| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Warsaw Posts: 83
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 26, 2014 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Stunning image quality for a zoom, very good for a prime. "Stack of primes" indeed! Color, contrast and sharpness I'd expect from an Angenieux 35-70mm. A - settig. | | Cons: | Size and weight of a "stack of primes" - at least 2-3 primes. Tricky "macro bump" at 150cm, but you can get used to it. All minor things... | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: SFX, K200, K5
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I had got three of them: buying and selling after some time. Finally got my 4-th copy in near mint condition, mechanically working so smooth and optically stunning.
I just made fev pictures straight against strong window light - the contrast loss IS ABSENT and color and contrast is mindblowing - something I'd expect from my best K-series primes.
Focal length for APS-C is great for me: 52-157mm - very handy for street.
I have never had or tried an Angenieux zoom, but the SMC-A 35-105mm has the image quality I'd expect and would be really pleased with that legendary glass.
Sharpness , contrast and very good color rendition explains the weight of this classic glass. Build quality is second to none - one of the best A-series.
A - setting is a "cherry on top" bonus. With MTF Program line on my K5 IQ is on constant stunning level. Wide open this lens is still very good. I have the SMC-K 85mm f/1,8 and it also needs to be closed a little to show it's best so 35-105 is no different from Pentax top glass.
I also have a SMC-M 35-70mm f/2,8-3,5 - another "stack of primes" zoom from Pentax: faster wide end, smaller, lighter, equally sharp at a cost of shorter tele end, 100cm minimum focusing distance and no A-setting.
For me bot these zooms are top Pentax legacy zoom glass.
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 212
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 13, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $130.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Photo quality in sharpness and color rendition | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5 and K-5iis
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I have had this lens for at least two years. Even though I have many lenses in my case, I tend to use this lens the most. Why? Because it is very dependable and I really like it. It is almost always on one of my cameras (use a dual harness for shooting with both cameras). The sharpness is very good and the color rendition is excellent. As with all digital cameras some photo enhancement is required, but this lens requires no more photo enhancement to that of my primes. Manual focusing is fairly easy with this lens and I don't say that lightly as I have aging eyes. This lens is truly built like a tank and has the weight to prove it. I like the weight as it feels well balanced on my cameras (K-5 and K-5iis) with the battery grip. Even though this is an auto aperture (A) lens, I use the manual aperture on the lens frequently getting very satisfactory results. If you can find this lens in a better than average condition, go for it.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 2,653
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 2, 2014 | Not Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | Can be sharp, useful focal range, cheap, A-type | | Cons: | Weight, poor wide open, short focus throw | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 5
Value: 7
Camera Used: K-7, K-5ii
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Having read all the wonderful reviews I'd bagged one off eBay. I'm disappointed - this lens is greatly over-rated.
It is bulky and heavy. On a K-7/K-5ii it unbalances the camera, making it far too front heavy for my liking.
The ergonomics are bad - the throw of the focus ring is only some 90 degrees (not counting the 'macro' extension). This is fine at the short end but makes accurate focusing harder at the 105mm end. The zoom ring is too narrow, badly placed and also has only a short throw. Being a A-type lens the aperture ring is best parked at the A setting and left there since the camera can control the aperture. The focus and zoom rings are well damped, the zoom ring bordering on 'stiff'.
The lens is parfocal (focus does not change with the zoom setting) over the normal focus range, becoming varifocal at the 'macro' extension settings. The 'macro' is engaged in an awkward way, a bit like a manual car gearbox shift. It is not really a macro setting, just a close focus extension. I understand that often over time the focus and zoom mechanism bushes do wear and loosen, resulting in some backlash which stops it being quite parfocal - my copy is just beginning to go that way.
The front of the lens rotates with focus over the normal focus range and it takes sizeable 67mm filters.
Sharpness wide open is reasonable but not exceptional in the centre and in the corners, except at 105mm where the wide open corners go quite soft. Things improve once stopped down to f4 or more. Centre sharpness is then quite good as is corner sharpness, except at 105mm where sharpness does not improve until stopped down to f5.6 or more. Past some f11 diffraction sets in and both centre and corner sharpness begin to go.
Bokeh is quite pleasant. Flare resistance is reasonable and a hood helps, although finding one which is effective both at 35mm and at 105mm might be hard.
This lens has something of a learning curve if you want to get the best out of it. Accurate focusing is certainly much harder than with my other manual lenses, even with a good focusing screen. The K-7/K-5ii viewfinder 'in focus' indicator is not much help either - for some reason it seems to be a bit erratic with this one.
I cannot see this lens growing on me - it can be good but is simply too fiddly and unfriendly to justify dragging its weight about. Carrying a bag of primes might be a better bet.
Some test shots at various apertures and focal lengths are here.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2012 Location: Vermont Posts: 14 | | Review Date: November 7, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, compact, razor sharp | | Cons: | Close focus distance, odd zoom mechanism | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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I just received my copy of the 35-105/3.5 after purchasing it a few days ago on ebay. Much to my dismay, the lens has an internal fungus on the inside of the first rear element. I have only begun to take sample shots to see what affect this is going to have on the overall performance. So far, in the right light, it doesn't appear to be a major issue. I most likely won't realize the affect until just the right lighting situation under the right exposure settings, then the fungus will rear its head in an image ruining way.
I was really hoping this lens would have been in much better optical condition. And, as you can all imagine, I was totally let down. Such is life buying on ebay from sellers who don't know what they're selling. Supposedly, this was their dad's lens and it was very well cared for. That may be the case, but not many know what to look for to call "defects" when it comes to 30 year old lenses.
All complaints aside, the lens appears to be razor sharp when stopped down. I like the smoothness of function all around with the exception of the macro setting, which is quite different than my 35-70/4 Macro, which works like I think macro lenses should work. The lens is comfortable to use. It IS front heavy but I don't mind that much as I lug around 10 different lenses and a K-5 with a grip attached, so I knew what I was in for.
I just wish ... and I have already tried ... that disassembling the rear element assembly would have been possible but the threads appear to be so well seated they won't budge. The entire rear assembly comes out and not just the rear-most element. So, to no avail, I will use the lens as it sits and hope for the best. I bought this because I have a family portrait shoot near the end of the month and this was going to be my go-to for the job. We'll see how it performs over the next few days before I give my verdict on whether or not I can continue to shoot it regularly.
Otherwise, this lens answered a lot of missing focal lengths in my kit. I have a lot of wides, primes, and not much in the wide zoom category. This seems to fill the big void for me between 35mm and past 80mm up to my telephoto 200.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2013 Posts: 11 | | Review Date: August 7, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $130.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, tank built, 3.5 constant | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Kr
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A great zoom from 80's, a bit heavy but it's a real pleasure to use it. IQ is as good as today's lens, it's impressive !
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2012 Posts: 44
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 5, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, color rendering, versatile range | | Cons: | heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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Almost as sharp as a prime (some shots I can see no difference) but its versatility in zoomrange is an absolute bonus. The "macro" setting is not much to write home about. Compared to any other zoom I've had (like the Sigma 17-70), its the best ...by far!
https://flic.kr/p/prGNUh
https://flic.kr/p/pancej
https://flic.kr/p/ps36ws
https://flic.kr/p/TNy5C4 | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 14
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 14, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $170.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, color rendition is perfect, macro mode | | Cons: | heavy | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K100D super
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This is really one of the best zooms I ever tested. It really deserves the name of "stack of primes".
Sharpness is very good, even wide open (in the center), but this is not the principal quality of this lens. This lens gives an incredible color rendition, with superb contrast. No need to to correct anything in lightroom, pictures are just perfect. On the other hand, range is quite odd, not long enought, not very wide. Aperture of 3.5 comes very handy on the long end and the macro mode is very appreciated.
In short, a great lens every pentaxian should have in his bag.
Some examples without any retouch:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cvicente1932/8087334824/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cvicente1932/8087339636/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cvicente1932/8087337755/in/photostream
Just look at the greens and yellows, amazing.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2010 Location: Bratislava Posts: 7
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 15, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | constant 3.5, sharp, very good handling, macro | | Cons: | not wide enough for walkaround | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-x
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First of all, I really love this lens. If it was a bit wider, and weigh a little less, this would be my favorite Pentax-A lens. It really is "a stack of primes", if your focus skill with manual lenses is good, this lens produces outstanding images.
The downside is that this is not star rated lens, but it's built like a tank, and for the price you can get it, this lens its unbeatable all-around manual zoom lens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 517
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 2, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $179.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Manual Focus, Versatile | | Cons: | Heavy, Not wide enough | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-5
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Ok, now where do I begin with this lens. Well first I've only had it for about a month but I've used it just about everyday and just recently returned from a trip to Washington DC so this lens was put to use a lot.
Negatives..lets just get this out of the way first. I wish this lens was about 300 grams lighter and it would be perfect. After lugging it around most of the day my neck really felt the weight. The focal length could be wider but that would add to the cost of this lens. If it was a little wider say 18 or 24mm then it would be perfect.
Now for the positives. I love how this lens handles even though it's built like a Sherman tank! My copy had a little rough spot when switching to macro mode but otherwise it's easy to work the focus ring. I added a handheld macro shot of some kitchen figurines. You can also use live view to really fine tune your focusing. Colors are great and vibrant. The ability to use a constant 3.5 aperture is an added bonus combined with the excellent high ISO capabilities of my K-5 and KX enables this lens to be used in low light scenarios with confidence.
I still need a lot of practice with the manual focusing and selecting the right aperture and ISO but I'm glad I bought this lens as I'm sure it will make me a better photographer.
edited for bokeh. I love it more now
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Posts: 18,076
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 17, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, constant f3.5, rendering, close focus ... | | Cons: | A bit weighty, but to be expected ... "macro" shift mechanism | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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 Bonjour,
After searching many a month, I finally scored a copy of this "stack of primes" and I am very happy with the first test shots (child portraits & close focus on garden flowers ...). Probably will become one of my favorite MF lenses, if not THE FAV', and it will be spending a lot of time on my K-5. First impressions confirm all of the accolades of the preceding reviewers' comments ... sharp, red/colors, good overall bokeh for a zoom, etc.
My copy has seen a lot of previous action and has some minor slack in the focus ring ...but then again this could be just me and maybe somewhat typical of this lens. I need to get my hands on another copy in order to compare. Again, the "play" here is quite minor and forces me to more carefully concentrate of the my MF throw manipulations ... which maybe positive in the long-term.
To conclude, this lens is definitely worth the search and an acquisition for a reasonable price. A "9" in my books, for the moment, and this could improve IMHO!
Salut & c'est super cet optique ! John le Frog
Below are a few test shots ... garden flowers at dusk (w/onboard flash) ... more & better to come later :
K-5, f11, 1/100, ISO 80
K-5, f8, 1/100, ISO 80
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 2, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $225.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Constant aperture, great focal range on film, good optics. | | Cons: | Size, two touch zoom design. | | Camera Used: K Series film bodies (K1000, KM, KX, K2, K2DMD)
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The A35-105/3.5 was released in 1983 and was the replacement for the old 45-125/4 zoom which had been around since the screw-mount days.
Optics:
The A35-105/3.5 is pretty sharp for a zoom in this focal range and the Macro function is also pretty good optically. (1/4x maximum magnification at 35mm) However the A35-105/3.5 is still not prime quality, which for me is more of an issue in the standard 40mm-55mm focal range.
Focal length:
On film the 35mm-105mm covers the tail end of the wide range up to the middle of the portrait telephoto focal range. So this a great one lens option if you shoot film like myself.
Build/Mechanics:
Not quite as good as the K45-125/4 but way better than my FA28-105/4-5.6 [IF]. The A35-105 also happens to weigh the same as the K45/125, so it’s on the hefty side at 615 grams. (That’s twice as much as my FA28-105!) The A35-105 uses the push-on RH-B 70mm rubber hood, which makes the lens appear even bigger. The A35-105 is a two touch zoom, which I don’t like as much as the K45-125’s one touch push/pull design.
Speed:
F3.5 maximum aperture is ok, but I really miss a faster prime in the 40mm-55mm focal range. Still it’s an improvement over the K45-125/4. The constant aperture is also a plus.
Summary:
This is my fourth medium zoom (K45-125/4, M35-70/2.8-3.5, A35-105/3.5 & FA28-105/4-5.6 [IF]) and I would rank the A35-105/3.5 as my favorite overall.
However I have a love/hate relationship with medium FL zooms. On paper they sound great, but after using them as a one lens option I always end up going back to a prime kit. These older medium zooms are too big, too slow and the optics aren’t as good as a prime lens. Given a choice between the A35-105/3.5 and a three lens kit like my K35/3.5, K55/1.8 & K105/2.8, I’d pick the latter. In the end I feel I have more flexibility and the convenience of a zoom is not as important.
Overall I rate the A35-105/3.5 an 8.5
Sample shots taken with the A35-105/3.5. Photos are low resolution scans from original negatives.
Camera: K2DMD Film: Fuji Superia 200 ISO: 200 (Using macro function)
Camera: MX Film: Ilford SFX ISO: 200
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: August, 2011 Location: New Joisey Posts: 1,370
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 28, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $165.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Constant 3.5 | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Camera Used: K20D
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I can't say that I really know overall how the lens performs in every category, but since I've got it it basically stays on my K20D as my main lens. It is really sharp and I am impressed with the images is produces. It is a bit heavy, but it is built like a tank.
Here is an example of an image I recently took with it:
The George @ Sunset by Spodeworld, on Flickr
I really like it and am really glad that I picked it up. Between this and the Tamron 17-50 f2.8, I have the bulk of my typical range covered with 2 solid performers.
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2010 Posts: 24 | | Review Date: March 27, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness, color rending, solid build | | Cons: | a bit heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: k10
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One of my favorites...
You can use it as well for proxi photo, street shooting,portraiture....
A great one!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 951
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 15, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very versatile I use this for most of my photos. | | Cons: | Bottom end can be a tad narrow on APSC | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K20D
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I bought one of these when I was younger super cheap that had been dropped on concrete with the camera attached, it still worked perfectly but the filter ring area was beyond repair. The build quality on these is excellent and typical of Pentax K and A tank like construction. I liked it so much I recently bought another in like new condition.
One of the things I like about this lens is that is uses a separate zoom ring rather than sliding the focus ring forwards and backwards like my SMC-A 70-210 F4. This makes it much easier to get focused since with this lens you can zoom all the way in, focus on an object, and so long as neither the object or you move, you can zoom in and out without having to readjust the focus again, this is a great way to focus since you can see detail much better in the view finder zoomed in, plus you can adjust the zoom to recompose without having to fiddle with the focus a second time.
Very versatile overall with its zoom range and is very fast fixed aperture for its price and type. The 35mm bottom end tends to give a somewhat narrow angle of vision on an APSC sized sensor, much better on 35mm, but its really only an issue when in tight places with large objects like a tree or a building that I want to get all of.
The macro feature that works at all focal lengths is super handy, you can focus on objects from about 4" at 35mm to 24" at 105mm.
On anything FF this is the only lens you need unless you are shooting wildlife that will run off, on apsc I could go a bit wider and use my 24-50 F4.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Gothenburg Posts: 24 | | Review Date: September 21, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Tack sharp from 3.5, build quality, wide focus ring | | Cons: | Little front heavy, small zoom ring | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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If you can buy this lens, do it. It is perfect if you want to just have one lens on your trip and shoots with film. You can use it on your DSLR, but have in mind that the view angle(?) becomes 52,5-157,5 so you might wanna have a lens witha wider angle if you travel.
On a DSLR this lens is a really good for portraits. It´s a little front heavy but this doesn´t necessarily mean that´s bad. If you have a small camera body it becomes haevy after a while but if you have a batterygrip it´s ok. And it also do the camera more steady.
The zoom ring sits too far in thouh, but after a while you get uset ti it.
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