FA 43mm f.19 LTD

TOUGEFC · 08-04-2010, 05:03 AM

Are you selling the smc fa 43 f1.9 limited "made in japan" copys or the "assembled in vietnam" copys?

Thanks-
Simon

builttospill · 08-04-2010, 06:40 AM

I think any retail business selling this lens as new is carrying the assembled in Vietnam versions. The made in Japan ones are only available on the used market.

DogLover · 08-04-2010, 08:05 AM

Not true! I just got a 43 from B&H less than 2 weeks ago and it's MIJ. Did I get the last one? Probably not.

builttospill · 08-04-2010, 09:55 AM

Sorry about the misinformation then. I thought all the new Limiteds were now AIV. Guess I'm wrong. Thanks.

Chuck-B&H · 08-04-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

Are you selling the smc fa 43 f1.9 limited "made in japan" copys or the "assembled in vietnam" copys?

Thanks-
Simon

Hello,

I had our Store Manager call one of the lens up from inventory and the lens is marked Made in Japan.

C h u c k C a p r i o l a
Live Chat and E-Mail Sales Manager B&H Photo-Video

Thank you, we appreciate your business.
*** Peace on Earth ***

TOUGEFC · 08-04-2010, 12:34 PM

Thank-you Chuck.

blackbirdoor · 08-08-2010, 06:08 PM

Be careful, when i called and asked if they carried the MIJ version of the 31mm, they guaranteed me that it was, even directed me to the GSA section of their site, which does and still list it as MIJ ( though that was few months ago). Seeing the price was much lower than the competition, I went ahead and bought it. Just as my suspicion proved me correct, it was an "Assembled in vietnam" version ( B&H # PE3118FAB , does have a contract number). Sent it right back and lost the shipping fee. Apparently they haven't updated their information systems to reflect actual goods they have on the shelves...

the 43mm might still be MIJ, it really depends on how much of the "old stock" MIJ still left on the shelves. From what i know, the 31mm currently in stock now is all assembed in vietnam, and same goes for 77mm that they carry.

Last edited by blackbirdoor; 08-08-2010 at 06:14 PM.

deadwolfbones · 08-08-2010, 09:50 PM

I got a MIJ 43/1.9 directly from Pentax recently, while the 77 and 31 that I also got from Pentax were MIV.

YMMV.

DogLover · 08-09-2010, 03:35 PM

I honestly think that as time goes on, the country of origin becomes less and less important. I just got an AIV 77 that leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. It's tight as a drum and seems perfect to me. I had a MIJ 77 a while back and, though there was certainly nothing wrong with it, I never could really warm up to its IQ. Not the case with the AIV one. I loved the very first shot I took with it. Now, it could be that my photographic sensibilities have "matured" over the last year or so, but if I had been as enamored with the MIJ as I am with the AIV, I never would have sold it. I think maybe they just had some typical teething problems when they moved production to Vietnam but they have it licked, now. If I ever decide to get a 31 (don't plan to at this point), it wouldn't bother me in the least to get a AIV version.

08-04-2010, 05:03 AM	#1
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	FA 43mm f.19 LTD Are you selling the smc fa 43 f1.9 limited "made in japan" copys or the "assembled in vietnam" copys? Thanks- Simon

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08-04-2010, 06:40 AM	#2
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	I think any retail business selling this lens as new is carrying the assembled in Vietnam versions. The made in Japan ones are only available on the used market.

08-04-2010, 08:05 AM	#3
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	Not true! I just got a 43 from B&H less than 2 weeks ago and it's MIJ. Did I get the last one? Probably not.

08-04-2010, 09:55 AM	#4
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	Sorry about the misinformation then. I thought all the new Limiteds were now AIV. Guess I'm wrong. Thanks.

08-04-2010, 11:09 AM	#5
Chuck-B&H B&H Photo Specialist Join Date: May 2010 Location: New York Posts: 935	Originally posted by TOUGEFC Are you selling the smc fa 43 f1.9 limited "made in japan" copys or the "assembled in vietnam" copys? Thanks- Simon Hello, I had our Store Manager call one of the lens up from inventory and the lens is marked Made in Japan. C h u c k C a p r i o l a Live Chat and E-Mail Sales Manager B&H Photo-Video Thank you, we appreciate your business. * Peace on Earth *

08-04-2010, 12:34 PM	#6
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	Thank-you Chuck.

08-08-2010, 06:08 PM	#7
blackbirdoor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Severna Park, MD Posts: 120	Be careful, when i called and asked if they carried the MIJ version of the 31mm, they guaranteed me that it was, even directed me to the GSA section of their site, which does and still list it as MIJ ( though that was few months ago). Seeing the price was much lower than the competition, I went ahead and bought it. Just as my suspicion proved me correct, it was an "Assembled in vietnam" version ( B&H # PE3118FAB , does have a contract number). Sent it right back and lost the shipping fee. Apparently they haven't updated their information systems to reflect actual goods they have on the shelves... the 43mm might still be MIJ, it really depends on how much of the "old stock" MIJ still left on the shelves. From what i know, the 31mm currently in stock now is all assembed in vietnam, and same goes for 77mm that they carry. Last edited by blackbirdoor; 08-08-2010 at 06:14 PM.

08-08-2010, 09:50 PM	#8
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	I got a MIJ 43/1.9 directly from Pentax recently, while the 77 and 31 that I also got from Pentax were MIV. YMMV.

08-09-2010, 03:35 PM	#9
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	I honestly think that as time goes on, the country of origin becomes less and less important. I just got an AIV 77 that leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. It's tight as a drum and seems perfect to me. I had a MIJ 77 a while back and, though there was certainly nothing wrong with it, I never could really warm up to its IQ. Not the case with the AIV one. I loved the very first shot I took with it. Now, it could be that my photographic sensibilities have "matured" over the last year or so, but if I had been as enamored with the MIJ as I am with the AIV, I never would have sold it. I think maybe they just had some typical teething problems when they moved production to Vietnam but they have it licked, now. If I ever decide to get a 31 (don't plan to at this point), it wouldn't bother me in the least to get a AIV version.