Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited (APS-C)

Competitors

Just a fast note on its direct competitors: Searching for bright lenses in the range of 28-35mm, there is not that many competitors (still in production):

• The Sigma 30mm F1.4 was already mentioned. It is almost half the price and designed for APS-C sensors. Slightly faster, it is also bigger and heavier.
• Sigma 28mm f1.8, even more affordable, a bit wider, designed to suite 35mm sensors. It is necessarily much bigger and heavier. Again you don't get Limited design and build quality with this, but it remains interesting for such a bright lens and price.
• The Carl Zeiss 35mm F2 Distagon at about the same price of the FA31mm, with slightly longer focal length, also has a reputation of sharpness, but is a manual focus lens.
• Of course for low budget on the Pentax side, you now have the choice of the DA 35mm F2.4 AL. Although not as bright, and most probably not as sharp, it is small and light which can be a non negligible advantage for certain occasions. And you still have something to play with if you are tight on your budget.

In any case, the FA 31mm Limited holds its position in the competition, by offering the high quality design of Limited's, compactness, brightness, sharpness, saturation,... And these qualities do explain its relatively high price for a Pentax lens.