| Author: | | | | | Review Date: February 13, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Everytihng | | Cons: | Nothing | |
Of all DA ltds, this one (along with 40) will be considered the "classics" in the future. I think this will be more so than the 40 ltd. Pentax has built a "perfect" lens. Just superb. Excluding FF consideration, I would buy this lens before FA 31 ltd, and we all know what a fine lens that really is.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 17 | | Review Date: March 24, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Reliable, well built, no flaws in image quality, built in hood. | | Cons: | The cap falls off too easily. If the focus is struggling it becomes slow due to the macro. | |
I have had this lens since about when it was released. Its by far my most used lens. Just the right focal length for every-day use. Im not very excited about it though. It adds nothing to my photos and simply behaves as it should. Never any softness or other good or bad characteristics. It feels modest and transparent on my camera and makes me concentrate more on the subjects rather than the equipment.
The wide macro is very interesting. The comparably wide angle gives a more dramatic perspectiv, which the more common 50-100 mm macros will not be able to. The backside of this is that the focus point is very close to the front element at max magnification. Insects are out of the question unless they are dead, and good light can be hard.
It still have a few bad things. First is the lens cap that falls off way too easily. If I have the camera around my neck the cap will fall off at a light brush against my arm.
Secondly if the focus, misses for whatever reason, it spends some time focusing back. But if you knowing the lens and the camera well it is not much of an issue.
It is a very well built lens. After almost two years of regulary use it hardly has a sign of wear, and I dont bother to be very protective about it as I see the lens as a tool that shall be used. I roughly guess it has taken 10000 photos now. The built in hood is great too.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2009 Location: Kuwait City Posts: 3 | | Review Date: April 21, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $560.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Colors | | Cons: | None | |
I got this Lens a few days ago but recently I had the time to use it...WOW
I am in love with this lens, and started making some new friends (insect friends )
Great for outdoor , just keep it to infinity and it will be snappy.
My macro shot was one of my first macro pictures (in my life).
This picture does not show the true nature of this lens, give me some time!!
An email friend ( whom I truly respect ) advised me to get it.
and I assure you that if you are thinking of getting one, do not think, just do it )
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2008 Location: Detroit Posts: 3,491 | | Review Date: May 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | It's what a prime should be. | | Cons: | none | |
I second everything good said about this lens.
Sharp as a tack at all apertures.
Great color.
Fast auto focus.
Perfect walk around prime.
| | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: June, 2008 Location: Holy Land Posts: 1,165 | | Review Date: May 31, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, versatile, build quality, great macro capabilities, awesome color | | Cons: | Nothing | |
The DA 35mm is one of the best macro lenses I have ever used.
Very sharp starting at f/2.8, no flare and very low CAs,
wonderful bokeh especially during macro use.
Excellent build quality, very compact and lighter than most 1:1 macro lenses.
I love the metal built-in hood and close focusing capability.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Prague Posts: 2 | | Review Date: May 31, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | All purpose, sharp, built-in hood | | Cons: | Difficult manual focusing on longer distances | |
The DA35 is swiss knife for photographers. Perfect for landscapes (there is plenty of sharpness plus the buit-in hood), most usefull focal length and close focusing ability. Contrast and bokeh is very fine.
The only think that comes to my mind when thinking about the negatives is manual focusing on longer distances - minimal movement is enough tho make the photo unsharp.
Make it 1,4 and the size of the DA40 and it is lens heaven :-)
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: August, 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 7,484 | | Review Date: June 17, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $360.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | 1:1 Macro, build, focus shift, color reproduction | | Cons: | None | |
I bought it before the Price increase and even got MS Cashback rebate on it to further lower the price (end out of pocket was $288). For that reason alone, I would never sell it.
Let's get at it. SHARP, even at nearly 1/2 mile. Not macro sharp at that distance but sharp enough for great photo results.
Speaking of Macro.. 1:1. Need I really say more? Some may complain about the close focusing distance for that magnification but unless you are shooting an angry hornets nest, it isn't any big problem. You have to get within a couple feet for ANY 1:1 macro shooting.
Color, Bokeh, Nice.
Next to my FA31mm Ltd (which cost me 3 times as much), one of the best 30ish lenses I've ever had the pleasure of owning.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 509 | | Review Date: July 18, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $435.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Normal FOV, macro focusing, sharp, excellent build quality | | Cons: | lens cap easy to lose | |
This lens has been pretty much stuck on my Kx since I got it. It's wonderful to have a normal FOV while being able to shoot close-up if I choose. Sharpness, color and contrast are great. The built-in hood is very nice, but I immediately switched out the lens cap for a metal screw-in cap. I don't want to be losing my Limited cap!
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2008 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 119 | | Review Date: August 8, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | macro to infinity, awesome range | | Cons: | lens cap - put on a UV filter and leave cap off | |
This lens on the K-7 reminds me of the old SLR days when I had a 50 mm 1.7 lens on an ME super. It makes a great combination that I am used to and so much lighter than the same camera with a big zoom lens. The macro capability is so sharp that my pictures taken with the sun on flowers or insect wings give an almost 3-D effect. Give yourself some room between camera and subject to get the depth of field you need for your picture, then crop to the size you want and see for yourself how sharp it is even with 200% cropping!
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: North of switzerland Posts: 1 | | Review Date: September 6, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $610.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | excellent optical and mechanical properties; full metal barrel; f2.8; macro ability; surface feel | | Cons: | Probably the lens cap; distance to object when using macro mode | |
This is a very good portrait lens. It produces nice colors. The lens has a stunning sharpness.
You can use it for macros and the photos will be excellent.
You can use this lens for a lot of things, not just for macro.
"The lens is made of steel" - The only plastic component i've found is the rear lens cap.
When you hold this lens in your hand, you know what you have spent your money for. It's worth every cent.
f8.0 ; 1/500s ; iso 200
f2.8 ; 1/60s ; iso 800
 | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 19 | | Review Date: September 9, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, lens quality, resolution, colors, contrast, manual AF feel, | | Cons: | | |
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Norfolk Posts: 85 | | Review Date: September 10, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | size, weight, crisp handling and performance | | Cons: | none | |
In a word: FANTASTIC!
Rather than add to the many superlatives already listed, I'll just say that this lens takes me back 40 years. It has the perfect size, weight, crisp handling and overall 'feel' that made 35mm photography such a joy with my old Spotty and its snappy 1.8/55 Super-Tak and 2.8/90 Schacht, and later the MX and 2/55 SMC and 2/35mm M.
I have a good many accumulated lenses to choose from, but the DA 35mm Macro is the 'standard' optic on my K-7, representing the perfect go-anywhere, high-performance, compact package. Nice one, Pentax. | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 330 | | Review Date: September 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $420.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, Build, AF speed, Macro, SHARP | | Cons: | | |
superb, fast af like the da 40
sharpness of the da40
This lens should be in almost everyone's kit!
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2010 Location: Brisbane Posts: 43 | | Review Date: September 16, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Rich Saturated Colours, sharp!, contrast, build quality, | | Cons: | Nothing major | |
If I take only one lens along, it's usually this one. Just handles everything I throw at it with aplomb and class.
Colours are deep and saturated, shadow details are amazing, sharp from wide open. Only seen veiling flare when wide open with the sun in the picture - otherwise excellent contrast.
Build quality and feel is excellent - obvious attention to detail in design and construction of these beauties. Mounted on a k20d it has just the right weight and balance - just perfect in the hands.
Only complaint - focus hunting between closest focus and back to infinity is sometimes irritating, especially in low light.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: July, 2010 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 65 | | Review Date: September 22, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, solid, great colour, macro | | Cons: | None | |
Not much to add on my part by way of praise for this lens. But it needs to be repeated: this is a brilliant example of its kind. Superb for macro, even if you need to get in really close (which is no bad thing sometimes) and likewise for general use. Built like a lens from the 1970s, which means individual examples are likely to outlast most of their current owners.
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