FS: FA31 Ltd, unmarked, little use

I recently acquired an F28mm f2.8, which gives a focal length I am far happier with for a lot of the work I do. Makes little sense to have this fabulous 31 Ltd sitting in a bag unused, so its now for sale.

As the photos show, it is immaculate - not a single mark anywhere, and it performs flawlessly. No box, but has its original front and rear caps - again, unmarked.

I am based in Brittany, so lens will be very carefully packed and can be posted anywhere. Am looking for £725 including postage to UK & Europe.
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r605/maurisimo1/FA31Side1WEB.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r605/maurisimo1/FA31Side2web.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r605/maurisimo1/FrontelementWEB.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r605/maurisimo1/FA31rearelementWEB.jpg[/IMG]

Correction to description - I have the leather lens pouch, but no box.

Rich, I am currently looking for exactly this type of lens.
Can you do me a favour and post a photo of the aperture blades at f/16 ?
Thanks!

Hi there - No problem. I should be able to do that for you later this evening.
Cheers

Here are a couple of photos of aperture blades from rear of lens at f16

[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r605/maurisimo1/FA31rearelement2WEB.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r605/maurisimo1/FA31blades1.jpg[/IMG]

All is very clean and snappy ...
Any more details please let me know ...

Thanks for those shots ; I wonder howcome the blades aren't spread evenly, to make a symmetrical shape. It looks a bit out of shape....?

Just taken a look at my other primes: 43, 77, and 35 macro, and they all show the same slightly uneven spread of blades @f16. A different pattern in each case of course, but all perfectly normal. I can take pics of those other prime lens blades to demonstrate, but can assure you that is the case!

Here's the blade pattern from the 77 Ltd

Okay, thank you for reassuring me.
I want to think about purchasing this lens from you.
Please allow me to get back to you about it tomorrow or the day after, if that's alright with you.

One has 9 blades the other has 7

Exposure is usually out at f/16 anyway even with a perfect iris.
You shouldn't need f/16 with a 31mm?

9 and 8.

G

Algeron, I did not ask the photo of the blades at f/16 to use this lens at f/16, I asked it because on the smaller photo (number 4) I already seemed to be seeing a slightly uneven spread of the blades. I wanted to make sure that what I saw was correct, and at f/16 the spread can be judged by the eye very well.

Sorry it is 8 on the 77mm.

I personally wouldn't bother about it as long as it's not
caused by a sticking iris. I've got some lenses like that
and they work perfectly. I might take one apart to see
what the problem is.... possibly change the blades around.

My point is that each and every one of my lenses shows an uneven spread of blades to a greater or lesser degree ... and I have quite a few, believe you me! So how that can suggest there might be some sort of problem I really haven't a clue ... take the lot apart??!

Can someone simply buy this lens, if I had the money I would snap it up...
To give you an idea of how good this lens is read this...
Quote:
"With the vagaries of personal taste taken into account, no lens, however deluxe, can be called the "best" for everyone, but the Limiteds are certainly among the best. Popular Photography in its March 2002 issue called the Pentax SMC-FA 31mm Limited one of the greatest prime lenses it had ever tested (the other two were the Voigtländer Heliar 50mm f/3.5 and the Nikon Nikkor 45mm f/2.8P Tessar-type. This wasn't clear in the issue itself, but I contacted the Editor, Jason Schneider, who confirmed it). Yet all things considered, the 77mm may be the best lens of the three. A nearly ideal short tele, the 77mm Limited is superb — contrasty, excellent for portraits wide open, with a truly beautiful, delicate bokeh that compliments the almost 3-D vividness of the in-focus image. Tops in its class? There are certainly a lot of great short teles out there. But I can't name an AF SLR short tele I'd put above it."