Theory on DA 35mm ltd 'greatest lens ever' (?) tag

northcoastgreg · 09-08-2018, 07:40 PM - **2 Likes**

From the Humboldt County Fair:

cgchang · 09-09-2018, 04:01 PM - **3 Likes**

**BruceBanner** · 09-10-2018, 02:08 AM - **4 Likes**

Horseshoe Falls

cristianmiu · 09-10-2018, 06:59 AM

Hello guys,

I have a DA 35mm/2.4. The problem is that most of the shots are out of focus. Is not a rule... sometimes back focus, sometimes front focus, and if I’m lucky the focus is done correctly.

This lens can be calibrated?

Tested on k5ii and k5iis. On the k5ii from 10 pics 2 are out of focus. On k5iis from 10pics 5 or more are out of focus.

How can I fix this?

Thank you!

northcoastgreg · 09-11-2018, 02:27 PM - **1 Like**

With the K-1:

---------- Post added 09-11-18 at 02:30 PM ----------

Originally posted by cristianmiu

This lens can be calibrated?

No. The camera can be calibrated to work with the lens, although if your focusing problem is not consistent (it's misfocusing the same way every time), calibration is not likely to fix the problem. My DA 21 would not focus accurately on my K-5 cameras; same with my DA 12-24. The KP fixed the DA 21 problem, but not the DA 12-24 issue.

northcoastgreg · 09-12-2018, 04:33 PM - **1 Like**

Sunset on the Mad River:

**BruceBanner** · 09-12-2018, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by northcoastgreg

With the K-1:

---------- Post added 09-11-18 at 02:30 PM ----------

No. The camera can be calibrated to work with the lens, although if your focusing problem is not consistent (it's misfocusing the same way every time), calibration is not likely to fix the problem. My DA 21 would not focus accurately on my K-5 cameras; same with my DA 12-24. The KP fixed the DA 21 problem, but not the DA 12-24 issue.

Interesting to hear you say that. I owned both the HD DA 21 and HD DA 15, and I never felt the results were that good. Things always looked off, even after Fine Adjustments. Both the KP and the K-1 struggled with them. I recall one time just using spot focus and aiming for a large leaf that took up most of the screen, and it locked onto it and the focus was just diabolically off, and I could repeat this totally awful bad focusing on repeat attempts and on different occasions. I chalked them up to being just not that great a lens, or an issue with focusing with wider angle lens. Thankfully the HD DA 35/2.8 Macro doesn't seem to have fallen victim to any of these shenanigans, it's doing what it's supposed to do

I wonder now however if perhaps both my 21 and 15's were 'bad copies'. In the end I didn't mind selling them as I didn't like not getting night star bursts from them, next time I grab one I'll get the regular green version.

I just found it interesting to hear you say that certain camera bodies played better with x lens than others.

Originally posted by northcoastgreg

Sunset on the Mad River:

Nice shot also

cgchang · 09-16-2018, 10:17 PM - **5 Likes**

northcoastgreg · 09-18-2018, 06:41 AM - **3 Likes**

Oregon coast, Port Orford:

**aslyfox** · 09-24-2018, 04:30 AM - **1 Like**

ok. I must admit that this lens has capabilities, even in the field

K 3 II + SMC Pentax-D A 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited

hand held, natural light

SOOC

crop and pp

**BruceBanner** · 09-24-2018, 02:43 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by cristianmiu

Hello guys,

I have a DA 35mm/2.4. The problem is that most of the shots are out of focus. Is not a rule... sometimes back focus, sometimes front focus, and if I’m lucky the focus is done correctly.

This lens can be calibrated?

Tested on k5ii and k5iis. On the k5ii from 10 pics 2 are out of focus. On k5iis from 10pics 5 or more are out of focus.

How can I fix this?

Thank you!

I don't think you can. I would chalk down that failure rate to being the limit of PDAF technology in conjunction with wider angle lenses.

I too ran into a focusing issue this past weekend. The shot below (large vertical panorama), I chose the main rock on the middle bottom of the frame as the focusing point, and would pan up from that. Continually whilst using the OVF to get focus of the rock, because I have a Tenpa 1.22 mounted I could see with my own eyes that the AF system failed to get a good lock on the large boulder, it appeared soft to my eyes. I put my hand in front of the lens, got it to focus on my hand and then tried to get focus on the boulder again, yup nop, failed a second time. A third time I tried and this time it was a better focus but I still knew I could do better, so used manual focus to get that extra sharpness on the rock.

I've come to the conclusion that PDAF is not great. I have no opinion as to whether it's a Pentax thing or just the technology involved, I have no experience in shooting other brands. Live view is far more superior to getting focus right first time. Furthermore, I believe that with portrait or telephoto lenses you get better success than using OVF and AF with wider angle lenses, they just struggle that little bit more.

Glenbrook Gorge

K-1+HD DA 35 Macro, crop mode, vertical panorama processed with Nik Collection Analog Efex Pro 2

This shot below got into Explore yesterday.

K-1+ HD DA 35 Macro, FF mode (but cropped slightly). WB temp 10,000k, Cactus RF60x ocf left of subject with blue flash gel via Magmod.

northcoastgreg · 09-29-2018, 02:44 PM - **3 Likes**

Heaven's Peak in Glacier National Park:

**pepperberry farm** · 10-06-2018, 05:01 AM

this one of the few lenses that if I had to choose only one for the rest of my camera's life, I could be happy with it:

**pepperberry farm** · 10-06-2018, 05:02 AM

**pepperberry farm** · 10-06-2018, 05:02 AM - **1 Like**

09-10-2018, 02:08 AM - 4 Likes	#678
BruceBanner Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 5,404	Horseshoe Falls Last edited by BruceBanner; 09-10-2018 at 01:37 PM.

09-12-2018, 04:33 PM - 1 Like	#681
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	Sunset on the Mad River: Last edited by northcoastgreg; 09-12-2018 at 06:45 PM.

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09-08-2018, 07:40 PM - 2 Likes	#676
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	From the Humboldt County Fair:

09-09-2018, 04:01 PM - 3 Likes	#677
cgchang Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Delta, British Columbia Posts: 148

09-10-2018, 06:59 AM	#679
cristianmiu Junior Member Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33	Hello guys, I have a DA 35mm/2.4. The problem is that most of the shots are out of focus. Is not a rule... sometimes back focus, sometimes front focus, and if I’m lucky the focus is done correctly. This lens can be calibrated? Tested on k5ii and k5iis. On the k5ii from 10 pics 2 are out of focus. On k5iis from 10pics 5 or more are out of focus. How can I fix this? Thank you!

09-11-2018, 02:27 PM - 1 Like	#680
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	With the K-1: ---------- Post added 09-11-18 at 02:30 PM ---------- Originally posted by cristianmiu This lens can be calibrated? No. The camera can be calibrated to work with the lens, although if your focusing problem is not consistent (it's misfocusing the same way every time), calibration is not likely to fix the problem. My DA 21 would not focus accurately on my K-5 cameras; same with my DA 12-24. The KP fixed the DA 21 problem, but not the DA 12-24 issue.

09-12-2018, 07:57 PM	#682
BruceBanner Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 5,404	Originally posted by northcoastgreg With the K-1: ---------- Post added 09-11-18 at 02:30 PM ---------- No. The camera can be calibrated to work with the lens, although if your focusing problem is not consistent (it's misfocusing the same way every time), calibration is not likely to fix the problem. My DA 21 would not focus accurately on my K-5 cameras; same with my DA 12-24. The KP fixed the DA 21 problem, but not the DA 12-24 issue. Interesting to hear you say that. I owned both the HD DA 21 and HD DA 15, and I never felt the results were that good. Things always looked off, even after Fine Adjustments. Both the KP and the K-1 struggled with them. I recall one time just using spot focus and aiming for a large leaf that took up most of the screen, and it locked onto it and the focus was just diabolically off, and I could repeat this totally awful bad focusing on repeat attempts and on different occasions. I chalked them up to being just not that great a lens, or an issue with focusing with wider angle lens. Thankfully the HD DA 35/2.8 Macro doesn't seem to have fallen victim to any of these shenanigans, it's doing what it's supposed to do I wonder now however if perhaps both my 21 and 15's were 'bad copies'. In the end I didn't mind selling them as I didn't like not getting night star bursts from them, next time I grab one I'll get the regular green version. I just found it interesting to hear you say that certain camera bodies played better with x lens than others. Originally posted by northcoastgreg Sunset on the Mad River: Nice shot also

09-16-2018, 10:17 PM - 5 Likes	#683
cgchang Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Delta, British Columbia Posts: 148

09-18-2018, 06:41 AM - 3 Likes	#684
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	Oregon coast, Port Orford:

09-24-2018, 02:43 PM - 1 Like	#686
BruceBanner Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 5,404	Originally posted by cristianmiu Hello guys, I have a DA 35mm/2.4. The problem is that most of the shots are out of focus. Is not a rule... sometimes back focus, sometimes front focus, and if I’m lucky the focus is done correctly. This lens can be calibrated? Tested on k5ii and k5iis. On the k5ii from 10 pics 2 are out of focus. On k5iis from 10pics 5 or more are out of focus. How can I fix this? Thank you! I don't think you can. I would chalk down that failure rate to being the limit of PDAF technology in conjunction with wider angle lenses. I too ran into a focusing issue this past weekend. The shot below (large vertical panorama), I chose the main rock on the middle bottom of the frame as the focusing point, and would pan up from that. Continually whilst using the OVF to get focus of the rock, because I have a Tenpa 1.22 mounted I could see with my own eyes that the AF system failed to get a good lock on the large boulder, it appeared soft to my eyes. I put my hand in front of the lens, got it to focus on my hand and then tried to get focus on the boulder again, yup nop, failed a second time. A third time I tried and this time it was a better focus but I still knew I could do better, so used manual focus to get that extra sharpness on the rock. I've come to the conclusion that PDAF is not great. I have no opinion as to whether it's a Pentax thing or just the technology involved, I have no experience in shooting other brands. Live view is far more superior to getting focus right first time. Furthermore, I believe that with portrait or telephoto lenses you get better success than using OVF and AF with wider angle lenses, they just struggle that little bit more. Glenbrook Gorge K-1+HD DA 35 Macro, crop mode, vertical panorama processed with Nik Collection Analog Efex Pro 2 This shot below got into Explore yesterday. K-1+ HD DA 35 Macro, FF mode (but cropped slightly). WB temp 10,000k, Cactus RF60x ocf left of subject with blue flash gel via Magmod.

09-29-2018, 02:44 PM - 3 Likes	#687
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	Heaven's Peak in Glacier National Park:

10-06-2018, 05:01 AM	#688
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,660	this one of the few lenses that if I had to choose only one for the rest of my camera's life, I could be happy with it:

10-06-2018, 05:02 AM	#689
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,660

10-06-2018, 05:02 AM - 1 Like	#690
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,660