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Hippone · 10-29-2014, 04:09 AM

Incredible results with a large lead for the FA 31mm .
well-deserved

Sandy Hancock · 10-29-2014, 04:12 AM

No surprise at all.

Hippone · 10-29-2014, 04:21 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

No surprise at all.

Altogether

**nicoprod** · 10-29-2014, 04:58 AM

FA 31 my precious...

DSims · 10-29-2014, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

One can always go to Bondurant or Skip Barber or SCCA and learn how to drive.

Not sure how this applies or where you were going with this.

My point was that the FA31's unique and finicky qualities kind of prove it's the better lens.

**monochrome** · 10-29-2014, 11:26 AM

Originally posted by DSims

Not sure how this applies or where you were going with this.

My point was that the FA31's unique and finicky qualities kind of prove it's the better lens.

It is a more challenging lens to master just as a high-performance car is a more challenging car to drive (well and/or safely) - but a motivated person has resources and can learn to use the FA31 with practice and application. The question becomes whether an owner wants to look cool on the boulevard (mount the lens) or really drive a car to its potential (learn to shoot the FA31).

Also in there somewhere I implied 'good' is relative, so better must also be relative.

**nicoprod** · 10-29-2014, 12:22 PM

I'm surprised every time I hear that the 31 is hard to use properly... It's a 31, if you want a portrait open it and get in his/her face.

**hjoseph7** · 01-04-2015, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by Rondec

True. In practice, unless you actively turn your lens to infinity before using auto focus, the 35 takes longer. It is brutal on a body like the K-01. I agree about the focus limiter, but for whatever reason, Pentax has decided to forgo those (the DFA 100 macro could use one too).

You got to be kidding me ? we are talking f1.8vs f2.8. The 31mm let's in 4 times more light.

**Rondec** · 01-05-2015, 03:37 AM

Originally posted by hjoseph7

You got to be kidding me ? we are talking f1.8vs f2.8. The 31mm let's in 4 times more light.

Were you responding to me? My comments have to do with the slowness of auto focus of macro lenses that don't have a focus limiter, not with light gathering. The FA 31 is a stop and a half faster than the DA 35 limited, so you aren't quite right, but close enough, I guess.

**Digitalis** · 01-05-2015, 04:23 AM

Originally posted by nicoprod

t's a 31, if you want a portrait open it and get in his/her face.

Poor advice.

I find the Pentax FA31mm f/1.8 Limited is best suited to environmental portraiture, a half length portrait is as close as I would be comfortable with on the FA31. The FA77 is better for tighter framing and headshots on APS-C and FX format. I only have the FA43 in LTM and it does OK for portraits, personally I prefer the summilux-m 75mm f/1.4 or the Konica Hexanon 90mm f/2.8 for portraits on full frame M bodies.

Pentax K10D - SMCP-FA31mm f/1.8 ASPH Limited @ f/2.8

**nicoprod** · 01-05-2015, 08:31 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by Digitalis

Poor advice

It works for me.

View Poll Results: Which lens should advance to the next round?
FA 31mm F1.8 Limited	124	72.51%
DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro	47	27.49%
Voters: 171. You may not vote on this poll

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10-29-2014, 04:09 AM	#16
Hippone Pentaxian Join Date: May 2013 Location: Some where in time !! Posts: 693	Incredible results with a large lead for the FA 31mm . well-deserved

10-29-2014, 04:12 AM	#17
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	No surprise at all.

10-29-2014, 04:21 AM	#18
Hippone Pentaxian Join Date: May 2013 Location: Some where in time !! Posts: 693	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock No surprise at all. Altogether

10-29-2014, 04:58 AM	#19
nicoprod Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Berlin, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	FA 31 my precious...

10-29-2014, 09:28 AM	#20
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by monochrome One can always go to Bondurant or Skip Barber or SCCA and learn how to drive. Not sure how this applies or where you were going with this. My point was that the FA31's unique and finicky qualities kind of prove it's the better lens.

10-29-2014, 11:26 AM	#21
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by DSims Not sure how this applies or where you were going with this. My point was that the FA31's unique and finicky qualities kind of prove it's the better lens. It is a more challenging lens to master just as a high-performance car is a more challenging car to drive (well and/or safely) - but a motivated person has resources and can learn to use the FA31 with practice and application. The question becomes whether an owner wants to look cool on the boulevard (mount the lens) or really drive a car to its potential (learn to shoot the FA31). Also in there somewhere I implied 'good' is relative, so better must also be relative.

10-29-2014, 12:22 PM	#22
nicoprod Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Berlin, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	I'm surprised every time I hear that the 31 is hard to use properly... It's a 31, if you want a portrait open it and get in his/her face.

01-04-2015, 08:35 PM	#23
hjoseph7 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,048	Originally posted by Rondec True. In practice, unless you actively turn your lens to infinity before using auto focus, the 35 takes longer. It is brutal on a body like the K-01. I agree about the focus limiter, but for whatever reason, Pentax has decided to forgo those (the DFA 100 macro could use one too). You got to be kidding me ? we are talking f1.8vs f2.8. The 31mm let's in 4 times more light.

01-05-2015, 03:37 AM	#24
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,665	Originally posted by hjoseph7 You got to be kidding me ? we are talking f1.8vs f2.8. The 31mm let's in 4 times more light. Were you responding to me? My comments have to do with the slowness of auto focus of macro lenses that don't have a focus limiter, not with light gathering. The FA 31 is a stop and a half faster than the DA 35 limited, so you aren't quite right, but close enough, I guess.

01-05-2015, 04:23 AM	#25
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by nicoprod t's a 31, if you want a portrait open it and get in his/her face. Poor advice. I find the Pentax FA31mm f/1.8 Limited is best suited to environmental portraiture, a half length portrait is as close as I would be comfortable with on the FA31. The FA77 is better for tighter framing and headshots on APS-C and FX format. I only have the FA43 in LTM and it does OK for portraits, personally I prefer the summilux-m 75mm f/1.4 or the Konica Hexanon 90mm f/2.8 for portraits on full frame M bodies. Pentax K10D - SMCP-FA31mm f/1.8 ASPH Limited @ f/2.8

01-05-2015, 08:31 AM - 3 Likes	#26
nicoprod Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Berlin, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	Originally posted by Digitalis Poor advice It works for me.

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