Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited Sample Photos, Real-world Use, and Specs | Round Glass Review

[@RJW998]

Loved this review, particularly the absolute passion of the reviewer himself. Thank you.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

I can focus my lenses pretty quickly myself, so the need for laser guided GPS AI focusing is pretty non existent. What I can't do is make a lens render a photo with pleasing contrast, saturation, bokeh, and resolution if the designers didn't work those parameters in a balanced way into their design. Nice review, thanks! 👍👍🙂

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@saschamerz6259]

Many thanks for this review! On the Japanese Ricoh website, it says that the current HD version also has 9 elements. Did they change it back?

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! My best guess is that there was a graphic and translation error on the US Ricoh website. I should have checked the Japan website before recording this.

[@GODSPEEDseven]

Thank you for the awesome review. Love the depth of the review and your images as well. I got a K-1 Mark II in 2023, and this year, I've budgeted all 4 FF Limited lenses. First one is the HD 31mm coming up in end of January. I decided to follow the seasonal special edition image modes Pentax has combined these lenses with. I actually really enjoy shooting with those camera modes. Only FF limited I haven't seen you covered, is the 43mm one. It will be replacing the 40mm Limited I was using on the K-1.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! I do want to review the 43mm someday, but I honestly have never bought it. It just doesn't offer me too much that my kit doesn't already cover. I also need to get a working Pentax DSLR again...

[@sdhute]

@@DavidHancock David did you ever replace your k1? I’ve had it once and sold it to quickly after a few photos. Starting to get sick of all the new tech and spec chasing KZbin tends to lead me down. K1 in 2024? The price is attractive however the same price as the k3iii

[@DavidHancock]

@@sdhute I decided to hold onto it for now. The issue sometimes gives me green photos, but for the time being I can limp along with it and color-correct in raw. I honestly didn't use the K-1 more than a few times a year anymore because it's super heavy and I can carry the A7 IV and a couple lenses for the same space and weights as the K-1. Right now the K-1 is getting use for some architecture and hopefully Astro work this year as it's the only camera I have that can use the 21mm Limited and 11mm Irix. But I also have a 10mm Laowa Zero-D arriving soon and that could render the Irix 11mm obsolete for me. And that means that the K-1 would exist only for the 21mm Limited and 50mm 1.4*. So I'll likely be asking myself if, as much as I love those lenses, does it really make sense to keep owning a Pentax digital if 99% of the time it's just sitting in a case.

[@stevenjohnson4283]

I like you're video, but I checked the element count thing on Pentax forums, and the new HD version has the exact same element count of 9 elements in 7 groups. You might want to edit this video and reupload it. But I really like your passion for this lens. I have a Sigma art 35mm 1.4 and have been tossing up getting another 35mm like the either the SMC or HD 35mm f2 or an smc 31mm.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! Yeah, the PF diagram shows that, but the Ricoh website's diagram does not (here's a link to the Ricoh page for the new HD version: us.ricoh-imaging.com/product/hd-pentax-fa-31mmf1-8-limited/). PF is a good and reliable source, but ultimately Ricoh's website has contradictory info and they make the lens, so I want to defer to them.

[@keironstoneman6938]

I want to get the holy grail of the 31, 43 and 77 FA lenses. My biggest question (and sorry if I sound dumb) is will they work fully on an old Pentax MX or LX?

[@DavidHancock]

Those are three great lenses and all of them work on every camera with a K mount made so far, including the LX and MX, on which they work very well.

[@TomPop75]

Hi, nice review. I wonder one thing. You mentioned that you have tried the lens with Monster adapter. You also mentioned that it was big mistake. Can you tell me some more about that experience with that adapter? Have you tried also othe screwdrive lenses with that adapter? I was thinking to buy one and try it but I can not find a proper review of it. Actually maybe it's good idea to make one. What would you say abut that?

[@DavidHancock]

With this lens, the Monster will work properly-ish. AF is VERY slow and loud, also, often, wildly inaccurate. I could not get this lens to successfully focus with my A7S II or A7IV and the Monster. With the 77mm, I did manage that one time. The Monster also cannot stop down the aperture on KAF4 lenses, like the 50mm f/1.4 * lens or the Irix Blackstone lenses. For any of the Limited lenses, I use an inexpensive basic adapter and then manually focus.

[@TomPop75]

Thank you very much. It doesn't sonund good. I already had some doubts before I asked you since I heard here and there that is not reliable. With the current price of 385 € it means for me that Monster adapter is not worth buying at all.

[@lemordor]

It's my favorite lens, I love it

[@DavidHancock]

Nice!

[@jamesmlodynia8757]

I wish Nikon could make glass like this one the Zf, Pentax limited edition glass are some of my favorite Pentax glass.

[@DavidHancock]

They're right there for me, too. I would have a hard time picking between Limiteds and some of the Zeiss lenses I've used.

[@pavelpotehin4024]

Comparing to 21 ltd APS-C brother, it looks much better. And after 24* strange bird-shaped coma blobs, 31 has nothing to worry about. It will still remain in my wishlist.

[@DavidHancock]

:D Yeah, this is a standout in the Limited lineup for sure.

[@jamesmlodynia8757]

I have this and many other Pentax and Sigma glass for Pentax, my suggestion for people who shoot JPEG files is to set your in camera photo profiles to natural or neural, this will give you a file that is some what flatter but is easily adjusted to your liking in post processing. If you tend to photograph a lot of different subjects and use jpeg files your colors will not have to much contrast and saturation using the nuteral photo setting. Also by using this setting for your jpeg files you still have more control over the final file if you do some of the editing on your home computer than in camera.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@DixonLu]

QQQ Would this be the ideal lens to put on the Pentax Monochrome?

[@DavidHancock]

Hmm. As a standard lens, probably yes, it would be a solid option given that there's no 28mm limited. In theory, this should work well there given that this is good with black and white film.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

I just bought the K3 III M and the HD 31mm and it is a match made in heaven. Absolutely fantastic as a normal lens on the K3 III M. Stunning results!

[@MJohnson-qp9he]

Well related my friend!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@andreicio69]

HD version is identical formula - 9 elements in 7 groups.

[@DavidHancock]

I believe that to be true. All I can do is report what the Ricoh website says, since they make it. If they have an error on their website, it's on them.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

@@DavidHancock On Ricoh's USA 31mm HD product page the specs say 9 elements in 7 groups. I can't find the reference to the change. I'm not saying it's not there, just that I can't find it. I just purchased a new copy of this lens (10/2023) and the manual included in the box dated 2021 says 9 elements in 7 groups. I doubt Ricoh changed the formula, but don't doubt that the web designer made a mistake... 🙂🙂

[@jw48335]

If Pentax would license OM Systems' phase detection AF for live view to provide viable video camera performance, I'd switch completely to Pentax... What a great lens!

[@DavidHancock]

Their AF has always been a weakness. I suspect part of that stems from the legacy support for screw-drive AF lenses, which they definitely need to keep on their future bodies. The lenses they make in the future, though, won't likely have screw-drive AF and should definitely be supported by a better AF system.

[@jw48335]

@@DavidHancock Agreed. I've used the PLM 55-300 and it's certainly viable for video autofocus. Pentax is small potatoes for research and development budget, so I think that plays a role as well. That's why I wish they would reach out to OM systems who could provide viable live view autofocus, probably for a pittance in terms of licensing fees. Olympus licensed their pixel shift algorithm to Panasonic previously, so there is precedent. My main digital body does double duty, stills and video, so I can't go shooting Pentax for digital without that capability. I actually prefer an optical viewfinder too.

[@Gynra]

@@DavidHancock While I agree with what you say, I am exceedingly pleased with the results I get from my K-3 iii and K-3 Monochrome when photographing my hyperactive sprocker spaniel (using the DA* 60-250 mm f4). I would estimate that over 95% are keepers. It's like night and day compared to my K-1. I haven't yet tried the 31mm Limited with these cameras, but I anticipate that being screw drive it would not be as responsive. That said, I wouldn't use the 31 mm for photographing fast action.

[@jamesmlodynia8757]

I don't shoot video but the limited edition prime lenses are some what noisey and the Sigma 35mm f1.4 may be a better option for video, but for photography I love my limited edition prime lenses.

[@DavidHancock]

Yeah, these are not suitable for on-camera audio.