The lens pentax users had been waiting for?

[rolleistef]

Hi everyone,

Good suprise from Mother Pentax (Yes it means PENTAprism contAX so it's appropriate to post it here!) : a 35/2.4 meant for APS sensors. Isn't that nice? And cheap: Retail price announced is 220$ (180€ or so).
BUT : it only opens to 2.4 though the nikon equivalent is a 1.8 lens. Of course the possibility of changing the sensibility "en route" (especially with the cool sensibility-programme mode) and sensor shift stabilisation means it isn't as disturbing, but well. f:2 should be the minimum aperture you should get, 2.4 is too much of a cheap fixed lens Rf camera!
http://www.photokina-show.com/0760/pentax/fixedfocallens/pentax-35mm-lens/
Cheers,

 

[pvdhaar]

BUT : it only opens to 2.4 though the nikon equivalent is a 1.8 lens...

Nikon's 35/1.8 isn't all smelling like roses either.. Granted, it does f1.8, but it isn't all that compact; it feels lumpy and oversized for what it does. That's due to the AF motor being built into the lens. And when it comes to that built-in motor, it's different from the ones built into other (read: more expensive) lenses. The Nikon's 35 manual focus feel is gritty. I'd trade in that 2/3 stop difference for a smaller build and more refined manual focus feel every day.

 

[ChrisN]

I hope the image quality is outstanding - it will need to be to overcome the poor specification and the cosmetics. Just look at the lens barrel - no focus scale even! Not a lens I'll be lining up to buy, even if I didn't already own the FA 35/2 AL.

 

[rolleistef]

It's a shame the 35/2 isn't as affordable as is it used to be. I'm currently learning to use a 80mm equivalent with an excellent old screw mount 55/2 Takumar, but I really miss a fifty.
More students are buying DSLRs, many of them started with a 50 and I bet they miss it as well. And they can't spend 400$/€/£ in a lens, so good news I'd say. Of course, I would tell them : go and buy a HiMatic it costs 30 quids and you'll have load of success with people of the opposite sex, but well, film is expensive in Europe. So, even if it's ugly, even if it's not weather sealed and made out of plastic, I think it can be nice. Otherwise, let's buy a supertak for the same price, but focusing on digital... good luck!

 

[pobe]

And the mount is plastic. But I guess the twenty colors make up for that?

I'm a Pentax guy and love their small primes, but this just feels like a bad joke.

 

[rover]

it is not for those of us who are established Pentax users thought IMHO. It is a simple kit lens, an option to the zooms. As such it may do fine, but no, those who have the FA 35/2 or LTD 31, or any manual focus lens, most likely will not be interested. Those kids and new users though who are reading on internet forums that prime lenses are better than zooms..... there is your target.

 

[NickTrop]

Nikon's 35/1.8 isn't all smelling like roses either.. Granted, it does f1.8, but it isn't all that compact; it feels lumpy and oversized for what it does. That's due to the AF motor being built into the lens. And when it comes to that built-in motor, it's different from the ones built into other (read: more expensive) lenses. The Nikon's 35 manual focus feel is gritty. I'd trade in that 2/3 stop difference for a smaller build and more refined manual focus feel every day.

Trade 2/3-stop??? Not on a "50". Not me - not ever! Speed is what those lenses are all about. It rather they skimp on features like IS than the glass. Everytime! Lump and oversized? What's "lumpy" about it? It's a garden variety lens - all cylindrical-y, you couldn't pick it out of a crowd. Nothing weird at all about it. As for size, it's the same size as any 35mm 50 I ever owned - and much lighter. The Nikon's performance at f1.8 is nothing short of brilliant, especially for the price. What a pleasure to use wide open compared to the decades old lenses I've used. As for the motor, it's designed, really, for the D40 - D5000 crowd - of which I'm one, so I couldn't care less about that.

For $200, the Nikon is a brilliant lens. I'm sure the Pentax will be too, and overall it's nice to see manufacturers starting to come out with affordable fixed lens lines but no way would I go from a 1.8 to a 2.4 on a standard 50.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Pentax already has a 35/2.8, and it is incredibly superb. This new 35 just seems pointless to me. They need to innovate...I threw them over for m4/3 a year ago and must confess I have few regrets...

 

[ChrisN]

No, Rover's right. This is a particular lens for a particular segment of the market. I was silly to even mention the FA 35/2 AL in the same paragraph.

 

[pvdhaar]

Trade 2/3-stop??? Not on a "50". Not me - not ever! Speed is what those lenses are all about. It rather they skimp on features like IS than the glass. Everytime! Lump and oversized? What's "lumpy" about it? It's a garden variety lens - all cylindrical-y, you couldn't pick it out of a crowd. Nothing weird at all about it. As for size, it's the same size as any 35mm 50 I ever owned - and much lighter. The Nikon's performance at f1.8 is nothing short of brilliant, especially for the price. What a pleasure to use wide open compared to the decades old lenses I've used. As for the motor, it's designed, really, for the D40 - D5000 crowd - of which I'm one, so I couldn't care less about that.

For $200, the Nikon is a brilliant lens. I'm sure the Pentax will be too, and overall it's nice to see manufacturers starting to come out with affordable fixed lens lines but no way would I go from a 1.8 to a 2.4 on a standard 50.

The 35/1.8 is loads larger than the 50/1.8. It's the penalty for having AF-S. And when they put AF-S in, why can't it be smooth like the 18-70 or the 70-300? Those are consumer grade lenses too.

 

[rolleistef]

I think I'll get one when it goes out (except if I found an affordable manual 35/2 or even, who knows, an affordable 35/2). I'm the market it's designed for 😀
But well, it wont be pink of course.

 

[Paddy C]

I've been keeping my eye on Pentax for a while in the event I want a digital camera at some point.

From what I've read this seems an odd lens. Does the intended audience (ie the buyers who wouldn't notice the speed, build, and other stuff) really want a prime?

Still, I would like to see one of these on a Japanese K-x with all the colours mismatched. That would look sweet.

 

[jwnash1]

The Pentax website states "A perfect choice for digital SLR beginners to familiarize themselves with the basics of using interchangeable lenses." An SLR beginner would be be better served by buying a SMC M 35 2.8 in ex condition from someone like KEH for about half the price and get a lens they could learn photography with IMHO. A rainbow KX with this lens is nothing but a high dollar point and shoot.

 

[ChrisN]

... From what I've read this seems an odd lens. Does the intended audience (ie the buyers who wouldn't notice the speed, build, and other stuff) really want a prime? ...

... An SLR beginner would be be better served by buying a SMC M 35 2.8 in ex condition from someone like KEH for about half the price and get a lens they could learn photography with IMHO. A rainbow KX with this lens is nothing but a high dollar point and shoot. [/COLOR]

I suspect this lens (and the matching rainbow KX) is all about style, not photography, for certain market segments. If that keeps Pentax afloat and making good equipment for the more serious photographers, then it's a very good thing!

 

[pobe]

If it gets people to take the kit zoom off their camera and start using primes - it's a very very good thing! 🙂

 

[coelacanth]

If it gets people to take the kit zoom off their camera and start using primes - it's a very very good thing! 🙂

+35. 🙂 More primes to the world! 😀

 

[ChrisN]

But the lens we need from Pentax is a 35mm(e) - that is, a 24mm lens that gives the same field of view as a 35mm on a film camera. The Pentax-A 24/2.8 I bought from Kim Coxon several years ago is pretty good, but a modern autofocus lens, preferably of f/2 aperture (for the bright viewfinder) would be really nice. You listening, Mr Pentax?

 

[coelacanth]

I'd love to see 24mm and 55 or 58mm as well.

 

[Doug]

But the lens we need from Pentax is a 35mm(e) - that is, a 24mm lens that gives the same field of view as a 35mm on a film camera. The Pentax-A 24/2.8 I bought from Kim Coxon several years ago is pretty good, but a modern autofocus lens, preferably of f/2 aperture (for the bright viewfinder) would be really nice. You listening, Mr Pentax?

If they're listening, they'll bring back the recently discontinued SMC Pentax-FA* 1:2 24mm AL [IF]
On a Hawaii vacation two years ago, this was the only lens I brought for the Pentax K100D... Here's Bojidar Dmitriov's page for this lens...

http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/ultra-wide/FA24f2.html

I see KEH has several of these now in the $600 price range. On eBay, Matsuiya has one for $598... Go! 😀

 

[coelacanth]

If they're listening, they'll bring back the recently discontinued SMC Pentax-FA* 1:2 24mm AL [IF]
On a Hawaii vacation two years ago, this was the only lens I brought for the Pentax K100D... Here's Bojidar Dmitriov's page for this lens...

http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/ultra-wide/FA24f2.html

I see KEH has several of these now in the $600 price range. On eBay, Matsuiya has one for $598... Go! 😀

Must stay strong, must stay strong...