pentax 43mm ltd

andy271 · 07-01-2018, 06:00 AM

hi guys I seen this for £359 used and couldn't resist .anyway decided to take it to a place near were I live a garden place .I didn't realise that the infinity has a hard stop so I wasn't sure how to focus .I decided to focus to the hard stop and try f8 f11 and I thought the images were ok but not that sharp at the front part of the image ..I used to use canon and allways thought anything after f11 was soft ..rember im using pixel shift here so that makes a hugh difference to sharpness ,,anyhow I tried a test today just to see if it was user error ..I dropped my tripod the other day on concreate and the bubble level part of the head is faulty that is why my images looked a bit wonky lol..so with another tripod and head I tried to focus on the furthest away object until it seemed sharp with live view and peaking .then I tried f8 ,f11, f13, then f14 ..but them in photoshop side by side and was amazed at the f14 coming from the 43mm ltd lovely and sharp from back to front so this lend that I thought was a bit iffy is now a keeper ,,I understand why people say its a lens that needs getting used to ..love the colours and the quality build I comared it to the 35mm f2.4 and there is something about the 43mm I cant put my finger on but it just has that pixie dust and 3d effect that the 35mm didn't have ,although the 35mm was pin sharp and I mean pin sharp with pixel shift the 43mm has something special ..I will get the 31mm and 77mm next but want to see the zeiss in action

**aslyfox** · 07-01-2018, 06:24 AM - **1 Like**

nice post

you might like looking at this thread

the limiteds do they live up to the reputation and why - Page 13 - PentaxForums.com

your contributions to the thread, if you want to, will be welcomed

andy271 · 07-01-2018, 07:15 AM

thx aslyfox I will do that

**twilhelm** · 07-01-2018, 07:57 AM - **1 Like**

The 43 is an amazing lens in its own rights. I started my Limiteds with the 77, and it is considered the best of the FA Limiteds.

Nice write up on the 43, and many will agree it takes some getting use to. As a Limited, as you’ve discovered, it’s designed more as image perception than for pixel peeping.

Be sure to share some of your images!

**clickclick** · 07-01-2018, 08:21 AM - **1 Like**

Play around with some different focus points besides all the way hard to infinity. There are a couple guidelines that tend to work well. One is to focus on a point about a third of the way into the image as you see it. Another similar method is to focus on a point double the distance as the closest thing you want in focus, for example, if you're shooting a field with the stone wall you'd like to be in focus as part of the scene, and it's 10 feet off, pick a spot about 20 feet away to focus on.

**kiwi_jono** · 07-01-2018, 03:03 PM - **1 Like**

Must admit I have been tempted to get a FA43 for some time now.
I get the impression that those that base the performance of the lens by pixel peeping pictures of test charts or brick walls, might be a little disappointed, however in real life use this lens delivers. A lot of it is in the colours and OOF rendering.

I might have to take the plunge myself!

Kozlok · 07-01-2018, 04:42 PM

The 43 is hands-down my favorite lens. Mine is pixel-peep sharp in the center wide open, and close-enough across the frame stopped down. The borders never catch up to the center, but I’ve decided that it is mostly because the center is so very sharp. A pretty darn sharp edge looks fuzzy in comparison, but is actually quite fine.

A WR 43 with DC motor, HD coatings and a 9 bladed round aperture would be the best lens ever

Last edited by Kozlok; 07-01-2018 at 04:48 PM.

**twilhelm** · 07-01-2018, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by Kozlok

A WR 43 with 9 bladed round aperture would be the best lens ever

Maybe we'll see that one day. Asahiman did state we'd see a rebuild of the Limiteds. Add to what you said a nice DC motor like the 20-40 has and it would be heaven...

Lucho T. · 07-29-2018, 06:42 AM

The 43 with the K-1 is a great lens. Nice and small makes it easy to carry. Very nice lens indeed!

pschlute · 07-29-2018, 07:25 AM

I have always found the sharpest settings of the 43 LTD to be f4-f5.6.

As others have pointed out, the lens is plenty sharp, but, like the other LTD lenses that is not it's main feature. The rendering and "pop" is what marks these lenses out.

If you have not done so so already I urge you to do an Autofocus Fine Adjustment , not just with this but all your lenses. I had problems with my 31mm LTD until i discovered the fine tune. Night and day.

chima chinda · 08-24-2018, 12:20 PM - **2 Likes**

The 43 LTD doesn't fare well against the new 50* though.

You Tube

**TedH42** · 08-24-2018, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by chima chinda

The 43 LTD doesn't fare well against the new 50* though.

Certainly beats it in less weight, for those of us with aching shoulders.

aaacb · 08-24-2018, 01:48 PM

I had the da 35 2.4 and I have the fa 43. I agree with your post, it's an entirely different class in how they render. As the video above shows ~20 years is a lot in lens design and the new dfa* is great, but I for my use the fa 43 is strikes the right balance of image quality, max aperture, weight and build quality.

**twilhelm** · 08-24-2018, 05:12 PM - **1 Like**

As great as the D FA 50 is, there will always be a spot in my bag for the FA 43

Sandy Hancock · 08-24-2018, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by andy271

Hi guys! I saw this for £359 used and couldn't resist.

Anyway decided to take it to a place near were I live - a garden place. I didn't realise that the infinity has a hard stop, so I wasn't sure how to focus. I decided to focus to the hard stop and try f8 and f11, and I thought the images were OK but not that sharp at the front part of the image.

I used to use Canon, and always thought anything after f11 was soft. Remember I'm using pixel shift here so that makes a huge difference to sharpness. Anyhow I tried a test today just to see if it was user error; I dropped my tripod the other day on concrete and the bubble level part of the head is faulty - that is why my images looked a bit wonky lol.

So with another tripod and head, I tried to focus on the furthest away object until it seemed sharp with live view and peaking, then I tried f8, f11, f13, then f14. I put them in photoshop side by side and was amazed at the f14 coming from the 43mm ltd lovely and sharp from back to front.

So this lens that I thought was a bit iffy is now a keeper; I understand why people say it's a lens that needs getting used to. Love the colours and the quality build. I compared it to the 35mm f2.4 and there is something about the 43mm I can't put my finger on, but it just has that pixie dust and 3d effect that the 35mm didn't have, although the 35mm was pin sharp and I mean pin sharp with pixel shift. The 43mm has something special. I will get the 31mm and 77mm next but want to see the Zeiss in action

It seems like you've learned some valuable lessons about hyperfocal shooting. Without seeing the images, I suspect you'll get even better results if you focus on something about a third of the way into the scene rather than at the back.

Enjoy your FA43! It is certainly a lovely compact lens with special (but occasionally quirky) rendering. I think you'll be even more impressed with the 31 and 77

To which Zeiss are you referring?

07-01-2018, 06:00 AM	#1
andy271 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 192	pentax 43mm ltd hi guys I seen this for £359 used and couldn't resist .anyway decided to take it to a place near were I live a garden place .I didn't realise that the infinity has a hard stop so I wasn't sure how to focus .I decided to focus to the hard stop and try f8 f11 and I thought the images were ok but not that sharp at the front part of the image ..I used to use canon and allways thought anything after f11 was soft ..rember im using pixel shift here so that makes a hugh difference to sharpness ,,anyhow I tried a test today just to see if it was user error ..I dropped my tripod the other day on concreate and the bubble level part of the head is faulty that is why my images looked a bit wonky lol..so with another tripod and head I tried to focus on the furthest away object until it seemed sharp with live view and peaking .then I tried f8 ,f11, f13, then f14 ..but them in photoshop side by side and was amazed at the f14 coming from the 43mm ltd lovely and sharp from back to front so this lend that I thought was a bit iffy is now a keeper ,,I understand why people say its a lens that needs getting used to ..love the colours and the quality build I comared it to the 35mm f2.4 and there is something about the 43mm I cant put my finger on but it just has that pixie dust and 3d effect that the 35mm didn't have ,although the 35mm was pin sharp and I mean pin sharp with pixel shift the 43mm has something special ..I will get the 31mm and 77mm next but want to see the zeiss in action

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: For Sale: 43mm F1.8 SMC FA Ltd (sold), 77mm F1.8 SMC FA Ltd (sold)	Imagination4	Sold Items	6	01-23-2017 11:59 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax DA 15mm Ltd $320, DA 35mm Macro Ltd $320 (Sold), DA 70mm Ltd $360	Imagination4	Sold Items	4	09-20-2016 03:38 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax K-1 + FA 31mm Ltd. + FA 77mm Ltd. + DA 15mm Ltd.	parkjoo000	Sold Items	3	08-23-2016 05:57 PM
For Sale - Sold: DA21 Ltd, DA40 Ltd, DA70 Ltd, plus Ltd Case	rfortson	Sold Items	19	11-09-2012 06:24 PM

07-01-2018, 06:24 AM - 1 Like	#2
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,576	nice post you might like looking at this thread the limiteds do they live up to the reputation and why - Page 13 - PentaxForums.com your contributions to the thread, if you want to, will be welcomed

07-01-2018, 07:15 AM	#3
andy271 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 192 Original Poster	thx aslyfox I will do that

07-01-2018, 07:57 AM - 1 Like	#4
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	The 43 is an amazing lens in its own rights. I started my Limiteds with the 77, and it is considered the best of the FA Limiteds. Nice write up on the 43, and many will agree it takes some getting use to. As a Limited, as you’ve discovered, it’s designed more as image perception than for pixel peeping. Be sure to share some of your images!

07-01-2018, 08:21 AM - 1 Like	#5
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Play around with some different focus points besides all the way hard to infinity. There are a couple guidelines that tend to work well. One is to focus on a point about a third of the way into the image as you see it. Another similar method is to focus on a point double the distance as the closest thing you want in focus, for example, if you're shooting a field with the stone wall you'd like to be in focus as part of the scene, and it's 10 feet off, pick a spot about 20 feet away to focus on.

07-01-2018, 03:03 PM - 1 Like	#6
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Must admit I have been tempted to get a FA43 for some time now. I get the impression that those that base the performance of the lens by pixel peeping pictures of test charts or brick walls, might be a little disappointed, however in real life use this lens delivers. A lot of it is in the colours and OOF rendering. I might have to take the plunge myself!

07-01-2018, 04:42 PM	#7
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	The 43 is hands-down my favorite lens. Mine is pixel-peep sharp in the center wide open, and close-enough across the frame stopped down. The borders never catch up to the center, but I’ve decided that it is mostly because the center is so very sharp. A pretty darn sharp edge looks fuzzy in comparison, but is actually quite fine. A WR 43 with DC motor, HD coatings and a 9 bladed round aperture would be the best lens ever Last edited by Kozlok; 07-01-2018 at 04:48 PM.

07-01-2018, 04:47 PM	#8
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	Originally posted by Kozlok A WR 43 with 9 bladed round aperture would be the best lens ever Maybe we'll see that one day. Asahiman did state we'd see a rebuild of the Limiteds. Add to what you said a nice DC motor like the 20-40 has and it would be heaven...

07-29-2018, 06:42 AM	#9
Lucho T. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 33	The 43 with the K-1 is a great lens. Nice and small makes it easy to carry. Very nice lens indeed!

07-29-2018, 07:25 AM	#10
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,182	I have always found the sharpest settings of the 43 LTD to be f4-f5.6. As others have pointed out, the lens is plenty sharp, but, like the other LTD lenses that is not it's main feature. The rendering and "pop" is what marks these lenses out. If you have not done so so already I urge you to do an Autofocus Fine Adjustment , not just with this but all your lenses. I had problems with my 31mm LTD until i discovered the fine tune. Night and day.

08-24-2018, 01:44 PM	#12
TedH42 F/8 & Somewhere Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,412	Originally posted by chima chinda The 43 LTD doesn't fare well against the new 50* though. Certainly beats it in less weight, for those of us with aching shoulders.

08-24-2018, 01:48 PM	#13
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,723	I had the da 35 2.4 and I have the fa 43. I agree with your post, it's an entirely different class in how they render. As the video above shows ~20 years is a lot in lens design and the new dfa* is great, but I for my use the fa 43 is strikes the right balance of image quality, max aperture, weight and build quality.

08-24-2018, 05:12 PM - 1 Like	#14
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	As great as the D FA 50 is, there will always be a spot in my bag for the FA 43

08-24-2018, 05:55 PM	#15
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,267	Originally posted by andy271 Hi guys! I saw this for £359 used and couldn't resist. Anyway decided to take it to a place near were I live - a garden place. I didn't realise that the infinity has a hard stop, so I wasn't sure how to focus. I decided to focus to the hard stop and try f8 and f11, and I thought the images were OK but not that sharp at the front part of the image. I used to use Canon, and always thought anything after f11 was soft. Remember I'm using pixel shift here so that makes a huge difference to sharpness. Anyhow I tried a test today just to see if it was user error; I dropped my tripod the other day on concrete and the bubble level part of the head is faulty - that is why my images looked a bit wonky lol. So with another tripod and head, I tried to focus on the furthest away object until it seemed sharp with live view and peaking, then I tried f8, f11, f13, then f14. I put them in photoshop side by side and was amazed at the f14 coming from the 43mm ltd lovely and sharp from back to front. So this lens that I thought was a bit iffy is now a keeper; I understand why people say it's a lens that needs getting used to. Love the colours and the quality build. I compared it to the 35mm f2.4 and there is something about the 43mm I can't put my finger on, but it just has that pixie dust and 3d effect that the 35mm didn't have, although the 35mm was pin sharp and I mean pin sharp with pixel shift. The 43mm has something special. I will get the 31mm and 77mm next but want to see the Zeiss in action It seems like you've learned some valuable lessons about hyperfocal shooting. Without seeing the images, I suspect you'll get even better results if you focus on something about a third of the way into the scene rather than at the back. Enjoy your FA43! It is certainly a lovely compact lens with special (but occasionally quirky) rendering. I think you'll be even more impressed with the 31 and 77 To which Zeiss are you referring?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search