Pentax 43mm f/1.9 Limited (great IQ comes in small packages)

voe · Last edited by voe on Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:42 pm; edited 1 time in total

Boy, do I love my FA 43mm Limited.. What's not to love....great IQ in such a small package Smile

Metaphorically speaking it's a feather weight champion punching it's way through in the heavy weight fights Smile

Pentax 43mm f/1.9 Limited on film

Pentax 43mm f/1.9 Limited.. love is in the air... Embarassed

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

superb ! I especially like last one.

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

I use mine on MF bodies all the time - I like it being a bit wider than 50, but not quite a 35. You made some very nice photos with it, indeed. Wink

It's a lens that loves digital but loves film just as much.

supahmario · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 615 Location: Berlin, Germany

WOW... the colors in #2 impress me!

voe · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:16 am Post subject:

Two more taken with the 43mm Limited

To me this is one of the nicest colour rendering lenses. I can't really explain it why. I guess it's all subjective.

larsr · Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 272 Location: Helsinki, Finland

Wow! That second image is really nice!

Also like the cityscape picture :)

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Amazing pictures! Great lens and talented photographer.
My fav is No.3 of the first set.

poilu · Expire: 2019-08-29

great they put AF in such a pancake

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

Those are some very fine photos every one of them, showing the 43 to good advantage.

Hope you don't mind if I pile on with some samples too--- The first two are digital and show how nicely the 43 does stone, and sharpness as burgeois concept Laughing

The other two are with the lens on a manual focus film camera - it really does well by film.

supahmario · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 615 Location: Berlin, Germany

F16SUNSHINE · Expire: 2011-11-18

Voe, Nesster
These samples are better than good.
This lens is a real Gem Very Happy

There is an LTM version as well although rare and expensive.
I've seen some samples from it but, these are more compelling.
It's good to know that Pentax has it in them to draw on all those years of making great Primes now in the ZOOM era.

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

I read somewhere that the 43 (or maybe all the FA Limiteds) are the last manually computed lenses Pentax designed.

The DA's are computer designed, and have a more even sharpness character... and, folks, the DA 70 does work full frame.

voe · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject:

BTW, Everyone is welcome to post photos from their 43mm Limited. Smile

If there are people interested in some more information on the Limiteds design, bellow are links to two technical reports. One already translated from Japanese (article written by the lens designer Jun Hirakawa), the other text is still pending translation.

Lens technical report. SMC Pentax FA77mm, F1.8 Limited and FA43mm, F1.9 Limited.
http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200006/000020000600A0135383.php

Abstract:

This paper introduces features the titled lenses on the following items: 1) Standard and middle range telephoto lenses for a 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras sold by Pentax, 2) design concept and performance; unique expression with high quality picture, 3) exterior; machined aluminum body to provide high grade sense, 4) focal length; 43 mm (diagonal length of 35 mm size film) and 77 mm (lucky number among 70-80 mm), respectively, 5) both AF and MF operation possible, 6) helicoid screw at focus part provides torque feeling, 7) realization of smooth AF operation by a little reduced gear ratio of drive unit and Cool

lens aberration compensation; priority to practical photographs expression than numerical evaluation.

There is also another scientific publication by ADACHI MASAMITSU:

Trial use report. SMC Pentax FA77mm, F1.8 Limited and FA43mm, F1.9 Limited.
http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200006/000020000600A0135384.php

Abstract:

This paper introduces features of the titled exchange lenses on the following items: for 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras 1) Al exterior provides high grade feeling to both and little allowance at aperture and helicoid parts provides precise structure sense, 2) FA 77 mm/ F1.8 Limited; folded in hood, "finger point" for lens exchange without visual index confirmation, a little noisy in AF operation, good MF operation, natural back and front gradation by circular aperture and soft portrait expression and 3) FA 43 mm/F1.9 Limited; focal length equivalent to diagonal dimension of 35 mm size film and clear and gradation expression by high reflection, multi and ghost-less coated glasses.

Both articles are published in Photographic Industries journal
ISSN:0371-0106

The translation and the scanned pages are located here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/voe/sets/72157622753018328/
The person translated the text did his best to be as correct as possible, but there could be mistakes in translation. If there is a Japanese here who wants to give it a try translating the second text, he is more than welcome.

fatdeeman · Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 780 Location: UK

I love how this lens looks just like the older manual lenses too, it's amazing how they can fit in the af motor etc without making it larger.

soikka · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 534 Location: Finland

andyw · Joined: 15 Aug 2009 Posts: 624 Location: Surrey. UK

All great shots but the VW Karman Ghia is my fave!!!