Pentax FA 31mm Limited lens

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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

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.

History[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ "Some "Lost Stories" About the Three FA Limited Lenses". 16 August 2011.
  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.

External links[edit]