Pentax DA 21987 35mm
Its 124g weight and weather sealing distinguish this Pentax 35mm f/2.4 APS-C prime, which uses Super Protect coating and a fast f/2.4 maximum aperture for a natural perspective. The lens provides a budget-friendly entry to prime shooting, with six elements including an aspherical lens for sharp edge-to-edge resolution and a pleasingly blurred background. It suits Pentax DSLR beginners and travel photographers seeking an ultralight, all-weather wide-angle lens for everyday snapshots.
Snapshot
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q4 2018100/100
Buyers praised the lens for its image quality, color accuracy, and solid construction, finding it a versatile all-purpose option.
- Great image quality and accurate colors
- Solid construction and ease of use
- Versatile focal length for all-purpose shooting
- Good value as a 35mm lens option
- Q1 2012100/100
Buyers in Q1 2012 praised this lens as a sharp, affordable bargain, ideal for those unable to afford higher-end models.
- Excellent value for money, a relative bargain.
- Sharp image quality, often the sharpest lens owned.
- Compact design with excellent image output.
- Some wish for more telephoto reach or higher-end alternatives.
- Q4 201190/100
Buyers praised this lens as cheap, impressive, and versatile for indoor and outdoor use. They were very satisfied with its performance and value.
- Excellent value for money, cheap and impressive.
- Crisp, clear photos in low light and outdoors.
- Highly recommended, buyers would buy again.
- Great all-around lens for general use.
Based on 37 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 35 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
| Elements | 6 |
| Groups | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
| Coating | PENTAX Super Protect (SP) coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.4 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 |
Build
| Mount | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | No |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 49 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 300 |
| Max Magnification | 0.17x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Pentax DA 21987 35mm | Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 | Panasonic LUMIX S S-S85 | Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR | Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 35mm | 28-75mm | 85mm | 16-50mm | 16-50mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E | L-Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E | Canon EF-S |
| Stabilization | false | false | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | false | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 124 | 540 | 454 | 135 | 107 | 515 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD | Linear motor | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | STM |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | telephoto | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentax DA 21987 35mm | 53.7 | 5.8 | 94.6 | 39 | 41.6 | 19.8 | 30 | 33.7 | 81.8 | 36.7 |
| Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 Compare | 53.7 | 86.4 | 69.4 | 86.5 | 89.1 | 83.3 | 80.9 | 78.5 | 86 | 36.7 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-S85 Compare | 98 | 93.6 | 75.3 | 52.3 | 51.9 | 92.5 | 75.9 | 33.7 | 93.5 | 82.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Compare | 86.8 | 74.6 | 92.9 | 45 | 74.3 | 76.6 | 0 | 83.3 | 81.8 | 95.3 |
| Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 53.7 | 74.6 | 98.5 | 43.9 | 68.5 | 76.6 | 63.7 | 83.3 | 81.8 | 93.4 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Compare | 86.8 | 74.6 | 53.3 | 42.4 | 82.4 | 76.6 | 30 | 95.8 | 78.6 | 93.4 |
