FA 35mm f/2.0 availability

cousinsane · 04-03-2009, 10:11 AM

That's very sad. So Pentax doesn't have any cheap and fast normal lens on digital anymore. The FA31 is not cheap. The DA35 is not very fast. The FA43 is a little too long on digital.

EDIT: Forgot about DA40. It's cheap, not so fast and normal-ish. Wish Pentax would come out with a DA28 F2, no star, no limited, just plain DA.

Originally posted by WerTicus

This lens is now discontinued? Set to be a collectors item if its true.

Last edited by cousinsane; 04-03-2009 at 10:22 AM.

Damn Brit · 04-03-2009, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by cousinsane

That's very sad. So Pentax doesn't have any cheap and fast normal lens on digital anymore. The FA31 is not cheap. The DA35 is not very fast. The FA43 is a little too long on digital.

FA 50 f/1.4

cousinsane · 04-03-2009, 10:23 AM

key word, "On Digital"

Originally posted by Damn Brit

FA 50 f/1.4

Robert S Donovan · 04-03-2009, 12:18 PM

Here's hoping they are cooking up a fast and affordable DA (Limited or otherwise) to slot between the 21 and 40. My fear is that it won't be fast enough for me. For some reason Pentax's DAs don't get much below f/2.8...

superfuzzy · 04-03-2009, 01:52 PM

I got one from BH last month. So far I'm very pleased with the lens. Fast focusing on k20d and sharp wide open. This lens is pretty small, and is a real keeper!

legacyb4 · 04-03-2009, 01:59 PM

Well, there was talk about the DA 30mm which they officially dropped a few months back...

I'm making do with an FA 28 and FA 35 in the meantime...

Originally posted by Robert S Donovan

Here's hoping they are cooking up a fast and affordable DA (Limited or otherwise) to slot between the 21 and 40. My fear is that it won't be fast enough for me. For some reason Pentax's DAs don't get much below f/2.8...

stevebrot · 04-03-2009, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by WerTicus

This lens is now discontinued? Set to be a collectors item if its true.

Pentax | Wide Angle 35mm f/2.0 SMCP-FA AL Autofocus Lens | 22190

"# Important Notice!
# This item has been discontinued and is no longer available"

Adorama still has stock:

22190 Pentax SMCP-FA 35mm f/2.0 AL Wide Angle Auto Focus Lens

**monochrome** · 04-03-2009, 03:19 PM

I dare you to take it OFF once you mount it. Once I got mine the K-mount kind of morphed into a perma-35-mount

Marc Sabatella · 04-03-2009, 03:32 PM

There's been talk of this lens being discontinued for *years*. My guess is that Pentax has thousands of them in a warehouse and has no plans to make more because they've got they ever think they'd be able to sell. Same with the FA50/1.4.

ILoveVerdi · 04-03-2009, 04:44 PM

Wait a sec. So I'm kind of new to this, but I don't remember seeing the FA 35 on Pentax' website. If this is just being discontinued, why wouldn't it be there several months ago when I first started researching lenses? I guess I could have missed it.

Do they still manufacture lenses that they don't advertise on their own site?

Robert S Donovan · 04-03-2009, 08:12 PM

Originally posted by ILoveVerdi

Wait a sec. So I'm kind of new to this, but I don't remember seeing the FA 35 on Pentax' website. If this is just being discontinued, why wouldn't it be there several months ago when I first started researching lenses? I guess I could have missed it.

Do they still manufacture lenses that they don't advertise on their own site?

That wouldn't make much business sense. They are probably just trying to sell through old stock as Marc suggests.

stevebrot · 04-03-2009, 08:29 PM

I bought my FA 35/2 about a year ago and read that evening a report on this forum that the lens had been discontinued. Since that time the rumor continued to surface in one form or another with the root usually being that the lens is missing from one list or another or that a dealer was out of stock. There have been similar rumors regarding the FA 50/1.4.

Now, for the first time, one of the dealers (B&H) is actually stating that the lens is discontinued. I would suggest a moment of silence to morn the passing of the former Pentax value queen. No lens in the line-up provided so much for so little money. At least we can be thankful that the price has remained low right up until the end.

For those of you who have been considering purchase of the FA 35/2, now is the time to act and buy while legitimate stock is still available.

Steve

stevebrot · 04-03-2009, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by ILoveVerdi

Wait a sec. So I'm kind of new to this, but I don't remember seeing the FA 35 on Pentax' website. If this is just being discontinued, why wouldn't it be there several months ago when I first started researching lenses? I guess I could have missed it.

Do they still manufacture lenses that they don't advertise on their own site?

The FA 35/2 was present on the Pentax USA Web site (pentaximaging.com) up until the recent site redesign. As for actual time for product "end-of-life", that is kind of hard to pin down in the camera world. Rumor has it that the last of the FA 50/1.4 and FA 35/2 lenses were made several years ago (five according to Dimitrov) and that sales have been sustained from warehouse stock since then.

Steve

palmor · 04-03-2009, 08:58 PM

Congrats on the new lens. I have had one for a few years and love it, I use it a lot more then my FA50 f/1.4.

John

**monochrome** · 04-03-2009, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

The FA 35/2 was present on the Pentax USA Web site (pentaximaging.com) up until the recent site redesign. As for actual time for product "end-of-life", that is kind of hard to pin down in the camera world. Rumor has it that the last of the FA 50/1.4 and FA 35/2 lenses were made several years ago (five according to Dimitrov) and that sales have been sustained from warehouse stock since then.

Steve

FWIW, as of this evening the FA50 is still on the Pentax Store website.

04-03-2009, 01:52 PM	#20
superfuzzy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ, USA (close to NYC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 278	Got it in time! I got one from BH last month. So far I'm very pleased with the lens. Fast focusing on k20d and sharp wide open. This lens is pretty small, and is a real keeper!

04-03-2009, 03:02 PM	#22
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Some places still have stock!! Originally posted by WerTicus This lens is now discontinued? Set to be a collectors item if its true. Pentax \| Wide Angle 35mm f/2.0 SMCP-FA AL Autofocus Lens \| 22190 "# Important Notice! # This item has been discontinued and is no longer available" Adorama still has stock: 22190 Pentax SMCP-FA 35mm f/2.0 AL Wide Angle Auto Focus Lens

04-03-2009, 03:19 PM	#23
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I dare you to take it OFF once you mount it. Once I got mine the K-mount kind of morphed into a perma-35-mount Last edited by monochrome; 04-03-2009 at 08:17 PM.

04-03-2009, 08:41 PM	#28
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by ILoveVerdi Wait a sec. So I'm kind of new to this, but I don't remember seeing the FA 35 on Pentax' website. If this is just being discontinued, why wouldn't it be there several months ago when I first started researching lenses? I guess I could have missed it. Do they still manufacture lenses that they don't advertise on their own site? The FA 35/2 was present on the Pentax USA Web site (pentaximaging.com) up until the recent site redesign. As for actual time for product "end-of-life", that is kind of hard to pin down in the camera world. Rumor has it that the last of the FA 50/1.4 and FA 35/2 lenses were made several years ago (five according to Dimitrov) and that sales have been sustained from warehouse stock since then. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 04-03-2009 at 08:47 PM.

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04-03-2009, 10:11 AM	#16
cousinsane Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: madison Posts: 239	That's very sad. So Pentax doesn't have any cheap and fast normal lens on digital anymore. The FA31 is not cheap. The DA35 is not very fast. The FA43 is a little too long on digital. EDIT: Forgot about DA40. It's cheap, not so fast and normal-ish. Wish Pentax would come out with a DA28 F2, no star, no limited, just plain DA. Originally posted by WerTicus This lens is now discontinued? Set to be a collectors item if its true. Last edited by cousinsane; 04-03-2009 at 10:22 AM.

04-03-2009, 10:16 AM	#17
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by cousinsane That's very sad. So Pentax doesn't have any cheap and fast normal lens on digital anymore. The FA31 is not cheap. The DA35 is not very fast. The FA43 is a little too long on digital. FA 50 f/1.4

04-03-2009, 10:23 AM	#18
cousinsane Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: madison Posts: 239	key word, "On Digital" Originally posted by Damn Brit FA 50 f/1.4

04-03-2009, 12:18 PM	#19
Robert S Donovan Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Anderson, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 361 Original Poster	Here's hoping they are cooking up a fast and affordable DA (Limited or otherwise) to slot between the 21 and 40. My fear is that it won't be fast enough for me. For some reason Pentax's DAs don't get much below f/2.8...

04-03-2009, 01:59 PM	#21
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Well, there was talk about the DA 30mm which they officially dropped a few months back... I'm making do with an FA 28 and FA 35 in the meantime... Originally posted by Robert S Donovan Here's hoping they are cooking up a fast and affordable DA (Limited or otherwise) to slot between the 21 and 40. My fear is that it won't be fast enough for me. For some reason Pentax's DAs don't get much below f/2.8...

04-03-2009, 03:32 PM	#24
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	There's been talk of this lens being discontinued for years. My guess is that Pentax has thousands of them in a warehouse and has no plans to make more because they've got they ever think they'd be able to sell. Same with the FA50/1.4.

04-03-2009, 04:44 PM	#25
ILoveVerdi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI. USA. Earth. Posts: 139	Wait a sec. So I'm kind of new to this, but I don't remember seeing the FA 35 on Pentax' website. If this is just being discontinued, why wouldn't it be there several months ago when I first started researching lenses? I guess I could have missed it. Do they still manufacture lenses that they don't advertise on their own site?

04-03-2009, 08:12 PM	#26
Robert S Donovan Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Anderson, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 361 Original Poster	Originally posted by ILoveVerdi Wait a sec. So I'm kind of new to this, but I don't remember seeing the FA 35 on Pentax' website. If this is just being discontinued, why wouldn't it be there several months ago when I first started researching lenses? I guess I could have missed it. Do they still manufacture lenses that they don't advertise on their own site? That wouldn't make much business sense. They are probably just trying to sell through old stock as Marc suggests.

04-03-2009, 08:29 PM	#27
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I bought my FA 35/2 about a year ago and read that evening a report on this forum that the lens had been discontinued. Since that time the rumor continued to surface in one form or another with the root usually being that the lens is missing from one list or another or that a dealer was out of stock. There have been similar rumors regarding the FA 50/1.4. Now, for the first time, one of the dealers (B&H) is actually stating that the lens is discontinued. I would suggest a moment of silence to morn the passing of the former Pentax value queen. No lens in the line-up provided so much for so little money. At least we can be thankful that the price has remained low right up until the end. For those of you who have been considering purchase of the FA 35/2, now is the time to act and buy while legitimate stock is still available. Steve

04-03-2009, 08:58 PM	#29
palmor Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North of Boston, MA Posts: 798	Congrats on the new lens. I have had one for a few years and love it, I use it a lot more then my FA50 f/1.4. John

04-03-2009, 09:01 PM	#30
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by stevebrot The FA 35/2 was present on the Pentax USA Web site (pentaximaging.com) up until the recent site redesign. As for actual time for product "end-of-life", that is kind of hard to pin down in the camera world. Rumor has it that the last of the FA 50/1.4 and FA 35/2 lenses were made several years ago (five according to Dimitrov) and that sales have been sustained from warehouse stock since then. Steve FWIW, as of this evening the FA50 is still on the Pentax Store website.