Pentax SMC
FA 31mm f/1.8
 vs
Pentax SMC
DA 21mm f/3.2 AL

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8
Significantly wider aperture f/1.8 vs f/3.2
Help
 At its widest, the FA 31mm f/1.8 captures much more light, 1.7 f-stops
Pentax SMC FA 31mm f/1.8 Learn more about
the Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8

Reasons to consider the Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Shorter 25 mm vs 69 mm
Help
 2.8x shorter
Slightly cheaper $646.95 vs $1,296.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $650 cheaper (2x less)
Slightly lighter 140 g vs 345 g
Help
 2.5x lighter
Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Learn more about
the Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 AL

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Prime lens Fixed focal length prime lenses Help
Typically very sharp
Length Short Help
FA 31mm f/1.8:69 mm
DA 21mm f/3.2 AL:25 mm
Focus motor No silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower
Max focal length Poor telephoto Help
FA 31mm f/1.8:31 mm
DA 21mm f/3.2 AL:21 mm
Zoom range Poor zoom Help
1x
Magnification Poor magnification Help
FA 31mm f/1.8:1:6.2 (0.2x)
DA 21mm f/3.2 AL:1:7 (0.1x)

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax SMC -DA 15mm f/4 ED AL

Pentax SMC -DA 15mm f/4 ED AL

Wide angle lens

$647
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the SMC -DA 15mm f/4 ED AL vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Compare the SMC -DA 15mm f/4 ED AL vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Pentax SMC FA 43mm f/1.9

Pentax SMC FA 43mm f/1.9

Low light lens

$747
Compare the SMC FA 43mm f/1.9 vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Compare the SMC FA 43mm f/1.9 vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Pentax SMC DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro

Pentax SMC DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro

Macro lens

$697
Magnification Has better macro
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the SMC DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Compare the SMC DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Pentax SMC DA 40mm f/2.8

Pentax SMC DA 40mm f/2.8

Lens

$497
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the SMC DA 40mm f/2.8 vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Compare the SMC DA 40mm f/2.8 vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Zeiss Distagon 25mm f/2.8 ZK T* Pentax-k

Zeiss Distagon 25mm f/2.8 ZK T* Pentax-k

Lens

$948
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Auto focus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Distagon 25mm f/2.8 ZK T* Pentax-k vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Compare the Distagon 25mm f/2.8 ZK T* Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL

Pentax SMC FA 31mm f/1.8 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Zeiss Distagon 35mm T* f/2 ZE Canon-ef

Zeiss Distagon 35mm T* f/2 ZE Canon-ef

Low light lens

$1,117
Auto focus Auto focus
Length Longer
Compare the Distagon 35mm T* f/2 ZE Canon-ef vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2 T* ZK Pentax-k

Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2 T* ZK Pentax-k

Low light lens

$1,228
Magnification Slightly more magnification
Auto focus Auto focus
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Distagon 28mm f/2 T* ZK Pentax-k vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM A1 Pentax-k

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM A1 Pentax-k

Low light lens

$899
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Aperture Wider aperture
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM A1 Pentax-k vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/2.8

Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/2.8

Lens

$299
Lowest price Cheaper
Weight Slightly lighter
Aperture Narrower aperture
Magnification Slightly less magnification
Compare the M.Zuiko 17mm f/2.8 vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8
Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 T Canon-ef

Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 T Canon-ef

Low light lens

$1,843
Aperture Wider aperture
Diameter Much larger diameter
Auto focus Auto focus
Compare the Distagon 35mm f/1.4 T Canon-ef vs the SMC FA 31mm f/1.8

Pentax SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG DF RF

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG DF RF

Low light lens

$629
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Magnification More magnification
Length Longer
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 20mm f/1.8 EX DG DF RF vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Pentax-k

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Pentax-k

Low light lens

$439
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Wide maximum Wider aperture
Length Longer
Compare the 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Nikon Nikkor 28mm f/2.8D

Nikon Nikkor 28mm f/2.8D

Wide angle lens

$259
Aperture Wider aperture
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Compare the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8D vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL
Pentax SMC DA 70mm f/2.4

Pentax SMC DA 70mm f/2.4

Low light lens

$697
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Better telephoto
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the SMC DA 70mm f/2.4 vs the SMC DA 21mm f/3.2 AL

discussion Which do you think is better?

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