Author: | | New Member Registered: June, 2014 Location: Sydney Posts: 15 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: March 2, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharpness, Bokeh, Ease of Handling, Compact, Weather Sealed | Cons: | AF system can hunt when trying to lock focus (sometimes), no focus limiter | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
| | This is my 'go to' lens and is never off the camera - even when travelling - as I have become used to taking time with my compositions since using (almost exclusively) prime lenses. The lens can hunt occasionally and the screw-drive (?) focus can be noisy, but nothing beats this lens at the price. All of the photos were taken with my with this lens and my K-7 handheld and only minor changes were made to the photos, such as some noise reduction applied to the 'Cartier Cat' shot that was taken in very low light in a side street in Sydney, with practically no ambient light or surrounding illumination. My favourite lens (although I have yet to test my Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f1.4 purchased with a native Pentax mount) ! | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2017 Location: Ronneburg Posts: 1 | Review Date: February 15, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Outstanding sharpness,Lightweight and compact,Well built, fast fousing at normal distances; Useful built in hood | Cons: | No focus range limiter | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3;K-30
| | Pentax K-3 / ISO400 / 1/100 sec/ f4.5 / highest resolution
This lens appears to have everything going for it. It's built well, handles well and produces stunningly sharp images from maximum aperture. Given the performance this lens delivers,
value for Money affordable price.
Build quality is excellent image quality also
manual focusing action is smooth
Auto focus is screw-driven but it doesn't matter because the AF is fast enough.
| | | | New Member Registered: December, 2019 Posts: 7 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: October 24, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $380.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | great image quality, limited feel | Cons: | lens cap can fall off easily | Sharpness: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-5, K-S1, K-1
| | I have been using this lens as standard focal length on APSC cameras since 2015. I am really impressed with the imaging performance. In my opinion, the colors and contrasts of this lens are really great and definitely better than the DA 35 2.4, which is not a bad lens. When focusing,especially in dark lightning conditions, it can get lost in the macro range. But with some practice this is not a big issue. It can even be used at FF, but only with restrictions. [/IMG]
| | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2017 Posts: 50 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: December 22, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $375.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Extremely sharp, solid | Cons: | focus limiter | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3
| | I have a lot of Pentax lenses, but this one quickly moved to the top of my list for close work, and especially for product photography (my main business). It's incredibly sharp, and wide enough to provide very nice depth of field (which means I need fewer images in my focus stacks). Sure, it has a wide throw, and a focus limiter would be nice (it does rack a bit on low contrast shots), but I almost always focus manually, so it doesn't matter that much for my work. A solid workhorse, and I simply cannot do my best work without having it in my kit.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2017 Posts: 286 4 users found this helpful | Review Date: December 17, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $480.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharp, Color, 3D pop, close focus | Cons: | None | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
| | Yes, I do use this lens on the K-1 and bought it when I bought the K-1 for native plant macro photos. It is on the K-1 99% of the time. When shooting full frame, I do crop the corners a bit. The 1:1 macro distance from the front of the lens glass is 1 1/8 inch using the full frame size = 35mm focal length. More depth of field using full frame for macros.
I also use it for everyday photos, milky way photos, sunrise photos, etc.
| | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2019 Posts: 250 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: December 4, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $375.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharpness | Cons: | None | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: KP
| | Best lens by Pentax
| | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2008 Location: Westbrook, ME, USA Posts: 288 | Review Date: August 21, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Very sharp without being clinical, nice colors out of the lens, great build, nice focus damping, build in hood | Cons: | lens cap scratches very easily, long focus throw/hunting | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: KP
| | With a focus limiter this would be a perfect lens. But life is not perfect!
As it is, it's some of Pentax's finest work. It is very sharp, but avoids the sort of clinically sharp look of some macros. Nice bokeh, nice contrast from the usually good Pentax coatings. The focus damping is the best I've used outside of Takumar era lenses and the overall feel of the lenses build is super premium. The built in hood is sort of addictive to pull out, like cocking a tiny gun.
Autofocus is ok, but really hurt by the long focus throw considering that Pentax cameras like to hunt sometimes. I do NOT recommend using contrast detect AF with this lens, it's a huge pain.
This lens is an incredibly good match with the Pentax KP... I use it to shoot macros handheld with the KP's edge extract focus peaking on manual mode. I wish the lens cap didn't scratch so easily, mine looks like it has been in combat just from, I dunno, being in my empty pocket? Annoying.
Overall I'd say it's in the running for best walkaround prime lens for APS-C pentax. For me it's this or the 70mm.
| | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 113 | Review Date: May 21, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Super sharp, compact | Cons: | Noisy AF | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K3-II
| | Wow... Difficult to put short but I'll try.
First it's a very sharp lens and also a very nice gp lens to have attached in your camera.
The built in hood is almos like a secret device, very welcome to have. Actually it's a must because almost every other macro of this type has the front element very recessed (like the old SMC 50/4 M).
My previous all pourpose lens was the 40mm DA Limited, but I prefer this 35mm.
The only con I can remeber is the very noisy AF.
| | | | Forum Member Registered: June, 2014 Posts: 58 | Review Date: June 13, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $260.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharp! macro, small, light, great colours & contrast, low aberrations | Cons: | No focus limiter | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-S1
| | I have a 35mm/F2.4 which is the main walkaround lens on my K-S1. It's a great little lens but with some drawbacks: it has long minimum focus distance, not very sharp edges and so-so bokeh. That is why I bought the 35mm/2.8 Macro Ltd. Wow, what an amazing lens, it blows the 35/2.4 out of the water! It is better in every respect, and the 1/2 stop difference is negligible.
This lens is a pixel peeper's nirvana – sharp corner-to-corner from wide open, has excellent contrast, colours, clarity and detail. Aberrations are low wide open and almost non-existent from F4 and up.
The macro capability is great for objects and flowers, obviously not good for live insects. The built-in hood is very convenient. It is heavier than the 35/2.4 but still very light for a macro lens. As all Limited lenses, the build quality is top notch.
The only drawback I can think of: due to long throw, the autofocus can be slow sometimes. A focus limiter would help.
Otherwise perfect lens, highly recommended!
| | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,605 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: August 12, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $495.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Size, built, sharpness, contrast, flexibility, value | Cons: | What negatives | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-7,3,1
| | I don't know about you guys, but when all things - and when I say all thing I say all thing considered, I have been thinking more and more that this very lens could well be the best lens ever made.
I really don't care if it is a re-badge or whatever - it does not matter.
Sharpness is crazy. Reminiscent of Zeiss. If you are not getting the results, check your camera, or have you your lens checked. Although I don't think so, I suppose that is possible (to have a bad copy of this lens). Or neither there is something wrong with you. You should be able to get as sharp a result as anyone with almost any equipment.
Versatility is phenomenal. This can do it all. Not wide enough? Well, shoot pano and stitch them together. You will get amazing results.
Handling and manual focusing are as good as any lenses I have ever tried.
Sure, there are faster lenses at this focal length out there, I just cannot think of any lenses that comes this close to perfection.
AF is a bit to be desired. But this is not necessarily a knock not he lens itself. The screw drive is a old technology that wasn't very good. An update AF version of this lens ought to come out one day soon.
The only thing it is not for is 1:1 macro.
If I were to buy a Pentax APS-C today this is the lens I would get with it, unless of course you want to do 1:1.
| | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2015 Posts: 6,381 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: May 11, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Flexibility, versatility, build quality | Cons: | Arguably should have been made WR. | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
| | If there were one lens I wouldn't mind getting permanently stuck on my K-5, this would be it. I bought it for medical photography when I replaced my dead *istDL with a K-5, and it has served me exceedingly well in this capacity. Image quality is astounding.
It has an APSC equivalent field of view to a lens in the 50mm range, so in those terms it makes a very flexible "normal" on crop cameras, albeit somewhat slow for a lens in this category (the vast majority of 50mm non-macro Pentax lenses since the Super Takumar era are f/2 or faster). However, even for those not necessarily interested in true 1:1 reproduction, the amazingly close minimum focus distance of this lens is a boon. Quickshift focus and a fairly long throw over the near and macro range make manual adjustments a breeze. The lens does hunt occasionally, though not as badly as the 100/2.8 WR, and if you're shifting from very near to very far (or vice versa) on a subject with no clear edges, getting close with quickshift and then touching up with AF is advised.
One could argue that like the 100mm f/2.8 macro, this lens should really have been uprated to WR; and an appropriate time to do this might have been when the HD-coated version was produced.
Unfortunately, unlike some of the DA series prime lenses, this one turns out not to make the transition to full frame at all well. There is VERY noticeable corner vignetting on the K-1 which is worse on stopping down, and when the hood (which is inbuilt, and a very nice, deep profile) is extended, an overt Outer Black Circle is produced. This is a lens which is best left on crop mode, unless one has the time to find the acceptable edges when cropping manually. I have not yet updated my K-1 firmware to permit 1:1 crop, and I cannot say for certain whether this would eliminate the corner vignetting without the hood deployed.
I can certainly accept the designers' decision to concentrate on producing the desirable flat-field macro profile optimised to an APS-C sensor, especially with the wide field of view, but it's heartbreaking to see just how near it comes and yet how far it misses being a really fantastic wide-angle lens on the K-1 (to which the build quality is nicely matched). I'm sort of hoping they upgrade and redesign it for full-frame at some stage in the future, though it would probably mean growth in both the front and rear elements to maintain the proper flat-field projection over the full image circle.
It's not really designed for bokeh, but because of the very close minimum focal distance, it isn't hard to throw the background out of focus. On APS-C this is a wonderful piece of kit; anyone who needs both something wider than 50mm and macro or ultra close focus capability, and who can afford the premium over the DA35/2.4 "plastic fantastic", should consider it.
| | | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Dundas, Ontario Posts: 28 | Review Date: March 29, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Versatile, compact, amazing capabilities | Cons: | I am sure some will find some, but I can't seem to. | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax
| | Another review to over a 100 here, well I think it's not going to matter much. I think this lens is excellent, or maybe even amazing. Macro lenses require some dedication, skill, maybe even patience and probably a tripod if focusing really close. I find this lens to be great throughout the focus range. Perfect colors, hues, tonal range and sharpness is amazing. Some people complain about the focusing which is rather odd, I find this lens to focus plenty fast and quick shift focus assist really helps speed things up - so then when I go from close range to mid range, I always use the quick shift focus and then use the AF button to fine tune the focus point if necessary. This lens focuses really fast for me, as good as all the other DA Limited lenses. My wish would be for Ricoh to make like a DA70/2.8 macro lens, it would be my ultimate lens.
DA 35 Limited is a great lens. It looks really well matched on any Pentax DSLR - just look at the gorgeous focus ring and the build in hood! It's probably my most favorite DA limited lens, but all are very equal and amazing in a way.
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Central Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 420 | Review Date: October 2, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $251.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Allowes plenty of light at f2.8. | Cons: | The push-on front lens cap | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-3
| | I've had this lens for awhile and I had to really think something up for the "negative aspects" section. I had the DA 35mm f2.4 and although that lens was sharp I think that this 35mm f2.8 macro limited is sharper. I pick out my sharper images by zooming in or cropping and with this lens the job is really tough because (as long as I hold the camera still) all of the photos are sharp! The 35mm focal length is good because it makes it easier to take hand-held macro shots. The first mushroom photo below is without a flash and the second mushroom photo one is with my Metz 58-AF-2 at a 45 degree bounce angle. I have a Tamron Di SP 90mm f:2.8 Macro that I most always use on a tripod but I find that the 35mm macro doesn't need "babysat" as much. Some times you know that a particular lens is a "keeper" and you won't ever give it up for any reason. I've got 4 lenses like that and this one is at the top of my list!
March 27, 2017--The lens I used (35mm 1:2.8) for this review almost got sold but it ended up getting broken by a "potential buyer". Sooo, I bought another one. It seems I didn't want to sell it as bad as I thought. After having used my new one extensively, (and having bought a Pentax 49mm snap on front lens cover) the only thing I have to add is that this copy is every bit as good as my first one. I upgraded all the "aspecs" to 10 all the way because I really, really have a lot of faith in this lens. I'll never- ever even think of selling this one!
| | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2011 Location: Hanoi Posts: 213 6 users found this helpful | Review Date: August 27, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | perfect close up, product photography | Cons: | nil | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K200D
| | 35ltd is really the monster of product photography. The minimum focus only 14cm so it's easy to approach the target. DA 20-40ltd HD black edition, on Flickr DA* 55mm f1.4 + DA 1.4x HD Converter, on Flickr 100 MACRO WR, on Flickr 35ltd, on Flickr
| | | | Pentaxian Registered: October, 2014 Posts: 606 2 users found this helpful | Review Date: May 18, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $320.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharp, built in hood, IQ, macro, build quality | Cons: | Working distance at maximum magnification | | This is among the most well regarded lenses in the Pentax lineup, and my experience is in full agreement with the general consensus.
If you are after a dedicated macro lens to go for 1:1 magnification you might be disappointed because, although it offers this capability, the working distance with such a short FL is not easy to work with. Close-up shots with less extreme magnification is where this lens really excels as a "macro" tool.
The 35mm focal length on APS-C gives rise to a "normal" field of view, so this is also suited as a general purpose walk around lens, which is the key to the versatility of this lens. The AF is fast and accurate on both my cameras. It also lacks a focus limited so it might hunt a bit if you go back and forth between general usage and close-up focusing, but this is to be expected so it's not really a fault. Moreover you can limit the hunting by judicious use of the quick shift function.
I find this lens to consistently provide high quality shots, with outstanding sharpness, micro-contrast, color punch, lack of distortions and aberrations. In my experience this is true in every kind of situation, lighting and composition: 1:2 close up shots, landscapes, interior shots with low light, portraits....
Some consider this lens one of the sharpest available on K mount, and although i do not own each and every K mount lens ever made for comparison, i can say with confidence that this one truly exploits the 24MP AA filterless sensor of the K-3.
There are fastest lenses available around this focal length, but this is sharp enough at f2.8 that you can trust this lens at its maximum aperture in low light, so this is not an issue.
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