| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 497
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 8, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, light, inexpensive, paint | | Cons: | None really | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1, Kr
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The DA35/2.4 that I have is white. It seems to be expensive and rare, but I managed to get a new one cheap. Great match for my K-r, which is also white. Optically, it is very good, even on full frame K1. This lens and its cousin DA50/1.8 are of amazing values!
| | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: July, 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Posts: 9,910
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 22, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $182.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, aberration control, good enough bokeh, so light! | | Cons: | None, especially for the price! But I do wish it was f2 or f1.8. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K20D, K-r, K10D, K-S1
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For the price of this lens, it has to be a 10. Even more expensive lenses can have some some qualities that make them more desirable (FA 31 Limited and Sigma 30 1.4 Art come to mind), but what the DA 35 2.4 accomplishes having such a light weight, is to me just incredible.
I love putting it on a camera and just walking around with it all day, it is so light that I forget I have it around my neck or on my shoulder.
Perfectly sharp wide open, fast AF, fit is really good on every camera I've had it on. By f/2.8 it's ridiculously sharp. If I could only have one lens, I think it would be this one - and I have the Sigma 30 1.4 which is also an excellent lens... but quite a bit heavier.
The best pictures of my family were taken with this lens, so I am quite fond of it.
Examples wide open:
 igreja são roque órgão by ChristianRock, on Flickr
 A Confused Pancake by ChristianRock, on Flickr
f4
 pink2 by ChristianRock, on Flickr
f/7.1
 pescadores by ChristianRock, on Flickr
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 32
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 28, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Light, I.Q. | | Cons: | No quickshift, no hood | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K30
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Very sharp, very light, cheap.
The sharpness is 'only' good at full aperture at the center, but is as good on the edges (rare).
Very good everywhere at 3.4, excellent above 3.4.
Quickshift is sorely missed, as well as a hood (telescopic or bayonet would be great).
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2014 Posts: 2
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 8, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Cheap, IQ | | Cons: | poor focus ring, build | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Samsung NX1
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Good IQ also wide open, cheap if buy used, indecent costruction but for low price. Plastic mf is hard to use
photo at wide open crop no pp
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 7
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 12, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, light, cheap, great general IQ. | | Cons: | No Quick Shift. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k30
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I am growing in my appreciation off this lens.
I was shooting in Ireland, and found that the greens (of which there are plenty in Ireland) could sometimes look a bit garish. Generally I wasn't convinced by the realism of the colours. So when I found a 35mm 2.8 macro limited going cheap, I snapped it up, thinking I would sell the 2.4. However, I found with the limited, that oddly blues seem to boom out quite a bit! Maybe my eyes are going funny! Or maybe it's the white balance on my k30, which somehow has never been as convincing as my old k100d.....?
Anyway, the 2.4 is always sharp. It gives great clarity, and I find that its transitions, micro contrast, or whatever you want to call it, are very natural looking. I love the fact that both 35's are almost distortion free, and are superb for pano-stitching. The limited is perhaps a fraction more '3D'.
But with a possible move to FF on the cards, I have a nice (ridiculously sharp!) A 35-105mm 3.5 which compares pretty well, giving more of that "classic movie" colour balance that the previous reviewer referred to. So with a preference also for a longer macro, the punchy 2.4 might actually be the keeper of the two; allowing me to swap for a tiny 40mm limited to keep on the APSC as a put in your pocket point and shoot....maybe? Choices, choices. None of which break the bank! Don't let people tell you there are no Pentax lens options!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2016 Posts: 316
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 7, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Price, sharpness, versatility, portability | | Cons: | Build, focus, color rendition | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax Kx
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This little lens is great for anyone who wants a fast normal prime for general use (2.4 may not be really fast, but is its enough for my photography). It is very lightweight, quite compact, plus the 35mm give you a lot of flexibility and you can always bring it with the camera as a general walk around lens or an addition to another lens. Very fast focus, very sharp, and 2.4 aperture give you enough speed in most situation. And with the price (I paid 90$ for an used one in very good condition), I see no reason not to recommend it.
Now, for the things I do not like, this is very personal, so you may find it important or not:
- Build: for a plastic lens it is very well build, and you don't find it cheaply at all. However I have used only old manual Pentax lens before with metal build and great handling with aperture ring and focusing ring, and I have been spoiled by them, so if you like metal build, or you enjoy handling them, you won't find it the same with this little lens.
- Auto focus: while very fast, sometime my pictures are slightly back focus, sometime I have to point the camera out of the subject, and point it again to refocus, this happens only occasionally so I don't know if it is due to the lens, or due to my camera, or all autofocus lens are like that. It is nevertheless a problem.
- Color rendition: this lens give you a very sharp and colorful picture, if you like the "film" look, or "classic" look that limited lens give you, this colorfulness maybe a little bit too much. It would be great for shooting festival, market however.
- At 2.4 the camera use to underexpose and I have to compensate 0.7 EV
Still all of those problems may not matter at all, and I still find it a very good lens.
    | | | | | amateur dirt farmer Registered: December, 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Posts: 41,700
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 5, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $79.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | lightness, color rendition, clarity, easy to use | | Cons: | poor ergonomics if using as a manual lens, no hood from Pentax | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-50 and K-3
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what can you say about such a lens - inexpensive, versatile, useful.... I bought mine used from KEH for $79 and could not tell it from a new lens...
the ergonomics of the lens do leave something behind - if you intend to use this lens manually, you'll be sorely disappointed... the all-plastic build is does not offer any tactile-feedback, especially if using the focus ring...
however - you didn't expect this to perform as a manual lens, since it is a DA lens (why is it not a DA L lens?) and designed specifically for a DSLR and to be controlled entirely through the camera body...
now then - my month with Marigold was awesome - wide enough, fast enough to do just about anything you ask of a standard-length lens... typical Pentax color rendition, quick to focus, flare-resistant - there truly are not many things wrong with the lens...
but can a lens be too sharp and clinical? I've read discussions on this point for this lens, that it tends to render images almost sterile in their lack of aberrations, or character...
there has also been discussions on the lens' AF and how it occasionally will need to be point away from the scene at hand, focused, and brought back to allow it to focus properly - is that a lens problem or a camera problem (this is a very occasional issue and I have found it with my DA 50 also)...
the lens is a keeper, based on its performance in October (Single In Challenge)...
sample images:
 tree frog by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 jeans and pegs by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 morning light - desaturated by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 vanilla by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
my flickr album for the DA 35:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pepperberryfarm/albums/72157666281579370 | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2016 Posts: 20
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 17, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $129.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | cheap for it's ability | | Cons: | build quality | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1 Pentax
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I did a test of the lens from it's f2.4 through F11. Once you are past about F3.5 the lens is simply stellar considering the cost. Center sharpness is great and it maintains that all the way to the corners above F3.5. Vignetting is not serious at any F stop nor is fringing or distortions. I use DXO11 software and you can see it correcting the distortions as it has a profile for this lens. It reminds me of when I was a Nikon fan and bought the 35mm F1.8 and found it too was awesome and very sharp and about 200 bucks.
The Pentax also maintains good color and contrast with no washing out at any point in the range I have stated above. I have learned to quickly juggle the speed and F stop to make it work for this lens and the K1 makes that less of a chore or a trauma using front and rear dials. If it ever dies will just buy another one for sure.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2013 Posts: 170
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 6, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $155.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, cheap, light-weight, small | | Cons: | noisy, could be faster | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-x
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Since I have this lens, the photography is fun again. Although it could be faster, the f-number 2.4 makes a huge difference against the kit lens.
The autofocus is only screw-driven, but it's very fast (the fastest autofocus of all of my lenses) and very accurate. There is almost no focus hunting. The only downside is the noise and the lack of quick-shift.
The front element does not rotate, which is good, too.
Bokeh could be smoother, but I somehow like it. The out-of-focus parts of the image are not disturbing.
Colors are just great.
Exposure metering on my camera (K-x) works much better with this lens, than with the kit lens. When I use kit lens, I have to compensate about +2/3EV. With this lens it's much more reliable.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2014 Posts: 19
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 25, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, light-weight | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Sony Alpha 7
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I've been using this lens adapted to my Sony Alpha 7 for over two years now and I am even more impressed by it than in the past where I used it on my K01, K30 and K3.
It's very sharp wide open and has a nice Bokeh. I usually use it for Landscapes, Astrophotography and close-ups. Only wide open, except for landscapes at daytime.
It has some vignetting on full frame but not that bad, also it can easily be fixed in post if you want to.
Especially for night-time photography this lens is a pure gem! Almost no CAs and no flare at all, the SMC does an awesome job, I simply love it.
It's my to-go lens because of it's weight, sharpness and flexibility.
With the focus peaking on the A7 I never miss focus, even wide open.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2012 Posts: 47
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 19, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | light weight, IQ | | Cons: | plastic built | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5
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Bang for the buck
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2015 Location: South West UK Posts: 1,493
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 22, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Cheap, Sharp, Quite fast | | Cons: | Some CA, Occasionally ugly bokeh, Noisy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-3II
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Essentially a nifty fifty on crop bodies...something everyone would benefit from having in their bag.
Cheap as chips already, not really worth getting used. Looks and feels cheap though as a consequence...not something to take to a paid job!
Some CA can be found if pixel peeping, but is very easy to eliminate in LR.
Bokeh is a bit ugly when not fully open due to cheap aperture. But is perhaps a little soft when wide open, which can be good for portraits, but is sometimes unwanted.
Spinny focus ring is annoying until you're used to it. Lack of hood annoying until you find a cheap screw on....mind you, flare is not too bad.
Is light and small...but perhaps looks a bit silly on a large body like my K-3II...but that's a personal and fairly meaningless issue.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2016 Posts: 3,725
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 21, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | nice lens, cheap | | Cons: | no lens hood, back cap is flimsy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-3 II
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This one stays on my camera more than any other lens that I have, despite being the cheapest by far. If I ever buy a limited 35mm, things might change. Maybe it is because I am used to shoot at normal focal length, also because it is light and compact. Image quality is good. It has some slight chromatic aberations but I only noticed that on the computer, not in prints. Single autofocus is actually fast, it could be that the k3 ii focuses faster than some other bodies. I don't miss a lens hood as much as I dislike the back cap, it doesn't catch the tabs so you just push it in. The aperture has a pretty crude shape, so don't expect round out of focus lights. Highly recommended!
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: September, 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 854
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 27, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $99.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Price, Focal Length | | Cons: | Other lens sharper | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K50
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Always wanted to try a prime in the 35mm focal length. I've had Super Taks at 35mm but the eyes have gotten old for manual focus.
It's an OK lens for the price. Nice colors, lacking micro contrast, OOF is good.
I have the Fa 28 and the Da 40 so this lens doesn't compare in image quality. It's a fairly good cheap lens.
It might work better on my K10D or D, haven't tried yet
If you're looking for a cheap 35 prime to try, this lens is it. For myself I'll probably dump it and continue using my better lens.
UPDATE 04-09-16
I've gone and tried it on my other bodies. istD, K10D. Works best on the D. With the 10 and the 50 f5.6 and f8 work well for distance.
Large apertures work best at shorter distances. Probably keep it now and follow my distance discoveries vs f stop.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2016 Location: between Toulouse and Pyrenees Mountains Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 1, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | not expensive, autofocus | | Cons: | not found | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-3
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A nice lens, who do its job I use it often when I have to travel light. autofocus is quick, colors are good, sharpness is very good when closed to F8.
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