[Smolk]

I've struggled to like the 31

Because of flare, or character?

[Belnan]

Because of flare, or character?

Bad attitude?

[BarryE]

Because of flare, or character?

Don't really know, to be honest. The flaring has been an issue, limiting the landscape options. The 77mm is my favourite lens and the 43mm is also nice, except for shutter shake issues, but the 31mm has never really lived up to the acclaim, for me. So I like the Limited primes.

Maybe I've managed fewer keepers with the 31mm? Maybe the greater sky and the resulting flaring puts me off? It's lovely to use, however. As I said earlier I'm exploring using the 15-30 for landscapes, especially woodland, which is where I mainly focus. I've been taking out the 15-30 and the 31, using the 15-30 to start with and swapping over to the 31 to compare. Maybe I'll become fonder of it over time ...

[nonpigliounoshoot]

In Italy I still don't see anything for sale

[Smolk]

Don't really know, to be honest. The flaring has been an issue, limiting the landscape options. The 77mm is my favourite lens and the 43mm is also nice, except for shutter shake issues, but the 31mm has never really lived up to the acclaim, for me. So I like the Limited primes.

Maybe I've managed fewer keepers with the 31mm? Maybe the greater sky and the resulting flaring puts me off? It's lovely to use, however. As I said earlier I'm exploring using the 15-30 for landscapes, especially woodland, which is where I mainly focus. I've been taking out the 15-30 and the 31, using the 15-30 to start with and swapping over to the 31 to compare. Maybe I'll become fonder of it over time ...

Thanks. I have the K 2/28mm (Hollywood), so I don't think I'll purchase the 31mm, also because I see less need for AF with this focal distance. But the 77mm might be different, more need for AF, and I am hoping HD coating will reduce purple flare. (I have the 43 Ltd, and 21/40 Ltd, but the latter two I never tried. Two of these lenses I won in an auction.)

[robjmitchell]

Don't really know, to be honest. The flaring has been an issue, limiting the landscape options. The 77mm is my favourite lens and the 43mm is also nice, except for shutter shake issues, but the 31mm has never really lived up to the acclaim, for me. So I like the Limited primes.

Maybe I've managed fewer keepers with the 31mm? Maybe the greater sky and the resulting flaring puts me off? It's lovely to use, however. As I said earlier I'm exploring using the 15-30 for landscapes, especially woodland, which is where I mainly focus. I've been taking out the 15-30 and the 31, using the 15-30 to start with and swapping over to the 31 to compare. Maybe I'll become fonder of it over time ...

I’ve never been quite able to justify the 31 despite lusting over it. If the HD version controls flare like expected then I may be having an expensive year.

[Smolk]

I’ve never been quite able to justify the 31 despite lusting over it. If the HD version controls flare like expected then I may be having an expensive year.

The same here. I should say that on APS-C, 31mm with AF is nice to have. We'll see. I'm first going to test the lenses that I have.

[didar56]

I have all the originals, but I am still tempted.

[thibs]

Maybe time to get an FA limited, at last....

[Serkevan]

Maybe time to get an FA limited, at last....

Don't. It's a trap. Theres no "*a* Limited". My 77 started saying she wanted a sibling and now both her and the 43 are asking "when 21"

(In my defense I got both together for 700€)

[ffking]

Don't. It's a trap. Theres no "*a* Limited".

- too true - but actually they know what's best for you - they're only trying to improve your enjoyment of photography

[ffking]

Btw - regarding the 31 - it really depends what you want it for and what you want from your photography - for me it's a great street-style walkabout on FF - but technical considerations (like flare, aberrations etc) really don't matter there, and it has great rendering/character that gives your pics a distinctive look.

[house]

Someone really needs to do a proper FA 31 vs FA 35 shootout. Perhaps its already done. Would be great if done by someone who knows the lenses well.

[Flying633]

Someone really needs to do a proper FA 31 vs FA 35 shootout. Perhaps its already done. Would be great if done by someone who knows the lenses well.

I’d like to see that...

[Ishpuini]

Someone really needs to do a proper FA 31 vs FA 35 shootout. Perhaps its already done. Would be great if done by someone who knows the lenses well.

I used to have a FA35/2, and used it intensively when I was doing my digital art photography degree. Esp the first year we were only allowed to use the focal length of 35mm (everyone in my class was using APS-C in those early days of digital, FF being too expensive for "students"). I was one of the few that had a prime to fit that requirement. It was a very interesting exercise to do all assignments with just one lens, and my photographic eye was greatly improved by that.
As of the second year we were liberated of the 35mm limitation, and once I could afford to I purchased the FA31/1.8 because the FA35/2 had always felt too strict to me. The difference in optics didn't make much difference to me then, but the 4mm difference in focal length felt huge.
I no longer have the FA35/2, but the DA35/2.8 macro is now part of my kit next to the FA31/1.8. I consider these very different lenses.

I remember my teacher telling my fellow kitlens-using students to put sticky tape on their lenses at the 35mm position. Perhaps the best way to find out the difference is to do exactly that, and go some time with the sticky tape at 31mm and then some at 35mm?

Wim