Originally posted by biz-engineer I'm skeptical of associating the use of some superlative glass elements with superior image properties. Some Pentax (OEM) lenses that have none of these super glass perform better than some Sigma and Tamron that claim use of a lot of ED and SLD glass. I prefer to look at the image results.
Where are full size images taken with that lens, I've only seen small size images, it's difficult to judge about the quality.
Difficult to say with any certainty until we have the lens in hand, yes there are different grades of ED glass in used lens design. The SMCP-FA31mm f/1.8 uses ED and HRLD as well as a GMo Aspheric, and the FA31 performs very well on the K-1. Considering the qualities evident in the image samples posted
so far things look promising.
Though I do see some transverse chromatic aberration present in that image in what I take to be a metal lathe control wheel. Also there is no mention of any in-camera optical corrections were used in the sample images posted.