Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black) USA

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

amaizing pictures! Fast focus and unbelieveble colors

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

Mine seems to suffer a bit of focus shift, but otherwise it is as nice as everyone has mentioned. Great contruction, pretty sharp wide open with nice bokeh. Slightly better than the FA50 1.4. Now if Pentax would make a full frame camera it would be perfect.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

Perfect for portraits, walkaround street shots. Bit soft wide open but often you need this softness for portraits, becomes very sharp from F2.8 and razor sharp from F3.5. Mainly I use it in 1.9-3.2 range for its magical 3D look.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

Very easy to use.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

On limited use so far, very sharp and clear.
Also it is quite compact.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I was able to compare this lens to the Legendary 31 1.8 and also to 50 1.4, as well as 55 1.4... [...] I fell in love with the 43 mm for it's results through the camera's LCD panel. It seemed sharp, very sharp. I really like the perspective, it lets me get closer to my toddler with its near 66mm field of view.The 55 1.4 was sharp and bright too but too telephoto for me. Also the 43mm focuses pretty fast, although noisier than the 55 1.4...Another reason not to get the 31 1.8 was simply that I already own the 35mm 2.8 limited and the fov was too close. The fact that the 43mm is very small compared to the others, is justnthe icing on the cake. Of course I would love to hold the 31mm in my hand every day, but the 43mm seems just fine for now. Great construction, fast aperture and sharp results. A perfect low light prime for catching my two year old around the house!

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I use this lens as a "tight normal", its a matter of taste but i like the Fov on APS-C with this lens.

Good for daily snaps of people and surroundings. I found it to be great for following kids around in their enviroment getting in close but yet get some background in there. Its also good out in nature both for landscape shots and for closeups. Bokeh and sharpness is great.

Downsides are, no quickshift and slower AF than DA 40 Ltd.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

Excellent little walkabout & travel prime. Very sharp, even at the corners, from f2.8 on the K-5. Colour saturation and contrast are top-notch.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I use the lens as an all-purpose walkaround lens. Its compact design and light weight make it the perfect companion when you don't want your camera to get in your way, like when going for a walk with the kids, or on events of all kind. When used correctly, it will give you stellar performance. It is certainly a unique lens - the pictures taken with it have a very distinctive look. It reliably delivers high contrast and sharpness.

But, be aware that it requires some photographic skills to use the lens to its full potential - it is certainly not a point-and-shoot lens. Although it is already very sharp at open aperture, it requires very exact focusing. Moreover, the focal plane is only a few mm deep, which makes portraits difficult (sharp eye - blurry nose). You'll have to choose the aperture carefully according to the image you want to take.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

As others have stated, the 43 Limited is an exquisite photographic tool. The small size and superb metal construction simply ooze quality. Image quality is truly superb. I also own the other FA Limiteds, but this one may be the best in terms of sharpness, clarity and bokeh, although all three are wonderful. There are reports that the 43 Limited is soft at maximum aperture. Well, that is just plain wrong. After proper AF calibration, the lens has good center sharpness wide open and just gets sharper as it is stopped down. By f4, it is a sharp as any lens that I have ever owned. But lens quality is about more than sharpness. Equally important are microcontrast and color rendition. In both areas, the 43 Limited shines.

I cannot imagine any Pentax user not falling in love with this lens. The only reservation that one might have would relate to focal length. On an APS-C camera, the focal length is equivalent to 65mm in 35mm format. For me, that is a very useful focal length, especially for portraits. But each user will have to decide that issue for himself or herself.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

It has a stunning quality of rendering and colours on my K-x.
Sharpness and bokeh are very smooth from f1.9 and up.
Surely made me even more a fan of the pentax pancake lenses.
It makes it worth the choice for Pentax instead of the Canikon mass.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I sold my 40 lim for buying fa-50, but after reading many reviews decided to buy 43 lim and I am more then satisfied.Comparing this lens with 40 lim the differences are obvious. 43lim gives fantastic colors, it is very sharp,especially from f/4 and has a nice bokeh. 40 lim is very good lens, but if you want the best quality of picture buy 43lim without any doubts.
But nothing is perfect in this world: it has slower focus than 40 lim and my da*50-135, but I dont care.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

Since i had the K5, i was told this was the lens to get. This lens is great starting at wide open. Great colors, fast focus and quiet. It is just a quality lens made like a jewel. If you get this lens first, you may not use anything else.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I shoot a lot of candid portraits of friends and family and I find this lens quite ideal for the task. A good medium between a 50mm and 30mm makes it quite the sweet spot for my style of shooting.
So far the results have been great. Nice and sharp. Great bokeh. Excellent lighted build quality. Good to know they still build em like little tanks!

The push on cap took a little bit of getting used to but it's not really a con. The velvet lining on the hood and cap are a bit of a lint attractor. Oh well it's an extremely minor con for me.

Overall its an amazing little lens!

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

it's sharp, use with k-7 in low iso to produce high quality images!

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I originally sold a Pentax-F 50mm/1.7, and an FA 35/2, to fund the purchase of this FA 43. Initially I had seller's remorse (especially for the FA 35!), but after one afternoon of use, I find that this lens far surpasses either of those two!

The build quality alone is just so superior; this little beauty is just a joy to handle. I've had a lot of experience using heavier zooms (DA*16-50, Tamron 28-75, etc.), but having a fast, lightweight prime attached to your camera is really a refreshing experience.

Optically, this lens is the sharpest thing I've ever owned (and I do have a decent collection of quality lenses)- tested MTF values that I've seen published on the FA 43 are outstanding. (Peak sharpness is around f4-f5.6.) The amount of clarity and detail, even wide open, is amazing. Stopped down, this lens is in a class of its own! One caveat though: this lens MUST be focused accurately to see those results. Flash photography seems to really assist with the number of keepers at maximum apertures, but in any case, the shallow DOF can sometimes hinder a perfectly-focused capture. Regarding focusing at large apertures, it is advisable to obtain a split-screen (or similar) focus screen to ensure accuracy- the factory screen in my K20D was a bit lacking for use with fast glass (a point first driven home with an f1.2 lens I own).

Manual focus is buttery-smooth and well-damped, and the throw is sufficient to enable the necessary precision. AF is fast and accurate- any misses are generally due to operator error. The AF is screw-drive, and some may find it noticeable compared to SDM, HSM, USM etc., but I don't find it objectionable. Additionally, I'm happy to report that NO adjustments were needed for any FF/BF issues. Spot-on from the get-go!

Colors are rich and full, and skintones accurate. Purple fringe can be encountered at large apertures, especially in the usual scenarios (trees against sky, etc.), but this can occur with practically any lens if care is not taken; either way this can be dealt with in post-processing. The bokeh is quite pleasing.

I certainly like this FL for all-around use, better than the FA 35 it has replaced. However, I have used it for a bit of portraiture and if head-and-shoulders shots are required, it can be a bit unflattering compared to longer FLs. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for full-body shots though. Great for "walk-about" use.

Maybe the only negative with this lens (for me) concerns its build! I love the quality, but I'm afraid the beautiful metal push-on cap is something I'll lose. I plan to use a snap-in type lens cap, but since I also don't want to damage the velvet lining of the precision-built screw-in lens hood, I'll probably put both the cap and the hood in a drawer for safekeeping, and just use a cheaper screw-in metal lens hood. However, this in no way detracts from what this little jewel is designed for: providing a high-quality, lightweight and compact platform for capturing outstanding images! A lens with character, highly recommended.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

This is the only lens in the Pentax line-up that's so good, that they were asked to create a version for Leica. Strong praise, indeed. All FA Limiteds are known for their magic, pixie dust, whatever you want to call it. This one certainly qualifies. These lenses have a "soul" that transcends the usual lens-oriented adjectives. Just try one and give yourself time to learn how to get the best out of it. You will never part with it.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I find the focal length to suite my style quite well. It is very sharp, however the focus could be a tad faster. The bokeh is a tad bit smother than the FA 50 1.4. If you don't need the 1.4 I would go with this lens. Quality is top notch but a bit on the pricy side.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

I purchased this lens to go with my K7. It makes a wonderful combination that camera and lens. Compact yet very high quality. The build of the lens is great as others have commented on. Very tank like. The optics are great on this lens as well. I have noticed that wide open if you are too far away from your subject (haven't figured out how far is too far yet) than images can look a bit soft wide open. By f/4-5.6 images are very sharp. What I love most about this lens are two things: 1. Images have a 3-D feel to them. Subjects just pop off the screen. With a little bit of PP you will be VERY pleased with the results from this lens. 2. For me it is the perfect focal length (65mm equiv). It is a long normal and short tele. That is the perfect combination for street shooting, close-ups etc. I really can't say enough good things about this lens. You will not be disappointed if you buy it. There is a reason that on most of the Pentax forums this is always mentioned among peoples favorite lenses.

Comments about Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited Series Autofocus Lens (Black):

Having owned the lens for about a year, I use it mostly for historic architectural and street scene photography, as well as for some portraits. The lens is almost a work of art itself, solid feel that comes from metal construction, handles beautifully on my K200D. Reliable auto-focus, GREAT depth of field capabilities, plus the best color rendering of any lens I have ever owned. I simply FEEL GOOD about the images this lens produces!