Where to buy Pentax FA 35mm 2.0 AL in Europe

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Peter - 28 Sep 2005 13:49 GMT

I cant seem to find it anywhere - could anyone help me with a link to a
online store in Europe.

Thanks

/Peter

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Tony Polson - 28 Sep 2005 14:19 GMT

>I cant seem to find it anywhere - could anyone help me with a link to a
>online store in Europe.

Unfortunately, it appears that this lens is no longer available new,
either in Europe or the USA/Canada. There is no word from Pentax as
to whether another production batch is likely. Perhaps the
manufacturer wishes to steer customers towards the (IMHO) optically
inferior 31mm f/1.8 Limited ... ;-)

You might find a dealer with old stock. Jessops (UK) have it listed
at GBP 249.00 including 17.5% VAT (approximately equivalent to Euro
375, or US $450). Postage extra.
http://tinyurl.com/ceok8

It is an outstanding lens. I use the SMC Pentax-A manual focus
version which is optically almost identical. It is very sharp with
very smooth bokeh, but there is enough rectilinear distortion (~0.5%)
to cause problems with some architectural subjects. Apart from the
distortion, it is comparable to the Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 at
apertures of f/5.6 and smaller.

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Peter - 28 Sep 2005 14:56 GMT

I found this at B&H Photo in USA at 300 USD - seems like a good price for
this lens - even with taxes and shipping charges.

With tax (Denmark) the price is USD 375 and they seem to have it in stock.

The 31mm f1.8 is much more expensive so i'll stick with the 35mm - seems to
get good recommendations.

thanks...
"Tony Polson" <tp@nospam.co.uk> skrev i en meddelelse
news:c65lj1522li146rfgrsuu5k62neb2mislg@4ax.com...

>>I cant seem to find it anywhere - could anyone help me with a link to a
>>online store in Europe.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> distortion, it is comparable to the Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 at
> apertures of f/5.6 and smaller.

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Tony Polson - 28 Sep 2005 16:21 GMT

>I found this at B&H Photo in USA at 300 USD - seems like a good price for
>this lens - even with taxes and shipping charges.
>
>With tax (Denmark) the price is USD 375 and they seem to have it in stock.

Last month I was told B&H had no stock, and could not predict a date
when stock might become available. Buy it now! That is a very good
price too. NOTE: It is well worth paying a mere $10 extra for USPS
Global Express Mail, which works extremely well US --> Europe.

>The 31mm f1.8 is much more expensive so i'll stick with the 35mm - seems to
>get good recommendations.

The 31mm is not any sharper than the 31mm Limited and its bokeh is
nowhere near as smooth. The 35mm f/2 is (deservedly) a very highly
regarded lens, as is the 24mm f/2.

The 24mm makes a very nice 36mm (equivalent) on an *ist D/DS/DL. I
use it as my standard lens. B&H have it for $379.95.

[Disclaimer: I have no connection with B&H except as a very satisfied
customer.]

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no_name - 30 Sep 2005 05:27 GMT

Tony Polson wrote:

>>I cant seem to find it anywhere - could anyone help me with a link to a
>>online store in Europe.
>
> Unfortunately, it appears that this lens is no longer available new,
> either in Europe or the USA/Canada.

PentaxUSA seems to still have it in their online shopping.

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Cheesehead - 30 Sep 2005 19:49 GMT

I also use the A35/2 and find it better on digital than on film.
(Though I don't do architecture.)
But
I've never heard anyone call it superior to the 31 LTD!

It seems that all Pentax 35/2 lenses are pretty rare these days.

Collin
KC8TKA

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