smc Pentax-DA 35mm F/2.4 AL

Standard prime lens • Digital era

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Sample photos

F/8
F/2.4
F/5.6
F/4
F/2.4
F/2.8
F/16
F/2.4
F/2.4
F/2.4
F/3.5
F/8
F/11
F/4.5
F/2.4
F/3.2

Abbreviations

SMC Multi-layer anti-reflection coating is applied to the surfaces of lens elements. This anti-reflection coating boosts light transmission, ensures sharp and high contrast images, minimizes ghosting and flares. Learn more
DA Autofocus lens optimized for Pentax digital SLR cameras. Learn more
AL The lens incorporates aspherical elements.

Model history (9)

Asahi Super-TAKUMAR 35mm F/2 [368, 43680]A8 - 70.45m⌀67 1963 
Asahi Super-TAKUMAR 35mm F/2 [43931]A8 - 70.4m⌀49 1967 
Asahi Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 35mm F/2 [43932] [Mod. M42]A8 - 70.4m⌀49 1971 
smc Pentax 35mm F/2A8 - 70.35m⌀52 1975 
smc Pentax-M 35mm F/2A7 - 70.3m⌀49 1977 
smc Pentax-A 35mm F/2A7 - 70.3m⌀49 1983 
smc Pentax-FA 35mm F/2 AL (Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenogon)A6 - 50.3m⌀49 1999 
smc Pentax-DA 35mm F/2.4 ALAPS-CA6 - 50.3m⌀49 2010 
HD Pentax-FA 35mm F/2A6 - 50.3m⌀49 2019 

Features highlight

APS-C
Fast
1
ASPH
Body AF
Compact
Lightweight
SP
⌀49
filters
TC

Specification

Production details:
Announced:September 2010
Production status: In production
Original name:smc PENTAX-DA 1:2.4 35mm AL
System:Pentax K APS-C (2003)
Optical design:
Focal length:35mm
Speed:F/2.4
Maximum format:APS-C
Mount and Flange focal distance:Pentax K [45.5mm]
Diagonal angle of view:44° (Pentax K APS-C)
Lens construction:6 elements in 5 groups
1 ASPH
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:Automatic
Aperture control:None; the aperture is controlled from the camera
Number of blades:6 (six)
35mm equivalent focal length and speed:
35mm equivalent focal length:53.6mm (in terms of field of view)
35mm equivalent speed:F/3.7 (in terms of depth of field)
Focusing:
Closest focusing distance:0.3m
Maximum magnification:<No data>
Focusing modes:Autofocus, manual focus
Autofocus motor:In-camera motor
Manual focus control:Focusing ring
Focus mode selector:None; focusing mode is set from the camera
Quick-Shift Focus System (QFS):-
Shake Reduction (SR):
Built-in SR:-
Physical characteristics:
Weight:124g
Maximum diameter x Length:⌀63×45mm
Weather sealing:-
Super Protect (SP) coating:Front element
Accessories:
Filters:Screw-type 49mm
Lens hood:RH-RC49 - Screw-type round
PH-SA49 - Snap-on rectangular
Teleconverters:HD Pentax-DA 1.4X AF Rear Converter AW → 49mm F/3.4
Source of data:
Manufacturer's technical data.

Compared to the smc Pentax-FA 35mm F/2 AL (Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenogon)

Manufacturer description #1

September 9, 2010 - HOYA COPRORATION PENTAX Products is pleased to announce the launch of the smc PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL, an interchangeable unifocal standard lens designed exclusively for use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras.

Offering a natural perspective similar to that of the naked eye, this new standard lens is not only versatile enough to be used with a wide range of subjects and applications, including snapshots, but it also provides other benefits of the unifocal design, such as the ability to throw the background out of focus, and to reproduce high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness. This also is a perfect choice for digital SLR beginners to familiarize themselves with the basics of using interchangeable lenses.

Major Features

1. Versatile, easy-to-use standard lens

When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this standard lens offers an angle of view equivalent to a 53.5mm lens in the 35mm format. Since this angle of view assures a natural, comfortable perspective similar to that of the naked eye, the new lens comes in handy for a great variety of subjects and applications, including snapshots, landscape and portrait.

2. High-quality image description

Incorporating a hybrid aspherical optical element in its optics, this new lens delivers high-quality images with enhanced sharpness and contrast — from minimum focusing distance to infinity — and assures exceptional image-resolving power with outstanding brightness levels even at the edges — even at an open aperture — while effectively compensating various aberrations to a minimum. It is also treated with the PENTAX-original Ghostless Coating to minimize the adverse effects of flare and ghost images, assuring true-to-life images even under demanding conditions such as harsh backlighting.

3. Large maximum aperture

Thanks to its maximum aperture of F2.4, this new lens not only offers a bright, clear viewfinder image, but it also allows the photographer to use faster shutter speeds under poor lighting conditions to minimize the risk of camera shake and subject shake.

4. Compact, lightweight design

Weighing only approximately 124 grams and measuring a mere 45mm in length, the compact, lightweight design not only makes it easy to carry this lens anywhere, but makes it highly maneuverable in various shooting conditions.

5. Other features

  1. High-performance optics designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras and optimized for the characteristics of digital images
  2. Minimum focusing distance of 0.3 meters
  3. PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) Coating applied to the front surface to repel dust, water and grease

Manufacturer description #2

Standard, but versatile and bright, the smc PENTAX DA 35mm F2.4 AL may be used to capture a wide range of subjects for high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness. This lens, with an angle of view similar to the human eye at 53.5mm in the 35 mm format, is a perfect choice for digital SLR beginners to familiarize themselves with the basics of using interchangeable lenses. This lens is perfect for everyday photos and discrete shots thanks to its compact size. This lens also features the PENTAX Ghostless treatment to minimize «flare» defects and «ghost» images to ensure successful pictures in all condition

Manufacturer description #3

This is a standard lens that enables shooting with a natural sense of perspective for supporting snapshots and a wide variety of subjects and also enabling unique imaging that is only possible with fixed focal point lenses, namely, large blurring of the background and sharp resolution to the edges of the image. This lens also provides superior cost performance and is ideal as the first lens for digital SLR camera beginners to easily learn the basics of lenswork.

When this lens is attached to a PENTAX digital SLR camera, this enables a focal length equivalent to 53.5mm in the 35mm film format. This is a standard lens for enabling shooting at an angle of view near the natural human visual field and is ideal as a regular-use lens for shooting snapshots, landscapes, portraits, and a variety of other subjects.

This lens uses hybrid aspherical lenses for correcting various types of aberration and providing a sharp image quality with high contrast from the minimum to maximum distances and delineation performance up to the edges with an open aperture. Also, this lens uses a ghostless coating for minimizing flare and ghosting that can effect imaging performance for enabling the shooting of clear, high-contrast images even under backlighting and other adverse conditions.

The lens provides a bright open F value of 2.4. This enables easy visibility with the viewfinder and shooting at high shutter speeds even in dim locations for reducing the adverse effects of hand shaking.

Weighing about 124g and having a total length of only 45mm, the compact, lightweight design of this lens makes it easy to carry around and allows you to enjoy shooting with quick footwork.

Other features:

  • Enables minimum shooting distance of 0.3m
  • SP (super protect) coating on the front lens for repelling water and dirt

From the editor

The smc Pentax-DA 35mm F/2.4 AL is the updated version of the smc Pentax-FA 35mm F/2 AL lens optimized for digital SLR cameras. The optical formula remains essentially the same, however the lens barrel received a new modern design, lacks distance scale and aperture ring, and metallic lens mount was replaced by the plastic one to reduce overall weight. Petal bayonet-type lens hood is not a part of the package anymore, moreover, it can't be mounted on this lens - you have to use a screw-in lens hood. All these measures allowed to considerably reduce production costs and, consequently, lens price. Modernization of the FA 35/2 AL, however, was not intended merely to simplify its construction: the front element of the new version received Super Protect coating.

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Standard prime lens

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35mm full frame

43.27 24 36
  • Dimensions: 36 × 24mm
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Diagonal: 43.27mm
  • Area: 864mm2

In-camera motor

Aspherical elements

Aspherical elements (ASPH, XA, XGM) are used in wide-angle lenses for correction of distortion and in large-aperture lenses for correction of spherical aberration, astigmatism and coma, thus ensuring excellent sharpness and contrast even at fully open aperture. The effect of the aspherical element is determined by its position within the optical formula: the more the aspherical element moves away from the aperture stop, the more it influences distortion; close to the aperture stop it can be particularly used to correct spherical aberration. Aspherical element can substitute one or several regular spherical elements to achieve similar or better optical results, which allows to develop more compact and lightweight lenses.

Use of aspherical elements has its downsides: it leads to non-uniform rendering of out-of-focus highlights. This effect usually appears as "onion-like" texture of concentric rings or "wooly-like" texture and is caused by very slight defects in the surface of aspherical element. It is difficult to predict such effect, but usually it occurs when the highlights are small enough and far enough out of focus.

Low dispersion elements

Low dispersion elements (ED, LD, SD, UD etc) minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure excellent sharpness and contrast even at fully open aperture. This type of glass exhibits low refractive index, low dispersion, and exceptional partial dispersion characteristics compared to standard optical glass. Two lenses made of low dispersion glass offer almost the same performance as one fluorite lens.

Low dispersion elements

Low dispersion elements (ED, LD, SD, UD etc) minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure excellent sharpness and contrast even at fully open aperture. This type of glass exhibits low refractive index, low dispersion, and exceptional partial dispersion characteristics compared to standard optical glass. Two lenses made of low dispersion glass offer almost the same performance as one fluorite lens.

Canon's Super UD, Nikon's Super ED, Pentax' Super ED, Sigma's FLD ("F" Low Dispersion), Sony' Super ED and Tamron's XLD glasses are the highest level low dispersion glasses available with extremely high light transmission. These optical glasses have a performance equal to fluorite glass.

High-refraction low-dispersion elements

High-refraction low-dispersion elements (HLD) minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure excellent sharpness and contrast even at fully open aperture.

High Index, High Dispersion elements

High Index, High Dispersion elements (HID) minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure excellent sharpness and contrast even at fully open aperture.

Anomalous partial dispersion elements

Anomalous partial dispersion elements (AD) minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure excellent sharpness and contrast even at fully open aperture.

Fluorite elements

Synthetic fluorite elements (FL) minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure excellent sharpness and contrast even at fully open aperture. Compared with optical glass, fluorite lenses have a considerably lower refraction index, low dispersion and extraordinary partial dispersion, and high transmission of infrared and ultraviolet light. They are also significantly lighter than optical glass.

According to Nikon, fluorite easily cracks and is sensitive to temperature changes that can adversely affect focusing by altering the lens' refractive index. To avoid this, Canon, as the manufacturer most widely using fluorite in its telephoto lenses, never uses fluorite in the front and rear lens elements, and the white coating is applied to the lens barrels to reflect light and prevent the lens from overheating.

Short-wavelength refractive elements

High and specialized-dispersion elements (SR) refract light with wavelengths shorter than that of blue to achieve highly precise chromatic aberration compensation. This technology also results in smaller and lighter lenses.

Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics

Organic Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics material (BR Optics) placed between convex and concave elements made from conventional optical glass provides more efficient correction of longitudinal chromatic aberrations in comparison with conventional technology.

Diffraction elements

Diffraction elements (DO, PF) cancel chromatic aberrations at various wavelengths. This technology results in smaller and lighter lenses in comparison with traditional designs with no compromise in image quality.

High refractive index elements

High refractive index elements (HR, HRI, XR etc) minimize field curvature and spherical aberration. High refractive index element can substitute one or several regular elements to achieve similar or better optical results, which allows to develop more compact and lightweight lenses.

Apodization element

Apodization element (APD) is in fact a radial gradient filter. It practically does not change the characteristics of light beam passing through its central part but absorbs the light at the periphery. It sort of softens the edges of the aperture making the transition from foreground to background zone very smooth and results in very attractive, natural looking and silky smooth bokeh.

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Image stabilizer

A technology used for reducing or even eliminating the effects of camera shake. Gyro sensors inside the lens detect camera shake and pass the data to a microcomputer. Then an image stabilization group of elements controlled by the microcomputer moves inside the lens and compensates camera shake in order to keep the image static on the imaging sensor or film.

The technology allows to increase the shutter speed by several stops and shoot handheld in such lighting conditions and at such focal lengths where without image stabilizer you have to use tripod, decrease the shutter speed and/or increase the ISO setting which can lead to blurry and noisy images.

Original name

Lens name as indicated on the lens barrel (usually on the front ring). With lenses from film era, may vary slightly from batch to batch.

Format

Format refers to the shape and size of film or image sensor.

35mm is the common name of the 36x24mm film format or image sensor format. It has an aspect ratio of 3:2, and a diagonal measurement of approximately 43mm. The name originates with the total width of the 135 film which was the primary medium of the format prior to the invention of the full frame digital SLR. Historically the 35mm format was sometimes called small format to distinguish it from the medium and large formats.

APS-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the film negatives of 25.1x16.7mm with an aspect ratio of 3:2.

Medium format is a film format or image sensor format larger than 36x24mm (35mm) but smaller than 4x5in (large format).

Angle of view

Angle of view describes the angular extent of a given scene that is imaged by a camera. It is used interchangeably with the more general term field of view.

As the focal length changes, the angle of view also changes. The shorter the focal length (eg 18mm), the wider the angle of view. Conversely, the longer the focal length (eg 55mm), the smaller the angle of view.

A camera's angle of view depends not only on the lens, but also on the sensor. Imaging sensors are sometimes smaller than 35mm film frame, and this causes the lens to have a narrower angle of view than with 35mm film, by a certain factor for each sensor (called the crop factor).

This website does not use the angles of view provided by lens manufacturers, but calculates them automatically by the following formula: 114.6 * arctan (21.622 / CF * FL),

where:

CF – crop-factor of a sensor,
FL – focal length of a lens.

Mount

A lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a camera body and a lens.

A lens mount may be a screw-threaded type, a bayonet-type, or a breech-lock type. Modern camera lens mounts are of the bayonet type, because the bayonet mechanism precisely aligns mechanical and electrical features between lens and body, unlike screw-threaded mounts.

Lens mounts of competing manufacturers (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony etc.) are always incompatible. In addition to the mechanical and electrical interface variations, the flange focal distance can also be different.

The flange focal distance (FFD) is the distance from the mechanical rear end surface of the lens mount to the focal plane.

Lens construction

Lens construction – a specific arrangement of elements and groups that make up the optical design, including type and size of elements, type of used materials etc.

Element - an individual piece of glass which makes up one component of a photographic lens. Photographic lenses are nearly always built up of multiple such elements.

Group – a cemented together pieces of glass which form a single unit or an individual piece of glass. The advantage is that there is no glass-air surfaces between cemented together pieces of glass, which reduces reflections.

Focal length

The focal length is the factor that determines the size of the image reproduced on the focal plane, picture angle which covers the area of the subject to be photographed, depth of field, etc.

Speed

The largest opening or stop at which a lens can be used is referred to as the speed of the lens. The larger the maximum aperture is, the faster the lens is considered to be. Lenses that offer a large maximum aperture are commonly referred to as fast lenses, and lenses with smaller maximum aperture are regarded as slow.

In low-light situations, having a wider maximum aperture means that you can shoot at a faster shutter speed or work at a lower ISO, or both.

Closest focusing distance

The minimum distance from the focal plane (film or sensor) to the subject where the lens is still able to focus.

Closest working distance

The distance from the front edge of the lens to the subject at the maximum magnification.

Magnification ratio

Determines how large the subject will appear in the final image. For example, a magnification ratio of 1:1 means that the image of the subject formed on the film or sensor will be the same size as the subject in real life. For this reason, a 1:1 ratio is often called "life-size".

Manual focus override in autofocus mode

Allows to perform final focusing manually after the camera has locked the focus automatically. Note that you don't have to switch camera and/or lens to manual focus mode.

Manual focus override in autofocus mode

Allows to perform final focusing manually after the camera has locked the focus automatically. Note that you don't have to switch camera and/or lens to manual focus mode.

Electronic manual focus override is performed in the following way: half-press the shutter button, wait until the camera has finished the autofocusing and then focus manually without releasing the shutter button using the focusing ring.

Manual diaphragm

The diaphragm must be stopped down manually by rotating the detent aperture ring.

Preset diaphragm

The lens has two rings, one is for pre-setting, while the other is for normal diaphragm adjustment. The first ring must be set at the desired aperture, the second ring then should be fully opened for focusing, and turned back for stop down to the pre-set value.

Semi-automatic diaphragm

The lens features spring mechanism in the diaphragm, triggered by the shutter release, which stops down the diaphragm to the pre-set value. The spring needs to be reset manually after each exposure to re-open diaphragm to its maximum value.

Automatic diaphragm

The camera automatically closes the diaphragm down during the shutter operation. On completion of the exposure, the diaphragm re-opens to its maximum value.

Fixed diaphragm

The aperture setting is fixed at F/2.4 on this lens, and cannot be adjusted.

Number of blades

As a general rule, the more blades that are used to create the aperture opening in the lens, the rounder the out-of-focus highlights will be.

Some lenses are designed with curved diaphragm blades, so the roundness of the aperture comes not from the number of blades, but from their shape. However, the fewer blades the diaphragm has, the more difficult it is to form a circle, regardless of rounded edges.

At maximum aperture, the opening will be circular regardless of the number of blades.

Weight

Excluding case or pouch, caps and other detachable accessories (lens hood, close-up adapter, tripod adapter etc.).

Maximum diameter x Length

Excluding case or pouch, caps and other detachable accessories (lens hood, close-up adapter, tripod adapter etc.).

For lenses with collapsible design, the length is indicated for the working (retracted) state.

Weather sealing

A rubber material which is inserted in between each externally exposed part (manual focus and zoom rings, buttons, switch panels etc.) to ensure it is properly sealed against dust and moisture.

Lenses that accept front mounted filters typically do not have gaskets behind the filter mount. It is recommended to use a filter for complete weather resistance when desired.

Fluorine coating

Helps keep lenses clean by reducing the possibility of dust and dirt adhering to the lens and by facilitating cleaning should the need arise. Applied to the outer surface of the front and/or rear lens elements over multi-coatings.

Filters

Lens filters are accessories that can protect lenses from dirt and damage, enhance colors, minimize glare and reflections, and add creative effects to images.

Lens hood

A lens hood or lens shade is a device used on the end of a lens to block the sun or other light source in order to prevent glare and lens flare. Flare occurs when stray light strikes the front element of a lens and then bounces around within the lens. This stray light often comes from very bright light sources, such as the sun, bright studio lights, or a bright white background.

The geometry of the lens hood can vary from a plain cylindrical or conical section to a more complex shape, sometimes called a petal, tulip, or flower hood. This allows the lens hood to block stray light with the higher portions of the lens hood, while allowing more light into the corners of the image through the lowered portions of the hood.

Lens hoods are more prominent in long focus lenses because they have a smaller viewing angle than that of wide-angle lenses. For wide angle lenses, the length of the hood cannot be as long as those for telephoto lenses, as a longer hood would enter the wider field of view of the lens.

Lens hoods are often designed to fit onto the matching lens facing either forward, for normal use, or backwards, so that the hood may be stored with the lens without occupying much additional space. In addition, lens hoods can offer some degree of physical protection for the lens due to the hood extending farther than the lens itself.

Teleconverters

Teleconverters increase the effective focal length of lenses. They also usually maintain the closest focusing distance of lenses, thus increasing the magnification significantly. A lens combined with a teleconverter is normally smaller, lighter and cheaper than a "direct" telephoto lens of the same focal length and speed.

Teleconverters are a convenient way of enhancing telephoto capability, but it comes at a cost − reduced maximum aperture. Also, since teleconverters magnify every detail in the image, they logically also magnify residual aberrations of the lens.

Lens caps

Scratched lens surfaces can spoil the definition and contrast of even the finest lenses. Lens covers are the best and most inexpensive protection available against dust, moisture and abrasion. Safeguard lens elements - both front and rear - whenever the lens is not in use.