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SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5

Sharpness 
 8.9
Aberrations 
 8.2
Bokeh 
 8.0
Autofocus 
 8.6
Handling 
 8.4
Value 
 9.5
Reviews Views Date of last review
100 388,175 Mon February 6, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
97% of reviewers $42.07 8.73
SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5
supersize


Description:
This lens has the same aperture range and the same optics as its A-series counterpart.



SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
8 elements, 8 groups
Mount Variant
KAF
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F3.5-4.5
Min. Aperture
F22-32
Focusing
AF (screwdrive)
Quick-shift
No
Min. Focus
32 cm
Max. Magnification
0.25x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 45-23 ° / 38-19 °
Full frame: 63-34 ° / 54-29 °
Hood
RH-RA 49mm
Case
S70-70
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
67 x 50 mm (2.6 x 2 in.)
Weight
235 g (8.3 oz.)
Production Years
1987 to 1991
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 1:3.5-4.5 35-70mm
Product Code
27177
Reviews
User reviews
Features:
Screwdrive AutofocusAperture RingAutomatic ApertureFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 76-90 of 100
Pentaxian

Registered: December, 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 9,543
Review Date: December 17, 2010 Recommended | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: Compact, lightweight, sharp
Cons: No real complaints. Plastic build.
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 6    Handling: 6    Value: 4   

Being on a tight budget, I was looking for an auto focus walk around lens for hiking that also had good macro/close up ability. While not my first choice, one of these turned up in the marketplace at a very good price and I bought it. I was pleasantly surprised from the moment I first used it. While it is mostly plastic and has a kit lens look, the photos have been excellent. The focus is very fast and right on. The macro mode is excellent for close ups of flowers, insects and and other things you may come across hiking in the woods. It is a very compact lens and can be easily carried in a vest or jacket pocket. It fits nicely in the vest pocket of the PFD I wear while paddling my kayaks. My only complaint is that it isn't as wide or as fast as I would like but I can't list that as a negative as it was designed that way. On a digital camera, it is a normal to short telephoto zoom. My only concern would be the plastic build and how much of a beating it will take. I try to be careful with all my gear but I'm an outdoors guy.

I'm adding a PS to my review. The lens began having some AF issues and finally something gave out inside. The zoom quit working and the lens no longer functions at all except as a macro. For awhile, I could use it at 70mm but that has now stopped. That said, I still consider the IQ very good and am looking for another copy. I'm not going to spend much as my build quality opinion had gone down even further. My problems seem to have started when I used it quite a bit outside in the cold last winter and something finally let go. You can hear parts rattling inside. I'm downgrading my opinion to a 6.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1,501

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 5, 2010 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small, Cheap and Sharp with Nice Contrast
Cons: Placticy zoom ring feels cheap...

I’ve had this lens now for a couple days. Found (and can be found...) on ebay very cheaply and after reading other reviews of the F-series-35-70mm I went on the hunt for one.
Straight out the box I got a good feeling about this lens... It looks a little retro but you instantly get a feeling that it was worth the money.

Past F4 this lens is considerably sharper than that of the DA-L 18-55mm kit lens...

Not a Kit lens replacement... more an addition to your arsenal :-)

Although not what most would consider a 'macro' lens... Its macro function isn't half bad, allowing good focus at around 6 inches...

It focuses fairly quickly but hunts in low light more than the 18-55mm kit lens... This said, it hunts less than my DA50-200mm and gives much better results!

Build quality is generally good but the zoom ring feels a little cheap and mine sticks a little as it moves through the mid (50mm) range... That said I don’t think there’s any chance I’ll break it... I'm not rough with my gear.. But I do use it every single day..

It has good contast, vibrant colours and as yet I have not noticed any CA that I would worry about... In fact in terms of colours... I really do think that they are nicer and brighter than those that come from the 18-55mm... They seem to have more ‘POP’ J

Like I said it is sharp! If you're after a mid-tele-zoom lens that can handle portraits under decent light... Or a walk around for street photography...
Or just a cheap lens that is pretty damn sharp... You can't really go wrong here...

Very pleased indeed!

EDIT... This is now my 'go to' lens for street photography and I have become very happy with it... Have bumped from an 8 to a 9 due to frequent usage and the fact that it stays in my bag having replaced the 50-200mm I used to carry always...
   
Veteran Member

Registered: April, 2009
Location: Camby, Indiana
Posts: 379
Review Date: October 17, 2010 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Compact, Light, solid Feel, VG sharpness, Focus scale
Cons: Small MF ring,
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 7    Value: 9   

I got this lens and a Pentax Super Program in trade for a Olympus XA w/ A16 flash.
I must say that after I got 1st roll back and scanned the negatives, I was impressed with overall sharpness from 35-70 and at the 70/macro also.

It focus is quick on my K20D also.
The colors are typical Pentax (that's a good thing).
The only con, since I use it on my Super Program most, is the MF ring is rather small at 70mm. Because there is no lens barrel to hold to until it is zoomed out a bit. An attached metal shade could be used to MF also, since the barrel rotates..

It has a very useful focus scale. set the lens at f/11 and 12' and from 4' to INF at 35mm is in focus.

They seem to sell between $60.00 - $90.00 on eBay. so it is a bargain.
--------------------------------------
At 35mm at set at f/11 and 12'



   
Veteran Member

Registered: December, 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 351

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 18, 2010 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharpness, macro capabilities
Cons: none at the price

Just adding my voice to those who love this little lens - I got it for a song, thrown in with a camera and another lens, and have shot with it all day.

Here are a couple of samples:

(Non working link removed)

(Non working link removed)
   
Veteran Member

Registered: August, 2007
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 1,114
Review Date: August 24, 2010 Recommended | Price: $15.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: It's compact, sharp enough, good colours, and focus' accurately
Cons: Nothing really.

A great lens for the price, it's a solidly built lens that's smaller that the 18-55 kit lens.
And for a walkabout lens I like the macro / close focus facility.

I reach for this every time I go out with my manual focus lenses as I like to have a auto focus in the bag as well. It's almost certainly my most used auto focus lens.
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2010
Location: Rayong Province
Posts: 1
Review Date: August 8, 2010 Recommended | Price: $46.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharp,inexpensive,nice color
Cons:

I got this lens last month, It's good lens for walk around and portrait too.....
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2010
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 509
Review Date: July 18, 2010 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: small & lightweight, inexpensive, sharp, good contrast & color
Cons: front element turns on focus

This lens is sharper and faster than the DAL18-55 and has a greater reach, though you lose a bit on the short end. Great walk-around lens if you need zoom. It has very nice IQ and that cool retro look.
   
New Member

Registered: January, 2010
Location: luxembourg
Posts: 2
Review Date: April 14, 2010 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Great colours, IQ, sharp, macro
Cons: focal range

The only AF macro I own. Good AF on a K-x. I mostly use it to copy slides and love it.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2009
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 2,066

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 14, 2010 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Surprisingly sharp at >f4.5, compact, works fully with all K mount cameras/DSLRs.
Cons: Slow (but it wouldn't be so small and cheap if it wasn't). The appearance of the lens does not reflect its quality!

I wanted a zoom ens for my P30n which I could also use on my K200d. For a trifling £22 I got this little gem which I have found offers a very nice range of focal lengths, the convenience of autofocus, and very decent IQ.

My first impression of the lens was 'wow, that's small!' followed by 'wow, that looks weird'. Strange use of dark grey plastic and green and orange markings. But it looks 'right' on my K200d.

I have found the focal range of the lens less limiting than I expected. I am used to using primes, and it was nice to have a little extra leeway when composing my shots. 35mm encourages you to make more 'concise' images than the cram-it-all-in approach on a 16 or 18mm wide lens. The 70mm end is long enough to isolate details, and the 'macro' function which is engaged at this end is very useful. The range is very good for shooting candid street shots (and the unobtrusiveness of the lens helps here too).

Wide open, I have noticed a bit of ghosting and glowing highlights, and fairly noticeable CA at the edges. But at f4.5 things are much better, and at f5.6 and above the impression of sharpness this lens gives is quite striking. Unlike DA zooms I have owned, the sharpness is uniform across the image - no softness in the extreme corners. I have tested it against an A 50mm f2 at f4.5, and this lens won in terms of sharpness.

Taking into account the very low price, and the fact this lens was only ever meant as a consumer zoom, I think this lens is a little cracker, and would recommend it as a lens to share between your film and digital slr (it's not ideal for manual focus due to its thin focus ring, but it more than makes up for this by having AF and communicating focal length to your digital SLR body, which makes the SR more effective). It would make a cost effective complementary lens to the 16-45mm when you want a bit more reach - the IQ is comparable.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: December, 2009
Location: Georgia, VT
Posts: 1,657

6 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 7, 2010 Recommended | Price: $10.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Great sharpness, great colour rendition, amazing value, very fast focus, useful macro feature, small size and weight
Cons: Cheap build quality, focusing rotates front element, terrible focus ring, cheap zoom ring, crappy aperture ring

This is quite the find, I can't believe I got it so cheap. I found it on eBay listed under the name "Pentak 35mm to 70mm lenes", and unsurprisingly, no-one else bid on it.

My first impression upon receiving it was underwhelming. It's quite small compared to my K-7's kit lens, and it weighs very little. There's a strange rubber inlay along the bottom periphery where the serial number is mounted, and this inlay is starting to peel off. The whole construction is cheap plastic, much cheaper-feeling than my kit lens.I think it's supposed to be black, but it's more like a dull dark gray, perhaps from age. The focus ring is the plastic joke of the century. Clearly this lens was never meant for manual focus. It has a 90 degree sweep, it's really loose, and good luck getting a grip on it; it's ridiculously thin. The extending barrel wobbles almost 1mm in every direction when I hold it in my hands. The aperture ring is yet more cheap plastic, and only has full stops, nothing in-between. All in all, a very typical cheap Pentax early-90's effort. I understand this was a kit lens on some high-end cameras. I guess a kit lens will always be a kit lens no matter which camera it comes on. Maybe I'm just spoiled by my M42 Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 (a true gem), or my DA* 50-135mm. But even my own kit lens seems like a cut above compared to this ugly thing.

Ok, enough of the bad stuff. Now for the important part: the optics of this lens are amazing. Sharpness throughout is incredible. When I use it, I tend to be outside in daylight and stay around f8 or so. Everything in the frame is perfectly sharp. In terms of image quality, this lens is a few solid steps above my K-7's kit lens. The colour rendition is gorgeous, the bokeh is excellent, everything looks outstanding. I'd even compare this favourably to my DA* 50-135mm in terms of image quality. I think I've found my new walk-around lens.

The cheap aperture ring doesn't really matter much since I just leave set to "A" anyways. The range of apertures is very wide, and one stop above the minimum seems to eliminate any initial softness in the image (as is common with most lenses)

The cheap focus ring matters even less. Probably due to the short and loose focus sweep, this lens focuses faster than any lens I currently own. It SNAPS into focus at insane speed. I'm actually concerned that it might damage something inside, it's that quick. It puts my DA* 50-135mm to shame in terms of focusing speed and accuracy. However, it's understandably a lot noisier due to the use of screw-drive instead of SDM.

This lens has the honor of being my first macro lens. While the 6" minimum focusing may not rank up there with the macro superstars, it's perfectly usable and gives me outstanding results. It's a little odd to use, not quite the method I expected from a macro lens. The zoom ring has a range beyond 70mm which is used for macro mode, and the minimum focus distance is adjustable within this range. In any case, it works as intended and I've been having a lot of fun with it.

Zoom creep hasn't been an issue so far, perhaps because everything on this lens is so light. I really appreciate the lightness. According to my scale, this lens weighs in at a paltry 225 grams (as opposed to my kit lens at 300 grams) This makes it not only the most versatile lens in my collection right now, but also the lightest. A great combination!

$10 is not typical for this lens, but even at $50 to $100, I think this lens is a steal. If the focal range is within your needs, this lens totally blows away any current kit lens in terms of image quality, and adds a decent macro mode to boot. It's light, it's small and it's fast (focusing).

One last note: if you use a circular polarizing filter, the front lens element does rotate on focusing, which can be annoying.

edit: here are some sample shots:



   
New Member

Registered: April, 2009
Location: Boston
Posts: 2
Review Date: September 19, 2009 Recommended | Price: $60.00 | Rating: 5 

 
Pros: Nice color rendition, sharp within limitations
Cons: limited macro capability, slightly noisy

I purchased this lens-along with it's SF1 Camera Body, Cables and a Pristine 500FTZ Flash on eBay. It was like taking a trip back in time when I put it on my GX-10 and later when using it on the SF1 (I rember when he SF1 was high tech, lol).

This lens produces some great color and is relatively sharp when stepped down 1-2.

Overall one of my better finds.
   
New Member

Registered: August, 2009
Location: 3city
Posts: 10
Review Date: September 17, 2009 Recommended | Price: $23.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: cheap, sharp, small...
Cons: rotating front lens

Got this lens as "not tested". When I plugged it into my *ist I knew that it was this lens which I was looking for.

For now I'm not releasing them from body and it's my favourite lens on film camera. Appart of that I have F28 / 2,8 and F50 / 1,7 - this set of lenses is absolutely enough for me.

Fasto focus, light weight... what expect more ??
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2008
Location: Glossop
Posts: 6

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 14, 2009 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Awesome macro, sharp at almost all settings, great price, small size.
Cons: 35mm is not exactly wide on an APS-C sensor DSLR

A wonderful little gem of a lens, I paid £32 on Ebay for this, and since then I've seen a few sell for less, and one go for £4.50!

Here are some sample shots:









I've been blown away by how sharp and detailed this lens is, and I've loved the macro end of the scale.

The downside is a fairly long minimum distance at 35mm, and the fact that 35mm is really not at all wide, and I do need to swap back to the kit lens for some shots. The 2x zoom means that the price seems to be very low with a lot of people just ignoring it. Why, if a prime is okay, why is a 2x zoom with near prime quality a problem? I'm giving it a 9, as for the money it is really great.

The set of all the pictures I have taken with this lens is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/smcpf3570mmf3545/ so please look if you want more samples.
   
New Member

Registered: April, 2009
Location: Boston
Posts: 2
Review Date: April 18, 2009 Recommended | Price: $46.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Great Color rendition, very decent DOF
Cons: Tricky Maco but good results

Excellent overall zoom with a handy macro feature that can be a bit tricky to initiate since you are doing it from a ring. Results are very good-excellent with the quality of the glass/SMC Coating more than making up for overall speed. Speed of auto focus varies but is usually pretty quick on my GX-10. This lens has yielded excellent images in portraits, still life and macro. Agree that there is somewhat of a 3D feel to macro still life images...just a combo of the sensor crop and Bokeh when shooting digital. Have also shot this lens on the SF1 (recently) with some Ilford B&W Pro film nad gotten great results.
   
Senior Member

Registered: January, 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 180
Review Date: February 28, 2009 Recommended | Price: $40.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: IQ, "3D" pictures
Cons: nothing really...

got this lens used but in good condition
really cheap compared to the IQ...
I love the 3D feel to the pics taken with this lens
if you can find it at a bargain price, don't hesitate to get one.
Add Review of SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5



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