Pentax FA 31mm Limited lens
The SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited is a full-frame moderate wide-angle lens for Pentax K-mount. On an APS-C camera, it gives a normal field of view. It lacks Quick Shift Focus, which is now found on most other Pentax lenses, and therefore does not allow manual focusing while in autofocus mode.
 | |
| Maker | Pentax |
|---|---|
| Technical data | |
| Type | Prime |
| Focus drive | Screwdrive |
| Focal length | 31mm |
| Focal length (35mm equiv.) | 46.5mm |
| Aperture (max/min) | f/1.8 / f/22 |
| Close focus distance | 12 inches (30 cm) |
| Max. magnification | 0.16x |
| Diaphragm blades | 9 |
| Construction | 9 elements in 7 groups |
| Features | |
| Application | Normal lens (APS-C), Wide-angle lens (Full frame) |
| Physical | |
| Max. length | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Diameter | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Weight | 12.2 ounces (350 g) |
| Filter diameter | 58mm |
| Accessories | |
| Lens hood | Built-in |
| Angle of view | |
| Diagonal | 70° (full frame), 50° (APS-C) |
| Retail info | |
| MSRP | 1,299.95 USD USD |
History
The eventual design of this lens was the second major attempt. An earlier design by Jun Hirakawa of a smaller 31mm f/2.4 lens was rejected by management for being too "slow" (i.e. too narrow a maximum aperture), and so the f/1.8 version came to be developed by Takayuki Ito and Masayuki Murata.[1]
Reception
Popular Photography said in its March 2002 issue that the Pentax 31mm Limited was one of the greatest prime lenses they had ever tested.[2] Photozone called it "an excellent lens",[3] and ePhotozone noted, "If we compare this 31mm with Leica prices, then we have tremendous value for money".[4] In a Pentax Lens Tournament held in 2014, the users of pentaxforums.com, one of the biggest Pentax-related online communities, voted the 31mm Limited to be the Greatest Normal Pentax lens[5] as well as the Second Greatest Pentax Lens of All Time after the FA 77mm Limited.[6]
References
- "Some "Lost Stories" About the Three FA Limited Lenses".
- "Sm-02-05-02". 13 January 2009.
- "Pentax SMC-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited - Review / Test Report".
- "SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited Lens Review".
- Christopher J. Feola (2014-10-30). "Four Champions are Crowned". pentaxforums.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
- Christopher J. Feola (2014-11-05). "The FA 77mm Limited is the Greatest Pentax Lens". pentaxforums.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
External links
- SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited at Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp.
- SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited in the pentaxforums.com lens database.