| Author: | | New Member Registered: March, 2013 Location: NE England Posts: 13
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 31, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | compact, build quality, sharpness, image quality | | Cons: | no aperture ring | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used?: Used
Camera Used: K-01, KP, MZ-s, Z1-p
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When I first saw this lens I thought it was a toy or gimmick........
I couldn't have been more wrong! A superb lens. Some of the HDR and software IR images I have taken with my KP are superb!
I have the original M series pancake, which I rate highly but this lens is just superb for being A: auto focus and B: having rounded aperture blades.
I haven't tried the 40mm limited but I suspect that this lens will give you much more for your money and with a reduction in size!
Works with full frame film too! When I put this on my MZ-s it makes for a tiny combo!
Highly recommended!
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2018 Posts: 2
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 13, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Super small, sharp and light | | Cons: | Due to small size harder to put on and off camera | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K-01
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I use this lens on my K-01 and find the focal length of 40 mm (61mm full frame equivalent) great for walking around the city as well as the parks. Some people prefer DA 21mm F3.2 limited or DA 35mm f2.4 for walk around lens but once one gets used to 40mm it has its advantages. I can put this camera (K-01) and the 40mm lens in the pocket of my winter jacket (the jacket needs to have big pockets) and that convenience alone makes me take this camera-lens combo out most of the time. The f 2.8 aperture is great in low light. For the wide angle shots I can take photos with my phone (which has an eq. of 18mm APS-c or 28mm full frame lens field of view). Combining K-01 with 40 mm f2.8 and the phone camera makes for convenient, easy to carry but somewhat unorthodox set up. Overall love this lens.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2009 Location: Glenorie NSW Posts: 45
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 25, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | light, small, excellent | | Cons: | lens cap | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K5, K3, K01, KP, K1-II
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I bought this lens as a kit with the K-01 for $AUD240 (about $US170). To quote Elwood Blues "They were practically giving them away". I figured a genuine Pentax battery and 40mm lens were worth it. The K-01 was a bonus. Due to an Amazon ordering anomaly I ended up with 3 bodies & batteries plus two lenses. I also have a Voigtlander Ultron f2 which is a manual focus lens. Generally the Voigtlander is superior if you ignore the manual focus however for street photography this lens is excellent. It is also a great travel lens and is easy to carry in a vest pocket on my KP. The biggest problem is the rubber lens cap though these can be sourced via ebay. All in all fantastic value for money.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2016 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 18, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $180.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light, Small, Fast, Sharp, Colour, Contrast, Low Vignetting, Low Distorsion, T2.8 | | Cons: | Cap?, Hard to find a hood | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used?: Used
Camera Used: K3II K01
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I bought it about a year ago, but having so many lenses I had hardly tried it.
Last month I had the opportunity to buy a Limited 40mm and after doing many tests I decided to stay the XS, suffer less from flare, focus faster and more accurately. In Dxo the technical tests say that it is a T2.8, which means that it enters the same light that in the DA35mm F2.4, that in Dxo has T2.8 too.
The only problem was having to adjust the fine focus.
Color, sharpnes, contrast ... AMAZING LENS!
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2014 Location: Nagoya Posts: 577
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 31, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $180.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Optical quality, size, convenience | | Cons: | None | |
This lens is a gem. So light and compact, it makes small cameras like the MZ-10 almost pocketable. The focal length is nice both on APS-C and film, and the lens works fine on all film cameras from the A series onwards. It's worth using on them, too, since the focusing ring, while small, is pleasantly damped and f2.8 is easily bright enough to focus using a split image. The focus throw is very short (presumably to help it focus on the K-01 for which it was designed) but this isn't a problem in practice for manual focusing, and means the AF is very snappy.
Image quality is fantastic right from f2.8 - sharp and clear with great colours and nice bokeh, which remains pleasant when stopped down, thanks to the rounded blades.
I really feel like I can't recommend this lens enough - it's an absolute steal at current prices, even here in the UK where gear tends to be a bit more expensive. If you see one, grab it.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: September, 2010 Location: MD Posts: 1,033
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 27, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | size, sharpness, colors rendered, focal length | | Cons: | OEM cap | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K-30
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I love small lenses, and I love sharp rendering. This little beauty gives me both. Such a fun and convenient little lens! I like it better than the DA 50 f1.8, and I guess I'm more comfortable with the 40mm perspective than the 50mm for most stuff. (60mm vs 75mm FF equivalent)
The DA 40XS actually does a better job than the DA 35 f2.4 which I've used a lot. The DA 35 has been handy indoors. I don't miss the f2.4 to f2.8 jump, but even 35mm is a bit long for indoors, so I'm not sure how much I'll use the 40.
In my testing the lens is soft (but ok) at 2.8 but sharpens nicely by f4. It's best at f5.6-8 and still very good at f11.
I see what others mean about the lens cap that Pentax includes. It does seem like it would be easy to lose. I first tried using a 27mm to 49mm step up ring and then a standard 49mm snap on cap. It didn't work the greatest because there isn't a lot of thread to attach the ring securely, and it added unnecessary bulk to the lens. I then found that you can get a nice little 27mm snap on cap. (Search for "27mm snap on lens cap" at ebay. I got mine for $.71) Works great.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2013 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 114
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 18, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | 3D pop!! - Color, Sharpness, Flare resistance, size | | Cons: | purple fringing at wide aperture, easy to fix | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K-01
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I've had this 40mm XS ever since I got my K-01 kit a couple years ago. I have a slew of lenses to play with and only recently did I pull this pancake out to put it to work again.
The only issue I have with it is some purple fringing on high contrast points or edges at wider apertures. But this is very easily fixable in post. I gave it a high aberrations rating because purple fringing is so minor and fixable. The kind of aberrations that really bug me are the smeary, coma types where the optical quality is truly visible and un-fixable. This lens does not suffer from those issues.
Lately I've been shooting a freind's Leica M3 and M6 with some classic Leica glass. There's something to those lenses that makes the in-focus subject really pop with a 3D realism. It's more than bokeh or shallow DOF. There is a contrast and sharpness factor that really brings out this dimensionality. I think that's what stands out to me as a Leica "look". So I've been playing with my collection of Pentax and Takumar M42 glass to see what I have here that does a nice job of that strong 3D rendering. Fortunately, lots of Pentax/Takumar lenses are pretty good at that thing. But what really struck me recently is this 40mm pancake. It really does do THAT thing I was after. It's really quite special honestly. This is a fantastic and absurdly affordable lens, but this 3D realism it brings is just very much a big standout for me. I'm sure the Limited does it just as well too.
So I kind of see my little K-01 kit with this 40mm XS pancake as my digital Leica at a fixed 60mm equivalent. And the XS is really fun on a DSLR too.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2013 Location: Storrs-Mansfield, Connecticut Posts: 223
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 3, 2015 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Tiny, sharp, downright cute and very useful | | Cons: | Stupid lens cap | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K--01
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UPDATED REVIEW Nov. 2017
It amazes me that this tiny lens can be so very good. I should use it more but have been on a tear to find the perfect "fast 50" and mostly have ignored it. While deleting some lesser pix, I found these forgotten samples. I checked and sure enough it was this little devil that I've been ignoring--mea culpa. Here are some pix I snapped quickly on a woods walk when I first got the lens. It was getting dark and I had to push the lens pretty hard. I am now using it more often. It's truly a fine lens, worthy of a 10 but for the lens cap, but I fixed that--see below.
(I hate having to jump through hoops with the gallery searching out my uploaded photos--so I tried using another link, but those don't show. No wonder I don't "participate" with photos more often. )
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150644791@N05/38575240226/in/datetaken-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150644791@N05/38598720252/in/datetaken-public/
Lastly, here is my answer to the idiotic, expensive, original lens cap that always wants to come off and get lost. It's simply a plastic lid; I shaved the inside to make a tight fit and it never comes off except when I want it to. Also, it protects the whole lens extremely well, is color coordinated and cost me nothing.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2013 Posts: 12
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 15, 2015 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K3
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After being on the fence about this little guy I finally picked one up. Great lens small, fast,and sharp! Primarily shooting in urban environments I find it keeps my K3 small light and unobtrusive.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2014 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: September 7, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | color,amazing sharpness | | Cons: | maybe not negative aspect for another people,but it is too small | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: Used
Camera Used: K10D
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 IMGP1740 by panminyu819, on Flickr
The lens is too small,then you using the lens,the camera looks like not take lens,so it is very funny.
photo that be taken by the lens have very clear color and amazing sharpness.
check the photo by yourself.
anyway,it is a great lens!
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: March, 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Posts: 23,920
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 9, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Infinitesimally small, lightweight, sharp, brilliant IQ | | Cons: | I can only think of the f/2.8 limitation as a negative | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used?: Used
Camera Used: K-5
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What more can be said about this lens?
I only have praise for it.
I was even surprised for its solid build with metal mount unlike the DA 35/2.4 and 50/1.8
Brilliant IQ, just as you'd expect from the DA 40 Ltd
The rubber lens hood is good enough, particularly for the price being paid.
No complaints from me - a lens to put Pentax on the map for value for money.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 150
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 9, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $189.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small, sharp, fast | | Cons: | lens cap, minimum focal distance | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: Used
Camera Used: K-30
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Very nice walk around lens, wirh WR could have been a real winner. | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181 | | Review Date: January 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small, light, well built, sharp, great price | | Cons: | no aperture ring | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: Pentax K10D, K-5, K-01
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I love these lenses and so far haven't had any kind of issues.
If I would have to complain (gun on the head), than it will have to be the fact that there is no aperture ring.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2012 Location: Dubai Posts: 144 | | Review Date: January 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $175.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Fast, VERY SMALL!!! | | Cons: | not weather sealed | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K-5
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I bought this lens along with the K-5 body last month as I wanted a fast, small lens for everyday shooting and this seemed to be the best buy. Would have gone for the DA 40mm but with the holidays around the corner I had to cut down on costs. I am very happy with this lens and have had the pleasure of proudly showing off in a few camera stores!  I just enjoy the Bokeh offered by this lens as I shoot 95% of the time wide open! Definitely a show stopper!!!
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 4,005 | | Review Date: May 22, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, weight, IQ, focus ring | | Cons: | Lens cap | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used?: New
Camera Used: K-01 (& K-7)
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I bought the DA40mm xs with the K-01. First the lens design is amzing: its tiny size, its small weight and the fast AF are outstanding. The focus ring is also very nice to use. I like to use the lens MF with focus peaking and the results are great.
I do not know the DA40mm ltd, but I am truly impressed by the DA40mm xs IQ. With the K-01, the results are exceptional IMHO.
For me the most amazing aspect of the lens is its size which gives the K-01 a size almost comparable to a large P&S or any mirrorless, without comprising the IQ of a SLR.
The only annoying thing is the lens cap. It is so mall that I almost lost it twice.
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