HD Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro

Bokeh

Bokeh is a Japanese term which refers to the quality, look and texture of the background blur. It does not relate to the depth of field but to the areas in the image that are beyond the range expected to be in focus.

A smoother bokeh is generally perceived as being of a higher quality. Bokeh is influenced by the lens design, with a significant role being played by the aperture blades. Their number and shape will influence the look of the bokeh, especially around highlights and light sources.

Macro lenses are expected to deliver smooth and pleasing bokeh. Does the DA 35mm macro live up to the challenge?

Bokeh Test

In order to evaluate the characteristics of the background blur, we took pictures at varying apertures, using these test parameters:

  • Tripod
  • 2s Timer
  • Focal Length: 35mm
  • Camera Mode: Aperture Priority
  • Shutter Speed: Determined by camera
  • ISO: 100
  • Distance to subject : 20 cm

The scene includes multiple elements, both in and out of focus. The focus point was set near the center, on the small Moon. Click on the images to see larger versions.

F2.8 F2.8 F11 F11
F4 F4 F16 F16
F5.6 F5.6 F22 F22
F8 F8

The bokeh is smooth and pleasing at all apertures. Even at F22, the pencils at the far back show a smooth texture. Patterns can be seen along straight lines at F2.8, but are not pronounced enough to be disturbing. The round apertures certainly do their job well.

Real-world examples

The DA 35mm macro has a focal length which will encourage photographers to use it as a normal lens in addition to its macro capabilities. the following image illustrates how it performs for normal-sized subjects. The image was captured at F2.8. Click on the thumbnails for larger versions.

Full image Crop
Full image Crop

As can be seen from the crop, the background is not as smooth as expected for this type of lens. While not distracting in most cases, one would expect a smoother out-of-focus blur even with such a busy background.

At close range, the same type of background appears much smoother, as can be seen from the following image shot at F7.1.

Macro bokeh

At wider apertures, the background is very even, just as one would expect. Even in difficult scenes, like the one below, bokeh at close distance is very pleasing. The following image, shot at F8, shows a particularly busy background, and a relatively small aperture. The bokeh is still very smooth, without strong distracting features.

Full image Crop
Full image Crop

Verdict

The DA 35mm macro generally delivers a pleasing bokeh, especially in the macro range. While not a problem, the bokeh at normal focus distances is not as buttery as expected, and could be disturbing for some people.

Further examples of the performance of the lens can be found in the sample gallery near the end of this review.


facebook.com/PentaxForums PentaxForums @PentaxForums News | Reviews | Forum

Support Pentax Forums Donate to Pentax Forums Support Pentax Forums