[Dewman]

DA 35mm F/2.8 Macro, SMC Pentax-M 20mm F/4, & SMC Pentax 28mm F/3.5.

I just got acquainted with my new-to-me DA 35mm f: 2.8 Limited Macro three days ago and I'm in love! I just sold my 28mm f:3.5 due to some haze issues, I made the buyer aware of it, but he wasn't too concerned about it.

[monochrome]

I still don't see why it should cost so much more than a S-M-C Tak 35/3.5.

I gave my Tak to another member, but in general I agree. Maybe coatings, maybe bayonet, maybe the colors are drop dead gorgeous versus just plain awesome.

[jwc77]

Maybe the Vivitar 55mm f2.8 macro.

[JensE]

I do likely have more than one 'gem' (others e.g. mentioned the Helios 44) but one is often hidden, because it is somewhat bulky compared to, say, the nearby DA 70/2.4 and thus stays home more often than it should. It is a rather standard lens, an adapted MC Biometar 2,8/80 from Carl Zeiss Jena in Pentacon Six mount, standard in medium format terms. What I like about it is how, despite all flaws apparent on APS-C, the subject in focus can really pop out even at F/4. See e.g. my post in The Bokeh Club for an example.

[UncleVanya]

Hidden gems... none of my current lenses get under the radar of most people here. Maybe the F 50mm f/1.7? Maybe the DA 18-135?

[jddwoods]

I just got acquainted with my new-to-me DA 35mm f: 2.8 Limited Macro three days ago and I'm in love! I just sold my 28mm f:3.5 due to some haze issues, I made the buyer aware of it, but he wasn't too concerned about it.

My DA 35 Macro Limited is the Gem of all of my lenses. I have the SMC version. Close seconds are the DA 70 Limited and DFA 100 Macro WR

[Madaboutpix]

Not really a hidden gem, but I can't help noticing that the DA50 I picked up last autumn has resided on my K-3 without interruption since December - so much have I been impressed by its dirt-cheap-but-holy-smoke awesomeness.

Otherwise, I might mention the DA35 Macro, which I don't remotely use as much as it deserves. Must be its standard focal length. Whenever I do use it, I'm blown away by the beauty it is capable of rendering.

[mgvh]

Rokinon 8mm FE (It's a one trick pony, but it really does it well!)
Super Tak 35 f3.5
DA 40ΧS
SMC 50mm f4 macro
Super Tak 150 f4

[dcpropilot]

I'd probably say the F 50 1.7, F 35-70, and F 70-210.

[Dewman]

Since we've decided to include third-party lenses in this discussion, it would almost be blasphemous to leave out some of my Vivitar lenses. I have a Vivitar 80-200mm f:4 lens that is extraordinary. I'm always stunned at how cheap these lenses go for and yet have the ability to produce such magnificent images. I own several Vivitars, from 28-105mm to 28-200mm, with several Series 1's in the mix. I've culled them down to the sharpest of the lot. They amaze me with their amazingly stout build. Solid to the bone.


The attached images were shot with the 80-200mm lens.

[Driline]

The FA 100 2.8 macro hands down. Just a fantastic 3D picture capable lens. For $239 it's a no brainer.

[WPRESTO]

I don't have an image to post, but hands down, impossible to give up, gem of my lens collection is a 200mm SMCA ED Macro that I bought used between 25 and 30 years ago. On APS-C I sometimes found it a bit long, so I watched for and eventually purchased a Voigtlander 125mm APO Macro. I didn't like it as well as the old Pentax, and it began to lie unused, so I let it go to another Pentaxian with some loss of the original cost. The 200 has brassing here and there, and is a bit scruffy-looking overall, but it delivers the goods when my technique is good. A minor problem with it: the prism overhang for the pop-up flash prevents an attached camera from rotating to vertical (hits one of the two knobs on the tripod collar). Consequently I usually leave a short extension tube permanently attached.

[GlennG]

None, regrettably. Closest is M 50 1.4. Good performer, probably not "gem" enough, and it is very known, so not hidden.

[clackers]

DA70 definitely fits the premise of this thread. :-)

[JensE]

I agree: A tiny gem it is, always hiding somewhere hard to find deep in my bag. Reputation-wise, it seems to hide behind it's famed FA 77 sibling.