The only Penta Leica smc PENTAX 43
A review and photo examples using the Leica L39 screw mount / smc PENTAX-L 43mm F1.9 Special with digital and film cameras.
Table of contents
Gallery
The sample photos were taken with a Panasonic LUMIX GF1, HEXAR RF + KODAK EPR-64 + NIKON LS-50
Review
1．Overview
The smc PENTAX-L 43mm F1.9 Special is a semi-standard lens with a focal length of 43mm and equipped with a Leica L39 screw mount, released by Pentax in 2000. It is available in two colors, black and silver, and is limited to a total of 2,000 units.
The main specifications are as follows, and details are listed in the table.
- Aperture value: 1.9
- Lens construction: 6 groups, 7 elements
- Aperture blades: 9 elements
- Minimum shooting distance: 0.7m
- Leica M rangefinder camera rangefinder coupling: 0.7m
- Hood: Built-in, retractable type
The focal length of 43mm does not have a standard viewfinder frame for rangefinder cameras, so an external viewfinder with a 43mm/50mm frame is included as an accessory with the new lens.
2．Usability
The results of shooting with the smc PENTAX-L 43mm F1.9 Special show a calm depiction with both delicacy and moderate bokeh.
When used with 35mm film, the corners are slightly distorted, but not at a level that bothers you.
When used with a digital camera, the LEICA M8 with an APS-H size sensor, the results show no problems with the depiction.
The LEICA M9 with a 35mm full-size sensor shows a little distorted in the periphery, just like film, and sometimes produces purple false colors in the highlights.
With a 35mm full-size sensor camera, false colors depend in large part on image generation, so compatibility between the camera and lens is important.
With a Micro Four Thirds camera with a smaller sensor size, the results are homogeneous across the entire screen because only the center of the lens is used, resulting in flawless depiction.
The lens design follows the trend of lenses released at the same time, with a built-in hood and a finger rest on the focus ring. This is to cut out harmful light and improve operability.
The lens exterior is cylindrical with few bumps, so it is highly rated by users who prefer simple designs, but lacks interest from users who prefer a tapered lens barrel.
The external viewfinder has 43mm/50mm shooting range frames printed on top of each other. However, the 50mm frame is not necessary, and it is better to have only the 43mm frame for a cleaner look.
The external viewfinder is a rough tool used only to check the shooting range, and Barnack Leica cameras use the standard 50mm frame, while M-mount cameras use the 50mm/75mm L39-M mount adapter, so you should shoot with the outside of the 50mm frame in mind. Or, if you use the 35/135mm L39-M mount adapter and shoot with the inside of the 35mm in mind, you can generally capture the scenery within the range you imagine.
The LEICA CL, MINOLTA CLE, and BESSA R3 series have a special 40mm frame, so shooting with the 40mm frame will not feel out of place.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the smc PENTAX-L 43mm F1.9 Special, since it works with rangefinder camera distance meters, if you want to focus with double image matching, including with Barnack Leica and Leica M-compatible cameras, it is worth purchasing the L39 mount version.
If you value versatility and practicality, you may also want to consider the PentaK-mount version. This is because lenses for SLR cameras with long flange backs can be used not only with mirrorless cameras, but also with other companies’ SLR cameras, making them highly versatile, and the minimum shooting distance of the PentaK-mount version is 0.45m, which is shorter than the L39 mount’s 0.7m, making it highly practical.
The era of the smc PENTAX-L 43mm F1.9 Special
In the 2010s, when I bought the smc PENTAX-L 43mm F1.9 Special, lenses for rangefinder cameras were at rock bottom prices, and this lens was often seen on the second-hand market. I bought it at a not-so-high price at the time. Combined with an excess supply of 2,000 units, I saw new lenses in their boxes for about 10 years after its release.
Looking back at the time, 2000, when this lens was released, was a time when lens-integrated digital cameras with small image sensors were released, while digital SLR cameras with large image sensors and interchangeable lenses were for professional use, and most photographers were still using film. During this period, SLR cameras, which allowed you to see the shooting range directly through the viewfinder, were popular, and SLR cameras accounted for almost all of the camera market share.
Rangefinder cameras are mainly used by Leica enthusiasts, who are not interested in anything other than the Leica brand. This lens, which has a special focal length of 43mm that is not found in normal rangefinder cameras, was avoided by rangefinder camera users and did not sell well.
Time passed and in 2004, the release of the digital rangefinder camera R-D1 from EPSON paved the way for the digital use of L39 mount and M mount lenses. At that time, this lens was sometimes introduced along with camera reviews.
The mirrorless camera that most uses L39 / Leica M lenses in the 2020s was the first Panasonic G1, released in 2008. Since then, with the spread of M-mount digital cameras and the rise in popularity of mirrorless cameras, this lens has disappeared from the market and the price has stabilized accordingly.
Specification and Competitor
The smc PENTAX-L 43mm F1.9 Special has the same lens configuration as the HD PENTAX-FA 43mmF1.9 Limited and smc PENTAX-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited, which have been released for Pentax’s K-mount SLR cameras.
However, if you are considering using it with a mirrorless camera, as mentioned in the summary, the K-mount version for SLR cameras has a shorter minimum focusing distance of 0.45m, and the latest HD PENTAX-FA 43mmF1.9 Limited also has a new lens coating, so its performance is improved over the L39 mount version.
- The lens construction diagrams are quoted from each company’s materials, and the sizes have been adjusted by us, so they are not exact.
| Items | SMC PENTAX L 43mm Special | HD PENTAX-FA 43mmF1.9 Limited |
| Focal length(mm) | 43 | 43 |
| Max aperture | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Min aperture | 16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 9 | 8 |
| Lens Construction | 7elements in 6groups | 7elements in 6groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.7 | 0.45 |
| Lens length(mm) | 47 | 27 |
| Max diameter(mm) | 55 | 64 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 40.5 | 49 |
| Weight(g) | 230(Black / Silver) | 155 |
| Lens Mount | LEICA L39 | PENTAX-K |
| Production numbers | 2000 | ? |
| Release date | September 23, 2000 | April 28, 2021 |
Reference links
- Leica lenses of the world (Shashin Kogyosha) ・Ads by Amazon
- HD PENTAX-FA 43mmF1.9 Limited(ENG)
- HD PENTAX-FA 43mmF1.9 Limited(JP)
Update history
- 2025.3.31
- 2024.07.17
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