FA 1:1.9 43mm Limited

This is the first Pentax “Limited” lens, in the sense that it is made to the very best optical and mechanical quality possible. The somewhat unusual focal length may have been chosen as the diagonal size of 35mm film.
Mike Johnston: The Pentax 43mm Limited was the best lens I ever encountered at this test. The superb flare control of this lens probably partially accounts for its amazing ability to record microdetail.
Vuk Vuksanovic: On this occasion, you can actually believe the hype. Quite apart from being remarkably sharp, there's a special luminescence about this lens which I typically associate only with the sort of quality one invariably gets with Leica. It is not easy to make something both precise and contrasty while at the same time remaining delicate and full of nuance.

Sakura is guarding the superb FA 43mm f/1.9 short prime lens. It actually comes with a neat little metal lens hood and cap not shown here.

Impressions

I have not used this lens much yet, but like other limited Pentax lenses it is very nice to handle.

Examples

Almost new heavy digging equipment from VOLVO.

August photo of plank wall with window and thermometer with polarizing filter (1/500 f/8).

Unretouched JPEG detail from the original image (3008 x 2000 pixels).

Specifications

Lens construction: 7 elements in 6 groups
Angle of view: 53 degrees
Number of diaphragm blades: 8
Minimum aperture: f/22
Minimum focusing distance: 0.45m
Filter size: 49mm
Dimensions (diameter x length): 64mm x 27mm
Weight: 155g

Links

Sunday Morning Column by Mike Johnston The Best (Autofocus) Lenses Money Can Buy
Mark Roberts is a Pentax user Pentax 43mm f/1.9 Limited
PBase Lens Sample Photos
Lens Comments on 43mm vs 50mm at Stan’s Pentax Photography Site
Bojidar Dimitrov’s Pentax K-Mount Page
Arnold Starks Pentax Seiten Pentax-Objektivserien : SMC Pentax-A 1:2.8 20mm
The Lens Gallery example images

Messing around with lenses is safe, pleasant, and harms no one.