DA 35mm/2.4 - A Plastic Wonder! -- DAL35 vs FA35 vs DA35m vs A35 (many photos!)

Jonathan Mac · 10-19-2010, 02:27 AM

Many thanks for an extensive review & plenty of real-life pics. Like others, I am interested in the light transmission, especially if it is, as you say, more than F2.4. This is easy to calculate.

Take identical shots at F2.8 & wide open, without auto ISO (fix it at 200 or whatever) and the wide open shots should have a shutter speed 50% faster if it is indeed F2.4.

If you can do that, it would be great, and we can see what the max aperture really is.

Steelski · 10-19-2010, 03:17 AM

The F4 sample is wrong, Exif says 2.4 for 2.4 lens.
Otherwise I think the lens is a very good portrait lens.
Great Bokeh, above all the other IMO. Shrapness is good and even, although not the best. As I said. great for portraits. If I get this lens, I will not be getting the FA35mm. No point, slightly faster, stops down too much, and slightly sharper. and Bokeh not as great.

wed7 · 10-19-2010, 05:07 AM

This is really good! I hope Pentax will do this kind of lens in a much wider FL, say 20mm?

Great review Frank!

Chwisch87 · 10-19-2010, 05:08 AM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

FA35 and DA35 Macro definitely look a liiiittle bit sharper, but not very much. Nice!

Yea for the 219 they are listed this for pre-purchase, its a steal. I would say this is a great lens for someone who wants to learn the ins and outs of a prime without spending more (like a first time ... K-X buyer maybe?)

frank · 10-19-2010, 08:08 AM - **11 Likes**

Originally posted by Steelski

The F4 sample is wrong, Exif says 2.4 for 2.4 lens.
Otherwise I think the lens is a very good portrait lens.
Great Bokeh, above all the other IMO. Shrapness is good and even, although not the best. As I said. great for portraits. If I get this lens, I will not be getting the FA35mm. No point, slightly faster, stops down too much, and slightly sharper. and Bokeh not as great.

Sorry about the mistake. Didn't notice the copy/paste error

Updated w/ the correct links, hope DA35/2.4 would look slightly better at F4 now

Thanks for pointing this out.

leommj · 10-19-2010, 08:31 AM

I was planning to buy the 40mm Ltd... Should I wait and buy this one instead?

frank · 10-19-2010, 09:12 AM - **5 Likes**

Originally posted by leommj

I was planning to buy the 40mm Ltd... Should I wait and buy this one instead?

You won't be disappointed if you buy either one. But I do like this one better

Urkeldaedalus · 10-19-2010, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by leommj

I was planning to buy the 40mm Ltd... Should I wait and buy this one instead?

From the looks of it, the DA35 and DA40 seem to very similar in a lot of ways. I'd still probably give the nod to the 40 mm in most ways, but the DA35 f/2.4 is a nice cheaper alternative.

Urkeldaedalus · 10-19-2010, 09:58 AM

Plus rep to Frank.

DJEZRAJ · 10-19-2010, 11:46 AM

Thanks Frank for the review. I agree a good general walkabout is how I test a lens as well. What I can say is when i was starting out I was looking for image quality and bokeh like you have expertly demonstrated here. While I love the DA35 Macro that I ended up with the DA35L was more the price I wanted to pay for the resulting image quality. The point is that this lens to me is exactly what customers new to SLR or Primes are likely looking for and the price is right. It has its limits and drawbacks when compared to DA and FA lens built quality etc. But I think Pentax have provided users an attractive alternative for beginners and enthusiasts alike!

Cheers
Roger

audiobomber · 10-19-2010, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus

From the looks of it, the DA35 and DA40 seem to very similar in a lot of ways.

The DA 35 2.4 should have been a DA 28 2.4.

**mattb123** · 10-19-2010, 01:03 PM

If I didn't already have the DA40, I'd be ordering one of these today!
Thanks for the great review!

ilya80 · 10-19-2010, 01:20 PM

Come on guys this lens ( while being very good, esp. for its price ) is a copy of FA35 lens with "cropped" elements and new coatings.

Its really good, no one denies it, but its really nothing new.

PS: Thanks to original poster for this awesome review.

Pablom · 10-19-2010, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by audiobomber

The DA 35 2.4 should have been a DA 28 2.4.

I agree, it would have been much closer to the nomal 43mm perspective that Pentax tried to inplement not long ago
it is also my favorite focal lenght

glanglois · 10-19-2010, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by audiobomber

The DA 35 2.4 should have been a DA 28 2.4.

I'd be more interested in the 28mm flavor but the world in general needs the 35. Gotta have the right 35. This appears to be it! Thanks, Frank!

10-19-2010, 05:07 AM	#48
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	35 This is really good! I hope Pentax will do this kind of lens in a much wider FL, say 20mm? Great review Frank!

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10-19-2010, 02:27 AM	#46
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911	Many thanks for an extensive review & plenty of real-life pics. Like others, I am interested in the light transmission, especially if it is, as you say, more than F2.4. This is easy to calculate. Take identical shots at F2.8 & wide open, without auto ISO (fix it at 200 or whatever) and the wide open shots should have a shutter speed 50% faster if it is indeed F2.4. If you can do that, it would be great, and we can see what the max aperture really is.

10-19-2010, 03:17 AM	#47
Steelski Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Varna Posts: 470	The F4 sample is wrong, Exif says 2.4 for 2.4 lens. Otherwise I think the lens is a very good portrait lens. Great Bokeh, above all the other IMO. Shrapness is good and even, although not the best. As I said. great for portraits. If I get this lens, I will not be getting the FA35mm. No point, slightly faster, stops down too much, and slightly sharper. and Bokeh not as great.

10-19-2010, 05:08 AM	#49
Chwisch87 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 317	Originally posted by deadwolfbones FA35 and DA35 Macro definitely look a liiiittle bit sharper, but not very much. Nice! Yea for the 219 they are listed this for pre-purchase, its a steal. I would say this is a great lens for someone who wants to learn the ins and outs of a prime without spending more (like a first time ... K-X buyer maybe?)

10-19-2010, 08:08 AM - 11 Likes	#50
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by Steelski The F4 sample is wrong, Exif says 2.4 for 2.4 lens. Otherwise I think the lens is a very good portrait lens. Great Bokeh, above all the other IMO. Shrapness is good and even, although not the best. As I said. great for portraits. If I get this lens, I will not be getting the FA35mm. No point, slightly faster, stops down too much, and slightly sharper. and Bokeh not as great. Sorry about the mistake. Didn't notice the copy/paste error Updated w/ the correct links, hope DA35/2.4 would look slightly better at F4 now Thanks for pointing this out.

10-19-2010, 08:31 AM	#51
leommj New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: São Paulo Posts: 6	I was planning to buy the 40mm Ltd... Should I wait and buy this one instead?

10-19-2010, 09:12 AM - 5 Likes	#52
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by leommj I was planning to buy the 40mm Ltd... Should I wait and buy this one instead? You won't be disappointed if you buy either one. But I do like this one better

10-19-2010, 09:57 AM	#53
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	Originally posted by leommj I was planning to buy the 40mm Ltd... Should I wait and buy this one instead? From the looks of it, the DA35 and DA40 seem to very similar in a lot of ways. I'd still probably give the nod to the 40 mm in most ways, but the DA35 f/2.4 is a nice cheaper alternative.

10-19-2010, 09:58 AM	#54
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	Plus rep to Frank.

10-19-2010, 11:46 AM	#55
DJEZRAJ Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 33	Thanks Frank for the review. I agree a good general walkabout is how I test a lens as well. What I can say is when i was starting out I was looking for image quality and bokeh like you have expertly demonstrated here. While I love the DA35 Macro that I ended up with the DA35L was more the price I wanted to pay for the resulting image quality. The point is that this lens to me is exactly what customers new to SLR or Primes are likely looking for and the price is right. It has its limits and drawbacks when compared to DA and FA lens built quality etc. But I think Pentax have provided users an attractive alternative for beginners and enthusiasts alike! Cheers Roger

10-19-2010, 11:52 AM	#56
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus From the looks of it, the DA35 and DA40 seem to very similar in a lot of ways. The DA 35 2.4 should have been a DA 28 2.4.

10-19-2010, 01:03 PM	#57
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,873	If I didn't already have the DA40, I'd be ordering one of these today! Thanks for the great review!

10-19-2010, 01:20 PM	#58
ilya80 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Saint-Petersburg, Russia Photos: Albums Posts: 410	Come on guys this lens ( while being very good, esp. for its price ) is a copy of FA35 lens with "cropped" elements and new coatings. Its really good, no one denies it, but its really nothing new. PS: Thanks to original poster for this awesome review.

10-19-2010, 01:53 PM	#59
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Originally posted by audiobomber The DA 35 2.4 should have been a DA 28 2.4. I agree, it would have been much closer to the nomal 43mm perspective that Pentax tried to inplement not long ago it is also my favorite focal lenght

10-19-2010, 01:53 PM	#60
glanglois Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Madison, Wis., USA Posts: 1,506	Originally posted by audiobomber The DA 35 2.4 should have been a DA 28 2.4. I'd be more interested in the 28mm flavor but the world in general needs the 35. Gotta have the right 35. This appears to be it! Thanks, Frank!