Pentax HD PENTAX-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited Lens Review

HD PENTAX-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited Handling and Features

The slim body of this 40mm lens is constructed from high quality metal and plastics so it feels incredibly solidly put together as a result. Even so, the lens only weighs 89g. When fitted to the Pentax K-5 IIs body used for testing, this lens makes quite a compact duo.

Focusing is not performed internally, as is to be expected with a pancake lens and the filter thread does not rotate, making it perfect for use with polarising and graduated filters. The lens accepts 49mm or 30.5mm filters. The smaller filter size is for a threaded section on the supplied compact hood. A thin manual focusing ring rotates during auto-focus, but it is adequately recessed to prevent it accidentally catching your fingers during operation. Manual focusing action is smooth, and well damped, which makes applying fine focus adjustments a pleasure. A distance scale is provided, but no hyperfocal scale has been marked on the lens barrel, which is a shame.



The Pentax 'Quick Shift' focusing system has been implemented on this lens, which means manual adjustments can be applied once the lens has focused automatically. Although focusing is screw-driven, it locks onto subjects very quickly. The older screw-driven system does generate more noise than newer silent focusing lenses do though.

The minimum focus distance of 40cm is typical for pancake lenses. A maximum magnification of 0.13x is possible, which may not be best suited for frame filling close ups images of small subjects.

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