Product ReviewsPENTAX Pentax SMC P DA 35mm F/2.4 AL Lens For Pentax

Underated

Pentax lenses are underrated. Most amateurs and professionals want Nikon or Canon. I use this on my Pentax K-01 mirrorless as a wide lens for my movies. Other Pentax wide lens, such as the Pentax 31mm are obviously superior with the higher grade glass, and construction, and speed, but for a APS-C less costing less than £100, I have no issues. It does not come with lens hood and if F2.4 is too slow for video recording, then just switch on your led video lights and your away.
Its great little lens for its price and specification!
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Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: cameracentreuk

Pentax's Great Little Gem!

This is a gem of a lens, very compact and light and produces very sharp and impresive images. It's a shame it is not weatherproof like my Pentax KP body but because it is so compact, this is not really a problem. Fantastic value for money and my favourite lens by farRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: cameracentreuk

Good value budget prime lens

Sharp, contrasty colours excellent for a budget, use anyh r, p®time.
Recommended

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: marc1985c

Lightweight marvel

Very pleasant optically, this lens though mostly plastic is nonetheless well made.
A "must have" in your Pentax armoury.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: waddelldj

Bargain !

This compact SMC lenses are sharp across the frame on K-3 / K-5, and also on K-1.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: bowman76

good value for money

good results, autofocus noisy

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: anva_8152

lightweight , ease of use

great little lens

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: metro2503

A review of the lens or of my own competence?

For 25 years I stuck to Canon cameras. Then in 2010 I decided to try something new. I first of all sold my Canon gear (on eBay) and then bought a Pentax K-r with 18-55 kit lens. This lens is a bargain at the price but I also wanted to try a compact and lightweight prime lens. Most of the Pentax primes are disconcertingly expense but the 35mm f2.4 seemed a good, cheaper option. Reviews suggested that it would give excellent image quality for the price (£159 from SRS of Watford). I found that its sharpness was inferior to that of the 18-55 kit lens and sent it back to SRS, who very kindly gave me a full refund. (I was so impressed by SRS that I later bought a flashgun from them.) Having now accumulated a bit more experience with the Pentax - and having read the instruction manual! - I wonder whether I gave the 35mm f2.4 a fair trial. I suspect that a bit of fine adjustment of the K-r's auto-focussing might have made a world of difference. The manual warns that AF adjustment is only to be attempted if absolutely necessary but other Pentax users seem to regard it as a routine procedure. I may even have another go with the 35mm f2.4. At the moment I am getting to know the 16-45 zoom - and have indeed found that AF adjustment was necessary. I am now convinced that the 35mm f2.4 would have been fine.Read full review...

Great image quality and value for money

I bought this product after seeing positive reviews on forums. It auto-focuses well & quickly on my Pentax K-500 DSLR. The maximum aperture is useful & the image quality is excellent even at full aperture. I have taken my trusty Pentax-a 50mm f1.7 out of my bag - that's how good it is! - It is, of course, autofocus & easier to use than these wonderful old manual lenses.Its image quality allows extensive cropping with a still acceptable image. The lens focuses down to c 6 inches &, being equivalent to 52mm on a 35mm camera, it is the lens I keep on the body. This lens is in a completely different league to the standard 18-55mm lens & needs to be considered when upgrading.

On the downside, the front element is quite prominent, so I use a filter for protection and a lens hood to prevent possible flare. It has no manual aperture ring, it is very light with a plastic mount (but seems well built)- but if it broke, I would get another & look after it better!Read full review...

Great lens.

This lens is a wee gem. It has a bit of a cheap feel, but for the quality of image you get it represents excellent value.

The image is sharp through all apertures, autofocus is reasonably fast etc.

Drawbacks: doesn't look flashy (if you are trying to impress people go with the 35/2.8 limited), no distance scale focusing (think about how often you actually use this and decide that it doesn't really matter), autofocus is a bit noisy (all the pentax lenses are unless you splash out for a USM model) and it has a plastic mount (not really an issue with a lens this light).Read full review...