Home > Consumer Reviews > Pentax SMCP-FA 35mm f/2.0 AL Lens with Case and Hood

This is one sharp, fast prime lens with great color, contrast, and lovely bokeh (character of the out of focus areas).

I find the 35mm focal length to be far more versatile than the 50mm traditionally recommended to beginning photographers. It's wide enough to be useful for scenics, and still long enough for environmental and half length portraits. Pentax's SMCP-FA 35/2 AL is a super example of what the 35mm focal length can offer.

I've been using FA 35/2 for over two years and, despite having added another six primes (all very good, btw) to my 35mm kit, I still expect this lens to have the longest legs of all.

If you prefer the virtues of primes over the convenience of zooms, this is a prime you owe yourself some time with.

Enjoy.

This is my favourite lens to complement my K10D and *ist DS I own. Although this lens is not as versatile as a zoom, the focal distance is just right for a vast majority of scenes. The outstanding image quality (sharpness, contrast & microcontrast, bokeh) and wide aperture make it perfectly suitable for various jobs - like portraits, paysage, nature and available light shots.
I like shooting with prime lenses, and if I have to take only one prime with me, in 80% of cases it is FA 35 f/2.0 AL.

While this lens may not be as 'sexy' as many in the Pentax Limited lineup, being from an older design for the 35mm Film cameras, it is still one of the sharpest lenses I've ever owned. This focal length (35mm) is a good approximation for a "normal" lens on the Pentax DSLRs due to the APSC sensors they use and their 1.53 multiplier - makes this one's effective focal length come in right around 53mm as compared with a full-frame sensor or film. It's a great walking around lens that's fast, versatile, and provides a perspective that is similar to that of the naked eye.

When you combine this fast, sharp, contrasty lens with the K20D's shake reduction and low light performance, you have an awesome combo for low-light candids. I've found that I can occasionally get tack-sharp pictures at speeds as slow as 1/8 and 1/4 - often enough, in fact, that it's worth trying the shots.

I just can't say enough good things about this lens - I would recommend it for anyone who likes the speed and contrast of prime lenses, or for any photography student ( being roughly equivalent to the standard 50mm lens that we all had on our K1000s :D ) , or for anyone who wants a versatile lens fast enough for low-light candid shots.

I currently own this lens, the Pentax DA40/2.8, and the FA50/1.4. This lens trumps both of them for the kinds of shooting I frequently do, and I think for most pictures in general.

The 50 is a beautiful lens as well, but has a finicky auto-focus and is frankly a little bit too close for an all around lens. It will always remain my go-to lens for really nice portraits, but this 35 beats it for all-around sharpness, it focuses faster, and it has a much more workable focal length on the DSLR crop.

The 40 is a delight to use and focus, and is a stunning piece of workmanship in it's own right, but I've always felt like it didn't quite do what I needed it to. The size is only marginally smaller than this lens, and the sharpness is comparable, but you lose an entire stop of speed. While I enjoyed having and using it, the 35 comes out on top for me, and I'll be selling the 40mm shortly.

Everything just comes together perfectly in this lens. The depth of field is comfortably large due to the wide-ish focal length at - I haven't had hardly any pictures with a shot-costing focus problem. The focal length also means that slow shutter speeds are easier while hand-holding. The sharpness is unbelievable, and really makes the textures in pictures look 3 dimensional. To beat it you would pretty much have to spend $900 on the 31/1.8.

I just recently shot a wedding, the first with this lens, and I got some pictures that I would only have dreamed of with other lenses. It was the first wedding I shot where I wasn't constantly looking for a different lens. This one is my new go-to, and I expect it will be for a long time. Combined with the 50/1.4, you have the ultimate duo.

Are there better lenses out there? Of course. At this price? Not even close.

The FA 35mm quickly and easily replaced the DA 40mm as my walk around prime lens, and I've found that I can use it exclusively when I go to crowded events like conventions or fairs. The focal length is just wide enough to still be usable in a crowded environment, but it still works well for close up portraits. I find it must easier to handle, especially with the lens hood, than the tiny DA 40mm. A maximum aperture of f/2.0 also really helps in crowded events where lighting can be iffy.

Pros:
+ Solid build quality similar to the FA 50mm and the FA 28mm.
+ Comes with a solid, bayonet mounted lens hood.
+ It's a pretty fast lens with f/2.0 max aperture paired with the 35mm focal length.
+ Excellent colors and rendering.
+ Good bokeh. In certain situations it can look a bit distracting, but I generally find it to be very smooth.
+ Pretty sharp at f/2.0!
+ Light and compact build.
+ Works on both digital and film bodies.

Cons:
- Hard to find.
- Not SDM, I guess.