Customer Reviews

Pentax 21730 35 F/2.8 Macro Limited for Pentax Digital SLR

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This lens may well become one of the most legendary of the Limiteds manufactured by Pentax and perhaps even rival the output capabilities of the FA Limiteds.

This lens is superiorly contructed of metal and solidly built in such a small package. Image resolution is superb, with excellent contrast, edge to edge sharpness, brilliant colors and beautiful color saturation. AF on the K20D is quite fast considering the lens is a macro with a long barrel throw and accurately focuses without FF/BF.

This lens will find its versatily in close focusing as well as general 35mm FOV imaging (52.5mm on DSLR). The optical design makes for exceptional bokeh whether using it in macro mode or simply wide aperture general photography. The lens also makes a great copy lens for document copy of flat materials and printed matter.

The lens comes with a built in lens hood that works well and will be of benefit in contra lighting situations. 1:1 macro imaging utilizing the onboard camera flash is not possible (well the image is compromised) due to its low angle. Shadows will be caused by the lens when used this way. However, somewhere between 1:1 and 1:2 the lens works well with the onboard flash. Shoe mounted flashes or off camera flashes do not present any problems with illumination at 1:1 magnification.

I believe that time will show that this is one of the best lenses Pentax ever made. It is simply a pleasure to use and joy to see the output this is capable of.

I ordered this lens on the recommendation of two bloggers whose opinion I trust. One had borrowed one for a week and the other had purchased one for daily use. They both praised it's build quality and both it's sharpness and it's tonal quality.

I have had the lens for a month and it has become my main lens. In general use it is very sharp and the tonal range is even and lovely. When used on a tripod, with careful exposure control (this is on a Pentax K20D) it is the sharpest lens I have used...ever. I have some prime Canon L lenses and some good Nikon glass, all of which are great lenses, but this little wonder is just a touch better in my opinion. It is built as solidly as any digital lens I have ever used. If I didn't know who made it I would have guessed Leica by the feel of the focus and the knowledge that it's made mainly of metal.

This lens is compact, well-constructed with a handy built-in retractible lens hood, and takes beautiful photos indoors and out. Being close to a full frame "normal" lens makes it suitable for all types of shooting, from scenery to portraits, and the fact that it also does amazing macro is truly a bonus. Granted, the working distance for macro is very short, and to get true 1:1, the subject will be mere millimeters from the front of the lens, but since I have no desire to photograph live bugs, this isn't really an issue. Macros of flowers are just lovely! All in all, this lens deserves its "limited" designation.

Superb lens, very sharp and very versatile. Love it's sharpness. And the feeling when manual focusing is something I haven't experienced with any other lens (and I have plenty).
Very versatile: Since having the lens I spend much less time changing lenses and much more shooting photos.
Also very smart hood design - you can pull it out or leave it in. No way you can forget it at home.
Two points on the downside perhaps. Being a macro lens with no focus limiter (probably not enough room for it since the lens is quite small) it can take it's time to focus. Not a major problem though. Another thing is when using a filter (49mm thread) you have to pull the metal hood out a bit since the lens cap fits to the hood and not to the end of the lens itself. Also not very annoying, just thought I'd mention it.
A word about lens cap: it's beautiful, metal, retro looking.

I used this lens extensively over the last month and found it to be an excellent everyday, all-purpose lens. I previous searched in vain for an upgrade to my K-X's kit standard zoom lens then decided to get a prime lens instead. This one gets excellent reviews from most users and it does deliver. Images are sharp, colors are perfect and bokeh usually very nice. There is a noticeable high quality to the images it produces. They are not at the stellar level my DA* 50-135 f2.8 ED produces (that lens has pixie dust all over it), but the 35mm does make the perfect companion for wider angle, walk around use. What this lens reminds me of is my old Olympus 50mm 1.8 I used exclusively for many years before digital. Looking back at that lens, which provided a similar focal length on film as the 35mm on digital, I realized I really didn't need a standard zoom; I worked a single length lens without complaint for years, producing some of the best photos I have ever done. This lens serves the same purpose and works just as well. I don't even think I will be using my standard zoom anymore.

UPDATE 1/18/11 - A highly versatile lens. To my surprise, we went on a trip to NYC over Christmas and, even though I brought along a couple of other lens I thought I was going to use, I rarely took this one off my camera. Seemed like every time I thought of doing so, I said to myself, I really don't need to. The only time I changed lense was for a super wide angle going out to the Statue of Liberty and when on top of the Empire State building. Excellent photos all around.

Update 5/2/11 - I just want to reiterate what I said on 1/18/11. Just got back from a trip up the coast to San Francisco and mostly only used this lens. Photos were excellent in daylight and, especially, low light conditions. Lens angle is perfect for distance and close up shots and it can really be creative due to its macro abilities. I accidentally left my camera bag at the hotel previous to San Francisco and I did not miss the other lenses a bit. This is a truly amazing and useful lens. If you are using the kit standard zoom that came with your camera, try this instead. You won't miss the zoom and you will see an significant increase in photo quality.

After buying the DA 70mm lens, I debated about buying this vs the 21mm or 15mm. I almost bought the 15mm but I am glad I did not. The macro capabilities was what sold me and this is just a great lens.

Advantages:
1. Small macro lens, the 100mm that I rented was so big that I just did not like carrying it around. Small = good.

2. If you are not into shooting bugs and other live stuff, this is great for macro. I use the macro function for flowers 99% of the time, so it suits my purpose. Occasionaly do some abstracts and it works fine for this too.

3. I was somewhat uneasy about using this as a general purpose lens, I still prefer the DA 70mm for it but there are times when you need to focus in at close distances and it is good for street photography. It is not as I feared something that would only be good for macros. Whew!

Disadvantages:

1. As noted in #2 above, to get a true macro the lens has to be very close to the subject so if you want to shoot bugs etc this is not the lens.

2. Compared to the DA 70mm this is a bigger lens, when I ordered it I was nervous about how much bigger it would be but it is easy to carry but still not a pancake type size. Not sure this is a real disadvg in the big scheme of things

3. Focus is not as fast as the 70mm due to it being a macro lens, so not for fast moving situations

As I noted in my review of the DA 70mm. Pentax 70mm f/2.4 DA Limited Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras Small lens means you will use your camera more. I use just these 2 lenses. They fit easily into a sleeveless light jacket with multiple pockets that I use. And with that I am all set to take most any pictures with just these 2 lenses. If you have these 2 lenses it is only sports photography type settings that you will need another lens for. Now if only I can convince myself that I would carry around a pentax da 50-135mm lens that I rented once. It was superb for concerts and sports but I just did not see myself carrying a big thing around much. I may still change my mind, if I feel the need for a 3rd lens...Pentax SMC DA* Series 50-135mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Digital SLR Cameras

Remember all those great old lenses you've held or used in the past, with metal barrels and mounts, with knurled metal focusing rings and a noticeable mass in the hand? This - and the rest of Pentax's Limited line - is a return to those feelings. It's heavy and dense and beautiful in fit and finish. The built-in lens shade is a close fit - mine won't extend with a polarizer fitted - but well made and attractive.

The short working distance means this lens isn't the best "bug lens" - if you want to shoot that kind of macro, you should probably go to the 100mm f2.8 Macro. But for stationary objects, flowers, and the like, this lens is without peer. It produces sharp, contrasty images from 1:1 to infinity. It's probably not *quite* as sharp as the FA 35mm f2, but it's close, and probably better in an edge-to-edge sense.

Images from this lens have a "pop" to them that's hard to explain until you lay them side by side with images from other lenses. All in all, an excellent choice for a walking-around lens on your Pentax DSLR.

well built, awesome rendering, compact enough to take anywhere, extremely sharp and amazing color. lens cap isn't the tightest though and can come off when you don't want it to... this lens is a keeper!

I've gone sort of nuts buying Pentax lenses for my k5 and kx. I have the 10-17 Fisheye, 15mm Limited, 21mm Limited, 35 mm Macro Limited, 40 mm Limited, 70 mm Limited, 200mm DA*, 50mm Takumar m42 and just bought the 50mm f1.2 SMCA. I take a lot of events/street, flowers and nature shots. The 35mm has become one of my most used lenses, although I have become quite fond of the old 50mm Takumar too. It's amazing to have a walk around lens that can also take stunning Macro shots. As others point out, it can take a bit more time focusing than the others due to the long travel, but I haven't found that to be much of a negative for me. It's just a little irritating once in awhile. The contrast, sharpness, build, etc are great. The bokeh (out of focus areas) are great when taking pictures close up but it is not the best for portraits.

This has quickly become my favorite lens. It's great for macro and everyday shooting and tends to be the lens I leave on my camera as it is the most versatile. I also love how non-invasive the lens size is. The only down I can think of is the macro, it works amazingly but its focal length isn't great for something like an ant antenna.... If you're looking for that, go for one with a longer focal length. This is great and will pick up lots of detail otherwise, ohhhh and I wish it had an aperture ring for an analog camera, that would make it perfect!