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How in the world do I choose? 35, 40, 43, 50

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If you like the 43mm but need a shorter focus distance you can add a close-up lens (about $15). The close-up lens goes on like a filter but only when you need to use it.
 
kguru said:
If you like the 43mm but need a shorter focus distance you can add a
close-up lens (about $15). The close-up lens goes on like a filter
but only when you need to use it.
Click to expand...
But wouldn't this close-up lens worsen the image quality? Did you have a particular brand in mind?
 
Very nice shot! I actually looked through your various gallaries and you have some superb shots in there.

The 21,43,70 combo is indeeed a nice focal lenght progression IMO and makes a nice compact combo - that said you can't really lose with any of the currently available Pentax primes anywyas.

--
Sinan
Check out my galleries @ http://sinantarlan.zenfolio.com/

 
I've ended up with the FA50, FA43, FA28, and FA35, and and still have them all.
  • I have found myself not using the FA50 much since I got the FA43, but keep it around because it remains first choice for low light-but reasonably close shooting like a concert.
  • I use the FA28 when I'm going compact with just one lens--I like its small size--but the latest purchase--the slightly larger and longer FA35 may start to take its place. I have found the 43 and 50 a bit too long for a one-lens kit.
I still find it easy to justify owning each one of them, it is hard to let any go. While the DA40 is probably nice, it's hard to justify when you have it nicely bracketed by faster and still compact lenses like FA35 and FA43.

It seems likely that I'll add a DA21 and DA70 at some point.
 
And the funny thing is the same people who do that would get really p!ssed if they got a used lens from some place like BH, I always wonder, just what do they expect the store to do with 'tryout' lenses?
Godfrey said:
I read other people's reviews and the reviews in the press, but
nothing tells you how a lens performs as well as using it yourself on
the intended subject matter.

Godfrey
normansun said:
Buying to just try and return adds costs to Pentax and therefore to
all Pentax users. In this case, Pentax and other buyers did nothing
wrong to deserve this. Other people’s review can serve the purpose.
Just imagine all buyers do their own comparisons.
BTW, I have 35, 43, and 50
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--



Kristian Farren
 
chriskresser said:
I've narrowed it down to a choice between the 35 & 43. If I go with
the 35, I could still see myself getting the 50 in the future because
that is a focal length I find very useful for portraits.
Click to expand...
Myself, I just couldn't resist just getting the best, and got the 21, 31, 43, 77.
chriskresser said:
The 43 seems like a wonderful lens as you have all mentioned, and I
am getting used to the "unusual" focal length. The one thing I
really don't like about it compared to the 35 is its longer minimum
focus distance. I like working in close and taking detail oriented
shots, and the 35 is much better in this regard.
Click to expand...
Buy a macro lens. Da100
chriskresser said:
However, the 43 has a better build, is smaller, and just produces
images with a different "feel". I realize the test I did wasn't
Click to expand...
Personally I couldn't tell from your samples.

As for my experience -when I focus correctly- it seems easy to get keepers with the 43. It may be the sharpest Pentax lens from F2.8 to F5.6 or so (center at least). The 3D feel has to do with it's sharpness, contrast and bokeh.
chriskresser said:
Thanks for pointing out how buying and returning lenses can put a
strain on Pentax. I feel bad that I didn't think of that before.
Perhaps I'll just keep these for a while and keep trying them until I
make my decision, and then sell them.
Click to expand...
Good idea! The return policy isn't realy an offer to rent for free.

--
cheers!

Gunn

-- Get a big lens and get closer™.

http://www.dpreview.pentaxistDS.photoshare.co.nz
http://www.y3m.net/penwik/pmwiki.php/Main/PentaxLensWiki
FAQ: http://www.pentaxuser.org/tiki-index.php

 
chriskresser said:
kguru said:
If you like the 43mm but need a shorter focus distance you can add a
close-up lens (about $15). The close-up lens goes on like a filter
but only when you need to use it.
Click to expand...
But wouldn't this close-up lens worsen the image quality? Did you
have a particular brand in mind?
Click to expand...
I really don't know how much it worsens the iq, but still good enough for me.

Here's a test shot with my Pentax +1 close-up attached to FA35/2, I haven't used any sharpening, and it would have been sharper if I had used a tripod (1/8sec I think).



And a 100% crop:

 
kguru said:
chriskresser said:
kguru said:
If you like the 43mm but need a shorter focus distance you can add a
close-up lens (about $15). The close-up lens goes on like a filter
but only when you need to use it.
Click to expand...
But wouldn't this close-up lens worsen the image quality? Did you
have a particular brand in mind?
Click to expand...
I really don't know how much it worsens the iq, but still good enough
for me.
Click to expand...
Looks pretty good to me. Where do I find the +1 Pentax close up lenses?
 
I too am a 35, 40, 43 and 50 owner. Although I still have all the lenses, I find the 43 my favorite out of that range. Have a 77 also which is my 2nd favorite.
 
chriskresser said:
Looks pretty good to me. Where do I find the +1 Pentax close up lenses?
Click to expand...
I got it on Ebay by chance. B&H carries a good range of +1, +2, +3 ... with various thread sizes but (from memory) they are Hoya not Pentax. Hoya is a reputable name too isn't it?
 
I see that a +1 magnifies the lens by 1000mm. But I'm not sure what that means in terms of effective focal length. Surely that doesn't mean a 43mm becomes a 1043mm? Or does it?

If that's true, I think a 333mm would be more than enough. I don't want a macro lens (if I did I would buy one), I just sometimes like working in closer than the 43 will allow.
 
Instead you could buy the FA31/1.8 ;-)

I also own the FA50 and FA35 but use the FA31 much more often. Of course it also has to do with what's your favourite focal length.
--
Menno
 
Very Nice Photo!!!
 
Well, for me, the FA43 replaced the FA35 and FA50. I like it more, and prefer fewer decisions to make in the field as to which lens to fit. :-)

Godfrey
 
chriskresser said:
I see that a +1 magnifies the lens by 1000mm. But I'm not sure what
that means in terms of effective focal length. Surely that doesn't
mean a 43mm becomes a 1043mm? Or does it?
Click to expand...
No that 1000mm does not relate to focal length, it means the maximum focus distance (usually infinity) becomes 1000mm. The minimum focus distance when coupled with a 50mm lens is 10.5in giving 1:4 magnification. Have a read about it here:

http://www.alanwood.net/photography/close-up-lenses.html
 
Godfrey said:
Well, for me, the FA43 replaced the FA35 and FA50. I like it more,
and prefer fewer decisions to make in the field as to which lens to
fit. :-)
Click to expand...
I feel the same way. That's why I want to limit my kit to 2-3 lenses, unless I have a very specific reason to add another (i.e. a macro). I've been shooting a lot over the last few days and it looks like it will be the 21, 43 and either the 70 or 77. The 21 took me by surprise, as I wasn't sure about that FL. I had the Sigma 10-20 on my Canon 20D and loved the SWA... but the compact size, fantastic IQ, and great close focusing distance of the 21 makes it a fantastic walk-around/street lens (among other things).
 
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