I got this just after Thanksgiving. I FINALLY got to use it on Christmas day and then again yesterday. Nice lens if a bit on the bulky side for a Pentax offering.
Pros and Cons
Pros: EXCELLENT Color rendition. I'm just amazed by this lens' color rendition. Check out the various shades of blue in the beach shots I've posted, and the "orange" tinge to the winter marsh grass, it really is that color but most lenses give it more of a 'straw' type color.
I like the way the "macro" is set up (it's not really a macro lens, just a good very close focusing lens) Don't know the image size but I'd say probably 1:2 or maybe 1:2.5, but that's just a guess. When you close focus as you get to the stop on the close side, you push the focus ring further forward, which puts you in close up mode. Once there you can focus either by using the focus ring or by using the zoom ring. Pretty flexible.
It's pretty sharp, not in the category of the SMC 135 F2.5 or the 77ltd but it's no slouch. Softer at 3.5, especially at the edges but it sharpens up nicely by 5.6 edge to edge. For an older zoom this is excellent performance.
Cons: External focus, and the front element rotates, this will make it hard to use polarizing and graduated ND filters.
It's a heavy lens, like all the older offerings, I don't like the way it balances on my K10D (haven't tried it on the DS yet). I haven't checked, but I think it's heavier than my 135, it certainly balances on the K10D worse.
My copy has a tiny bit of slop in the focus ring, which is annoying. I'm also finding it harder to focus than many of my other manual lenses, hopefully that will improve with practice, as I said I haven't had it long.
At F3.5, not a terribly fast zoom, but at least it's constant aperture.
OK lets get to some shots:
First some closeups: All shots taken with the K10D, SR set to 35mm
f3.5 at 1/50
f8.0 at 1/125
As you can see it's an excellent close up lens. Not a true macro like my Tamron 90 but it gets pretty close.
"Normal" mode
Saw this bunch of roses just below the high tide line. I wonder what their story is? f9.0 at 1/200
The obligatory perspective shot, I liked the shadows from the storm fencing. f11 at 1/100
By now you all know how much I love reflection shots
f9.0 at 1/60
Loved the colors in this one, including the approach channel buoys on the extreme right, and yeah I know I'm violating the rule of thirds regarding the duck, but sometimes ya just gotta break the rules. f6.3 at 1/320
check out all the different shades of blue in this one! f6.3 at 1/400
Well, you just CAN'T go to the beach without getting the sunset! (even if it is over the parking lot
f6.3 at 1/250
Hope you all enjoyed them. Overall I'd say this lens is a 'keeper'. For more shots with this lens check out this gallery at my smug mug site:
saltwater : photos : LBA: Pentax A 35-105 F3.5 "Macro"- powered by SmugMug
NaCl(it took a while but it was worth it, any C&C always appreciated)H2O