Lens Reviews

• The current generation of lenses for APS-C Digital SLRs
• Autofocus
• No aperture ring
• Automatic aperture setting is available
• Image format: APS-C sensor format (18 x 24mm)
• Suited for DSLRs with APS-C sized sensor
• Sub-categories: DA* and DA L
• Introduced in 2004
• In production

The smc PENTAX-DA, smc PENTAX-DA L, and smc PENTAX-DA* lenses are designed to be used exclusively on digital cameras with an APS C sized sensor (the K and *ist D digital camera series). Their image circle covers only the 18 x 24mm format of APS C sized sensors so the corners of the image will come out dark if the lens is used on a 24 x 36mm film camera.

DA lenses (except for the 18-250 mm zoom) feature the Quick Shift focusing system that allows the focus to be fine tuned with the focusing ring on the lens without setting the camera focus selector to "MF".

DA L lenses are a light weight edition of their DA counterparts. They have a bayonet mount made of plastic rather than stainless steel and they do not have the quick shift focusing capability.

DA* Lenses: The DA series includes a number of "star" lenses (DA*) with top notch optical and mechanical engineering. All DA* lenses have the Quick Shift focusing system and - despite not having the WR designation - are also weather sealed.

Note: Many users report that the smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited, also known as "the pancake," covers the full 24 x 36mm frame. Optically it is based on an earlier lens in the M series.

• The current generation of lenses for 24 x 36mm film SLRs and APS-C Digital SLRs
• Autofocus
• Aperture ring with "A" setting. Only the original two lenses have an aperture ring, however
• Automatic aperture setting is available
• Image format: 24 x 36mm film format
• Suitable for APS-C digital sensor format and 24 x 36mm film format
• Sub-categories: None
• Introduced in 2004
• In production

smc PENTAX-D FA lenses have been optimized optically for digital sensors but work equally well on a 35 mm film camera. Their image circle covers the full 24 by 36mm negative format. feature the Quick Shift focusing system that allows the focus to be fine tuned with the focusing ring on the lens without setting the camera focus selector to "MF".

• The second generation of autofocus lenses
• Autofocus
• Aperture ring with "A" setting
• Automatic aperture setting is available*
• Certain zoom lenses feature the power zoom function**
• Image format: 24 x 36mm film format
• Suitable for APS-C digital sensor format and 24 x 36mm film format
• Sub-categories: FA* and FA Limited
• Introduced in 1991
• In production: Only the three "Limited" lenses out of the original 42 FA lenses are in production as of May 2010

The FA series lenses are autofocus and allow for certain modern cameras (film and digital) to automatically set aperture (Tv mode), shutter speed (Av mode), or both (Program mode). You can also set exposure manually if the camera body allows for this. On recent camera bodies (e.g. *ist and all digital SLR cameras) you use dials on the camera body to set the aperture value (the aperture ring on the lens must be in the "A" position at all times). On older models (such as ZX-5N, MZ-5N, LX, ME, MX, K1000) the aperture is set with the aperture ring on the lens.

Three FA "Limited" lenses were made available in 2001. Except for these and the 35mm f/2 and 50mm f/1.4, the FA series, which consisted of 42 lenses total, has been discontinued.

The FA series also includes 11 "star" lenses (FA*) that employ the finest of Pentax optical and mechanical engineering.

*Exceptions: The smc PENTAX-FA Soft 85mm F2.8 and smc PENTAX-FA Soft 28mm F2.8 lenses have no "A" setting on the aperture ring. Hence they work like smc PENTAX-M lenses with respect to exposure; they are still autofocus. The "A" setting has been removed because the degree of image softness is controlled by the aperture ring and it would be meaningless to let the camera decide the setting.

**Power zoom is only supported by certain camera bodies. The following lenses feature power zoom:

smc PENTAX-FA 28-80mm F3.5-4.7
smc PENTAX-FA 28-105mm F4-5.6
smc PENTAX-FA 70-200mm F4-5.6
smc PENTAX-FA 100-300mm F4.5-5.6
smc PENTAX-FA* 28-70mm F2.8 AL
smc PENTAX-FA* 80-200mm F2.8 ED [IF]
smc PENTAX-FA* 250-600mm F5.6 ED [IF]

• A lower priced variant of the second generation autofocus lenses
• Autofocus
• No aperture ring
• Automatic aperture setting is available
• Image format: 24 x 36mm film format
• Suitable for APS-C digital sensor format and 24 x 36mm film format
• Sub-categories: None
• Introduced in 2003
• Not in production

smc PENTAX-FA J lenses lack the aperture ring but otherwise work like an FA lens set permanently to the “A” position. Due to the lack of an aperture ring these lenses cannot be used on camera bodies where use of an aperture ring is mandatory (such as LX, ME, MX, K1000), but can be used on e.g. the ZX-5N in Program and Tv mode. These lenses provide full functionality on all recent bodies like the *ist, *ist D series and K (digital) series

• The first generation of autofocus lenses
• Autofocus
• Aperture ring with "A" setting
• Automatic aperture setting is available*
• Image format: 24 x 36mm film format
• Suitable for APS-C digital sensor format and 24 x 36mm film format
• Sub-categories: F*
• Introduced in 1987
• Not in production

F series lenses work just like FA lenses; see above for features and limitations.

The F series consisted of 20 lenses is now fully discontinued.

The F series also includes 3 "star" lenses (F*) that employ the finest of Pentax optical and mechanical engineering.

• The first lens series allowing for automatic aperture control
• Manual focus
• Aperture ring with "A" setting
• Automatic aperture setting is available
• Image format: 24 x 36mm film format
• Suitable for APS-C digital sensor format and 24 x 36mm film format
• Sub-categories: A*
• Introduced in 1984
• Not in production

smc PENTAX-A lenses are manual focus. With these lenses Pentax introduced automatic control of the aperture in connection with the Super A/Super Program cameras which were introduced at the same time. All later cameras (film and digital) allows to automatically set aperture (Tv mode), shutter speed (Av mode), or both (Program mode) with these lenses. You can also set exposure manually if the camera body allows for this. On recent camera bodies (e.g. *ist and all digital SLR cameras) you use dials on the camera body to set the aperture value (the aperture ring on the lens must be in the "A" position at all times). On older models (such as ZX-5N, MZ-5N, LX, ME, MX, K1000) the aperture is set with the aperture ring on the lens.

The A series also includes 9 "star" lenses (A*) that exemplify the finest in Pentax optical and engineering.

• The second generation manual focus lenses (generally more compact than the "K" series)
• Manual focus
• Aperture ring without "A" setting
• Automatic aperture setting is not available
• Image format: 24 x 36mm film format
• Suitable for APS-C digital sensor format and 24 x 36mm film format
• Sub-categories: M*
• Introduced in 1977
• Not in production

smc PENTAX-M lenses are manual focus and have no "A" setting on the aperture ring just like the original smc PENTAX K-mount lenses (commonly know as "K" series). These lenses allow for the camera to automatically set shutter speed (if it has the Av auto-exposure mode). You can also set exposure manually if the camera body allows for this. The ZX-5N is an example of a body which provides Av mode as well as manual exposure mode with M lenses. Almost all M lenses have an automatic diaphragm.

Some recent bodies cannot use M (and K) lenses or only with some limitations. An example are the *ist D and K (digital) series. In Manual exposure mode you set the aperture using the aperture ring on the lens; the camera will set the shutter speed when you press the green button (or AE-L button if the camera has no green button). Or you can set the shutter speed manually (there is no exposure read out in the finder to assist you).

The M series includes a single "star" lens (M*) that exemplifies the finest in Pentax optical engineering:
smc PENTAX-M* 300mm F4.

• The first generation of K-mount lenses
• Manual focus
• Aperture ring without "A" setting
• Automatic aperture setting is not available
• Image format: 24 x 36mm film format
• Suitable for APS-C digital sensor format and 24 x 36mm film format
• Sub-categories: None
• Introduced in 1975
• Not in production

smc PENTAX lenses are commonly know as "K" lenses although they do not have a "-K" as a part of the lens name. These lenses were Pentax' first bayonet mount lenses for the 35mm format and many share the optical formula with their Takumar screw mount predecessors.

K series lenses work just like M lenses; see above for features and limitations.

Pentax also produced several "budget" lenses that lacked the SMC lens coating. Most of these lenses are identical to their SMC counterparts but feature different coloring on their barrels.

• Takmuar Bayonet lenses work in the same way as smc PENTAX lenses
• Takmuar-A and PENTAX-A lenses work in the same way as smc PENTAX-A lenses
• Takmuar-F and PENTAX-F lenses work in the same way as smc PENTAX-F lenses

AL stands for Aspheric Lens element. The optics include at least one aspherical lens element. Such elements improve the optical quality and allows for the lens designer to sue less elements over all than would have been the case had all elements been spherical. Aspherical elements are particularly valuable in wide angle lenses.

ED: Extra-low Dispersion. Special glass material which helps reduce chromatic aberration. Particularly valuable in tele photo lenses.

IF stands for Internal Focusing. Focusing is achieved by moving lens elements within the lens. The lens barrel doesn't move. IF lenses generally focus faster than ordinary lenses.

SDM: Lenses with the SDM designation feature a built-in autofocus motor. Newer cameras (K100D Super, K10D, and later) will take advantage of this motor and not use the screw-drive mechanism.

Currently (May 2010) the DA lens line-up includes two SDM-only lenses: smc PENTAX-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM prime lens and smc PENTAX-DA 17-70mm F4 zoom lens. These two lenses lack the traditional screw drive autofocus coupler and will therefore only autofocus on the K10D, K100D Super, and newer Pentax cameras.

"smc" stands for Super Multi Coating, Pentax' multi-layer lens coating which does a great job of reducing flare. DA, D FA, and some FA lenses have an improved "ghost less" coating that is even more effective than the original coating. Furthermore, there are reasons to believe that the SMC coating has been improved from series to series.

WR: Lenses with the WR designation are weather resistant. They are sealed so that they better withstand use in light rain and blowing dust.

A, F, FA and D FA lenses work on all Pentax bayonet cameras ever produced (exception: A lenses do not work on the MZ-60/ZX-60).

FA J, DA and DA L lenses work on cameras which have Tv and Program auto-exposure mode. Av mode and manual exposure is supported on some of these camera bodies. DA should only be used on digital cameras with an APS C sized sensor (16 x 24 mm).

M and K lenses work on all cameras except the MZ/ZX-30, MZ/ZX-50 and MZ/ZX-6. They work with limitations on the *ist film camera. They work with stop-down metering on the *ist D series and K series digital SLRs provided that a custom function is set appropriately.