Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC
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
Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC
The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC DN Art lens is overwhelmingly praised for its exceptional image quality, fast constant aperture, and compact internal zoom design. Users highlight its sharpness, lightweight build, and excellent autofocus performance, especially on crop-sensor mirrorless cameras like the Canon R7 and Fujifilm bodies. A few questions about compatibility with specific cameras and features like weather sealing and aperture ring are noted, but the overall sentiment is extremely positive.
Pros
- Exceptional image quality
- Fast constant f/1.8 aperture
- Compact internal zoom design
- Lightweight build
- Sharp and bright photos
Cons
- No weather sealing mentioned
- No manual aperture ring on some mounts
- Compatibility questions with full-frame cameras
- Expensive for some buyers
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm | Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 43 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 43 mm | 40 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 17 |
| Groups | 6 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| Coating | SMC coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/1.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.9 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Fujifilm X |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.15 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 280 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:8 | 1:4.8 |
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)
Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC
- Strong user sentiment (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong optical (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong aperture (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.