Which Limited lens?

Hi. been some time since I last visited. Have a quick question regarding Limited lenses. Regardless of the focal length, which limited lens would you choose if you were allowed to have only one lens in this range? based on colour, sharpness and bokeh. basically which produces the best image. List I am giving is

21mm Ltd
31mm Ltd
43mm Ltd
70mm Ltd
77mm Ltd

I am considering at least one of these lenses. I did mention regardless of focal length. I use all range of these focal equally so replies regarding image quality would be helpful.

Oh I forgot, what would be best price for good condition 31mm or 77mm.

Thanks

For those that don't own any of them or only one, can we pick the best or worst review and base an opinion on that?

If you use all of the available focal lengths equally and let’s say the 77mm is regarded as the better for your above reasons, are you looking to buy that first and compromise with the rest?

JR is currently doing some testing with Ltd.’s so I would read his reviews and take a course of action from there.

Best regards

I don't possess a limited lens (yet). From the images I've seen I would pick the 77, there is something magical about it.

I wouldn't based on his review of the 43mm ! Sorry John but it doesn't put the 43 in the best light, which isn't the experience of the vast majority of 43 owners - regardless of what the tests actually show (and the corners of my 43 have never been that soft) ! There seems to be some considerable difference between the results of the various 43 reviews. Don't really want to resurrect this issue but it needs to be taken into consideration if John's reviews alone are to be the basis for choice.
I hope this doesn't read as a denigration of John's review as it certainly wasn't intended to be - it's more to say there is far more to the lenses than pure test figures and the 43 is liberally sprinkled with pixie dust).

This question often seems to surface in various formats - usually the 77 / 43/ 35macro & 31 are the prime objects of desire, finances not withstanding (the 70 often being suggested as a cheaper option to the 77 if money is an issue) and the 15 oft being suggested as a better lens than the 21 (though I have no personal experience with either of those lenses).

This is an old but always fun read : link

You say you use all ranges equally - but what is/are your primary subject matter(s) ?

I'd choose the 31 Ltd, in fact if I could only have one lens for my camera it would be the 31mm Ltd, in black. s/h price £700-800.

John

What happened to the 40mm from the list? For many it is too much in the wrong focal length not wide enough yet not long enough. I chose the 40mm, and apart from a bit of bf which has for the time being fixed by the camera AF adjustment setting it is a great little lens.

I am contemplating on getting the 70mm as well. Might have a play with it when I pop in SRS to get my 50-135 ... sigh

I would point out that the conclusion of the 43mm test was that the lens was Highly Recommended and that the test results did not show it was soft in the corners, but I think those who are interested should read it and make up their own minds.

As regards a choice, I would put the 77mm top of the list, followed by the 70mm, but in a way that could be the 31mm second.

It's a bit artificial to ask for a choice between these lenses though, because they are all very different. The 21mm is a million miles away from the 77mm in terms of its purpose. So how can there be a choice between them? It depends on what sort of images you want to make.

My choice is based upon what I would want a prime for, indeed what I do want a prime for. It might not be what the OP wants a prime for.

There were at least 3 variations of the 43mm. The original shown in the link above didn't have the "green wart" that probably appeared with the 77mm, possibly because it was thought that it would interfere with the already small MF ring. Then one appeared with the "green wart" and finally the "assembled in Vietnam" version.

Mine's the original version, made about the time that AP tested one and declared it the "Best Standard" lens ever made.

I think I still have that mag somewhere with the test of the MZ-3 and FA-43 Ltd. Dr Stewart Bell announces it quite nonchalantly, better days, he's sadly missed.

John

I've actually got two tests somewhere. One where it's compared against Leica and Nikon and the one I've got
in frot of me right now. 17th Oct. 1998 with the headline:

===================
The highest standard
The world's best standard lens. That's the Contax 50mm f/1.4 Planar....
until the new Pentax 43mm f/1.9 marvel appeared on the scene, as
Stewart Bell reports.
===================



He always said the Pentax were in the Top TWO of lensmakers.....
never said who the other one was

I remember that test. Part of the interest now, an important part, is how that relates to the different requirements of the digital sensor.

Thanks for replies, some info to take in. Reason I didnt include 40mm Ltd its because I owned it before.

I was leaning towards the 77mm due to its focal length for portraites as I have used both Nikon 85mm 1.4 and canon 85mm 1.2L and loved them both and of course the 77mm is close in focal length to that. Unfortunately I havent had chance to use 77mm yet thats why I asked how image quality would be like from it. I also use more wide angle as well and have heard all good things about the 31mm. When I can afford more than 1 limited lens, I'll own most of them each for their own purpose.

For example, from Nikon people talk of the new 24mm f1.4G having something "magical" about that lens. Canon have the 85mm L and 135mm L, its that "magical" touch to the image I am after, bit difficult to explain for me but am sure you will get my point with those comparisons.

Time to test these Ltd lenses. Of course will let you know about any of them I get my hands on

I remember reading somewhere, but I don't remember where, he said Leitz (now Leica), Pentax and Zeiss (Contax) were the top three but never gave the order, naming them alphabetically and the rest he grouped under "also make lenses"

John

First, I am not sure how you can omit focal length from your consideration since that is perhaps the main differentiator.

All are good for colour, being Pentax through and through.

All are good to excellent for sharpness. FA31 is amazing corner to corner. FA43 has the highest peak of any of them. But really I wouldn't choose based only on sharpness. Small differences are a lot less important than your technique.

The FA Limiteds have aperture rings and are a stop or more faster than the other choices. Both are important factors to me. They also have "special" rendering, though all three are different even amongst themselves. FA31 has smooth bokeh for a lens that "wide" (not really wide on APS-C). FA43 has amazing 3D effect and dimensionality. FA77 has the greatest DOF control.

I would choose FA31 for landscapes though I use the FA43 for mine. I would choose FA77 for portraits though I just shot a set today for a client using the FA43.

So, you see, it depends.

All are good lenses, like most everything with the Pentax name on it. But the FA Limiteds are the reason to shoot this brand. They are superlative.

Don't forget the Sigma primes