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SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro

Sharpness 
 9.8
Aberrations 
 9.3
Bokeh 
 8.9
Autofocus 
 8.0
Handling 
 9.3
Value 
 9.2
Reviews Views Date of last review
122 491,044 Wed March 2, 2022
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
98% of reviewers $458.08 9.50
SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro

SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro
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SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro
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Description:
The Pentax 35mm Limited macro lens is designed for use only with APS-C format Pentax DSLRs.

SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
APS-C
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
No
Diaphragm
Automatic, 9 blades
Optics
9 elements, 8 groups
Mount Variant
KAF
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F2.8
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
AF (screwdrive)
Quick-shift
Yes
Min. Focus
14 cm
Max. Magnification
1x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 45 ° / 38 °
Hood
Built-in, slide out
Case
Soft case Z100
Lens Cap
Dedicated metal push-on
Coating
SMC,SP
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
63 x 46.5 mm (2.5 x 1.8 in.)
Weight
215 g (7.6 oz.)
Production Years
2008 to 2013
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-DA 1:2.8 35mm Macro Limited
Product Code
21730 (black)
Reviews
User reviews
In-depth review
Unofficial Full-Frame Compatibility Tests by Pentax Forums
★☆☆ Usable with reservations at select F-stop/focal length combinations
Show details
Variants

Black and silver

Features:
Screwdrive AutofocusQuick ShiftBuilt-in HoodAutomatic ApertureAPS-C Digital OnlyDiscontinued
Purchase: Buy the SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro
In-Depth Review: Read our SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro in-depth review!
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro Buy the SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro
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Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 122
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.

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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.
Add Review of SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro Buy the SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro



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