[Urkeldaedalus]

I'd also like to pitch in with my request for a cheap DAL 20 mm f/2.4 or DAL 24 mm f/2.4. My hope is if I do this enough times some Pentax lens designer will awake from a strange, lens filled dream one morning and set to work on it.

[Pablom]

I'd be more interested in the 28mm flavor but the world in general needs the 35

not sure why that is, a 'normal' 50mm fov would have been about 32ish
I'm pretty sure it would not be much harder to make than a 35mm

[creampuff]

Every Pentax user should carry the DA 35mm f/2.4 in their bag. The angle of view is very versatile.
It is small in size, very, very light in weight, is the cheapest AF prime lens from Pentax and the image quality and contrast is excellent... what more is there to it?

[bikecoboss]

The Camera Store (Calgary AB) has it in stock for $189 CDN:
Pentax DA L 35mm f2.4 AL | The Camera Store

[audiobomber]

Every Pentax user should carry the DA 35mm f/2.4 in their bag. The angle of view is very versatile.
It is small in size, very, very light in weight, is the cheapest AF prime lens from Pentax and the image quality and contrast is excellent... what more is there to it?

The Camera Store (Calgary AB) has it in stock for $189 CDN:
Pentax DA L 35mm f2.4 AL | The Camera Store

I'd certainly buy one, if I didn't already have four normal lenses.

[creampuff]

I'd certainly buy one, if I didn't already have four normal lenses.

Er, why do you need four normal lenses???

[Septrain]

Frank, thanks for the excellent review.
I bought the kit K-r+DA35/2.4 is for my son's entry into DSLR. Looking at your review, I have to borrow the lens from him.
On top of that, the DA35/2.4 added to my current DA35macro & FA31Ltd.

[KFrog]

That was a superb lens review and comparison. Thank you.

I wondered about this little lens. The plastic mount, no quick-shift... But then I thought why shouldn't Pentax put out a good quality, inexpensive 35mm prime lens? Nikon just did with their 35/1.8G. I had a chance to use one and it's a great little lens.

I have a FA50/1.4 and a Super-Takumar 35/3.5. This little 35 looks like an excellent deal and just might find a place in my bang.

[SteveM]

I had presumed it was a cheap kit lens....and perhaps it is, but obviously from this review, the only thing cheap is the price. Frank, that's the best review I've seen for a very long time.

Thanks.
Steve

[Blue]

not sure why that is, a 'normal' 50mm fov would have been about 32ish
I'm pretty sure it would not be much harder to make than a 35mm

The diagonal of the Pentax aps-c sensor is 28.12 or 28.26 mm depending on the model. The 28, 31 and 35mm lenses are considered to fill the "normal" prime lens for the aps-c bodies.

[Blue]

I had presumed it was a cheap kit lens....and perhaps it is, but obviously from this review, the only thing cheap is the price. Frank, that's the best review I've seen for a very long time.

Thanks.
Steve

Adorama has it as the kit lens for the K-r for $929 shipped and the K-r body only for $799 which is msrp. That's $130 extra for this lens.

[Boris]

Thanks for the review, Frank. It is a good lens but I find the rave around it and comments such as "everyone should carry this lens in their bag or on their camera" way over the top. This lens is light, good optically and cheap. In other words, it is a good first ever prime lens for a person who is moving from compact camera to the DSLR like K-x or K-r. However, everyone who has likes of DA 35/2.8 Macro Ltd or FA 35/2.0 really needn't bother about this one. Unless of course, they are so inclined to lend their money to Pentax that they would buy it no matter what.

Obviously, those of us who own FA 31/1.8 Limited should just walk by this lens without even the minimal change of their stride.

[DSims]

Obviously, those of us who own FA 31/1.8 Limited should just walk by this lens without even the minimal change of their stride.

I disagree. I have the FA31 and FA43, but I can see myself using this lens when I'd rather carry a $200 lens than $1500 worth of lenses. Most of the time the FA Ltd.s are too good to leave home, but not always ....

Any lens that has IQ I like is one I'll consider using.

Of course I'd still often want to have my FA77 and even my DA15 with it, but all 3 would then still be worth less than the two I left home.

[repaap]

Damn, I have been dreming(and saving) for a while of FA43, now it seems that I have to get this one too! It is 189€ in Finland.

[Boris]

I disagree. I have the FA31 and FA43, but I can see myself using this lens when I'd rather carry a $200 lens than $1500 worth of lenses. Most of the time the FA Ltd.s are too good to leave home, but not always ....

Any lens that has IQ I like is one I'll consider using.

I see your points and they are valid. I've a number of considerations to add to this picture:

1. Unless one buys an expensive lens for in-house use only (like in studio), it makes little sense to buy a lens and leave it at home. If one sees a lens and deems it very expensive, perhaps one is better off starting looking for cheaper alternatives. In case of FA 31, the likes of Sigma 28/1.8 or FA 35/2.0 come to mind. Or even this lens, although it is quite new.

2. Depending on one's financial position and financial outlook at photography, the idea of having a set of (almost) overlapping primes is not all that trivial.

3. Personally, I've three FA limiteds and A 50/1.2 for my main tool set. My cheaper option is Sigma 24-60/2.8 which I acquired recently and which is steadily growing on me.