| Author: | | New Member Registered: September, 2020 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 3
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 29, 2021 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, SMC coatings, flare resistance, colour rendering, handling, build quality | | Cons: | Slow aperture means a bit harder to focus, it will distort if your camera is not level when shooting something with straight lines. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax KX
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In Praise of the 35mm Lens
When I got my Pentax KX film camera, I decided that after the 50mm A 1.4 I would have one other Pentax lens and the self imposed condition was that I did not have that lens already in my Nikon kit: so a 35mm focal length it was to be.
After scouring the internet for a 35mm f2 or 2.8 of any kind I saw that they were all very expensive.
I then started to look at the Pentax 30mm 2.8. I'd seen these going for around £99 on eBay and in some camera shops in the UK. However when I looked they were all upward of £200-300 on eBay which to me was a joke (honestly the gouging going on about those is ridiculous).
So, for £129.00 only (and before the UK officially left the EU and import tax came into play) I bought a mint looking Pentax K 35mm 3.5 lens from an eBayer in France.
My experience with this unassuming lens (which even in the old K Lens leaflet Pentax says 'has unusually high resolution') has been nothing but revelatory.
It is my view that this lens - this jewel - is actually possibly the best standard lens for your SLR. And I'm going to explain why I think its an absolute peach:
1) It's beautifully built - very precise focussing with a focussing grip just the right size.
2) Aperture selection is great - there's even an f4 in there somewhere and the aperture ring you can get the in between apertures up to F16.
3) A highly readable depth of field scale for hyper-focal work - set f8 and 'be there' for sure.
4) Unbelievably light and compact - who needs pancake lenses for goodness sake?
5) Close focussing goes beyond the 0.35m mark - it focusses closer than any standard 50mm I know of, adding to its versatility.
Despite that large front element trying to draw light into the small aperture, the 35mm 3.5 K behaves extraordinarily well with the sun in the frame and will give you clean, clear 10 pronged star busts in your pictures. I only saw penta-ghosts when there was another filter over the lens so all you have to do is don't use them and keep that front lens clean if you want starbursts!
Looking over this site, so many photographers have posted excellent pictures taken with the K 35mm 3.5 but the reaction always seems to be 'Oh yeah right - a 35mm..zzzzzz'.
I agree that the 35mm focal length has been around for a long time and has been superseded by more glamourous wide angles like the 24mm which is my personal favourite. It's maybe considered boring, but this little chap has certainly made me think twice about it as a photographic tool. In fact I'm a convert to the 35mm focal length. But I'm not sure that Nikon makes one this good!
This lens - well my copy at least - is very sharp indeed. I've taken pictures of raindrops on plants in B&W and colour and the sharpness is incredible - good enough to marvel at. It renders even the fine filaments on plants in general views of gardens and landscapes. 'Unusually high resolution'? I think so! It's sharp enough - believe you me. In landscapes at f8/f11 I would say that the fore and middle grounds are very sharp indeed with only a slight drop off in the background (longer distances) which for all I know could just be the result of atmospheric conditions.
Close up, and wide open the lens is sharp in the centre and drops off gently working your way outward. This performance changes as you stop down and improves as more gets sharper.. But the bokeh is entirely useful on a 35mm - even a slow one like this. The bokeh effect on a 35mm lens acts as an anchor to your subject matter - the subject matter's context is not stripped away, (for example if taking a picture of a flower, other flowers are there just rendered more softly) nor is bokeh background made ugly or distracting. The subject matter therefore is relatable to its it context - there is no blur affect at all. If you are want total isolation of subject matter - get another lens.
As well as being sharp, the 35mm K 3.5 is also contrasty. It likes to pop E6 by slightly under exposing it; it likes films with longer density toes - like Velvia 100, Agfa APX 100 and Tri-X 400, and even Ilford XP2. Give it Velvia 50 and HP5, and you'll get colour and shadow blocking if you're not careful. For filtration for B&W film using 52mm filters in the K tradition, nothing harder than a Y52 Yellow - be very careful using O56 Orange. And watch out for polarisers too. This is a lens where you do indeed expose for the shadows and let the highlights look after themselves.
If using this on digital, I think this lens will reward judicious time in post processing with some marvellous results on your screen.
What else?
Well, its not a really wide wide-angle - so watch out for hyperfocal focussing in tight areas otherwise you will run into out of focus zones in your pictures than with wider wide angles. Where it excels is in wide open spaces, where it does not push the scenery away and sees it more like we human beings actually see things.
At 3.5 maximum aperture and despite the heroic efforts of that bulbous front lens element, it is a learned experience focussing on a 1970's KX I can tell you. And you can forget it in dull weather where you might need to use a head torch to set focus and then take a meter reading . How modern Pentax DSLRs or other makes might work I cannot say. But for a younger person (I am going to be 56 in about eight weeks time) it might not be a problem at all.
If your camera composition is off axis, you will get obvious barrel distortion; keep the camera straight however and the distortion is very well controlled on very straight man made objects (and hey - in digital distortion can be corrected anyway can't they in post processing).
So in short, this 35mm might be the only lens you would ever need - very sharp at all distances (use f8/f11 in scenic shots), versatile in terms of focussing limits, light and lovely to handle plus SMC coatings delivering lovely colours.
50mm did you say?
Why?
If I was going to have one lens and one SLR, this would be my choice despite the slow aperture (just whack the ISO up on digital). I would even consider buying a full frame Pentax DSLR model that worked well with manual focus lenses just to keep it in my forthcoming move from film (it's getting so darned expensive and the day is nearing when I will have to give film up in order to get my two kids through university!).
The Pentax 35mm 3.5 K: A real Pentax gem and possibly for me, the best 35mm focal length lens I have ever used (I've used Nikon and Olympus BTW).
Recommended without reservation.
A lens for all occasions I kid you not!!
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 11 | | Review Date: July 22, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great colours and great build quality | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: MX, K1000, ME Super
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Bought this and 28mm f3.5 together but I seem to always reach for the 35mm. Small, light and discreet. I've used it across 3 cameras but mostly on my ME Super. I've previously had a gap between 50mm and 24mm, mostly using a 50mm f1.4. I much prefer the wider aspect and the 50 has pretty much stayed at home since the 35 came along.
This thing is beautifully made, such a joy to use and it is sharp from f5.6 onward.
Another great Pentax lens. Really recommend.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2019 Posts: 8
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 29, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $186.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness across multiple apertures | | Cons: | Wide Open, It's still not that fast | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K50
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Here are some sample pics I've taken with this lens:
https://imgur.com/a/tIp66M2
I find this lens to reach a level of sharpness at f8 and f11 that I haven't seen from any other lens I've handled (which is admittedly only a handful). At f5.6 it's still equivalent or better to the other prime lenses that I own at their sharpest apertures. At F4 or below, the sharpness drops off on the edges slightly.
After I had purchased this lens, I came across a serious of sharpness tests conducted for a number of the older film era lenses. This one is among the best, not just at the center but across the entire periphery of the lens. The results of the test match my experience:
http://www.takinami.com/yoshihiko/photo/lens_test/pentax_superwide.html
Aside from sharpness, the color rendition is also quite nice.
I shoot on an ASP-C camera, so the 35mm focal length converts to roughly 50mm which is nice as a general purpose walk-around shooter. It also weighs only ~160g and is the smallest lens that I own, so again, a perfect prime for just walking around and snapping shots in whether you are Full Frame or APS-C
The build quality is excellent. Metal construction, even though the lens is likely 40 years old at least, the focus and aperture rings still turn quite smoothly. Obviously this will depend on what particular copy you get, but this is definitely a plus as compared to the more modern plastic body lenses.
Finally, what is also great about this lens is that it can be had for around $100 at the time of this writing. Bang for the buck, I can't think of any other lens that offers so much value. I have the M 50mm/f1.4 lens, which is also a cheap, great value lens but as a point of comparison it's sharpness only gets close to the K 35mm/f3.5 at around f8. Otherwise the edges soften up quite a bit on the M 50mm/f1.4 as the aperture opens, and it's considered to be a good lens. Many of the other well ranked manual primes are really only superb at maybe one or two apertures, so keep this in mind when comparing options.
The only real con that is that the lens is not very fast. For night time shots, there are going to be some compromises such as longer exposures or higher iso.
If you are mostly a prime shooter, I think you will very much enjoy this lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2016 Posts: 4
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 7, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light, small, sharpness, colors | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: LX,K3,K2DMD,
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This little tank behaves as it is build for, and all in a wonderful matter …
For its price you get a well made and exremly sharp lens, always to take with you,
because its so small and light … f3,5 did not show smooth bokeh like the K35 f2,
but for landscapes and architecture it shines !
The colors are very pleasing too.
Highly recomended ! | | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2018 Posts: 12
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 12, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | So sharp you'll cut yourself | | Cons: | The f3.5 thing is in the name... | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K30
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Actually started out with this on film where I was able to compare to the Zeiss 35 f2 on the Contax G2. This one more than held its own.
To paraphrase Blackadder, the K 35 f3.5 is sharper than a sharp thing that got out of bed and decided to be especially sharp this morning. If you want to own a true classic, just buy one and work out the green button thing afterwards. Seriously, if you see one, just go ahead and snap it up, whether you're full frame or APS-C. it's that good.
The rest (did I mention it was sharp?) is as good as any of the first issue K Takumar-carryovers; built like a tank with metal throughout, super smooth handling.
I can't quite believe this myself, but you can evidently still buy this for less than a fifth of the price of a new 31 limited. Just checked on ebay. The world's gone mad. Take advantage!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 497
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 22, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, compact | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1
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Best 35mm prime that I've ever had. There may be better 35mm lenses out there (Samyang 35/1.4 and Sigma 35/1.4) but you have to pay much more. Already very sharp wide open. Close 1 stop and this lens becomes sharper, corner-to-corner, on a full-frame K-1. I compared this lens to DA35/2.4. This lens is better at f3.5 than DA35/2.4 at f3.5. At f8 they become about equal.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Posts: 1,475
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 11, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3
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This lens is of solid, quality build. Imaging is sharp and contrasty. This lens is worlds ahead of the M-35/2.8. Though 1/2 stop less-fast, bokeh is better at 3.5 than it's 2.8 cousin at 2.8. I bought this lens for film use, but tested first on my K-3. Now I don't want to take it off the K-3. Maybe I need a second.
This sample is literally the very first photo I took with this lens. I got it in the mail, put it on my K-3, and went outside. The sun was setting through some passing storm clouds, so light was "variable". I set the aperture to 3.5 and framed this statue on the porch railing. I focussed, hit the green button, and pressed the shutter. Perfection on the first try.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2016 Location: Moab, Utah Posts: 90
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 21, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Contrast, colors, microcontrast in that order | | Cons: | 5 bladed aperture | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1000, Sony A7 series
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This lens is superb, and in my opinion the best of the manual focus 35's from Pentax, possibly from anyone.
I compared it with several different 35mm's and this one had the most contrast, rendered the best colors. When I zoomed in, the microcontrast you would expect from having only 5 elements is there. Images have "punch" like the old Zeiss lenses. The image is very rich with fine detail, yet contrasty. Bokeh is actually nice when wide open. It's only when stopping down that it can become overly harsh. If I'm looking for bokeh, I'm wide open with extension tube anyway, so it's not an issue for me. This one is sharp right from wide open. I never need to think about stopping down for sharpness with this lens. Mine is the coated version. As typical, SMC makes flar not much of an issue, however on this 35 and as with any, it can happen and I have to shield it. Flare resistance seems better than most 35's as far as flare goes.
Build quality better than most a and some of my m series lenses. I prefer this over the 2.8's, m series, any pentax 35, this is the one. I also prefer it over several other brands that I compared it to. This lens is small. All these reasons make it my all arounder 35. Mine is pretty pristine, as it seems many are. Focusing is as smooth as day it left factory and clicks perfectly. I don't even mention build quality as a best thing about this lens because it's a given. Pentax K, M Tak series second to none on build quality.
This lens is a case of complex simplicity. I think it was a well thought out design from Pentax and a smart small lens.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 126
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 28, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $160.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | resolution, contrast, color rendering, build | | Cons: | na | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K3
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After reading such rave reviews for this lens... and being a sucker for legendary K series glass, I finally tracked one down on ebay. It is a pretty amazing thing, grossly undervalued, and it weighs nothing. If this lens carried a Zeiss label, you could sell it for $500 easily.
Yes. It's that good.
What could be better? Well, the Bokeh isn't the best I've seen, and far from the worst. But on balance, there are a few Leica lenses out there which are priced well into the thousands, and they get the same comment from their owners.
The K 35 f/3.5 is all about the resolution, and it kills. Perfectly sharp wide open, with lush contrast. I shoot Black and White most of the time, and I'm a bit of a contrast whore. It had to be said.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2014 Posts: 61
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 21, 2014 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Build quality. Sharpness. Colour rendition. | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony a7r
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This is an outstanding lens. On a par with the wonderful k28 f3.5.
Matches the Sony Zeiss fe 35 f2.8 in resolution and produces deeper and more vibrant colours.
There are no issues with flare, CA, or purple fringing.
I would highly recommend it to owners of the Sony a7r
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 14
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 17, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, nice color rendition | | Cons: | bokeh | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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This is a gem! Razor sharp with amazing color rendition and contrast, this lens is a steal for landscape photography. Less expensive than a K 30mm, if you find one do not hesitate. It gives the best of itself by 5.6
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: April, 2012 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: June 10, 2012 | Not Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | robusto, maneggevole, messa a fuoco molto fluida, preciso | | Cons: | nessuno | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K20D
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L'ho trovato per caso in una vetrina di un negozio di Roma, quasi nascosto dietro altri obiettivi usati Pentax. Ho chiesto di osservarlo meglio. Gli scatti dei diaframmi erano buoni come pure la fluidità della messa a fuoco. Le lenti erano pulite. Pochissimi i segni d'uso. L'ho comperato e portato a casa. Montato sulla mia K20D, ho eseguito alcuni scatti a f5.6 e f8.0, ho ingrandito sul monitor della fotocamera e sono rimasto molto piacevolmente sorpreso. Riesce ad essere molto nitido anche a forti ingrandimenti ed a tutti i diaframmi. Con esso credo di aver comperato la migliore delle lenti della mia collezione di obiettivi Pentax.
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2010 Location: British Columbia Posts: 13 | | Review Date: November 21, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $149.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very Sharp, Contrasty, well built | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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I'm not sure i can add much more to what has already been said
but i can confirm that this is in fact one seriously sharp and contrasty lens, optically and mechanically its an excellent lens, its one of my favorite manual lenses along with the k28 and k55
check out the link to for example of sharpness
http://70.38.38.9/e/2/571576df-029a-4599-89ac-d6dd2d7d6ac1.jpg
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 6,171
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 9, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, outstanding color rendition, superb contrast | | Cons: | None worth mentioning | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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When a copy of this lens showed up at keh.com, I couldn't resist adding it to fill my collection of wide-angle primes. It makes a nice companion lens, for landscape work, to the K 28/3.5. Although it doesn't have quite the unique character of the 28, it produces beautiful, rich colors, plenty of contrast, and is even sharper than the 28. Indeed, in terms of sharpness, it rivals my 50mm lenses. It would appear that Pentax did not produce a sharper 35mm lens until the FA 35/2, released in 1999. Build quality, as with all the K lenses, is off the charts. The K 35/3.5 is, along with the K 55/1.8, is the smallest of the original K-mount lenses. It's a little wider but otherwise not much bigger than the more ubiquitous M 50/1.7.
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 813 | | Review Date: May 18, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $95.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Outrageous sharpness, micro-contrast and colour rendition. Easy manual focus | | Cons: | Bokeh | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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Rated by some as the sharpest lens from Pentax in years gone by.
The IQ and sharpness IS very good, but the bokeh leaves a lot to be desired. (The 5 blade aperture doesn't help much either).
CA correction is near perfect, and the lens is sharp in the center from 3.5, edge sharpness develops from F5.6 onwards.
I really prefer this lens for film photography, and use the FA35/2 for digital.
Edit June 2011
I now rate it a 10 because it is very close to being the equal of the FA35/2
Cheers from Jack
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