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SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited

Sharpness 
 9.5
Aberrations 
 8.5
Bokeh 
 9.6
Autofocus 
 8.8
Handling 
 9.5
Value 
 8.4
Reviews Views Date of last review
97 417,845 Tue November 21, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
95% of reviewers $851.89 9.48
SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited

SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited
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SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited
supersize
SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited
supersize

Description:
This Limited lens features all-metal barrel and a built-in hood. It is known for delivering exceptional wide-angle image quality.



SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 9 blades
Optics
9 elements, 7 groups
Mount Variant
KAF
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F1.8
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
AF (screwdrive)
Quick-shift
No
Min. Focus
30 cm
Max. Magnification
0.16x
Filter Size
58 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 50 ° / 42 °
Full frame: 70 ° / 60 °
Hood
Built-in
Case
Dedicated pouch
Lens Cap
Dedicated metal push-on
Coating
Ghostless,SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
65 x 68.5 mm (2.6 x 2.7 in.)
Weight
345 g (12.2 oz.)
Production Years
2001 to 2021
Pricing
$1096 USD current price
$880 USD at launch
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-FA 1:1.8 31mm AL Limited
Product Code
20280 (silver), 20290 (black)
Reviews
User reviews
In-depth review
Notes
One aspherical element, one ED element, one high refraction low dispertion element.
Variants

Black and silver


Features:
Screwdrive AutofocusBuilt-in HoodAperture RingAutomatic ApertureFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Purchase: Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited
In-Depth Review: Read our SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited in-depth review!
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited
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Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 97
Pentaxian

Registered: August, 2009
Location: Wandering the Streets
Posts: 1,406
Review Date: November 21, 2023 Recommended | Price: $800.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: If you need the picture this is the lens to use.
Cons: I have not personally found any downsides to this lens.
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 9    New or Used: New    Camera Used: PZ1p, MZ-S, K5iiS and *ist DS   

Is this the greatest lens ever? I really couldn't say and I am not sure I care. I enjoy my photography far too much to worry about those things. But if I need a lens on my film or digital Pentax cameras that always provides top notch performance and brings home excellent results then this is one of the few lenses I reach for. There are other lenses in this focal range that I think are just as good, maybe even better, but not for Pentax. The Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 is an example that quickly springs to mind, but it isn't the only one. But that is pretty good company in my book.

Bear in mind, I rarely pixel peep nor do I usually try to shoot any of my lenses out on the bleeding edge. Unless I have to I am not a "wide open" photographer. I love my photographs to have eye-catching tones and colors. So I like to use them where they perform the best. This Limited lens does quite well at wide open apertures, and I have had to use it there before, but it can be truly stunning at f4 and f5.6. So that is where I use it most of the time. This is a Made in Japan copy that I have owned for a very long time. I bought it for my MZ-S and I have never regretted it. This truly is a classic and belongs in any Pentaxian's bag whether they shoot a crop sensor or a full-frame digital or film camera.

In my opinion this lens compliments the colors that the little 6 and 10 megapixel sensors provide.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: February, 2010
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 6,153
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   

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:

   
Forum Member

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   

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   

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: 39
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   

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   

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: 41,249

4 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   

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   

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
Review Date: November 20, 2020 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros:
Cons:
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: k1 mkII   

purchased used by a friend. I find the lens really interesting for full frame and with an ideal shooting angle. excellent definition. the price even if used is not low but well built and looks solid.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/geronimovercillo/50620917608/in/album-72157704292402054/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/geronimovercillo/50622057367/in/album-72157704292402054/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/geronimovercillo/50666299837/in/album-72157717013873466/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/geronimovercillo/50666299747/in/album-72157717013873466/
   
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   

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   

K10D
1.







2.






3.







4.







5.






6.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2017
Location: Medellín
Posts: 1,322
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   

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   

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: 2,437

6 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   

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: 37

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   

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.
Add Review of SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited



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