Originally posted by Rondec I think the DA 35 is an amazing lens. Other than slow focusing, I can't think of anything negative to say about it. It is sharp, amazingly resistant to flare (even without the built in hood), and is nearly indestructible (I have dropped mine twice on to concrete from the height of two meters and it is still going -- done by accident of course). When I was getting it, I waffled for a long time between the close focusing ability of the Da and the bigger aperture of the FA. I decided on the DA in the end and I'm glad I did.
I currently have the DA 40 on order -- I like the idea of the light, pancake lens to carry around and the samples of good photos from it are all over the forum.
I think that the AF is slow on the DA 35 when going from one extreme to the other, or when leaving the macro mode. Other than that, I feel that the AF on the DA 35 is on par with other Pentax lenses.
My girlfriend always tells me to get the DA 40, and I dream of one day having a deep lens collection with that included. I guess I should have got her the K-m with the pancake instead of XSi that she wanted. :P