Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Lens with Case and Hood (Black)
- Minimum focus distance of 1.5 feet
- TTL open-aperture metering
- Fully automatic diaphragm
- Only 5.5 ounces and 1.1 inches
- Comes with case and lens hood
Product Description
The unique Pentax SMC P-FA 43mm F1.9 limited lens is close to perfect in terms of focal length. Its natural perspective of subjects makes it ideally suited for everyday use including indoor photography, traveling, and hiking. Like every Pentax lens, the SMC P-FA 43mm F1.9 lens features Pentax acclaimed SMC multi-layer coating to lower surface reflection, reduce ultraviolet rays, and deliver clear, high-contrast images.
List Price: $ 749.95
Price: $ 749.95
Also Recommended:
Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCDA remarkable blend of simplicity and highly advanced D-SLR capabilities, the compact and powerful D5000 offers breathtaking 12.3-m…
Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Black)Get closer than ever to your active family with the powerful yet affordable Nikon COOLPIX L120%2E Your images will zoom to the nex…
Sony A390 Digital SLR Camera (Black)The Sony α390 DSLR camera brings you the freedom of Live View, which lets you compose and shoot photos using a tiltable 2.7″ (dia…
Find More Digital Slr Products
another jewel from Pentax,
The 43mm f1.9 limited was the first of Pentax’s limited series FA lenses. It’s been around for some time now. And, in recent years, it has not received as many glowing reviews as the other FA limiteds (these being the 31mm f1.8 and the 77mm f1.8). A frequent complaint is a bit of softness at maximum aperature (and some chromatic aberation). Well, what to say? It is true that the lens becomes sharper (and CA lessens) as it is stopped down. (What lens doesn’t?) And it is true that the other two limited lenses have a slight edge in this regard. However, if forced to choose between the 43mm limited and the 31mm limited (the undisputed resolution king) I would choose the 43mm in a heartbeat. The colour saturation on this lens is superb, and when stopped down to f4 or beyond it is bitingly sharp.
This is, quite possibly, the most versatile lens I own. Certainly, if forced to carry only one lens, it’s the diminutive 43mm limited that I reach for. Wide enough for interiors and landscapes, it still has enough reach for a non-distorting head and shoulders portrait. And, while I wasn’t sure about this lens when I first bought it, I now realize that some of the most interesting and creative shots I have taken over the past year have been made with the 43mm limited.
I would repeat here what I said in a review of the 77mm limited: the price is steadily climbing on this lens, and future availability is in question. Get one now while you still can. Good photographic glass retains its value over time and often appreciates. (Have you priced the Pentax A* 85mm f1.4 recently?)
Was this review helpful to you?
|Classic lens!,
The 43mm Limited has a reputation as a diva – very very good but temperamental. I’ve only seen mostly the very very good bits so far. I did some adhoc comparisons (with not only other SLR lenses but with a Ricoh Diacord and a Kodak Retina IIa) which clearly indicated the superior resolving power and dynamics of this lens. Where others start to seem fuzzy or begin to flare, the 43mm is still showing good definition. The color balance and gradation is excellent.
May 2008 update: I’ve since compared the 43 to several Takumars (two versions of the 50/1.4 and a 55/1.8) and even wide open the 43 has more resolution and contrast. In some situations the Takumars have more magic, but the 43 always keeps up and often exceeds them in actual image quality. One of its biggest advantages is how well it resists flare – often flare is what reduces contrast in an image.
I like 43mm on a full 35mm frame, and on a digital body it is short enough to work well indoors where 50mm might be pushing it. 43mm in my eyes gives a more natural perspective than the 35mm does.
This lens is extremely well made and it’s small. It works great on film cameras, even the manual focus is silky. Temperamental? Perhaps, but this also makes it an expressive tool. I highly recommend it as a beautiful object and a lens, a future collectible.
Was this review helpful to you?
|