Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
What Buyers Say
Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
The Pentax FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and solid metal build. Users love it for portraits and low-light photography, often calling it a must-have for Pentax shooters. Some note quirks like screw-drive autofocus noise and occasional fringing wide open, but these are minor compared to the overall image quality. A few mention the lack of a lens hood and that it's best suited for full-frame cameras.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid metal build
- Compact and lightweight
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Screw-drive autofocus noise
- Fringing wide open
- No lens hood included
- Not ideal on APS-C
- Occasional focus miss in low light
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent optical performance, sturdy yet lightweight build, and fast autofocus. Users highlight its versatility as a workhorse zoom for both photo and video, with particular appreciation for the linear focus mode on compatible cameras. A few note the shallow depth of field is limited due to the Micro Four Thirds system, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Excellent optical performance
- Sturdy yet lightweight build
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Versatile zoom range
- Linear focus mode for video
Cons
- Limited shallow depth of field
- Focus-by-wire system not linear
- No built-in gear ring for cine use
- Slight chromatic aberration in high contrast
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 43 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 43 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 14 |
| Groups | 6 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| Coating | SMC coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.9 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.15 kg★ | 0.31 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:8★ | 0.21x |
Pros & Cons
Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
- Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Below average bokeh (20th percentile)20th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.