Old FA lenses

radim · 12-07-2019, 03:19 AM - **4 Likes**

Hi everyone,

I just got my new silver KP (bought "used" on Amazon UK for £470). I thought I would try to mount my old SMC Pentax-FA 28-80 and 80-320 zoom lenses on it. I think it looks gorgeous! The silver colour is a perfect match.

Radim

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**PJ1** · 12-07-2019, 03:56 AM

I never thought of FA lenses as "old". But that probably says more about me than the lenses. However, I do find that perfect match in the silver paint quite amazing. You would think that in 20 or more years the formula might have changed.

**Kevin B123** · 12-07-2019, 06:53 AM

Both look very nice on the silver body. They are tidy copies too. Great combo on a budget, well found.

**mikesbike** · 12-07-2019, 01:15 PM

Yes, to be sure they look amazingly good! In fact, I'll bet they've never looked better in their lives! I agree- a very nice budget combo. But what do you have for the wide-angle range?

Last edited by mikesbike; 12-07-2019 at 01:23 PM.

radim · 12-07-2019, 05:27 PM

Thanks! For the wide-angle range, I have a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM and an SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED. I'm thinking of buying a 15 mm prime, but I can't justify spending too much money on it right now, so I guess it will have to wait until I can find a good deal on one.

Vmax911 · 12-07-2019, 05:32 PM

I also have a silver KP and think silver lenses look great! I almost want to replace my black lenses with the silver ones.

StarTroop · 12-07-2019, 06:51 PM

I've been developing a soft spot for that 90's plastic-y aesthetic. They're not the most durable (with the exception of when they're surprisingly hefty), and I'm skeptical of the practicality of the focus rings, but I've always been a fan of the concept of "sleeper cars" (of which the 90's was also rife), so the matching of the plain, unassuming exterior with the high-precision nature of the optics is really quite appealing to me. They look real good on modern DSLRs, which is nice because unfortunately the plastic SLR bodies of the 90's haven't aged nearly as well as the lenses.

**mikesbike** · 12-09-2019, 12:58 AM

Originally posted by radim

Thanks! For the wide-angle range, I have a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM and an SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED. I'm thinking of buying a 15 mm prime, but I can't justify spending too much money on it right now, so I guess it will have to wait until I can find a good deal on one.

That Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM is a very fine lens. I bought one not long ago, and would have suggested it for you! The DA 15mm Limited is a very nice lens, especially since it is so small it can fit in a small space for carrying. But for all-around ultra-wide angle, hard to beat that Sigma!

hnikesch · 01-01-2020, 03:35 PM

I have the 80-320 FA lens but the 55-300 PLM is sooo much better the FA is never on my KP

**mikesbike** · 01-02-2020, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by hnikesch

I have the 80-320 FA lens but the 55-300 PLM is sooo much better the FA is never on my KP

I agree. I've never had the FA 80-325, but other FA tele lenses, and the DA 55-300mm (either version) is indeed superior. Very compact too- very nice on the KP. I have the prior HD/WR 4-5.6 version, and its screw-driven AF is definitely better with the KP than it ever was on my prior models. Very happy with it.

As I recall, the FA 80-320mm was especially good in the 80-200mm range, according to an old Pop Photo magazine test. Not surprising, as all lenses of this wide tele range are generally at their best at a similarly reduced range.

reh321 · 01-02-2020, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by PJ1

I never thought of FA lenses as "old". But that probably says more about me than the lenses. However, I do find that perfect match in the silver paint quite amazing. You would think that in 20 or more years the formula might have changed.

The important question is how they work - using a lens built for film on a digital camera.

added: in my signature photo, is an FA 28-105 on my K-30. I originally got it to go with a potential K-1, but it is one of the few AF lenses I have with an aperture ring, and my K-30 has come down with what I call "Dark Image Syndrome", so I use it there

hnikesch · 01-02-2020, 08:22 PM

I also planed on using my older aperture ring lenses in A mode with my K30 after it got the aperture block issue but it started working again. So I got my KP and will park the K30 till it dies completely. Then I might play with the FA's

**beachgardener** · 01-07-2020, 01:24 AM

How are those old lenses holding up on the KP?

fsge · 01-10-2020, 05:57 AM

I really like this full silver look!

01-02-2020, 07:18 PM	#11
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,184	Originally posted by PJ1 I never thought of FA lenses as "old". But that probably says more about me than the lenses. However, I do find that perfect match in the silver paint quite amazing. You would think that in 20 or more years the formula might have changed. The important question is how they work - using a lens built for film on a digital camera. added: in my signature photo, is an FA 28-105 on my K-30. I originally got it to go with a potential K-1, but it is one of the few AF lenses I have with an aperture ring, and my K-30 has come down with what I call "Dark Image Syndrome", so I use it there Last edited by reh321; 01-02-2020 at 07:40 PM.

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12-07-2019, 03:56 AM	#2
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,486	I never thought of FA lenses as "old". But that probably says more about me than the lenses. However, I do find that perfect match in the silver paint quite amazing. You would think that in 20 or more years the formula might have changed.

12-07-2019, 06:53 AM	#3
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,187	Both look very nice on the silver body. They are tidy copies too. Great combo on a budget, well found.

12-07-2019, 01:15 PM	#4
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,558	Yes, to be sure they look amazingly good! In fact, I'll bet they've never looked better in their lives! I agree- a very nice budget combo. But what do you have for the wide-angle range? Last edited by mikesbike; 12-07-2019 at 01:23 PM.

12-07-2019, 05:27 PM	#5
radim New Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Thanks! For the wide-angle range, I have a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM and an SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED. I'm thinking of buying a 15 mm prime, but I can't justify spending too much money on it right now, so I guess it will have to wait until I can find a good deal on one.

12-07-2019, 05:32 PM	#6
Vmax911 Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ABQ Photos: Gallery Posts: 826	I also have a silver KP and think silver lenses look great! I almost want to replace my black lenses with the silver ones.

12-07-2019, 06:51 PM	#7
StarTroop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 175	I've been developing a soft spot for that 90's plastic-y aesthetic. They're not the most durable (with the exception of when they're surprisingly hefty), and I'm skeptical of the practicality of the focus rings, but I've always been a fan of the concept of "sleeper cars" (of which the 90's was also rife), so the matching of the plain, unassuming exterior with the high-precision nature of the optics is really quite appealing to me. They look real good on modern DSLRs, which is nice because unfortunately the plastic SLR bodies of the 90's haven't aged nearly as well as the lenses.

12-09-2019, 12:58 AM	#8
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,558	Originally posted by radim Thanks! For the wide-angle range, I have a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM and an SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye ED. I'm thinking of buying a 15 mm prime, but I can't justify spending too much money on it right now, so I guess it will have to wait until I can find a good deal on one. That Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM is a very fine lens. I bought one not long ago, and would have suggested it for you! The DA 15mm Limited is a very nice lens, especially since it is so small it can fit in a small space for carrying. But for all-around ultra-wide angle, hard to beat that Sigma!

01-01-2020, 03:35 PM	#9
hnikesch Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,316	I have the 80-320 FA lens but the 55-300 PLM is sooo much better the FA is never on my KP

01-02-2020, 06:37 PM	#10
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,558	Originally posted by hnikesch I have the 80-320 FA lens but the 55-300 PLM is sooo much better the FA is never on my KP I agree. I've never had the FA 80-325, but other FA tele lenses, and the DA 55-300mm (either version) is indeed superior. Very compact too- very nice on the KP. I have the prior HD/WR 4-5.6 version, and its screw-driven AF is definitely better with the KP than it ever was on my prior models. Very happy with it. As I recall, the FA 80-320mm was especially good in the 80-200mm range, according to an old Pop Photo magazine test. Not surprising, as all lenses of this wide tele range are generally at their best at a similarly reduced range.

01-02-2020, 08:22 PM	#12
hnikesch Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,316	I also planed on using my older aperture ring lenses in A mode with my K30 after it got the aperture block issue but it started working again. So I got my KP and will park the K30 till it dies completely. Then I might play with the FA's

01-07-2020, 01:24 AM	#13
beachgardener Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,842	How are those old lenses holding up on the KP?

01-10-2020, 05:57 AM	#14
fsge Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Genf Posts: 1,138	I really like this full silver look!