| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 5,767 | | Review Date: April 15, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Superb ambience, color, and rendering of detail | | Cons: | No longer technically on par with the very "best" lenses | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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Although the FA limited lenses were designed without numerical scores in mind, this doesn't mean they weren't technically superb lenses when they were first released over twenty years ago. They have been surpassed since on when it comes to such things as CA control and wide open sharpness by some of these high-end (and rather large and cumbersome) super primes. But in terms of aesthetics, of the image as it seen in a large print by the naked eye, nothing quite matches the FA 31 outside of high-end German glass. At its very best, the FA 31 produces images that had a beauty of tone, of tonal graduation, of rendering of detail that you'll find only in a handful of Japanese lenses. And while technically it may fall short of the very "best" lenses, it still holds up remarkably well even in terms of numerical specs. Yes, there is a bit of CA (which invariably cleans up in LR) and it's not as sharp wide-open as the latest and greatest. But those latest and greatest don't render detail like the FA 31; they lack the subtlety of coloration, the rich at times almost glossy ambiance, and the sheer subtle beauty of how this lens can project a scene. Those who are uptight about the FA 31's minor technical flaws would do well to avoid this lens. Get one of the DFA f1.4 primes instead. But for the aesthetically inclined photographer, this lens is self-recommending.
Some images, all shot with the K-1:
At f1.8:
At f5.6:
At f7.1:
At f11:
 | | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: March, 2013 Posts: 70 | | Review Date: March 6, 2023 | Not Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 4
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K1ii, MZ-S
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I think a lot of the super positive reputation of this lens comes from either the film era, or use on the APS-C cameras that crop the sharpest center of the image or due to the Pentaxian echo chamber.
If you use this on a film camera like I did on my MZ-S, well, its hard to beat. Is there a film era 35mm f/1.8 from Canikon that performs as well AND is as elegantly sleek and good looking? I think not. If you shoot 35mm film and you want a 35mm-ish lens, I think this is a pretty awesome option. I now shoot 120 film, but if I ever went back to 35mm, the Pentax 31mm f/1.8 would be my top choice.
However, if you plan to use it on a digital full frame camera like I did on the K1II... well... it turns out pixies don't exist and there is no magical dust. Put a modern 35mm f/1.8 on a mirrorless camera (I have a Sony) and it will be better at basically everything, it will be smaller and to rub salt in that wound, it will also be cheaper.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2022 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 17, 2023 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Solid, small, beautyfull, less PP, bokeh, speed what snot to like about this lens? | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax KII
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I have many excellent lenses, and all have their traits, but this one is up there with the best in my eyes.
Its a magical lens designet and made by magic people. The quality, the feeling, the optics, the size, the handling.... it must be one of the best lenses ever made..
I grab this lens more often then any other lens to be honest.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2020 Location: Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago Posts: 36 | | Review Date: December 9, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, size, weight, appearance, Bokeh, color, contrast, etc | | Cons: | Really the only issue with this lens is the CA. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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I coveted this lens for many many years before Pentax released a digital FF camera. I finally purchased the K-1 brand new after having gone through several flagship APC-C models once they were affordable used. This lens has been, and will continue to be my go to for general photography that I really want the best out of. This is my go to for most of my paid work, and never disappoints!
Check out my album for this lens on Flickr. I really need to categorize more of my photos from this lens, but cars are sort of boring, and that's mostly what I shoot with this lens.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lordawesome/albums/72157716106511843 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2016 Location: Cape Town Posts: 244
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 27, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Solid build, sharpness, colour | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1
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This lens is everything I would have expected from its legendary reputation. For me, 31 mm is the perfect focal length for general wide angle landscapes.
| | | | | amateur dirt farmer Registered: December, 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Posts: 37,262
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 3, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | clarity, bokeh, color rendition, sharpness, build quality | | Cons: | occasional CA | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3
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I spent the month of March '21 with an FA 31 Limited:
an epic lens - much more so than my experience with the FA 43 Ltd...
the FA 31 Limited is all the things you'd want in a lens: sharp, colorful, great bokeh... what more could you want?
this is the lens that all 28mm lenses aspire to be (can you tell I'm not a 28mm fan?)...
some of my favorites from this lens so far:
 sunrise, with fog by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 pop stand... by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 eggs by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 the Toblerone series by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 in a puddle by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
the rest of my flickr album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pepperberryfarm/albums/72157718420154148/page1
overall - just an epic lens; if you can find one in decent nick for an agreeable price, buy it....
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2018 Location: Denver CO Posts: 1
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 14, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $792.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, color rendition, handling, construction | | Cons: | cost | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: k70
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Sharp corner to corner with the crop sensor. Really lovely color rendition and sharpness. Did require a focus adjust to get the most out of it.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2015 Posts: 9 | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2018 Location: Tokyo Posts: 10 | | Review Date: June 13, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $510.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | f1.8, color rendering | | Cons: | heavy for a APSC, purple fringin, AF | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: KP
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If you only care about image quality then this is the go to lens. But for the price I think I expect more. The AF and purple fringing shows its age.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: August, 2019 Posts: 25
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 16, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | New or Used: New
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K10D
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 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,314 | | Review Date: January 10, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Wide and nine-bladed aperture, rendering. | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-5, Film bodies
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Got it through the forum as a normal for my K-5 and stays on most of the time. Really amazing optic. Size comes with the large aperture. It just makes me want to get the other two!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 497
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 2, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, compact, nicely built | | Cons: | Cap (too much friction to take it off) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K1
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Acquired this lens about two weeks ago. I do not have much more to add to the already excellent reviews here.
The characteristics of the lens is that at large apertures (to about f5.6) it is sharp in the center but less along the edges and in the corners. This is not saying that edges and corners are not good. It is just that they are noticeably not as good as the center. At large apertures edges and corners of K28/3.5 are actually a bit better. Close down to f8 this lens becomes corner-to-corner sharp. No matter what you do with the lens, wide-open closeups or close-down sceneries, you will not be disappointed.
I really like this lens. I consider this lens far superior to all 28mm lenses that I have used including the already excellent Vivitar 28/1.9 and K28/3.5.
NOTE: On APS-C it is probably corner-to-corner sharp at all apertures except the largest ones.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: December, 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 2,421
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 26, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $530.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Relatively small, lovely OOF rendering, great colours, great sharpness, wonderful build | | Cons: | Nothing significant | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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Overall I love this lens. It has some very nice qualities to it that make it a real pleasure to use. I was lucky to get a used one that is in near mint condition and pretty reasonably priced.
Prior to getting this lens my go to wide was the FA 35 f2, which is a great compact lens. Compared to the FA31:- FA31 has a much nicer build than the FA35
- My FA31 copy is slightly sharper than my FA35 (especially across the frame)
- FA31 bokeh is significantly improved over the FA35 in the focus transition zones
- Obviously the FA31 is little bit faster than the FA35 but still totally usable wide open
- FA31 is quite noticeably wider the FA35 (no surprise there and may be a plus or minus for you)
- Both have quite attractive flare stars when stopped down a bit (although FA31 is busier with more points to the star)
- FA35 is smaller and lighter
- FA35 is lot cheaper than the FA31
I also have a FA28 but I find the FA31 is near enough to that focal length for my use and so I have not had much need for 28mm. In fact for my use I find 31mm a nice compromise between 28mm and 35mm and so carry one less lens (your use may differ).
In summary if you have the budget for the FA31 (or lucky to get a deal on one), then go for it, otherwise the FA35 is fantastic value (and I'm having trouble letting mine go!).
Samples:
Wide Open:
At f8:
Stars at f13:
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 30
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 23, 2019 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Great for low light | | Cons: | Terrible CA in harsh light! | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 6
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K1
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I was very excited to have an opportunity to borrow a AIV 31mm from a colleague at work for several weeks. I own a FA 35 f2, the FA Limited 77, and the DA HD 20-40 Limited (APS-C) as well.
This review is a comparison of the 31, 35, and 20-40 lenses on the K1.
Image quality
The 31mm is very very good in low-to-soft light, and the bokeh is in a completely different class from the FA 35mm than I would have imagined. Exposure metering is better on the 31mm too. Low light, shallow DOF appear to be the strengths of this lens, and it makes for a good portrait lens.
Sharpness of the 31mm and 35mm were equal. I could not detect a difference.
In harsh light, the 31mm showed massive purple fringing in high contrast areas; as bad as the FA 35. Given the reputation of this lens, I am really disappointed.
Another surprise: the DA limited 20-40 [zoomed to 31mm f3.5] on the K1 was nearly as sharp as the FA 31mm at 3.5! The FA 31 has much less vignetting of course; but what surprised me was how usable images with 20-40 are on full-frame.
Handling
The 31mm is solid and enjoyable to use; and on a APS-C body nicely balanced. The K1 however is already heavier than I would like, and I prefer the lighter plastic weight of the FA 35. T he 31mm made it impossible for me to shoot the K1 a single-hand.
Value
The 31mm is a great lens, but is it worth the significant cost over the FA 35? For me, it would have to be significantly better than the FA 35 and even the DA 20-40 (which I am now using with the k1). With serious CA in harsh lighting, I hesistate to use this lens outdoors on a bright day. Perhaps a future 31mm with HD coatings will appear, and then the value equation will improve.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: San Luis Obispo Posts: 146
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 5, 2018 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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Best Lens of All Time (That you can easily afford).
This is my main walk around lens, 31mm is excellent for travel photography. This lens is also small and light to handle.
Snappy AF on K-1, Below F2.2 it is ultra sharp. Unmatched color and unmatched bokeh. Sigma 35mm/1.4 fails on the latter 2 points, it is only sharp, but in today's world, sharp is cheap.
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