Pentax HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW vs Pentax smc Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Verdict at a glance
- Pentax HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW is faster by 0.7 stops (f/1.4 vs f/1.8), letting in more light.
- Pentax smc Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited is lighter by 560g.
- Pentax smc Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited goes wider (31mm vs 50mm).
- Pentax HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW reaches further (50mm vs 31mm).
| Spec | HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW | smc Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Pentax | Pentax |
| Mount | Pentax K | Pentax K |
| Type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 50mm | 31mm (wider) |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 (faster) | f/1.8 |
| Weight g | 910 | 350 (lighter) |
| Filter mm | 72 | 58 |
| Length mm | 106.0 | 69.0 |
| Diameter mm | 80.0 | 66.0 |
| Min focus m | 0.4 | 0.3 (closer focusing) |
| Blades | n/a | 9 |
| Format | n/a | full-frame |
| Groups | n/a | 7 |
| Af motor | n/a | screw-drive |
| Elements | n/a | 9 |
| Max magnification | n/a | 0.16 |
Pentax HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW
A premium full-frame 50mm f/1.4 from Pentax's Star series. It has SDM autofocus, an all-weather build and weighs about 910 g.
Pros
- f/1.4 aperture
- SDM autofocus
- All-weather build
- Pentax HD coating
Cons
- Heavy at about 910 g
- Large for a 50mm
Pentax smc Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited
A celebrated wide-normal prime in Pentax's FA Limited trio. It covers full-frame film and digital.
Pros
- Excellent rendering
- All-metal build
- Full-frame coverage
Cons
- Not weather-sealed
- Limited availability