Ricoh/Pentax PENTAX-FA HD 31mmF1.8 Limited (Black)

PENTAX-FA HD 31mm F1.8 Limited (Black) – Wide-angle 31mm with HD coating and bright F1.8 aperture

This PENTAX-FA HD 31mm F1.8 Limited lens delivers a versatile wide-angle view and a bright F1.8 aperture. The large maximum aperture lets you control depth of field for creative results. Use it to separate subjects from their backgrounds or to emphasize detail in landscapes and street photography.

Unique 31mm focal length

The lens has a 31mm focal length, sitting approximately midway between the conventional 28mm and 35mm wide-angle lenses. Because of this, it can draw out visual characteristics of either focal length depending on how you frame your image. In practice, this gives you flexible composition options without switching lenses.

Optical design and image quality

PENTAX equipped this lens with glass-molded aspherical elements plus high-refraction, low-dispersion glass elements. These components work together to produce sharp, fine-detailed images of small subjects. For example, the lens renders delicate details such as the tips of branches on a bare, leafless tree in winter with clarity.

In addition, the lens preserves the strong optical performance of the earlier smc PENTAX-FA 31mmF1.8AL Limited and improves imaging power by adding HD coating and a round-shaped diaphragm. These upgrades support better overall rendering for both digital and film photography.

Filter compatibility and lens hood

Despite being a compact wide-angle with an open F1.8 aperture, the lens accepts 58mm-diameter filters. This relatively large filter size gives you more options for filters while retaining a compact lens profile.

The lens also comes with a flower-shaped lens hood. The hood is designed to integrate perfectly with the lens and to make mounting and removing a polarizing (PL) filter easier during regular shooting.

Who this lens is for

• Photographers seeking a flexible wide-angle between 28mm and 35mm perspectives.
• Landscape and street photographers who benefit from a bright F1.8 aperture for depth-of-field control.
• Users who need sharp, fine detail rendering for small subjects, such as delicate branches or textured elements.
• PENTAX camera users shooting both digital and film who want a long-lasting, well-integrated lens option.

Common use cases

• Landscape photography where selective depth of field and wide coverage are desirable.
• Street photography that benefits from a bright aperture and a slightly wider-than-normal perspective.
• Detail work on small subjects—capturing fine textures and delicate elements such as branch tips in winter.
• Situations that require easy use of polarizing filters, aided by the flower-shaped hood design.

FAQ

question: Is this lens suitable for both digital and film PENTAX cameras?

Answer: Yes. The lens is described as intended for use in both digital and film photography and was upgraded to include HD coating and a round-shaped diaphragm while retaining the optical strengths of its predecessor.

question: How does the 31mm focal length affect composition compared to 28mm or 35mm?

Answer: The 31mm focal length sits roughly midway between 28mm and 35mm. As a result, it can emphasize visual characteristics of either focal length depending on framing, offering flexible composition options without changing lenses.

question: Can I use a polarizing filter easily with this lens?

Answer: Yes. The lens accepts 58mm filters and includes a flower-shaped hood designed to integrate with the lens and to make mounting and removing a PL filter easier.

question: What optical features help with image sharpness and detail?

Answer: The lens uses glass-molded aspherical elements along with high-refraction, low-dispersion glass elements to deliver sharp, fine-detailed images, especially for small subjects and delicate textures.