Pentax SMC DA 40MM F2.8 LIMITED Pro Reviews

The Pentax SMC DA 40mm f/2.8 exhibits a quite harmonious optical performance combined with excellent build quality. It is capable to produce impressively sharp images across the frame straight from the max. aperture. Distortions are marginal and CAs are a non-issue. Vignetting is visible at f/2.8 but not a show-stopper. The bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is slightly sub-average and bokeh fringing can be an issue at very large apertures. The lens does also suffer from a focus shift when stopping down - this can have an impact in close focus scenarios. The biggest "problem" of the lens is not quality but its application. It is a comparatively slow lens and not faster than many zooms. That all said it remains an very good performer and as such it is a welcome addition to the Pentax lens lineup.

I quite liked using the 40mm ƒ/2.8 Limited edition, and its optical performance is one of the better examples of Pentax's declarations of quality they apply to its limited edition of lenses. Once I found I could use the lens hood from the 21mm ƒ/3.2 prime, I found it much more convenient to use as a walkaround lens; having to screw on and off the hood was a real frustration. So with that one caveat, the 40mm ƒ/2.8 is an excellent lens, and a worth setting aside the very small amount of space it will require in your camera bag.