| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Posts: 12,285
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 10, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $174.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Shapeness, cost, f2.4, weight, accurate & fast AF | | Cons: | plastic mount, no hood, no distance scale | |
Excellent purchase. Very happy with the sharpness, color, and AF on this in addition to the f2.4 low light performance. Yes, it's plastic but at $175 its still a great bargain IMHO. I would have paid a wee bit more for a metal mount and a hood but I have a $5 after-market hood I like for my FA50 and it fits so I will be ordering a second one for this lens- NBD. I'm constantly impressed, newbie showing through I guess, with the performance of a prime vs a telephoto. I think the DAL 18-55 is a good kit lens and have used it a great deal since I got it but the color rendition, sharpness at all f settings, and speed of focus on this lens put it to shame IMHO. Add to that its Bokeh is significantly more pleasant than the 18-55's and you have a real gem. Are there even better 35mm primes, sure I guess based on reports here but this one cost me $175 + $5 for a hood and is making me look like a better photographer.
Pentax - please release more Primes like this - please. | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2009 Location: West Midlands Posts: 2,066
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 4, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $149.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Size, weight, image quality, price, FF capability | | Cons: | Slightly disappointing build quality | |
Nice and sharp wide open, nice transition to OOF areas. Very small and light, surprisingly nice MF feel. Exceedingly sharp at >f4!
On first inspection I was disappointed at the build quality of the lens... looked a little rough around the edges to me. But it looks quite nice if you don't look too close :ugh:
Ideal little family snapshot / people lens on APSC digital, and as a Brucie Bonus, a lovely fast moderate wide on film, betraying it's FA35 f2 DNA!
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2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 4, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good sharpness across the frame stopped down a bit | | Cons: | Sometimes it misbehaves and adds more CAs to the mix than I'd like to see | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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Positives:
Good to excellent sharpness across the frame stopped down to f5.6/8 and low distortion - truly excellent results with a bit of post-processing
Fast autofocus (albeit very noisy)
Not bad manual focus feel for a cheap, plastic autofocus lens
Decently fast
Very good landscape lens when stopped down and focused accurately - there's a strange 'flaw' in that it behaves almost like a lens with a floating element, requiring very precise focus for corner to corner sharpness (if focus is slightly off, the borders and corners will suffer, even around f8) - in this regard, it seems similar to the Leica Elmarit R 28mm E55 that really has a floating element and is very fussy about adaptors and focus point...
Small, light and decently built for an all-plastic construction (don't be put off by the fact that it's plastic and has no internal focus motor - there's little that can break)
If this matters (and it does to me because I don't like to attract attention), it has a very discrete design that doesn't carry the ostentatious and cheesy looks of the cheap Canons and Nikons
Negatives:
A bit more CAs than I'd like to see, sometimes misbehaving quite badly
For landscapes, if focus is not on the money, the borders and corners will be soft (I still have to test whether this is infinity or just before with live view as there's no focusing scale on the lens) - impossible to predict the results of zone focusing unless using live view
Noisy autofocus
No hood included (that's mingy!)
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 177
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 24, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $170.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Price, IQ (sharp, beautiful colors), fast AF, very light. | | Cons: | Cheesy mount...hope it holds up. | |
Bought it on a whim (didn't want to pay for the DA35mm macro at 2-3 times the cost of this one)...and this lens was already getting good reviews. Great decision. This lens is the best bargain out there. Have a look at the attached, just minimally tweaked with Microsoft Live Photo Gallery. Overall, an outstanding lens at any price. I just hope the mount holds up. | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 723
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 21, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $189.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, fast, great color, contrast & bokeh, light, FAST AF holy cats! | | Cons: | needs a hood badly, some fringing wide open | | New or Used: New
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Like all the other reviews, I'll say that this is the best bang for your buck at this focal length that you can stick on a Pentax, IMO. Sharp at all apertures, classic Pentax color, very good contrast (I'm withholding judgement on "great" until I see this lens perform with a hood - without one it's prone to flare & washout). I love the bokeh on this lens - watercolor-y goodness. An even smoother bokeh than my DA70Ltd. The AF is super fast, the fastest focusing Pentax lens I've had (though I haven't had the DA40).
Cons - this lens needs a hood, desperately. I can't imagine why its not sold with one (except to keep it as inexpensive as possible). It really suffers from flares & contrast washout without it, which isn't fair to the lens, cause it's got excellent contrast otherwise. My copy also has some noticeable fringing wide open - minor, but there. Probably wouldn't bother most people, but I happen to hate fringing more than any other lens issue :P
I'm rating this lens a '9' because for me '10' is best represented by the Limited lenses (I've had the DA35 Ltd. and the DA70 Ltd. & bought the DA15 twice). There's a lack of the limited lens fairy dust here (what *is* that anyway?? phenomenal microcontrast? I dunno), but it's a fantastic lens. And for the cost it's a HUGE TEN.
When is Pentax going to release more primes of the DA(L) variety? Cause I'd buy them all!
f/5 - lovely sharp crispy goodness
(Non working link removed)
f/3.2 - this has been stylistically edited for contrast, but I'm putting it up for the bokeh
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2011 Location: Milpitas, CA Posts: 44
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 17, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $199.99
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, sharp, light weight, great indoor shots, focal length, affordable | | Cons: | plastic, no hood | |
This is my favorite lens which is attached to my K-x almost all the time. This lens is very sharp. The image quality for both outdoor and indoor shots is excellent. The 35mm focal length along with f/2.4 is great for indoor photos. I like to use it especially to take pictures of dishes (and friends across the table) while eating out.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Paris, France Posts: 3,217
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 12, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $179.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | light, sharp @f2.5, compatible FF :lol: | | Cons: | no marked focus indication on focusing ring (it's a DAL after all :) | |
after 6 months with this lens, i can tell that the nickname "plastic wonder" was well choosen 
It's sharp and has a nice bokeh at full aperture,
Nice colors rendering, even at full aperture, and absolutely awsome from f4 to f11.
quick focusing in AF,
Easy to focus on MF,
Fast lense,
Compatible FF without vignetting (tested with a Super A/Super Program, work like a charm )
it's a big bang for the bucks ! Really worth the money.
My only "cons" is that it hasn't indication, or mark on the focusing ring... but for that price, it's not really a matter 
if you still hesitate, well ... just move your butt and go try it and then buy it | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2008 Location: Nanaimo, BC Posts: 261
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 8, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Tack sharp, super quick to focus, bright. | | Cons: | All plastic construction. | |
This lens is Pentax's answer to Nikon bringing out the AF-S 35 F1.8 DX, I'm sure. But that being said, it's not a stock copy of the Nikon. Noticeably absent is built-in AF (which is a debatable plus, as it's quieter, but not faster, than Pentax's application), and a metal lens mount, though I'm sure the plastic will stand up to amateur use. Let's not mix the fish in the kettle; this lens is squarely aimed at those who would buy a K-r, K-x, K-m, etc. If you own a K5 or K7, you won't be disappointed at all with the lens, but the above sacrifices were no doubt made for cost reasons. Thus, what you get is the digital era's equivalent of Pentax's once standard kit lens, the 50/2. Cheap, cheerful, and effective.
I really don't think you can hold any of these complaints against the lens for the price point. I bought mine used, because I'm a lucky bugger, so I really can't complain, but even if you bought it in the shops, the complaints above are hardly enough to give you second thoughts. Keep in mind the Nikon to which I compared it to at the beginning of the article is just shy of $300, $100 more than the Pentax. Also, built in AF is more of a necessity than a luxury on Nikon's glass, because many of their cameras lack screw-drive couplings for the AF. And finally, a point in favor of any Pentax, you get image stabilization with this lens because Pentax insists on a body-based SR system. Compare that with the Nikon, which again at $100 more, makes you do without stabilization
But enough about Nikon. This lens blows it out of the water when it comes to what counts. I would know, having owned both (I spent some time in 2009 with a D60 my wife bought, and felt the need for a 50mm equivalent lens, so I bought it, but sold it along with the camera last year). Per-pixel sharpness on my K-r is beautifully crisp, with sharp details still present in 5x crops, shooting in DNG RAW (so no cheating with the camera's sharpening engine, either). Colours are smooth and natural, and the bokeh is not distracting.
Sure, I would have liked a metal mount, or maybe the WR treatment being given to Pentax's other budget/kit offerings in this price range, but beggars can't be choosers. This is a fantastic lens for any digital Pentax user.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: May, 2011 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 366
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 4, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $170.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, fast focus, and a bang for your buck | | Cons: | Compared to the price, you really can't say this lens has a con | |
This is not the best lens in the world.
There are faster, sharper lenses that are built with higher quality materials.
But when you compare the cost and the result, you really can't go wrong with this one IF you are looking into a 35mm prime and don't want to spend more than $200.
The following is an example of its auto-focus on f/2.4 with bad indoor lighting. (was taken at 4:30pm and at the time of the photo, sun sets at 6pm, only source of light was one window, no lights were lit inside the house)
 | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2011 Location: Tuktoyaktuk, NWT Posts: 6
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 25, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light weight, impressive image quality for the price | | Cons: | plastic lens mount, no distance scale, no quick shift focus | |
I bought this for my wife for Christmas so I could get my FA 35mm f2 AL back. If it weren't for all of the plastic I would have kept it. I see no discernible difference in IQ between the two lenses and the FA occasionally balked at infinity focus on her K100D Super but this little DA-L gem works flawlessly, and gives her the results she wants. We both used it with the FGZ 540 flash (bounced from the ceiling, straight up) at family gatherings and got some amazing images, and it is fast enough for lots of flash free low light shots.
This lens is as good as the FA for only about half the price, and the only other option is the DA limited 35mm f2.8 macro for even more. A bargain like this is not to be passed up if you want near ultimate image quality for nearly nothing in price.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 1,509
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 15, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $230.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | optically awesome, lightweight | | Cons: | mechanically less great, no lens hood | |
My girlfriend has this lens and as such I use it from time to time and have seen plenty of photos taken by this lens. Bottomline - if you're looking for a prime and you're on a budget, this is the one to buy.
I'll start with the not so great things about this lens. Which is pretty much everything mechanically. There's no lens hood, no quick-shift, no metal and no distance scale, all of which is a pity. The front element sticks out rather weirdly from the body of the lens, and with the omission of a lens hood this always looks rather scary to me. However, this lens does cost a lot less than it's limited sisters, and in light of that I would say these omissions are not too much of an issue. Though a lens hood would definitely be a requirement for me, there are 3rd party hoods available to alleviate this problem.
Now, optics. This lens takes awesome photos. f2.4 might sound slow but the DoF you can create is still plenty thin (someone suggested this lens is actually faster, the cover-up could be a move by Pentax to not threathen the sales of their more expensive prime lenses). The bokeh is smooth and the lens is sharp at every aperture. There's not much in the way of any abberations.
As long as you're not too upset by the plastic housing this lens comes in, this is a great little lens. Light, too.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2010 Posts: 30 | | Review Date: March 3, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
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Next month I'm buying either this lens or the DA 40mm 2.8 Limited, and I'd like to hear from people who's used both of them. Wich one you think I should buy?
I like the focal lenght of this one, but from what I've read the 40mm seems to be sharper.
I don't know if this is important, but I shoot digital with a K100D, and I'm upgrading to a K7.
On a related note, I've always shot film with a K1000, but I'll have to change thad body too, since neither of the two lenses have an aperture ring, any advise?
I'm also posting this on the DA 40 2.8 Limited review.
Thank you all for the help!
Regards,
Viernes
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Dundas, Ontario Posts: 28
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 19, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $190.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, excellent contrast, Pentax colour, affordable, etc... | | Cons: | None that I can think of - okay, quick shift focus I miss | |
I rate this excellent because of the value it presents. This lens is sharp corner to corner wide open. Contrast and colours are super good - very nice rendering wide open. Distortions are not noticeable under day to day use. The auto focus is very fast and accurate, as good or better than the DA 40 Limited. Overall this lens is very good and I have nothing bad to write. Build quality is decent for the price, lens feels very solid and well constructed.  | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 29
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 16, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $218.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, light-weighted, perfect companion to my K-x! | | Cons: | plastic mount? | |
The reason I bought this lens is for indoor kid's party.
I went to a kid's party about two weeks ago, I took my K-x with 18-55mm kit lens. Most of the time, the light condition is good for a decent shot, but kids jumped around, and moved fast! Those pictures are obviously blurred. I have a M 50mm f1.7, but it's useless in this situation, MF cannot be fast enough to capture those action, also the FOV is too narrow for indoors. Based on those good reviews, I bought this lens last week. I've made some photos, the more I use it, the more I like it! IQ seems better than 18-55mm kit lens, AF is very fast. This lens might become the one on my K-x most of the time, especially for indoors. For outdoors, of course, I still prefer my DA 55-300mm ED.
I don't quite care about the plastic mount. By the time it breaks, there maybe some other better budget lens come out. 
K-x, 35mm, F2.4, ISO-1600, 1/25
K-x, 35mm, F2.4, ISO-800, 1/60
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2010 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 36
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 14, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $190.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, small size | | Cons: | none | |
I have only had the lens for a few days but based on the pics I have taken so far, I am very pleased with it. IQ is excellent. Seems just a tad soft at f/2.4 but is very sharp at f/3.2 and beyond. This is a light weight lens and the 35mm focal length provides an ideal FOV for many situations.
While the body is plastic, it looks reasonably well made. The only possible downside to the lens, in my opinion, is the plastic mount. Only time will tell how durable the plastic mount is.
Overall, this lens is excellent. For the price (bought new for $ 190 from a Canadian retailer on e-bay), I think this is good value for money.
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