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.

SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited
MakerPentax
Technical data
TypePrime
Focus driveScrewdrive
Focal length31mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)46.5mm
Aperture (max/min)f/1.8 / f/22
Close focus distance12 inches (30 cm)
Max. magnification0.16x
Diaphragm blades9
Construction9 elements in 7 groups
Features
ApplicationNormal lens (APS-C), Wide-angle lens (Full frame)
Physical
Max. length2.7 inches (69 mm)
Diameter2.6 inches (66 mm)
Weight12.2 ounces (350 g)
Filter diameter58mm
Accessories
Lens hoodBuilt-in
Angle of view
Diagonal70° (full frame), 50° (APS-C)
Retail info
MSRP1,299.95 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 at 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

  1. "Some "Lost Stories" About the Three FA Limited Lenses".
  2. "Sm-02-05-02". 13 January 2009.
  3. "Pentax SMC-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited - Review / Test Report".
  4. "SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited Lens Review".
  5. Christopher J. Feola (2014-10-30). "Four Champions are Crowned". pentaxforums.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  6. Christopher J. Feola (2014-11-05). "The FA 77mm Limited is the Greatest Pentax Lens". pentaxforums.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
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