Pentax A 35-105

bass3587 · 12-05-2014, 10:14 PM

Mine is not on my camera at the moment but it is in my bag for tomorrows shoot. Even though I have a lot of other lens to shoot with it is always in my bag as it produces some really rich colors and while heavy it just feels so right .

Last edited by bass3587; 12-08-2014 at 08:39 PM.

Rimfiredude · 12-06-2014, 06:00 AM

Originally posted by bass3587

Mine is not on my camera at the moment but it is in my bag for tomorrows shoot. Even though I have a lot of other lens to shoot with it is always in my bag as it produces some really reich colors and while heave it just feels so right .

Is that purple wheat? Excellent shot.

Crismo · 12-06-2014, 07:02 AM

I, too, will join the bandwagon in celebrating this lens. I tend to prefer primes over zoom lenses, but this one I really like. The way it renders images is simply beautiful. Someone who actually understands how optics work could probably explain why, but all I can say it is sharp and crisp but never harsh. It's a very gentle, characterful lens, and I suppose that's the catch: if you like the character, you'll love the lens, if not, you won't.

bass3587 · 12-06-2014, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by Rimfiredude

Is that purple wheat? Excellent shot.

Not wheat. I'm not sure what it was but I had to take a picture of it. Just saw it in a field behind Fry's

. Check out this pseudo macro shot.

AquaDome · 12-06-2014, 08:46 AM

I like the "look" this lens imparts to images. Its Macro mode makes it good for product photos, as I can zoom instead of changing lenses. Otherwise, I'm swapping between the 50mm/f4 and 100mm/f4 macro primes. It is big, heavy, and not wide enough on APSC, but it is my favorite old macro-zoom. The bokeh is nice too.

TaoMaas · 12-07-2014, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

For me it's just too long on the short end at 35mm. Yes, it's great at what it does but, for me, it just doesn't work.

It may just be a matter of the range and what suits your eye. At least, that's what happened to me with this lens. I bought a used copy back in the film days, but only used it sparingly. It wasn't wide enough at 35mm...not tight enough at 105mm...macro wasn't really macro. Luckily, I can never seem to bring myself to sell any gear so I still had it when digital came along. For me, BIG difference! I've always been more of a telephoto guy and switching to an APS-C format suddenly threw the 35-105 right into my wheelhouse. Plus, it just seemed to feel so right on my K10D, which is a bit of a heavy camera anyway. Another factor that colors my feelings about this lens is that I was also more of a prime lens person in my film days, but have come around to zooms with digital. As I posted earlier, the 35-105 fills my mid-range very nicely.

**Kerrowdown** · 12-07-2014, 06:03 AM

I've also heard this lens referred to as "A stack of primes" by folk on the forum here.

Full_Stop · 12-07-2014, 08:48 PM

The 35-105 was a lens that I was interested in several years ago when I was in my "vintage" lens buying mode, but I couldn't find a whole lot of discussion about it then. I'm glad to hear the positive testimony here. The focal range would be just about perfect for me on APS-C I think, so I may just have to look into picking one up someday soon.

**blackcloudbrew** · 12-07-2014, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by TaoMaas

It may just be a matter of the range and what suits your eye. At least, that's what happened to me with this lens. I bought a used copy back in the film days, but only used it sparingly. It wasn't wide enough at 35mm...not tight enough at 105mm...macro wasn't really macro. Luckily, I can never seem to bring myself to sell any gear so I still had it when digital came along. For me, BIG difference! I've always been more of a telephoto guy and switching to an APS-C format suddenly threw the 35-105 right into my wheelhouse. Plus, it just seemed to feel so right on my K10D, which is a bit of a heavy camera anyway. Another factor that colors my feelings about this lens is that I was also more of a prime lens person in my film days, but have come around to zooms with digital. As I posted earlier, the 35-105 fills my mid-range very nicely.

I would agree with you. Like I said, I just could not find the love in that lens particularly on an APS-c sensor. Different strokes for different folks. So bit it.

northcoastgreg · 12-08-2014, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

I'm happy to see others in love with it as that's what makes the world go around (differences), but for me. No love here.

The A 35-105 ended up not working out well for me, as well, although it wasn't so much the range that I objected to. I originally bought it because it was a cheap way to cover a range I didn't use all that often. But when I did use it I was a little frustrated by the inconsistency of the output. My copy was not as sharp at longer distances as it was close-up, and it suffered from bouts of veiling flare. It's output struggled to hold it's own with my other glass, so I ended up giving up on it. However, finding a replacement turned out to be quite difficult. One thing the A 35-105 has going for it: consistency of output across the zoom range. Most Pentax standard FF zooms struggle at the wide end, even on APS-C sensors, and even with the lens stopped down. That's true of all the F 35-105, all the 28-105's, and most of the various 35-80 or 28-80 kit lenses. I ended up settling for the FA 24-90. That lens also has problems wide end (poor edge to edge sharpness), but by 35mm, it's flat out better than the A 35-105 and maintains this superiority at least to 80mm. I'm not aware, however, of another Pentax non-star FF standard zoom lens that is significantly better than the A 35-105 at any focal length.

kh1234567890 · 12-08-2014, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

Ok, I'll be Debbie Downer here. I've had to copies of this 'stack of primes' and just can't find the love for this lens. Don't care about the weight issue. Never found that to be a problem. For me it's just too long on the short end at 35mm. Yes, it's great at what it does but, for me, it just doesn't work. I'm happy to see others in love with it as that's what makes the world go around (differences), but for me. No love here.

My exact sentiments. The lens is just 'wrong' for me. More than that - I can't stand it. Completely over rated. Too big, clunky, wrong focal range on APS-C, terrible ergonomics ...

**Spodeworld** · 12-08-2014, 10:52 AM

I wish it went wider, but it really is a nice lens. The IQ is quite impressive. It is a bit of a tank, solid as hell but a bit on the weighty, chunky side.

TaoMaas · 12-08-2014, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by kh1234567890

...wrong focal range on APS-C...

That totally depends upon your eye. The range is what it is.

**MSL** · 12-08-2014, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by TaoMaas

That totally depends upon your eye. The range is what it is.

+1. I've never used it on anything but APS-C and it has worked very well for me.

12-08-2014, 10:52 AM	#27
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370	I wish it went wider, but it really is a nice lens. The IQ is quite impressive. It is a bit of a tank, solid as hell but a bit on the weighty, chunky side. Last edited by Spodeworld; 12-08-2014 at 11:04 AM.

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12-05-2014, 10:14 PM	#16
bass3587 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 517	Mine is not on my camera at the moment but it is in my bag for tomorrows shoot. Even though I have a lot of other lens to shoot with it is always in my bag as it produces some really rich colors and while heavy it just feels so right . Last edited by bass3587; 12-08-2014 at 08:39 PM.

12-06-2014, 06:00 AM	#17
Rimfiredude Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,176	Originally posted by bass3587 Mine is not on my camera at the moment but it is in my bag for tomorrows shoot. Even though I have a lot of other lens to shoot with it is always in my bag as it produces some really reich colors and while heave it just feels so right . Is that purple wheat? Excellent shot.

12-06-2014, 07:02 AM	#18
Crismo New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 8	I, too, will join the bandwagon in celebrating this lens. I tend to prefer primes over zoom lenses, but this one I really like. The way it renders images is simply beautiful. Someone who actually understands how optics work could probably explain why, but all I can say it is sharp and crisp but never harsh. It's a very gentle, characterful lens, and I suppose that's the catch: if you like the character, you'll love the lens, if not, you won't.

12-06-2014, 07:58 AM	#19
bass3587 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 517	Originally posted by Rimfiredude Is that purple wheat? Excellent shot. Not wheat. I'm not sure what it was but I had to take a picture of it. Just saw it in a field behind Fry's . Check out this pseudo macro shot.

12-07-2014, 05:50 AM	#21
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew For me it's just too long on the short end at 35mm. Yes, it's great at what it does but, for me, it just doesn't work. It may just be a matter of the range and what suits your eye. At least, that's what happened to me with this lens. I bought a used copy back in the film days, but only used it sparingly. It wasn't wide enough at 35mm...not tight enough at 105mm...macro wasn't really macro. Luckily, I can never seem to bring myself to sell any gear so I still had it when digital came along. For me, BIG difference! I've always been more of a telephoto guy and switching to an APS-C format suddenly threw the 35-105 right into my wheelhouse. Plus, it just seemed to feel so right on my K10D, which is a bit of a heavy camera anyway. Another factor that colors my feelings about this lens is that I was also more of a prime lens person in my film days, but have come around to zooms with digital. As I posted earlier, the 35-105 fills my mid-range very nicely.

12-07-2014, 06:03 AM	#22
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,835	I've also heard this lens referred to as "A stack of primes" by folk on the forum here.

12-07-2014, 08:48 PM	#23
Full_Stop Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 30	The 35-105 was a lens that I was interested in several years ago when I was in my "vintage" lens buying mode, but I couldn't find a whole lot of discussion about it then. I'm glad to hear the positive testimony here. The focal range would be just about perfect for me on APS-C I think, so I may just have to look into picking one up someday soon.

12-07-2014, 09:10 PM	#24
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	Originally posted by TaoMaas It may just be a matter of the range and what suits your eye. At least, that's what happened to me with this lens. I bought a used copy back in the film days, but only used it sparingly. It wasn't wide enough at 35mm...not tight enough at 105mm...macro wasn't really macro. Luckily, I can never seem to bring myself to sell any gear so I still had it when digital came along. For me, BIG difference! I've always been more of a telephoto guy and switching to an APS-C format suddenly threw the 35-105 right into my wheelhouse. Plus, it just seemed to feel so right on my K10D, which is a bit of a heavy camera anyway. Another factor that colors my feelings about this lens is that I was also more of a prime lens person in my film days, but have come around to zooms with digital. As I posted earlier, the 35-105 fills my mid-range very nicely. I would agree with you. Like I said, I just could not find the love in that lens particularly on an APS-c sensor. Different strokes for different folks. So bit it.

12-08-2014, 10:25 AM	#25
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,174	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew I'm happy to see others in love with it as that's what makes the world go around (differences), but for me. No love here. The A 35-105 ended up not working out well for me, as well, although it wasn't so much the range that I objected to. I originally bought it because it was a cheap way to cover a range I didn't use all that often. But when I did use it I was a little frustrated by the inconsistency of the output. My copy was not as sharp at longer distances as it was close-up, and it suffered from bouts of veiling flare. It's output struggled to hold it's own with my other glass, so I ended up giving up on it. However, finding a replacement turned out to be quite difficult. One thing the A 35-105 has going for it: consistency of output across the zoom range. Most Pentax standard FF zooms struggle at the wide end, even on APS-C sensors, and even with the lens stopped down. That's true of all the F 35-105, all the 28-105's, and most of the various 35-80 or 28-80 kit lenses. I ended up settling for the FA 24-90. That lens also has problems wide end (poor edge to edge sharpness), but by 35mm, it's flat out better than the A 35-105 and maintains this superiority at least to 80mm. I'm not aware, however, of another Pentax non-star FF standard zoom lens that is significantly better than the A 35-105 at any focal length.

12-08-2014, 10:38 AM	#26
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew Ok, I'll be Debbie Downer here. I've had to copies of this 'stack of primes' and just can't find the love for this lens. Don't care about the weight issue. Never found that to be a problem. For me it's just too long on the short end at 35mm. Yes, it's great at what it does but, for me, it just doesn't work. I'm happy to see others in love with it as that's what makes the world go around (differences), but for me. No love here. My exact sentiments. The lens is just 'wrong' for me. More than that - I can't stand it. Completely over rated. Too big, clunky, wrong focal range on APS-C, terrible ergonomics ...

12-08-2014, 04:23 PM	#28
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by kh1234567890 ...wrong focal range on APS-C... That totally depends upon your eye. The range is what it is.

12-08-2014, 05:33 PM	#29
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,751	Originally posted by TaoMaas That totally depends upon your eye. The range is what it is. +1. I've never used it on anything but APS-C and it has worked very well for me.