[rrstuff]

Hi,

I noticed some complaints about the bokeh in non-macros with DA 35mm Limited. I looked at a few shots (particularly at lenstip) and read a couple reviews around the web. What is your view of bokeh in that lens when used as a walk around?

[DSims]

I mostly look at the Pentax Photo Gallery, then pbase and pixel-peeper. I think you'll see enough samples there to form a good opinion. The DA35 Ltd never had quite the look I wanted, but I think it was for different reasons.

Of course, the FA31 is as good as you can get in these areas. It has the smoothest transition to out of focus, and it's almost impossible to get harsh Out-Of-Focus backgrounds with it.

[gazonk]

Hi! I have almost only good experiences with the 35 Ltd, it's a wonderful walk around lens. Have a look at my entries in the Pentax Photo gallery (see signature), a lot of them is from the 35 Ltd. The statue and the cherry blossoms are close-up, but far from macro shots which IMHO show very nice bokeh.

[rrstuff]

hi,
thanks for the reply. Are the sunflowers with 35 ltd too?

[rrstuff]

I mostly look at the Pentax Photo Gallery, then pbase and pixel-peeper. I think you'll see enough samples there to form a good opinion. The DA35 Ltd never had quite the look I wanted, but I think it was for different reasons.

Of course, the FA31 is as good as you can get in these areas. It has the smoothest transition to out of focus, and it's almost impossible to get harsh Out-Of-Focus backgrounds with it.

What were those reasons? I am choosing between the FA 35/ltd 35/ DA35 or one of the 40s, or in a word didn't narrow it down at all. I am curious about the 35 because it seems to be quite versatile and built to last, but I would use it mostly as a non-macro.

[Sandy Hancock]

I will let you pass judgement on the bokeh quality.


The strike


Toe tappin'


Close


Heatwave

Don't get me started on the bokeh with proper macros....

[gazonk]

hi,
thanks for the reply. Are the sunflowers with 35 ltd too?

No, they were shot with the DA16-45 at 45mm!

[lytrytyr]

What is your view of bokeh in that lens when used as a walk around?

Here's the thing.

When you're walking around with the DA 35 Ltd.,
you'll be having an eye open for macro opportunities
that you couldn't do with a different lens.

[utak]

The bokeh from a macro perspective can be extra-ordinarily good/fun:



But in my experience the bokeh can sometimes be quite ugly as a walk-around. And worse the lens can render landscapes/cityscapes quite flat. Plus it hunts like mad, which makes it harder to use as an impulse shot walk around lens.

On the photo below I've processed the colours but nothing else, and the bokeh is not great IMO....



I used the DA 35 Macro for the December single in challenge and here's a link to my set of photos if you're interested:

Single in December 2013 with DA 35 Ltd - a set on Flickr

[kh1234567890]

Hi,

I noticed some complaints about the bokeh in non-macros with DA 35mm Limited. I looked at a few shots (particularly at lenstip) and read a couple reviews around the web. What is your view of bokeh in that lens when used as a walk around?

It can get a bit 'busy' if there is a lot of fine contrasty or bright detail in the background.

In the first shot (f2.8) it is OK, in the second (f3.5) maybe, in the third (f2.8) it is poor.

Don't buy this lens just for its non-macro bokeh.

[jbinpg]

Macro lenses are built for flatness of field, not subject isolation due to field curvature and cool focus transitions. Apples and oranges.

Jack

[gazonk]

Macro lenses are built for flatness of field, not subject isolation due to field curvature and cool focus transitions. Apples and oranges.

But DA35 is not your average macro lens (although I've just started using it for slide scanning too).

[Na Horuk]

As some already said, macro lenses are designed with other priorities in mind. The DA 35mm ltd has priorities in sharpness, flat field of focus, good contrast and colour rendering.. some other lenses are designed with other priorities, like bokeh, or skin tone rendering. But that doesn't mean the DA 35mm ltd is bad or useless! Look at the lens review page or sample photo gallery. If it doesn't meet your needs, you still have many options: DA 35mm f2.4, FA 35mm f2.0, FA 31mm ltd, Sigma 30mm f1.4, Sigma 35mm f1.4, Samyang 35mm f1.4 (no AF on this one)...

That being said, I have the DA 35mm f2.4 (non-macro) and DA 40mm XS, and I prefer the bokeh of the 40mm XS. Rounded aperture blades make for very nice bokeh even stopped down. Never compared the 40mm XS and 35mm macro, though. Don't have the macro on hand

[rrstuff]

thank you for all the replies. From what I am observing it seems that the bokeh is not too bad, but it is not perfect either. In certain conditions it can show up in the background and be distracting, but some times it's pretty good as well. I guess you trade off some versatility (macro) for some inversatility (you need to be mindful of your background).

[kh1234567890]

thank you for all the replies. From what I am observing it seems that the bokeh is not too bad, but it is not perfect either. In certain conditions it can show up in the background and be distracting, but some times it's pretty good as well. I guess you trade off some versatility (macro) for some inversatility (you need to be mindful of your background).

That just about sums it up. The close-up/macro bokeh is pretty good though