Pentax-DA 35mm F2.4 AL

Construction and Handling

Ever want to know exactly what you are getting before you commit your hard earned to it? Well, then you've come to the right place - on this page we've picked apart every detail we can think of about Pentax's budget 35mm prime, both cosmetically and structurally.

Front Element

The front element is free of any markings, which is somewhat atypical of Pentax lenses. Sometimes if the entire front element is not embossed with the official lens name, then at the very least a filter threading size is laser printed on. Here's an example of the Pentax 18-135 WR lens and its front element, displaying both the official lens name and the filter thread size:

The Pentax DA 35 F2.4 shares the same wallet-friendly filter threading as found on many Pentax lenses - 49mm.

Additionally, as mentioned previously on the Specifications page, the front element of the lens is coated with Pentax's Super Protect coating which promises a much easier to clean glass and that is also more resilient to dust, fingerprints, oils, and water drops. In practice we found the lens to be extremely easy to keep clean, with Pentax's claims of resiliency to be proven.

Conversely, in the recently reviewed Sigma 18-35 F1.8 "Art" lens, there was an immediate difference noted in the "smoothness" of the front element, especially when it came to cleaning it of dust, fingerprints, etc. The Sigma's glass was very "grabby" and held onto the lens pens with increased friction while Pentax's SP coated lenses glided smoothly and with minimal effort. Not a significant issue, but one we wanted to point out and commend Pentax for including such technology in even this "budget" lens.

Lens Body

This 35mm prime is an extremely compact lens that displays its full official lens name on the barrel of the body along with a PENTAX | 35mm label, where the white "divider" line perfectly aligns with the top of the camera body when mounted. On the opposite side of the lens body you will be able to find the filter thread size, identified by the mathematical symbol for diameter ( ⌀ ), and the lens' serial number below it:

Moving to the sides, there's nothing else adorning the outside of the lens except the small smc PENTAX DA plate that can be found on all pentax DA lenses:

Lastly the sole source of color on our copy of the lens is the thin ring circumnavigating the entire lens body. While it is certainly not the new "Ricoh Red" that signifies HD coated lenses, it is a different hue of green as the iconic "Pentax Green" that can be found on other digital Pentax smc lenses. Here's an example of such a vivid green, once again from the DA 18-135 WR:

It's important to note that the DA L line of lenses, although there's but a small number of them, is the distinction. They come with that fainter green, almost "silvery" color.

Size Compared to Other Pentax Lenses

Like we said above, the 35mm Plastic Fantastic is not a large lens. For those that have the DA 18-135 WR as your walkaround and/or kit lens, you'll be happy to know just how "giant" it is compared to the DA AL prime:

As you can see, Pentax's budget prime is very small, and even more surprising is how light it is. Using it on any camera felt wonderful and we wouldn't be surprised if you momentarily forgot it was there with a dense body like the Pentax K-3.

Internal Focus and Focus Distance Scale

This lens sadly does not offer a distance scale of any kind. While this won't be an issue for the many beginners that put their sandwich clamps on this lens, it will certainly be an annoyance for those with a bit more experience and photographic knowledge. The reason for this is because a focus distance scale can help a lot when working deliberately in conditions that do not permit the use of autofocus, whether it be manually focusing a landscape on a tripod or in studio conditions that are too dark to effectively use the autofocus system.

Additionally, the lens also does not feature internal focusing, and thus as the focusing ring travels from infinity to its minimum focus distance, it "grows" as the inner barrel extends. The below image clearly shows the extent of that size difference, with the lens at its most compact (focused at infinity) on the left and at its largest (focused at its minimum focus distance) on the right:

One last point to mention is that while the lens is focusing, the front element/filter threading does not rotate, which will be welcome news to those whom use filters.

Lens Mount

One of the most obvious characteristics that set aside the DA L line from any other made by Pentax is the mount itself. Where normally it is made from machined metal, this series is derived from plastics. The below image clearly shows what this looks like, with the more common version (as displayed from the DA 18-135 WR) on the right:

As the budget line of lenses, those cost savings have to come from somewhere. Using plastic rather than metal, multiplied over the tens (hundreds?) of thousands of copies of this lens made, is surely one of them. There are reports that the plastic mount is not as durable as the metal, but frankly we aren't worried about it. The lens is so light that the mount won't be stressed in the slightest. As for how it will hold up in terms of longevity and constant use, we can't exactly speak from experience after using it for the month we've had it (as it's a loaner lens and not owned by our reviewer), however when we try to recall any instances of users complaining about the mounts breaking, we can't think of a single one.

Rear Lens Cap

Normally we don't have a subsection dedicated to the rear lens cap, but we felt the need to include one here because of the one that ships with the DA 35mm AL, shown on the left versus the standard one that usually ships with Pentax lenses on the right:

Even without feeling it in person, it's pretty obvious from the picture alone that it's much thinner and flimsier. The standard one that Pentax usually ships is extremely solid, but that isn't the issue that is irksome and can actually be problematic. Notice the lack of any teeth or grooves from the cap on the left whereas the one on the right has them?

What this means is that the rear cap is merely pressed on as opposed to being screwed on, leaving a much less secure fitting and one that we found prone to slipping off at times. Not terribly problematic, but just one area we wish Pentax didn't skimp on. If you do end up with this lens, it would be our recommendation to replace the rear cap with the far more substantial and secure version on the right. A quick internet search will yield many options to choose from that will cost less than a cup of coffee. And not a Starbucks one either.

Lens Hood

The Plastic Fantastic sadly doesn't come with a lens hood, but that was expected. What was not expected, though, was that it doesn't come with a way to attach a hood should you want to purchase one from Pentax* (explanation below regarding the workaround). The below image, which shows the lens at full focus extension, clearly demonstrates the lack of any connectors that would pair with a lens hood:

There is, however, a workaround for those that are committed to using a lens hood, something we absolutely recommend and support with any lens, not only for the image quality enhancements but also simply protection from physical damage. There are third-party lens hoods that, instead of snapping into place on the outside of the lens barrel (as is typical regardless of lens manufacturer), they can actually screw into the filter threading itself. The only issue with this is that it takes away the ability to use filters, as those threads will be occupied by the hood. An example of such a lens hood is provided courtesy of Pentax Forums user rbefly, showing off his 35mm AL fitted with, as he put it, a "generic Hong Kong cheapie."

A small price to pay for using a lens hood, which again we highly recommend. It's just a shame that Pentax chose to deliberately cripple the lens in this manner, regardless of whether it came with a lens hood included in the box or not.

Colors, Colors, Colors!

Should you have a "loud" personality and wish to extend that to your camera gear, you'll be happy to hear that Pentax will afford you that opportunity! Just like many of Pentax's cameras are available in a plethora of shades, the DA 35 F2.4 AL is often bundled with such vibrant bodies with a paint job to match (click on the below image for a closer view):

The only unfortunate part is that to get a DA L 35mm in one of the above hues, you'll need to be located in (or traveling through) Japan, as they are largely confined to that market. Your next best chance of securing one of the above, other than finding one used, is to wait until a special type of colored bundled is offered with a specific camera model, such as this example of the  "Storm Trooper" K-30 and DA 35 F2.4 AL kit:

As of March 2015, there are currently no such offers.

Product Photos While Attached to Pentax Cameras

For those who may be curious as to how the Plastic Fantastic may look when attached to a Pentax DSLR, the following images should help provide a better understanding of what to expect with either the K-30 or a gripped K-3 behind one. Click on either image for an enlargement:

This last comment isn't anything with regards to the lens' physical construction other than to emphasize how much of a feather weight it is. As you can see, both cameras have absolutely no problem standing up on their own with the lens mounted, which means that in a pinch if you need, any flat surface can act as a "tripod" for you to rest your camera on and take your long exposure and/or self-portrait.

Verdict

Keeping in mind that this lens isn't a DA* or Limited piece of glass, it's actually not too hard to be impressed with the build quality. In fact, aside from lacking the focusing distance scale (which even some more expensive Pentax lenses lack), it's pretty easy to be fooled. Plastic all around? Sure. But at no point did it feel "cheap" or give a sense of being brittle in our hands. The tolerances were all very tight and with no wobbling of any kind. Our only real complaint is the lack of any way to attach a hood without occupying the filter threads.

So if you're the type that thinks "Plastic mount? Nope - not going to even entertain the idea," without even considering the image quality assessment, we encourage you to separate yourself from that way of thinking. At least for this lens, and especially considering how you'll never notice the weight it adds to your kit.