[stevebrot]

Guess what lens is listed again on the Ricoh/Pentax USA Web site?

FA 35mm F2.0 AL | Ricoh Imaging

Surprise!!!

Double surprise is the price at $349 USD




Steve

[6BQ5]

Awesome! I wonder if this is Ricoh ramping up production or clearing out old stock to make room for something new?

[ogl]

This lens was never disappeared from Pentax current line of lenses and official PDF files with description of lenses.

[clackers]

The poor man's FA31!

An outstanding little lens, really.

[beachgardener]

seems not available CRK Au

Edit: I would consider buying new if available

[6BQ5]

This lens was never disappeared from Pentax current line of lenses and official PDF files with description of lenses.

I think it's just that Ricoh/Pentax didn't seem to make much effort to sell the lens in a market like North America. Seeing it easily available in the US is pretty cool!

[david94903]

Excellent lens! I bought mine back in 2007 when I purchased my K20d. I wanted something equivalent to the APS-C nifty-fifty. It does not get as much use as it should.

[stevebrot]

This lens was never disappeared from Pentax current line of lenses and official PDF files with description of lenses.

But it has been absent from the N. America market for the last year or so. (I don't remember exactly when it disappeared.) For some reason they chose to not import the FA 35/2, despite its being readily available in Asia. Its absence from the lineup here was a source of considerable frustration to Pentax shooters in this part of the world, particularly with the release of the K-1, but now it is magically back.

FWIW, there was an earlier gap when both the FA 35/2 and FA 50/1.4 were officially listed as discontinued for all markets except Japan. That continued for several years around 2010.


Steve

[stevebrot]

The poor man's FA31!

An outstanding little lens, really.

Mine was my primary walk-around until I got the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4 (C) and is still my preferred prime for working light with the K-3. I shoot it with 35mm film for street and urban photography. The light weight and compact form work really well with my smaller 35mm bodies.


Steve

[a5m]

Credit goes to rgknief60 who pointed this out in the Pentax Deals section of the Marketplace. If he didn't I don't think anyone would have ever noticed .

[ogl]

But it has been absent from the N. America market for the last year or so. (I don't remember exactly when it disappeared.) For some reason they chose to not import the FA 35/2, despite its being readily available in Asia. Its absence from the lineup here was a source of considerable frustration to Pentax shooters in this part of the world, particularly with the release of the K-1, but now it is magically back.

FWIW, there was an earlier gap when both the FA 35/2 and FA 50/1.4 were officially listed as discontinued for all markets except Japan. That continued for several years around 2010.


Steve

Very strange...But It seems to me I saw this lens at BHPhoto many times...

[6BQ5]

Very strange...But It seems to me I saw this lens at BHPhoto many times...

It would appear every now and then but not often. The lens certainly wasn't available as readily as the DA 35mm f/2.4.

[BigMackCam]

It has been available without interruption, and continues to be available as a regular stock item from most Pentax dealers here in the UK. Expensive, though - best price at the moment is £419, though it briefly dipped to £304.18 from Amazon in April...

[jddwoods]

For the last few years B&H had it in stock but it seems to have disappeared from their inventory sometime within the last 12 months. I have never seen it on Adoramas website. It will be interesting to see if it comes back in stock at B&H.

[monochrome]

It is a mystery. I suppose there is enough demand to continue making the lens elements, but why keep using SMC and making the ancient plastic barrels?