Pentax SMC DA 35mm f/2.4 AL

Runegutt123 · 10-26-2012, 09:39 AM

Its the same.
If you want top lenses, buy some old M or A.
They are still fantastic.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/38407-runegutt123/albums/5433-ber...cture46558.jpg

johnyates · 10-26-2012, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by peos99

I was thinking of getting a fixed focus lens to use as a walk aound lens

The 35mm f2.4 is an outstanding lens for this purpose. <= my opinion.

It is versatile, very sharp, focuses quickly and is a great value dollar-wise.

**todd** · 10-26-2012, 11:08 AM

I really enjoy my FA50/1.4 but for all my casual kid (aka ankle biter) shots, and the crop factor, it's often too narrow a view, which is why I picked up a 35/2.4, and it was a great choice. (I bought it at the same time I got a DA15, so the price was right too).. I use my manual 28mm's from time to time for capturing the ankle biters and that's been my favorite cropped focal length for this application... Because of that, I'd love to get my hands on a copy of the FA28, despite the poor reviews I've read... Of course the FA31 too..

KevinR · 10-26-2012, 11:58 AM

The DA35 f/2.4 is a fantastic lens and well priced. But you already have a great lens in the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, so you most likely won't see much difference in IQ at 35mm, and you already have more flexibility. Unless you are looking for a more light-weight or compact solution, it make little sense.

IMHO recommendation would be to go for high IQ in a slightly longer (or shorter) focal length. 70-100mm perhaps the macro's which have super sharpness (or 14-15mm)

Na Horuk · 10-26-2012, 01:57 PM - **1 Like**

Recently one of my photos made it onto the "Popular" list on 500px, which I am quite proud of. It was taken with the DA 35mm.

500px / Photo "Supersharp purple" by Stolpulus II

DaveHolmes · 10-26-2012, 04:15 PM

I have the FA35 f2...

But I personally think the FoV a 35mm lens brings is massivly more useful than a 50mm lens... I'm aware that american homes tend to be slightly larger than those here in the UK (perhaps down to portion sizes - but a separate issue nonetheless) but I find the FoV of my FA50-1.4 to be far too narrow for indoor or home use... Even in low-lit restaurant type enviroments it's the slower FA35 that sees more use (and gets better pictures)... So in terms of getting shots of the kids and as a general walkabout I'd defiantly (yes defiantly) go with the DA35 f2.4 over the DA50-f1.8...

My two peneth...

DaveHolmes · 10-26-2012, 04:19 PM

For a 3rd peneth... Maybe a slightly used DA40 Ltd... FoV sits 'tween the two, IQ is reportedly awesome and it's bloody tiny and unobtrusive... Slower than both but just plain good.

peos99 · 10-27-2012, 11:55 AM

Ok guys you´ve made me reconsider!
I´ll skip the 35mm and will go for a descent macro lens instead.

Just have to save some more money first...........

alspe · 05-15-2013, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by peos99

I was thinking of getting a fixed focus lens to use as a walk aound lens and for taking pictures of my children etc.
Is this budget lens from Pentax any good? Does anyone has any experience from it? I am not really convinced over the test pictures i´ve seen so far?
Pentax SMC DA 35mm f/2.4 AL - Review / Lens Test

I have read som reviews and it seems pretty alright, but will I see any difference from my Tamron 17-50 2.8 for instance when taking pictures of my children?
I mean when i use it as a portrait lens?

Or should I look at something completely different?

Originally posted by peos99

I already have the Tamron!

That´s why i wonder if i can get even sharper picturers with the Pentax 35 for instance when taking pictures of my kids?

Maybe i don´t need to buy the Pentax lens if the Tamron 17-50 covers what the Pentax 35 can do?
(but i like buing lenses though.....)

I own both lenses and can say that DA35 is better than Tamron 17-50. DA35 is much faster to focus and more often it focuses right. I might have something little wrong on Tamron or it is just its feature.

DA35 is sharper on larger apertures, they might be as good as on F8-11 but you can't use those when shooting children inside the house.

I have used DA35 a lot though Tamron covers 35mm focal length and is zoomable. DA35 is so sharp, fast and small that it is often attached to my camera. 35mm is, IMO, the most usefull focal length. I would not buy 50mm prime for getting narrower field of view for portraits. Preferably I would crop picture when needed. If narrower DOF is what is looked for, then 50mm F1.4/1.7 is superior. You can use 35mm for portraits if you use imagination and shoot your target in its surroundings, but just target . 35mm on crop sensor is more useful than 50mm.

SteveB · 05-15-2013, 11:19 AM

The 35/2.4 is very good for the price. Sharpness I wouldn't say is any better than my Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 but of course it can perform at f2.8 and the Sig probably need f4-5.6 and is far larger/heavier. So it's well worth having. My K55/1.8 is definitely sharper though at f2.8 - noticeably so in fact on things like distant foliage with the differences in FL allowed for (i.e shoot from further with the 55).

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10-26-2012, 09:39 AM	#16
Runegutt123 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: LODINGEN, Northern Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 275	Its the same. If you want top lenses, buy some old M or A. They are still fantastic. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/38407-runegutt123/albums/5433-ber...cture46558.jpg

10-26-2012, 11:01 AM	#17
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	Originally posted by peos99 I was thinking of getting a fixed focus lens to use as a walk aound lens The 35mm f2.4 is an outstanding lens for this purpose. <= my opinion. It is versatile, very sharp, focuses quickly and is a great value dollar-wise.

10-26-2012, 11:08 AM	#18
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,799	I really enjoy my FA50/1.4 but for all my casual kid (aka ankle biter) shots, and the crop factor, it's often too narrow a view, which is why I picked up a 35/2.4, and it was a great choice. (I bought it at the same time I got a DA15, so the price was right too).. I use my manual 28mm's from time to time for capturing the ankle biters and that's been my favorite cropped focal length for this application... Because of that, I'd love to get my hands on a copy of the FA28, despite the poor reviews I've read... Of course the FA31 too..

10-26-2012, 11:58 AM	#19
KevinR Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 653	The DA35 f/2.4 is a fantastic lens and well priced. But you already have a great lens in the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, so you most likely won't see much difference in IQ at 35mm, and you already have more flexibility. Unless you are looking for a more light-weight or compact solution, it make little sense. IMHO recommendation would be to go for high IQ in a slightly longer (or shorter) focal length. 70-100mm perhaps the macro's which have super sharpness (or 14-15mm)

10-26-2012, 01:57 PM - 1 Like	#20
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Recently one of my photos made it onto the "Popular" list on 500px, which I am quite proud of. It was taken with the DA 35mm. 500px / Photo "Supersharp purple" by Stolpulus II

10-26-2012, 04:15 PM	#21
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	I have the FA35 f2... But I personally think the FoV a 35mm lens brings is massivly more useful than a 50mm lens... I'm aware that american homes tend to be slightly larger than those here in the UK (perhaps down to portion sizes - but a separate issue nonetheless) but I find the FoV of my FA50-1.4 to be far too narrow for indoor or home use... Even in low-lit restaurant type enviroments it's the slower FA35 that sees more use (and gets better pictures)... So in terms of getting shots of the kids and as a general walkabout I'd defiantly (yes defiantly) go with the DA35 f2.4 over the DA50-f1.8... My two peneth...

10-26-2012, 04:19 PM	#22
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	For a 3rd peneth... Maybe a slightly used DA40 Ltd... FoV sits 'tween the two, IQ is reportedly awesome and it's bloody tiny and unobtrusive... Slower than both but just plain good.

10-27-2012, 11:55 AM	#23
peos99 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 53 Original Poster	Ok guys you´ve made me reconsider! I´ll skip the 35mm and will go for a descent macro lens instead. Just have to save some more money first...........

05-15-2013, 07:12 AM	#24
alspe Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 36	Originally posted by peos99 I was thinking of getting a fixed focus lens to use as a walk aound lens and for taking pictures of my children etc. Is this budget lens from Pentax any good? Does anyone has any experience from it? I am not really convinced over the test pictures i´ve seen so far? Pentax SMC DA 35mm f/2.4 AL - Review / Lens Test I have read som reviews and it seems pretty alright, but will I see any difference from my Tamron 17-50 2.8 for instance when taking pictures of my children? I mean when i use it as a portrait lens? Or should I look at something completely different? Originally posted by peos99 I already have the Tamron! That´s why i wonder if i can get even sharper picturers with the Pentax 35 for instance when taking pictures of my kids? Maybe i don´t need to buy the Pentax lens if the Tamron 17-50 covers what the Pentax 35 can do? (but i like buing lenses though.....) I own both lenses and can say that DA35 is better than Tamron 17-50. DA35 is much faster to focus and more often it focuses right. I might have something little wrong on Tamron or it is just its feature. DA35 is sharper on larger apertures, they might be as good as on F8-11 but you can't use those when shooting children inside the house. I have used DA35 a lot though Tamron covers 35mm focal length and is zoomable. DA35 is so sharp, fast and small that it is often attached to my camera. 35mm is, IMO, the most usefull focal length. I would not buy 50mm prime for getting narrower field of view for portraits. Preferably I would crop picture when needed. If narrower DOF is what is looked for, then 50mm F1.4/1.7 is superior. You can use 35mm for portraits if you use imagination and shoot your target in its surroundings, but just target . 35mm on crop sensor is more useful than 50mm.

05-15-2013, 11:19 AM	#25
SteveB Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 685	The 35/2.4 is very good for the price. Sharpness I wouldn't say is any better than my Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 but of course it can perform at f2.8 and the Sig probably need f4-5.6 and is far larger/heavier. So it's well worth having. My K55/1.8 is definitely sharper though at f2.8 - noticeably so in fact on things like distant foliage with the differences in FL allowed for (i.e shoot from further with the 55).