FA 43mm Limited love

[snik75]

<p>After months of consideration I finally got one of these yesterday. A lovely old silver model with only a few dings on the hood. I had resisted for a long time because I have had excellent luck with my DA40, but wanted the extra stop+. After just a few snaps around the house I am very impressed - I can't quite put my finger on what makes me enjoy these so, but I find them quite pleasing. Could I have taken similar pictures with the DA 40, or a 50mm/1.7? Probably, but... we'll see.</p>

<p>First Anna. Willing to pose, not much for having her face wiped off.</p><div></div>

[snik75]

<p>Next Eliza. 6 going on 16...</p><div></div>

[snik75]

<p>The previous light was pretty harsh. Here she is surprised away from her book in much better light.</p><div></div>

[snik75]

<p>And last a quick self portrait. Wondering if my new lens is going to fall off that tilted ledge. (My only truly cooperative "model")</p><div></div>

[kfrog]

<p>Nice photos.</p>

<p>I have some idea why you enjoy those Limited lenses: They are finely crafted perfectly machined tools for photography :)</p>

<p>I had the pleasure of using a the 35mm f/2.8 Limited Macro for a few weeks and it was the finest lens I've ever used. The feel, the precision and of course the photos you can get from it are extraordinary. I don't think there is a big difference between the 40 and 43 image quality wise. Maybe someone else on the forum who has used both can answer that.</p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>Congrats. Odd choice to go with the 43mm while owning a 40mm, I assume the 40mm is on the sale block? The 43mm is a really nice lens, and it sharpens pretty early. I was surprised how much I actually liked the FL on a digital sensor, and I also like it on film, unfortunately I rarely shoot 35mm anymore.</p>

<p>For me it was just a matter of was the 40mm DA really that much smaller when attached to a camera? My answer was not really. So you get an extra stop, and the lens is slightly biased towards the fast end for optimization.</p>

<p>I do love the rendering of the 43mm both wide open, and stopped down a little. But it's also excellent at f/8 where I use it as my panoramic lens of choice.</p>

<p> </p>

[mcmanamey]

<p>Man, I love portraits with prime lenses. And I love soft, natural light. It's looking like a great lens!<br>

(NOT helping the LBA, here)</p>

[markus maurer]

<p>I like no 3 a lot Nick, the eyes and the expression. Congratulations on your new lens, one day I have to try a limited prime as well. All shots are a bit on the yellow, summertime side.</p>

[starvy]

<p>Lovely soft and atmospheric portraits. What f stop did you use?</p>

[bob-c]

<p>Very nice, Nick, congrats. Of course, I am not too sure if taking pictures of your cute daughters constitutes a real test of the lens, but the combination clearly works well.</p>

[snik75]

<p>Thanks everyone! I like it so far. It does appear, Justin, that the 40mm will be shortly for sale. It will come down to f/1.9 vs. quick shift, I don't appreciate any drop-off in optical quality moving from the DA to the FA, even at the wider apertures - for my use anyway. I have always loved the DA40, but kept taking out other faster lenses, and then being a little disappointed. Really the 31 would have been ideal, but I just can't imagine spending that much on a lens, and it is a little big. Markus, the lens does give warm yellow tones, which I prefer to the cool greenish cast I was getting with my F 50 1.7. I have even dialed the yellow back slightly in processing. Starvey the first is f/1.9, the last 2 f/3.5. Not sure about the outside shot, maybe f/6.3. Robert - thanks, and I agree - like rolling downhill. :-)</p>

[rparmar]

<p>Douglas Barrow wrote:</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I don't think there is a big difference between the 40 and 43 image quality wise.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>There is not a big difference but there is a <em>significant</em> difference at f/1.9 through f/4. The FA43 was designed to maximise pixie dust while presenting perfect tactile feel. I wish there were more lenses like this.</p>

 

[hinman]

<p>Nick, I am following your path. I love the portraits done with your 43 limited. Do you happen to get this new? I am jumping the gun from DA to FA limited as well, I will be posting 40/70 limited for sale and it will take me perhaps another year of courtship afterward for the 21 decision, I need to decide the fate of 21 when the right timing comes. My planned line up will look as follows</p>

<p>Now: 15/21/35/40/70/77 plus FA 50 f/1.4<br /> Immediate future: 15/21/35/43/77 no FA 50<br /> Future: the same or a 21 replacement as in 10-20 or 10-24 zoom</p>

<p>Thanks for showing us the new lens. I always like the compactness in 40 and the sharpness in 40 leads me to say the cheapest limited that give the best sharpness ratio on cost. I also love the bokeh in 40. The quick shift focus is quite a misery thing to miss in DA limited. I don't mind the manual focusing in DA 40 as I don't use manual focusing on the DA limited except the quick shift focusing to override the AF. </p>

<p>And darn it, speed is everything in Pentax given the mediocre noise handling in higher iso. With the f/1.9 in 43mm or the f/1.8 in 77mm limited, one can pretty much use TAv or Tv and set the shutter to comfortable range and go without a blink at the wide open aperture and shoot away. That is how scary things go in balancing between crazy ISO with wider apertures! I much rather the f/1.9 than the doggy 6400 iso shot without a flash. In short, FA limited lenses offer us that extra juice to cater the mediocre performance in iso 3200 and higher</p>

[cyanatic]

<p>Nice portrait work, Nick. Nice to see the 43mm get some love. When I bought my K10D I decided to buy the body only and one good prime. I decided on the 43 Limited and for a year and half it was my only lens. </p>

[snik75]

<p>Robin, I agree that the FA has something special at these wide apertures. I saw it sometimes from the DA, but not as easily, I think. Further shooting to reveal more.</p>

<p>Hin, I think I have followed your path! Over the last few months, every new lens I acquire the first thing I find about it online is on your blog. I got a Tamron SP 70-210 (19AH), which I had to sell as being too heavy for me, and a Sigma 28mm f/1.8 II. It was this last lens that pushed me over the edge to getting the 43mm. It is just so obviously inferior to the limited lenses in pixie dust. Although hopefully it will improve once the back-focus is corrected. But it told me to stop screwing around with cheaper alternatives and just buy what I want.</p>

<p>I got my 43mm from KEH. It wasn't that much cheaper than a new version, but I wanted silver. It did have a hood and caps, but no pouch. Also has a low serial number, about which there has been some unsubstantiated conjecture online of leaded glass or leaded coatings or something. I have already sold my K 35mm f/2 to pay for it in part, and have more decisions to make. Ultimately my main line-up will look something this, I think: A16/2.8 fish eye, FA20-35, F35-70, FA43, FA50/2.8 macro, Tokina 90mm f/2.5 macro, SMC Tak 135mm f/2.5, FA-J 75-300, Tokina 500 mirror. Plus assorted "back-ups", because I need back-up lenses to ensure pictures of my kids at every possible minute. :-)</p>

<p>Steve, if I could only have one, this would be it. I'll have to try it on a film body too, although the M 50 1.7 is all I really need on film.</p>

<p>Anyone else want to share some 43mm pics?</p>

<p> </p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>From some work I've been doing for a local compounding pharmacy which is expanding both to a second store as well as has customers nationally. This was for a conference in Baltimore. It was one of 3 large images (approx 20x30 I believe) as a billboard on the back of the booth. I think a lot of people view the Limiteds as hobbiest toys, but I often shoot my primes when doing paid work.<br>

<a title="Bloody Medicine" href=" src="http://static.flickr.com/2750/4431785604_74fd5f61ca_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></p>

<p>my sister heavily processed...<br>

<a title="Baked" href=" src="http://static.flickr.com/3118/3153234854_80900b6b52_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></p>

<p>and the younger version not so heavily processed...<br>

<a title="Goof Ball Jr" href=" <img src="http://static.flickr.com/3079/3255303424_08ec958df9_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></p>

<p>it's also my panoramic lens of choice...<br>

<a title="225* of Albany" href=" <img src="http://static.flickr.com/3366/3265498792_61dd381b00_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a title="225* of Albany" href=" </a></p>

<p>one last panoramic, unlike the one above, absolutely flawless at 16x24.<br>

<a title="North Shore Panorama - Pittsburgh by Mountain Visions, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/3848232184_f3fb3160ea_z.jpg" alt="North Shore Panorama - Pittsburgh" width="640" height="516" /></a></p>

[rparmar]

<p>Just a few of my many shots with this lens. The FA43 is currently living on my K-x.</p>

<p><em><strong>horse in the scrub</strong></em><br>

<a title="horse in the scrub by robinparmar, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4470130610_5bdc7b506c.jpg" alt="horse in the scrub" width="500" height="500" /></a><br>

<em><strong>blooms</strong></em><br>

<a title="blooms by robinparmar, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4832373787_4c5f082cb5.jpg" alt="blooms" width="500" height="333" /></a><br>

<strong><em>rust frame</em></strong><br>

<a title="rust frame by robinparmar, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4934197415_5d1816aca2.jpg" alt="rust frame" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>

[garry_young1]

<p>I also have the silver version - I got it in absolutely pristine condition second hand. It is a wonderful lens, and is one of my "street" favorites, besides being used for paying jobs sometimes too.</p>

<p>Enjoy it Nick!</p>

[hinman]

<p>Darn (the polite version) you all. I have the silver 77mm and it will be super-cooper-cool if I get the silver 43mm limited as well. But I am alright with a black one and I don't mind it used at all as cost is everything that I compromise in getting limited lens. Super darn (polite version) it as I am not supposed to buy anything until I unload. That does it to kick my lazy end into high alert in selling the 40/70 along with 10+ other items next.</p>

<p>The best justification on the 43 limited may not be the perfect picture that I am after, it is the daily and every-so-often candid with loved ones. I look at the #1 and #3 pictures from Nick and all the cost, trouble, and seemingly irrational push after DA 40 ownership are rightly justified. The photo on the precious moments with Nick's little girls justify it all for me and for Nick. And of course, the others from Justin and Robin seal it like the wife's approval without the "not again" look. So I wish.....</p>

[rparmar]

<p>I must say I love the size off the FA43 with its metal hood. It's small for sure, but not so small that it becomes too fiddly to use. All lenses should be compared <em>with their hoods on</em> or it is simply not a level playing field. I would never in my life use a lens like the DA*16-50, for example, since it is a monster, pure and simple. I'd be shooting Canon if I wanted that kind of an appendage, now wouldn't I? ;-)</p>

[mountainvisions]

<blockquote>

<p>I must say I love the size off the FA43 with its metal hood. It's small for sure, but not so small that it becomes too fiddly to use.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>This was my issue with the 40mm, too small. Sure it has quick shift, but I'd be accidentally sticking my fingers in the lens. The 21mm is as small as I would want. Even with the hood, the 43mm is very compact, and the hood offers excellent protection, negating the need for a "protective filter".</p>

<p>The 40mm looks really cool, as did the old version of it that used to fetch big money used. Might still, but for usability I find the 43mm the better lens.</p>

[snik75]

<p>Justin, Robin, those are some great pictures. Quite a diverse sampling, too. I've never thought the DA40 was too small, but I agree that the 43 with the hood is just right. I was going to try to craft an imitation of the DA40's hood using stop down rings if I found it too big, but no need for that I think. I'll have to try some panoramas, those look great!</p>