[stevebrot]

...new ones fetch around $550 now...

$479 ... PentaxWebstore smcP FA 35mm f/2.0 AL

Steve

(Sorry...could not resist...)

[stevebrot]

ouch ! why do you still have to say that it's ugly stepsister rather than say stepsister alone?

honestly, I don't think that it's ugly. there are a lot of Pentax lenses that can be classified as ugly, the FA35 certainly is not one of them.

Plain, yes...Ugly, no...

Steve

[robbiec]

Let me ask the question in a different way
Is the FA35 f2 good enough to replace both the DA 35 and FA31 if you were on the lba trail of a 30something?

[stevebrot]

Let me ask the question in a different way
Is the FA35 f2 good enough to replace both the DA 35 and FA31 if you were on the lba trail of a 30something?

Huh? It is a good lens, but it depends on what you want.

Consider:

• It doesn't do macro
• It is not a Limited
• It is made of plastic
• Some don't like its bokeh
• Some feel that it has no soul

Also:

• It is relatively low-priced
• It is a sterling performer in its own right
• The build is excellent...plastic does not equal shoddy
• It can be used on film bodies with no reservation
• It is light
• It is compact
• It is an endangered species to purchase new

I don't think I missed anything.

Steve

[Pentaxor]

Let me ask the question in a different way
Is the FA35 f2 good enough to replace both the DA 35 and FA31 if you were on the lba trail of a 30something?

No, but it is a great addition !

[DavidWasch]

Plain, yes...Ugly, no...

Steve

Ok, so she's plain and folks don't like her personality. She is sharp, but alone that hasn't gotten many ladies a prom date.

[Pentaxor]

Ok, so she's plain and folks don't like her personality. She is sharp, but alone that hasn't gotten many ladies a prom date.

still not so good of a description. a more fitting description would be " A HOT CHICK with a BAD ASS ATTITUDE" !!!

[pcarfan]

$479 ... PentaxWebstore smcP FA 35mm f/2.0 AL

Steve

(Sorry...could not resist...)

So, the official price is $475 then...I thought this is out of production and the shops hiked the price. If Pentax store is selling it for $475, then I guess $375 for a LN- is not bad.

[stevebrot]

So, the official price is $475 then...I thought this is out of production and the shops hiked the price. If Pentax store is selling it for $475, then I guess $375 for a LN- is not bad.

Nope, not bad at all. It is sort of discontinued. No one seems to know for sure. It is unavailable in North America except for the Pentax Web store. It is not listed with the other lenses at pentaximaging.com, but is still on the active list at Pentax Japan. Go figure...

Steve

[atiratha]

This lens has a ton of personality, is tack sharp from wide open. It's plastic build is still very solid and the design...well, very simple and functional, certainly nothing I'm ashamed to carry. One of my favourites, truly.

[egordon99]

I had the FA 35 when I shot Pentax; paid $300 for it back in May 2007. It was a nice lens.

When I switched to Canon, I picked up the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Having that extra stop is really nice, and it's just a little more bulky than the FA35. I'd look into the 30/1.4 if I were you.

Either way, they're both excellent lenses.

[pcarfan]

I had the FA 35 when I shot Pentax; paid $300 for it back in May 2007. It was a nice lens.

When I switched to Canon, I picked up the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Having that extra stop is really nice, and it's just a little more bulky than the FA35. I'd look into the 30/1.4 if I were you.

Either way, they're both excellent lenses.

I looked at the sigma 30/1.4, but from the photozone tests, it is rather soft even at f2, definitely not better than the FA24. So, I think I will run into the same problem of running NR programs and losing a lot of detail. Also, it is much larger. That's the reason for me to pick the 35, even though I'll much rather have the extra 5mm on the wide end.

[jacksonpritt]

How does the FA 35/2 compare to the FA 31/1.8?

[stevebrot]

How does the FA 35/2 compare to the FA 31/1.8?

Ask a FA 31/1.8 owner and they will tell you that the FA 35/2 is a dog with plastic build and harsh bokeh.

Ask a FA 35/2 owner and he will grant that the FA 31/1.8 is a great lens, but not worth 3x more than the FA 35/2. He will also tell you that the FA 35/2 is sharp as a tack at all apertures and is compact and light. He will then curse Pentax for phasing this fine lens out.

For some reason, this particular comparison has been hot on at least three different threads for the last week or so. Go figure...

Steve

[Pentaxor]

Ask a FA 31/1.8 owner and they will tell you that the FA 35/2 is a dog with plastic build and harsh bokeh.

Ask a FA 35/2 owner and he will grant that the FA 31/1.8 is a great lens, but not worth 3x more than the FA 35/2. He will also tell you that the FA 35/2 is sharp as a tack at all apertures and is compact and light. He will then curse Pentax for phasing this fine lens out.

For some reason, this particular comparison has been hot on at least three different threads for the last week or so. Go figure...

Steve

simple conclusion, both lenses are loved by Pentax Users. and I hate my M50/2. anyone who thinks otherwise that it is a better lens than the FA31 and FA35 is clearly delusional !