42 PM	#14
Asad_Masede Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 371	The 31mm is my regular normal, it's simply fantastic. About wide open, James (roentarre) is correct, sharp corner to corner, but you wouldn't want to use it wide open in back-lit, high contrast situations unless you want to do some CA correction later on, otherwise the lens has almost no flaws to speak of. I agree about F2.4-4 being sweet spots, I use it starting at 2.2, though. BF, FF? Have your K10D checked ASAP, mine's perfect when it comes to AF. Cheers, -Asad

04-07-2007, 06:42 PM	#15
Dana G Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Masachusetts Posts: 243	I have the 31 and 77 Limiteds. They are the best lenses for 35mm or digital cameras I have ever seen. Period. 31mm is the best normal on the digitals, and the 77 is perfect for headshots.

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