Pentax smc FA 35mm F2.0 AL for $399 in Canada

Pentax smc FA 35mm F2.0 AL for $399 in Canada · 06:48 PM

Pentax smc FA 35mm F2.0 AL (made in Japan) for $399 in Canada.
This lens has very favorable review at PZ.

Just received it for 430 CAD in total (399 + tx + delivery). Keeping in mind current exchange rate (USD vs CAD) it looks like a best deal for Canadians.
You can order it at McBain Camera Pentax FA 35mm F2.0 AL Lens - Canada, Edmonton, McBain Camera

It is Special Order Item.
My order took 14 days in total: placed Feb-06, received today Feb-20 .

calculator01 · 02-20-2014, 07:23 PM

I'm sure it is a wonderful lens, but I just can't get over how ugly the FA series is though. (other than the Ltd's, they are beautiful)

Good price though.

**shardulm** · 02-20-2014, 07:26 PM

B & H is price matching this deal. They have it for $399 right now.

Pentax Wide Angle 35mm f/2.0 SMCP-FA AL Autofocus Lens 22190 B&H

MadMathMind · 02-20-2014, 07:30 PM

Originally posted by calculator01

I'm sure it is a wonderful lens, but I just can't get over how ugly the FA series is though.

Seriously! Many things from the late 1980s/early 1990s look really bad in retrospect, but the FA series...my goodness, how Pentax could ever let something so cheap looking bear their name, I don't know. But I guess that was the time. The shift from metal to plastic to make things cheaper was a pandemic...and man, did it ever look and feel cheap.

Now we get plastic but we have good plastics and other composite materials.

QCdude · 02-20-2014, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by shardulm

B & H is price matching this deal. They have it for $399 right now.

Pentax Wide Angle 35mm f/2.0 SMCP-FA AL Autofocus Lens 22190 B&H

Being Canadian, if I buy it at B&H it will total me 460 (399 x 1.15 current exchange rate) + 15 (custom duties) + delivery (another 10...15), so ~490 canadian dollars in grand total against 430 + canadain warranty if ibuy it in Canada.

For Canadians this is currently the best deal for brand new lens.

**shardulm** · 02-20-2014, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by QCdude

Being Canadian, if I buy it at B&H it will total me 460 (399 x 1.15 current exchange rate) + 15 (custom duties) + delivery (another 10...15), so ~490 canadian dollars in grand total against 430 + canadain warranty if ibuy it in Canada.

For Canadians this is currently the best deal for brand new lens.

Oh Shnoop... Did not know it would be that much.

QCdude · 02-20-2014, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by MadMathMind

Seriously! Many things from the late 1980s/early 1990s look really bad in retrospect, but the FA series...my goodness, how Pentax could ever let something so cheap looking bear their name, I don't know. But I guess that was the time. The shift from metal to plastic to make things cheaper was a pandemic...and man, did it ever look and feel cheap.

Now we get plastic but we have good plastics and other composite materials.

well, the picture quality is the priority for me, not to show this lens to girls

I've previously had a Sony 35/1.8 - that lens looks even uglier and attracts the dust like a magnet.

Last edited by QCdude; 02-20-2014 at 08:02 PM.

Steve.T · 02-20-2014, 08:09 PM

I would rather wait for a sigma 30 1.4 art.

QCdude · 02-20-2014, 08:28 PM

Originally posted by Steve.T

I would rather wait for a sigma 30 1.4 art.

For me it looks like to get good Sigma or Tamron is matter of luck, they seem to have poor qc. I would probably get one at local stores in condition to test it on the spot or to be able to return it easy way not wasting time/money on postage. Some people say they try up to 3-4 copies to get good one. But the prices are not always good here.

EarlVonTapia · 02-20-2014, 09:19 PM

Originally posted by Steve.T

I would rather wait for a sigma 30 1.4 art.

Ditto.

I've had 3 copies of the DA 35 2.4, and I could never ever get used to the field of view. Just a little too narrow for me. I suspect I will have the same feelings about the FA 35 f2.

Patiently waiting on the Sigma . . .

**Weevil** · 02-20-2014, 10:44 PM

Here in Montreal's Lozeau Store, in their spring liquidation list, there is a Sigma 30Mm F1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Pour Pentax for 399$ (regular price 570$)
http://www.lozeau.com/CMS/Media/48916_1799_fr-CA_0_140217_Liquidation_Lozeau.pdf

(sorry, did not find the english version of the list on their site)

QCdude · 02-21-2014, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by Weevil

Here in Montreal's Lozeau Store, in their spring liquidation list, there is a Sigma 30Mm F1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Pour Pentax for 399$ (regular price 570$)
http://www.lozeau.com/CMS/Media/48916_1799_fr-CA_0_140217_Liquidation_Lozeau.pdf

(sorry, did not find the english version of the list on their site)

good catch mate, thank you. But too late for me, and I don't regret.

Still it looks like FA 35 is optically better, i.e. PZ gives Sigma only two stars vs four for FA35 and "recommended" mark.
The FA35 has also better resolution numbers, better controlled CAs and less vignetting. Also, being FF lens it benefits on crop sensors.
I was checking a lot of sample pictures for both lenses before pulling trigger.

**monochrome** · 02-21-2014, 07:32 AM

I don't really think the better FA's are so bad looking. The F's are even charming in their own way. As they go the FA35 is conmparatively robust. The hood and barrel are good engineering plastic and the soft rubber focusing ring is actually large/wide enough to effectively grip with the thumb and index finger.

I doubt anyone who has one will argue with the final image quality. It is my default lens which is changed only for situational optimization.

Doundounba · 02-21-2014, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by Weevil

Here in Montreal's Lozeau Store, in their spring liquidation list, there is a Sigma 30Mm F1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Pour Pentax for 399$ (regular price 570$)

Tempting, but the new Art version will be out soon. The old one is perhaps a bit sharper in the center, but is reputed to have fairly awful corners, making it almost a normal-portrait-only lens. On the other hand, many people seem to love their copy... Hmmm, what to do? Maybe I'll go take a look tonight. Thanks for the pointer!

builttospill · 02-21-2014, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by calculator01

I'm sure it is a wonderful lens, but I just can't get over how ugly the FA series is though. (other than the Ltd's, they are beautiful)

Good price though.

Agreed the FA series lenses are pretty ugly. The Limiteds are beautiful but don't leave out the FA* lenses which hold their own against the Limiteds.

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02-20-2014, 07:26 PM	#3
shardulm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Cumming, GA Posts: 793	B & H is price matching B & H is price matching this deal. They have it for $399 right now. Pentax Wide Angle 35mm f/2.0 SMCP-FA AL Autofocus Lens 22190 B&H

02-21-2014, 06:52 AM	#12
QCdude Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 87 Original Poster	Originally posted by Weevil Here in Montreal's Lozeau Store, in their spring liquidation list, there is a Sigma 30Mm F1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Pour Pentax for 399$ (regular price 570$) http://www.lozeau.com/CMS/Media/48916_1799_fr-CA_0_140217_Liquidation_Lozeau.pdf (sorry, did not find the english version of the list on their site) good catch mate, thank you. But too late for me, and I don't regret. Still it looks like FA 35 is optically better, i.e. PZ gives Sigma only two stars vs four for FA35 and "recommended" mark. The FA35 has also better resolution numbers, better controlled CAs and less vignetting. Also, being FF lens it benefits on crop sensors. I was checking a lot of sample pictures for both lenses before pulling trigger. Last edited by QCdude; 02-21-2014 at 07:55 AM.

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02-20-2014, 07:23 PM	#2
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	I'm sure it is a wonderful lens, but I just can't get over how ugly the FA series is though. (other than the Ltd's, they are beautiful) Good price though.

02-20-2014, 07:30 PM	#4
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717	Originally posted by calculator01 I'm sure it is a wonderful lens, but I just can't get over how ugly the FA series is though. Seriously! Many things from the late 1980s/early 1990s look really bad in retrospect, but the FA series...my goodness, how Pentax could ever let something so cheap looking bear their name, I don't know. But I guess that was the time. The shift from metal to plastic to make things cheaper was a pandemic...and man, did it ever look and feel cheap. Now we get plastic but we have good plastics and other composite materials.

02-20-2014, 07:34 PM	#5
QCdude Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 87 Original Poster	Originally posted by shardulm B & H is price matching this deal. They have it for $399 right now. Pentax Wide Angle 35mm f/2.0 SMCP-FA AL Autofocus Lens 22190 B&H Being Canadian, if I buy it at B&H it will total me 460 (399 x 1.15 current exchange rate) + 15 (custom duties) + delivery (another 10...15), so ~490 canadian dollars in grand total against 430 + canadain warranty if ibuy it in Canada. For Canadians this is currently the best deal for brand new lens.

02-20-2014, 07:39 PM	#6
shardulm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Cumming, GA Posts: 793	Originally posted by QCdude Being Canadian, if I buy it at B&H it will total me 460 (399 x 1.15 current exchange rate) + 15 (custom duties) + delivery (another 10...15), so ~490 canadian dollars in grand total against 430 + canadain warranty if ibuy it in Canada. For Canadians this is currently the best deal for brand new lens. Oh Shnoop... Did not know it would be that much.

02-20-2014, 07:53 PM	#7
QCdude Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 87 Original Poster	Originally posted by MadMathMind Seriously! Many things from the late 1980s/early 1990s look really bad in retrospect, but the FA series...my goodness, how Pentax could ever let something so cheap looking bear their name, I don't know. But I guess that was the time. The shift from metal to plastic to make things cheaper was a pandemic...and man, did it ever look and feel cheap. Now we get plastic but we have good plastics and other composite materials. well, the picture quality is the priority for me, not to show this lens to girls I've previously had a Sony 35/1.8 - that lens looks even uglier and attracts the dust like a magnet. Last edited by QCdude; 02-20-2014 at 08:02 PM.

02-20-2014, 08:09 PM	#8
Steve.T Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 71	I would rather wait for a sigma 30 1.4 art.

02-20-2014, 08:28 PM	#9
QCdude Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 87 Original Poster	Originally posted by Steve.T I would rather wait for a sigma 30 1.4 art. For me it looks like to get good Sigma or Tamron is matter of luck, they seem to have poor qc. I would probably get one at local stores in condition to test it on the spot or to be able to return it easy way not wasting time/money on postage. Some people say they try up to 3-4 copies to get good one. But the prices are not always good here.

02-20-2014, 09:19 PM	#10
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	Originally posted by Steve.T I would rather wait for a sigma 30 1.4 art. Ditto. I've had 3 copies of the DA 35 2.4, and I could never ever get used to the field of view. Just a little too narrow for me. I suspect I will have the same feelings about the FA 35 f2. Patiently waiting on the Sigma . . .

02-20-2014, 10:44 PM	#11
Weevil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Near Montréal, Québec Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Here in Montreal's Lozeau Store, in their spring liquidation list, there is a Sigma 30Mm F1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Pour Pentax for 399$ (regular price 570$) http://www.lozeau.com/CMS/Media/48916_1799_fr-CA_0_140217_Liquidation_Lozeau.pdf (sorry, did not find the english version of the list on their site)

02-21-2014, 07:32 AM	#13
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I don't really think the better FA's are so bad looking. The F's are even charming in their own way. As they go the FA35 is conmparatively robust. The hood and barrel are good engineering plastic and the soft rubber focusing ring is actually large/wide enough to effectively grip with the thumb and index finger. I doubt anyone who has one will argue with the final image quality. It is my default lens which is changed only for situational optimization.

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02-21-2014, 02:26 PM	#14
Doundounba Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montréal QC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,351	Originally posted by Weevil Here in Montreal's Lozeau Store, in their spring liquidation list, there is a Sigma 30Mm F1.4 Ex Dc Hsm Pour Pentax for 399$ (regular price 570$) Tempting, but the new Art version will be out soon. The old one is perhaps a bit sharper in the center, but is reputed to have fairly awful corners, making it almost a normal-portrait-only lens. On the other hand, many people seem to love their copy... Hmmm, what to do? Maybe I'll go take a look tonight. Thanks for the pointer!

02-21-2014, 03:56 PM	#15
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	Originally posted by calculator01 I'm sure it is a wonderful lens, but I just can't get over how ugly the FA series is though. (other than the Ltd's, they are beautiful) Good price though. Agreed the FA series lenses are pretty ugly. The Limiteds are beautiful but don't leave out the FA* lenses which hold their own against the Limiteds.