A Wide Classic Redefined

K Madhavan Pillai discovers why the film era Pentax SMC-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited finds its niche in today’s digital environment, especially with the Pentax K-1 full frame.

- K Madhavan Pillai

Primarily designed for Pentax film cameras, the FA Limited series holds a certain automatic fascination for older aficionados, especially after the launch of the highly rated full frame K-1. The 31mm is the widest of the three Pentax FA Limited primes and is known to have delivered excellent performance on film. DSLR sensors differ in a fundamental way when it comes to optical requirements from lenses. They require light paths that are as perpendicular to the sensors as possible, to achieve the best results. This review intend to answer two basic questions... What sets the 31mm apart? And how does it fare with the K-1?

Features

The optics are made of nine elements in seven groups, including a moulded glass aspherical element. Unlike newer lenses, the 31mm has an aperture ring, making the lens suitable for all Pentax bayonet mount film cameras as well as DSLRs. For DSLRs, as with the K-1, the aperture ring should be set to ‘A’ for aperture control through the camera body.