Lens Tournament: FA 31mm F1.8 Limited vs FA 43mm F1.9 Limited

Adam · 10-25-2014, 01:24 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves to Knockout Round Two. The loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results.

In this normal knockout match, and the second match of round 2, the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited faces the SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited.

Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account.
Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)

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DonThomaso · 10-25-2014, 01:55 PM

I have both, and I feel like that I may go towards the stream here, but I vote for the FA43. It was the first Limited. It already is the perfect normal (43mm). What makes both lenses stand out in a wider perspective is that they are both very small full frame lenses with AF. I find the FA43 very useful for portraits, being able to do both full body, half body and closeups. It would be a stretch to call it a normal on APS-C though, a very long one maybe.. The FA31 is a good fast normal on APS-C but it is very low value for the money unfortunately. If taking FF into account it would be a very different story.

VisualDarkness · 10-25-2014, 02:25 PM

The 43 seems to have that swirly rendering that adds some extra to the pic. The 31 on the other hand seems to be one of the smoothest rendering ~30's in a smallish package.

**monochrome** · 10-25-2014, 02:29 PM

I have both now - but only for a few weeks. I'm floored by the 43. I've yet to figure out the 31.

**wizofoz** · 10-25-2014, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

I have both now - but only for a few weeks. I'm floored by the 43. I've yet to figure out the 31.

I think I'm in the same camp, but I've had both for several years. I struggle to get the magic out of the 31 that others can achieve. I love the 43 for just about everything. Portraits, half length, head and shoulders. Nothing renders metals like the 43.

**Rondec** · 10-25-2014, 02:40 PM - **2 Likes**

I picked the 31 limited. It just has a special way of rendering...

**Pål Jensen** · 10-25-2014, 02:45 PM

Impossible to choose between these two.
However, these are the lenses that suffers the most from APS for me. They have both wonderful angles of view on the 35mm format. On APS they turn into rather awkward angle of view lenses for my use. Hence, I don't use them much anylonger. However, I find that the 77 Limited is more useful on APS than on FF.

**luftfluss** · 10-25-2014, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by Rondec

I picked the 31 limited. It just has a special way of rendering...

Damn, a leaf partially embedded in ice never looked so good...

DonThomaso · 10-25-2014, 04:55 PM - **4 Likes**

This can be my case for the FA43 then

Class A · 10-25-2014, 05:14 PM

One really should own both, but if there has to be a winner, in my book it is the FA 31/1.8. It offers truly special rendering without the temperament of the FA 43/1.9.

Outis · 10-25-2014, 05:54 PM

I've never tried the 43, but I have to point out that 80% of my shots have been taken with the 31mm. I use it for everything from landscapes to portraits to close-ups of flowers. I stick it on my camera and it goes everywhere with me.

**mikeSF** · 10-25-2014, 07:14 PM

How can these two be pitted against one another? Really so many good things to say but I really find enormous utility with the FA31 for my landscapes, panos and astro(milky way) shooting, and it renders fantastic 18-pt light stars. The FA43 makes an ordinary 8-pt star, if that is important to anybody. I love the OOF rendering of the 43 with close focused objects; it really excels here.
seriously, like having to pick your favorite child.
...but my favorite child is the FA31

---------- Post added 10-25-2014 at 07:15 PM ----------

Originally posted by DonThomaso

This can be my case for the FA43 then

stunning and it has pixie dust

LeRolls · 10-25-2014, 08:28 PM

I love both but I have to go with the 31.

langkata · 10-25-2014, 10:24 PM

Originally posted by DonThomaso

This can be my case for the FA43 then

Fantastic! After as much delay as possible, I have to sell off much of my gear including the 43. These kinds of shots make it much more painful.

**jrpower10** · 10-25-2014, 11:00 PM

Have 'em both and love 'em both, but I pick the 31. It's been my go-to lens since I acquired it.

View Poll Results: Which lens should be the winner of this match?
FA 31mm Limited	90	75.63%
FA 43mm Limited	29	24.37%
Voters: 119. You may not vote on this poll

10-25-2014, 01:24 PM	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,165	Lens Tournament: FA 31mm F1.8 Limited vs FA 43mm F1.9 Limited Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves to Knockout Round Two. The loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results. In this normal knockout match, and the second match of round 2, the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited faces the SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited. Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account. Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours. SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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10-25-2014, 01:55 PM	#2
DonThomaso Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Skåne, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 482	I have both, and I feel like that I may go towards the stream here, but I vote for the FA43. It was the first Limited. It already is the perfect normal (43mm). What makes both lenses stand out in a wider perspective is that they are both very small full frame lenses with AF. I find the FA43 very useful for portraits, being able to do both full body, half body and closeups. It would be a stretch to call it a normal on APS-C though, a very long one maybe.. The FA31 is a good fast normal on APS-C but it is very low value for the money unfortunately. If taking FF into account it would be a very different story.

10-25-2014, 02:25 PM	#3
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,438	The 43 seems to have that swirly rendering that adds some extra to the pic. The 31 on the other hand seems to be one of the smoothest rendering ~30's in a smallish package.

10-25-2014, 02:29 PM	#4
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I have both now - but only for a few weeks. I'm floored by the 43. I've yet to figure out the 31.

10-25-2014, 02:36 PM	#5
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,680	Originally posted by monochrome I have both now - but only for a few weeks. I'm floored by the 43. I've yet to figure out the 31. I think I'm in the same camp, but I've had both for several years. I struggle to get the magic out of the 31 that others can achieve. I love the 43 for just about everything. Portraits, half length, head and shoulders. Nothing renders metals like the 43.

10-25-2014, 02:40 PM - 2 Likes	#6
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,044	I picked the 31 limited. It just has a special way of rendering...

10-25-2014, 02:45 PM	#7
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,351	Impossible to choose between these two. However, these are the lenses that suffers the most from APS for me. They have both wonderful angles of view on the 35mm format. On APS they turn into rather awkward angle of view lenses for my use. Hence, I don't use them much anylonger. However, I find that the 77 Limited is more useful on APS than on FF.

10-25-2014, 04:29 PM	#8
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,640	Originally posted by Rondec I picked the 31 limited. It just has a special way of rendering... Damn, a leaf partially embedded in ice never looked so good...

10-25-2014, 04:55 PM - 4 Likes	#9
DonThomaso Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Skåne, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 482	This can be my case for the FA43 then

10-25-2014, 05:14 PM	#10
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,211	One really should own both, but if there has to be a winner, in my book it is the FA 31/1.8. It offers truly special rendering without the temperament of the FA 43/1.9.

10-25-2014, 05:54 PM	#11
Outis Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 935	I've never tried the 43, but I have to point out that 80% of my shots have been taken with the 31mm. I use it for everything from landscapes to portraits to close-ups of flowers. I stick it on my camera and it goes everywhere with me.

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10-25-2014, 07:14 PM	#12
mikeSF Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,533	How can these two be pitted against one another? Really so many good things to say but I really find enormous utility with the FA31 for my landscapes, panos and astro(milky way) shooting, and it renders fantastic 18-pt light stars. The FA43 makes an ordinary 8-pt star, if that is important to anybody. I love the OOF rendering of the 43 with close focused objects; it really excels here. seriously, like having to pick your favorite child. ...but my favorite child is the FA31 ---------- Post added 10-25-2014 at 07:15 PM ---------- Originally posted by DonThomaso This can be my case for the FA43 then stunning and it has pixie dust

10-25-2014, 08:28 PM	#13
LeRolls Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: PSL, FL Posts: 4,415	I love both but I have to go with the 31.

10-25-2014, 10:24 PM	#14
langkata Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Baton Rouge Photos: Albums Posts: 68	Originally posted by DonThomaso This can be my case for the FA43 then Fantastic! After as much delay as possible, I have to sell off much of my gear including the 43. These kinds of shots make it much more painful.

10-25-2014, 11:00 PM	#15
jrpower10 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Richland, Washington, USA Posts: 935	Have 'em both and love 'em both, but I pick the 31. It's been my go-to lens since I acquired it.