Pentax FA 1,8/31 Ltd. on Canon 5d Mark 2

[ooznu]

Great video, I have the lens on a K5 but I'm thinking of getting the 5D instead. Do you have any photos taken with the combo?

[Kenttas]

What about the IQ of that gorgeous Pentax lim?

[gtownb]

Your comment was controversial with the pentax K-7 released, but is definitely flat out wrong now that Pentax has the k-5 which should run circles around any equivalent aps-c Canon on the market right now. Of course ruining the lens probably made this point moot anyways for using a Pentax body...

[bildensiemal]

@gtownb The lens is by no means ruined, putting it back into original state is a matter of 10 minutes.

[gtownb]

@bildensiemal

Sorry, I must have misunderstood. Did you not cut off the aperture lever? What can a layperson do in 10 minutes to remedy that?

[bildensiemal]

@gtownb

part 1:

On most Pentax lenses I know, the aperture lever cannot be easily removed, because the aperture ring also acts on it. Removing it not only takes away the automatic aperture function but also means the aperture can no longer be set manually. I initially assumed this was also the case with the 1,8/31, so I cut the lever off (it is an inexpensive small piece of metal, no big deal anyway).

[bildensiemal]

@gtownb

part 2:

I now know this was an error. The lever can be easily removed (without impairing the manual aperture function) and can be put back into place.

[baov]

The mount is crooked, that hood is gonna be vignetting, especially if this lens is wide angle.

[bildensiemal]

@baov

No - it does not vignette. It looks as if it would - but it doesn't.

[bildensiemal]

The "aperture lever", that is...

[electriktricks]

i guess that when you close down the apperture the viewfinder gets darker?

also, is it still required to cut off the apperture lever when using k mount lenses on a crop sensor body?

[deaikai]

Ok. Now I understand you. But must be a way to use the lens without cutting the aperture lever. I will find a way :)

[bildensiemal]

part 3: Unfortunately, Pentax does not make a camera suited for the 1,8/31 and this purpose (actually, the don't make a fast wide angle lens for the APS-C sized sensor either...). And also, the Canon offer (the EF 1,4/35) is even more expensive than the 1,8/31 and is twice the size and weight.

[bildensiemal]

part 2: It does work like this on the Canon but not on the Pentax (because its sensor is too small). If I were in need of a fast NORMAL lens, I would certainly go for the EF 1,4/50, but I am not: I want a fast, moderate wide angle.

[bildensiemal]

@deaikai

I am certainly not advocating that everybody who owns a 1,8/31 take the hacksaw...

Your comment however misses the point.

The Pentax 1,8/31 is a (wonderfull) WIDE ANGLE lens.

[deaikai]

«Pentax FA 1,8/31 Ltd. on Canon 5d Mark 2 » or the way to destroy a great lens for nothing...

Use it in the Pentax K20D as I do ;)

And, on canon 5d ii, use the 50mm 1.4, a very good and very cheap lens as I do so. More clever I think ;)

[MarderExplorer]

It doesn't communicate aperture, but how did you get it to say anything other than 00, like my 40D does with adapted lenses? Neat stuff!

[bildensiemal]

The "AF confirm" adapter reports 50mm focal length and f=1.8 to the camera.

[dvamateur]

It is very very unlikely that the Pentax will ever bring back a full-frame camera. That's becasue 100% of new Pentax lenses are APS-C specific. With Sony, you could sense that the compay was about to bring a full-frame camera to the market after the introduction of a brand new 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens. You can just tell from those focal lenghts was was coming. From Pentax, I don't see it coming at all. Don't get me wrong though. I want to get Pentax K7 and I like APS-C sized lenses.

[awesome87]

@dvamateur

Um, then how do you explain why Pentax make a medium format sensor camera?

[dvamateur]

Nice lens! Would fit better on the K7 though.

[SelrahCharleS]

Is the aperture lever removal a permanent modification?

[bildensiemal]

@SelrahCharleS

No - the aperture lever can be removed as a whole. Should Pentax ever market a full frame camera to match this lens, I will happily put it back in.

[BorsosD]

Before? :D I never sell my...

[bildensiemal]

Well - I had a K20D before...

[xmeda]

damaged limited lens.. grr!!

Get K20D next time :)