Pentax FA 31mm Limited lens

Photographic lens
SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited
MakerPentax
Technical data
TypePrime
Focus driveScrewdrive
Focal length31mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)46.5mm
Aperture (max/min)f/1.8 / f/22
Close focus distance12 inches (30 cm)
Max. magnification0.16x
Diaphragm blades9
Construction9 elements in 7 groups
Features
ApplicationNormal lens (APS-C), Wide-angle lens (Full frame)
Physical
Max. length2.7 inches (69 mm)
Diameter2.6 inches (66 mm)
Weight12.2 ounces (350 g)
Filter diameter58mm
Accessories
Lens hoodBuilt-in
Angle of view
Diagonal70° (full frame), 50° (APS-C)
Retail info
MSRP1,299.95 USD USD

The SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited is a full-frame moderate wide-angle lens for Pentax K-mount. On an APS-C camera, it gives a normal field of view. It lacks Quick Shift Focus, which is now found on most other Pentax lenses, and therefore does not allow manual focusing while in autofocus mode.

History

The eventual design of this lens was the second major attempt. An earlier design by Jun Hirakawa of a smaller 31mm f/2.4 lens was rejected by management for being too "slow" (i.e. too narrow at maximum aperture), and so the f/1.8 version came to be developed by Takayuki Ito and Masayuki Murata.[1]

Reception

Popular Photography said in its March 2002 issue that the Pentax 31mm Limited was one of the greatest prime lenses they had ever tested.[2] Photozone called it "an excellent lens",[3] and ePhotozone noted, "If we compare this 31mm with Leica prices, then we have tremendous value for money".[4] In a Pentax Lens Tournament held in 2014, the users of pentaxforums.com, one of the biggest Pentax-related online communities, voted the 31mm Limited to be the Greatest Normal Pentax lens[5] as well as the Second Greatest Pentax Lens of All Time after the FA 77mm Limited.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Some "Lost Stories" About the Three FA Limited Lenses". 16 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Sm-02-05-02". 13 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Pentax SMC-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited - Review / Test Report".
  4. ^ "SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited Lens Review".
  5. ^ Christopher J. Feola (2014-10-30). "Four Champions are Crowned". pentaxforums.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  6. ^ Christopher J. Feola (2014-11-05). "The FA 77mm Limited is the Greatest Pentax Lens". pentaxforums.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  • Media related to SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited at Wikimedia Commons
  • SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited at Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp.
  • SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited in the pentaxforums.com lens database.
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
Pentax K-mount lenses
DA*
Prime
Zoom
DA
Prime
Zoom
DA Limited
Prime
Zoom
D FA and D FA*
Prime
Zoom
FA Limited
Prime
FA*
Prime
  • FA* 24mm
  • FA* 85mm
  • FA* 200mm
  • FA* 200mm Macro
  • FA* 300mm
  • FA* 400mm
  • FA* 600mm
Zoom
  • FA* 28-70mm
  • FA* 80-200mm
  • FA* 250-600mm
FA and FA J
Prime
  • FA 20mm
  • FA 28mm
  • FA 28mm Soft
  • FA 35mm
  • FA 50mm
  • FA 50mm Macro
  • FA 85mm Soft
  • FA 100mm Macro
  • FA 135mm
Zoom
  • FA J 18-35mm
  • FA 20-35mm
  • FA 24-90mm
  • FA 28-70mm
  • FA 28-80mm
  • FA J 28-80mm
  • FA 28-90mm
  • FA 28-105mm
  • FA 28-200mm
  • FA 35-80mm
  • FA 70-200mm
  • FA J 75-300mm
  • FA 80-200mm
  • FA 80-320mm
  • FA 100-300mm
F and F*
Prime
  • F 28mm
  • F 50mm
  • F 85mm
  • F 100mm Macro
  • F 135mm
  • F* 300mm
  • F* 600mm
Zoom
  • F 17-28mm Fish-eye
  • F 24-50mm
  • F 28-80mm
  • F 35-70mm
  • F 35-80mm
  • F 35-105mm
  • F 35-135mm
  • F 70-210mm
  • F 80-200mm
  • F 100-300mm
  • F* 250-600mm
A and A*
Prime
  • A 15mm
  • A 16mm Fish-eye
  • A 20mm
  • A 24mm
  • A 28mm
  • A 35mm
  • A 50mm
  • A 50mm Macro
  • A* 85mm
  • A 100mm
  • A 100mm Macro
  • A 135mm
  • A* 135mm
  • A 200mm
  • A* 200mm
  • A* 200mm Macro
  • A* 300mm
  • A 400mm
  • A* 400mm
  • A* 600mm
  • A* 1200mm
Zoom
  • A 24-50mm
  • A 28-80mm
  • A 28-135mm
  • A 35-70mm
  • A 35-80mm
  • A 35-105mm
  • A 35-135mm
  • A 35-210mm
  • A 70-210mm
  • A 80-200mm
M and M*
Prime
  • M 20mm
  • M 28mm
  • M 35mm
  • M 40mm
  • M 50mm
  • M 50mm Macro
  • M 85mm
  • M 100mm
  • M 100mm Macro
  • M 120mm
  • M 135mm
  • M 150mm
  • M 200mm
  • M* 300mm
  • M 400mm
Zoom
  • M 24-35mm
  • M 24-50mm
  • M 28-50mm
  • M 35-70mm
  • M 40-80mm
  • M 75-150mm
  • M 80-200mm
original K-series
Prime
  • K 15mm
  • K 17mm Fish-eye
  • K 18mm
  • K 20mm
  • K 24mm F2.8
  • K 24mm F3.5
  • K 28mm F2
  • K 28mm F3.5
  • K 28mm F3.5 shift
  • K 30mm
  • K 35mm F2
  • K 35mm F3.5
  • K 50mm F1.2
  • K 50mm F1.4
  • K 50mm macro
  • K 55mm F1.8
  • K 55mm F2
  • K 85mm F1.8
  • K 85mm soft
  • K 100mm bellows
  • K 100mm macro
  • K 105mm
  • K 120mm
  • K 135mm F2.5
  • K 135mm F3.5
  • K 150mm
  • K 200mm F2.5
  • K 200mm F4
  • K 300mm
  • K 400mm
  • K 500mm
  • K 1000mm
  • K 1000mm reflex
  • K 2000mm reflex
Zoom
  • K 28-80mm
  • K 45-125mm
  • K 80-200mm
  • K 85-210mm F3.5
  • K 85-210mm F4.5
  • K 135-600mm
  • K 400-600mm
Special
Zoom
  • AF 35-70mm (for ME F)