Pentax FA 20-35 f4 - Any users of this lens?

Does anyone on the forum use one of these lenses? I don't see much chatter about this lens on the web generally, but the few comments I have seen are generally in praise of it. I've recently aquired one and have to say it is a real gem, the quality is way above anything I've experienced on a wide-angle zoom, so much so that I don't use my F 24-50 now (the wide end isn't quite wide enough for me) and I probably won't use the DA* 16-50 very much (the FA 20-35 is much lighter).

I'd like to hear the opinions, issues, etc from other users of this lens. Currently it's my favourite lens

Have you got any sample photos taken with this lens? Heard lots of story about it but no luck to get one...

It was tested here on Photozone and came out quite well:

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/136-pentax-smc-fa-20-35mm-f4-al-review--lab-test

John

Thank you for the link, John! In Verdict, it was said "The Pentax SMC-FA 20-35mm f/4 AL is a very good lens but it doesn't really offer much over its successor - the SMC DA 16-45mm f/4 ED AL.", and I think its successor should be DA 12-24mm f/4, or?

It is a lens hard to find, though...

I don't think the DA 12-24 was released before the review of the FA 20-35 so probably just timing. Some of the better FA zooms can be hard to find depending on their popularity when released, which often depends on cost and perceived value to the buyer.

John

That's a strange verdict in the sense that the 20-35mm was a film camera lens and the 16-45mm was much later and quite disconnected in any timeline.

It was with relevance to how useful the lens would be on a crop sensor DSLR, in this case the Pentax K10D where it would have a field-of-view equivalent to 30-53mm

John

Here's a couple of pictures taken with it at 20mm - no PP apart from cropping slightly.


The first is at f4..


The second at f11




This one is taken on a flat lighting day at 20mm, f6.3..


and a crop...



At 35mm - f6.3..


and a crop..



Again no PP.
You can see the level of detail retained in the crosses at the top of the tower.

Hi,

the FA 20-35 is a well regarded lens.
I did test it once on a film camera (MZ-5N).
The only drawback might be the build quality.
At f4 and 20mm it should probably be as good as the FA 20/2.8.
Certainly, one of the better FA lenses.

Regards,
froeschle

I now have a second copy of this lens - LBA at it's best/worst ?

They seem to prefer the 16-45mm

It's the equivalent of 30-52mm full frame. 28mm used to
be the minimum for a wide angle in the 70's, so it's
a less than a wide angle to standard zoom which isn't
very exiting

It does have a big price tag which a lot of people
find attractive

-

There was one of these on EekBay at £699 (BIN) a few weeks ago - that really is a big price tag!

On paper the zoom range isn't particularly exciting ( or exiting ) - but it suits me down to the ground.

I'd been looking for one for months (at a fair price) - then "London Bus Syndrome" struck - 2 came along in quick succession

Here's a couple.





I used to use this lens a lot for hiking with the *istD, it makes a pretty compact package:

There are also a bunch of images taken with this combination at www.pbase.com/davekitson/Landscapes/MountainWalks

Still available new at Ffordes - £1,300

:

You make it even rarer...