Pentax 31mm F1.8 versus Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art

kooks · 04-08-2017, 10:04 AM

I ended up getting the FA 31 .. and love that lens.. small.. sharp, and the colors are lovely.. The sigma is a great lens too but size, weight and not that much of a difference in price pushed me to get the 31.. besides I did read good amount of reviews saying that the Sigma isnt as consistant as the 31.. I shoot weddings and nail the shot is one BIG factor.

Originally posted by angerdan

My Sigma 35mm 1.40 Art works always in crop, even when i activate "Full Frame" in the K-1.
Any ideas?

As far as i know.. the FF/Crop feature is managed by the camera.. not by the lens.. have you try using other FF lenses on your K1?

Winder · 04-09-2017, 06:57 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

Maybe so. I was under the impression that Tamron did license their products and they don't seem to be priced any higher than Sigma glass, but it is possible they are just turning less profit as a result.

Most of Tamron's business is making lenses for Nikon, Sony, & Ricoh (probably Canon too). They probably are licensed to use the native technology in their own lenses as part of the contract. To my knowledge Sigma doesn't make or design glass for anyone else. The Sony/Zeiss 55mm F/1.8 is a Tamron designed lens for the Sony FE. Probably manufactured by Tamron with Zeiss coatings and a Sony badge.

**ffking** · 04-09-2017, 07:05 AM

Originally posted by kooks

I ended up getting the FA 31 .. and love that lens.. small.. sharp, and the colors are lovely.

out on the streets it can't be beat ;D - if you're touting a K-1 (or 35mm film camera) and you want to go old fashioned and have a single, prime lens on the camera for street photography, you can't beat the FA 31 Ltd - sharp, yes, lovely colors, yes, but so indefinably characterful - gives your images something yu just can't find in more modern lenses.

**Digitalis** · 04-09-2017, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by Winder

Probably manufactured by Tamron with Zeiss coatings and a Sony badge.

My how times have changed, in the 1980s that would have been a cause for outrage.

angerdan · 04-10-2017, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by kooks

As far as i know.. the FF/Crop feature is managed by the camera.. not by the lens.. have you try using other FF lenses on your K1?

Yes, D-FA 100 Macro and F* 300. Booth working fine.

But the DA 50 is same as 35 Art - only crop, even with "FF" activated in Camera.
Firmware version of K-1 is 1.40.

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04-08-2017, 10:04 AM	#46
kooks Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San José, Costa Rica Photos: Albums Posts: 794	I ended up getting the FA 31 .. and love that lens.. small.. sharp, and the colors are lovely.. The sigma is a great lens too but size, weight and not that much of a difference in price pushed me to get the 31.. besides I did read good amount of reviews saying that the Sigma isnt as consistant as the 31.. I shoot weddings and nail the shot is one BIG factor. Originally posted by angerdan My Sigma 35mm 1.40 Art works always in crop, even when i activate "Full Frame" in the K-1. Any ideas? As far as i know.. the FF/Crop feature is managed by the camera.. not by the lens.. have you try using other FF lenses on your K1?

04-09-2017, 06:57 AM	#47
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	Originally posted by Rondec Maybe so. I was under the impression that Tamron did license their products and they don't seem to be priced any higher than Sigma glass, but it is possible they are just turning less profit as a result. Most of Tamron's business is making lenses for Nikon, Sony, & Ricoh (probably Canon too). They probably are licensed to use the native technology in their own lenses as part of the contract. To my knowledge Sigma doesn't make or design glass for anyone else. The Sony/Zeiss 55mm F/1.8 is a Tamron designed lens for the Sony FE. Probably manufactured by Tamron with Zeiss coatings and a Sony badge.

04-09-2017, 07:05 AM	#48
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	Originally posted by kooks I ended up getting the FA 31 .. and love that lens.. small.. sharp, and the colors are lovely. out on the streets it can't be beat ;D - if you're touting a K-1 (or 35mm film camera) and you want to go old fashioned and have a single, prime lens on the camera for street photography, you can't beat the FA 31 Ltd - sharp, yes, lovely colors, yes, but so indefinably characterful - gives your images something yu just can't find in more modern lenses.

04-09-2017, 04:39 PM	#49
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Winder Probably manufactured by Tamron with Zeiss coatings and a Sony badge. My how times have changed, in the 1980s that would have been a cause for outrage.

04-10-2017, 10:26 AM	#50
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by kooks As far as i know.. the FF/Crop feature is managed by the camera.. not by the lens.. have you try using other FF lenses on your K1? Yes, D-FA 100 Macro and F* 300. Booth working fine. But the DA 50 is same as 35 Art - only crop, even with "FF" activated in Camera. Firmware version of K-1 is 1.40.