raid
Dad Photographer
It is 2016 now. Do you like your Pentax 43mm 1.9 lens?
sepiareverb
genius and moron
I've had a couple of these go through my hands, really lovely rendition on film, great build quality. Never got along with the length on an M. Might be perfect on a CL though...
raid
Dad Photographer
Once you lent me such a lens. I compared it to a Summicron-C 40/2.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
That's right Raid! Is that thread still around? We should link it here.
raid
Dad Photographer
It must be "out somewhere". I bought [from you maybe?] such a lens later on.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I own a a boxed Pentax 43/1.9 with the VF'er that is one of the 800 ever made in silver.
The VF'er is very contrasty and features a diopter, but know that the base/foot is offset for use on a LTM. I used mine on a IIIG and it made an awesome rig. On a IIIG one could use the entire frame as your VF'er, but the Pentax VF'er offered that all at once viewing of an external VF'er. Also know that on a LTM it is a big lens and that there is a small bit of VF'er blockage. A IIIG and Pentax-L is a superb rig.
On a M-Body I used a 0.85 black paint MP and found that the entire VF'er matched the framing of the Pentax VF'er perfectly. I used a 35mm LTM adapter for the 135mm frames which I used as a compositional tool because it was the exact size of the middle rectangle when composing using the rule of thirds.
The built quality is mucho high, but the lens is lightweight and the focus fast. I also use a Nikon 45/2.8 P, and I am fond of the added DOF over a 50 without needing a 35.
As mentioned this lens is likely a simple Tessar with few elements. At F1.9 performance is not optimal, but at F2.8 the sweet spot begins. I suspect that few lens elements of a simple design makes this lens contrasty and offers saturated colors. I think the rendering is great.
Cal
The VF'er is very contrasty and features a diopter, but know that the base/foot is offset for use on a LTM. I used mine on a IIIG and it made an awesome rig. On a IIIG one could use the entire frame as your VF'er, but the Pentax VF'er offered that all at once viewing of an external VF'er. Also know that on a LTM it is a big lens and that there is a small bit of VF'er blockage. A IIIG and Pentax-L is a superb rig.
On a M-Body I used a 0.85 black paint MP and found that the entire VF'er matched the framing of the Pentax VF'er perfectly. I used a 35mm LTM adapter for the 135mm frames which I used as a compositional tool because it was the exact size of the middle rectangle when composing using the rule of thirds.
The built quality is mucho high, but the lens is lightweight and the focus fast. I also use a Nikon 45/2.8 P, and I am fond of the added DOF over a 50 without needing a 35.
As mentioned this lens is likely a simple Tessar with few elements. At F1.9 performance is not optimal, but at F2.8 the sweet spot begins. I suspect that few lens elements of a simple design makes this lens contrasty and offers saturated colors. I think the rendering is great.
Cal
raid
Dad Photographer
Maybe, the Pentax lens is similar to the Rollei Sonnar 40/2.8 when both are used at apertures greater than 2.8.
Neither a Tessar type or a Sonnar type construction, but a double-Gauss relative of 7 elements in 6 groups similar to most other Pentax "normal" lenses. Same glass is used in both the Pentax-mount and Leica screw mount lenses. See Bojidar Dmitrov's illustration here:
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/_optics/43f1.9.gif
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/_optics/43f1.9.gif
raid
Dad Photographer
Thank you, Doug, for the information. Pentax always has had wonderful normal lenses over the years.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Doug,
Thanks for the clarity.
I would also agree that the 43/1.9 Pentax-L has similar rendering to the 75/2.8 AL. Kinda funny that I own both.
I find the 75/2.8 AL to distinguish itself from other Pentax 67 lenses in that it has a more modern look than the other available glass. The 75/2.8 AL has an ASPH element.
Cal
Chipvn
Newbie
I owned both this Pentax-L 43/1.9 Special and the Nokton 40/1.4 and also the Pentax K mount 43/1.9 Limited (which I've just sold). I think the 43/1.9 Special and Limited rendering are quite similar. Might be the 43 Special is just a bit more contrast and warmer. Distortion wise is also similar. The only thing I don't like is the lens coma is really bad (which also the same as the 43 limited if I remember correctly).
Lens barrel finishing and ergonomic are night and day different which the Special is way better.
This is how the 43/1.9 Special render (wide open and with a bit of barrel distortion corrected) on Sony A7RII:
By the way, I just double check the paper comes along with the lens in the box and the FOV angle of this lens is exactly the same as the 43/1.9 Limited. Their FOV angle is 53 degree.
Lens barrel finishing and ergonomic are night and day different which the Special is way better.
This is how the 43/1.9 Special render (wide open and with a bit of barrel distortion corrected) on Sony A7RII:
By the way, I just double check the paper comes along with the lens in the box and the FOV angle of this lens is exactly the same as the 43/1.9 Limited. Their FOV angle is 53 degree.
NeonKnight
Established
Had this lens for awhile and enjoyed it on my M8. Super sharp but also had horrible CA. Would recommend for use with film if you don't mind using an external finder.
raid
Dad Photographer
I placed such a lens an hour ago on my M9. I will use the lens again. I have a Pentax Takumar 50/1.4 on the M8. It will be a Pentax-Leica experience!
Renato Tonelli
Member
I just bought one of these for my Leica IIIf - it should arrive end of the month.
The seller doesn't know the filter size - does anyone here know?
I could of course wait until it arrives and measure it...
The seller doesn't know the filter size - does anyone here know?
I could of course wait until it arrives and measure it...
sepiareverb
genius and moron
40.5 filter if I remember right.
Renato Tonelli
Member
Thanks Bob.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
You're welcome. I checked and that is correct.