Hin's Photo Corner

I am someone who are careless and sells with no fear but buy back when I think I want to try it again. I still remember the day that I sold my ex-LadyQueen 31mm f/1.8 limited. Being frugal actually is more expensive when it comes to lens purchase.

I stayed away from thinking about the queen as I don't see it fit in my gear when compared to my documentary Pentax DA 35mm 1:1 macro limited lens. I call my 35mm limited as my best documentary lens as I shot all of my LBA/CBA shots exclusively from DA 35mm limited. To prepare a small combo for traveling light with K-x, I have been looking for a used copy of pancake limited and I just got it yesterday


and I have finally given in for the Pentax K-x white which should come anytime well before thanksgiving. I don't really need the 40mm limited but it is a perfect match to the K-x for traveling light and small with elegance. And the pancake primes and FA limited primes are one of the reasons to stay loyal, unique and interesting as a Pentaxian.


Initial Impressions & Notes

• It is smaller and thinner than my Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 limited. It is likely the smallest prime. I forget if it is any bigger than the Pentax M 40mm f/2.8 that I once have
• I am glad that my used copy come with lens hood and the original lens cap with 30.5mm size.
• With the lens hood mounted, it looks thicker but for lens protection sake, I have the lens hood mounted all the time.
• Unlike the 35mm limited, I get more correct exposures or tiny slightly over-exposures.
• AF seems quick and responsive with my K20D in indoor setting
• Somehow, I found it very odd that the Pentax logo was printed on the inside of the lens cap instead of outside like the other lens caps in the limited lens
• Minimum focusing distance is at 0.4m, quite nice for closeup in a normal lens.
  

Related:

• Pentax FA 43mm f/1.9 limited
• Pentax K-x White Indoor High ISO with DA 40mm f/2.8
• K-x white in Disneyland
• Articles tagged for K-x
  
• Articles tagged for Limited Lenses
• Pentax K-x White Indoor High ISO with DA 40mm f/2.8
  
• Pentax DA 21mm limited on FF bodies
• Pentax M 40mm f/2.8
  
• Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2
  
• How To Protect Limited Lenses
• Pentax Clones for Pancake
  
• Pentax 1 Lens Choices -- traveling trio
  
• Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 -- Lady Queen
• Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited -- Best Documentary Lens
  
• Hin's Camera Gear

I hope that I can explain to someone that I can justify to buy this lens after owning a fine copy of portrait zoom with Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. The Tamron zoom serves me more than I can ask for. I even tried to pretend to be a wedding photog in my friends' wedding. But when I spotted this fine limited prime, I send in paypal for it and the reasoning that I chose it instead of Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 are actually a few

• It is faster speed in f/1.8 and it makes a difference for indoor shooting. Pentax are not well known for noise and anything gained from faster speed in lens are very welcome.
  
  
• Full frame compatibiliy. Though I don't have any film body, I expect to have some potential gear that go with a full frame film body such as my previous favorite film body with Pentax Pz-1 or Pentax Super Program
  
  
• Size and aperture control on lens. I love lens that offer me choice
  
  
• It is a totally different lens than DA* 50-135. The DA* zoom can't touch the small and petite size of the limited prime in 77mm and it stands in its very own strength in my bag. It will serve the unique role in a limited trio as in 21/40/77 and since I don't have the 40mm, my 31mm and 50mm will fill in the role in between as in 21/31/50/77 as a quad limited lens with an extra Pentax FA 50 f/1.4 which is no limited but my best value prime in my bag
  

Related:

• Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited Test Shots
  
• Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 limited
• Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited
• Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4
  
• Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 Di LD Macro
  
• Hin's Pentax Gear