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SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF] Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF]

Sharpness 
 9.3
Aberrations 
 7.4
Bokeh 
 9.0
Autofocus 
 8.4
Handling 
 9.6
Value 
 8.6
Reviews Views Date of last review
12 76,442 Tue June 21, 2022
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $1,614.28 9.00
SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF]

SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF]
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SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF]
supersize
SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF]
supersize

Description:
The SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 is a premium yet compact super-telephoto lens compatible with both film and digital cameras.

You switch between autofocus and manual focus by pushing the focusing forwards (autofocus) or pulling it towards the camera (manual focus). The camera body should be set to autofocus.

SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED[IF]
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 8 blades
Optics
9 elements, 8 groups
Mount Variant
KAF
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F5.6
Min. Aperture
F45
Focusing
AF (screwdrive)
Quick-shift
No
Min. Focus
200 cm
Max. Magnification
0.23x
Filter Size
77 mm
Internal Focus
Yes
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 4.1 ° / 3.4 °
Full frame: 6.2 ° / 5.2 °
Hood
MH-RBB77
Case
S110-230
Lens Cap
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Push-pull AF/MF Focusing Ring,Tripod Mount
Diam x Length
83 x 199 mm (3.3 x 7.8 in.)
Weight
1140 g (40.2 oz.)
Production Years
1997 to 2004
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-FA* 1:5.6 400mm --IF & ED--
Product Code
24580
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Two ED elements.
Features:
Screwdrive AutofocusInternal FocusingAperture RingAutomatic ApertureFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF]
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Junior Member

Registered: April, 2011
Location: Velbert, a small town near Düsseldorf, Germany
Posts: 37

8 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 21, 2022 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Weight, sharpness, color rendering
Cons: CA's in some light conditions
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 9    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: Pentax K3 III   

I knew about this lens for many years, but I never thought, that it could be one of my favorites!
Once mounted on my K3 III it was a (positive) shock: Focus locked spot on and the colors...only Pentax can do that.
Since then the DFA 150-450 was my "daily" lens, for I am mostly looking for wildlife. But now, this lens with 50mm less focal length, is my favorite!
Only the half weight and and a very fast AF - o.k. much noisier!

But the color rendering and the bokeh is simply beautiful.
400mm on an APS-C is enough for a "walk-around" lens.

And yes, you are fixed with the 400mm, which is sometimes too much, but hey...it's a prime lens


Harsh lights can produce CA's, but most times it is no problem to correct them.
Often the silver finish is mentioned as a negative point, because it scratches easily...I sew a lens cover (4 pieces of neoprene) and this problem was solved in a few minutes.

When you can get a copy...give this old glass a chance!


Here are some shots from the last days...all with the K3 III and all at open aperture f5.6

   
Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,085

5 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 1, 2021 Recommended | Price: $1,750.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Very sharp and great handling.
Cons: Looks a bit cheap and scratches easily.
New or Used: Used    Camera Used: Pentax K-Mount film bodies   

The FA*400/5.6 was released in 1997, it was Pentax’s first and only auto-focus 400mm prime. The older manual-focus A400/5.6 was still available alongside the FA*400/5.6 up to 2004, when both were discontinued. They were Pentax’s last 400mm prime lenses.

Optics:
Steller optics! The detail the FA*400/5.6 can capture at a distance is amazing and the bokeh is pleasant as well when you are isolating subjects at a shorter distance. For me f/16 seems to be the sweet spot of the lens, which gives you all the sharpness, but still with plenty of DOF. The extra-low dispersion “ED” element helps control aberrations.

Focal Length:
Pentax had produced a 400mm prime lens since the mid 1960’s right up to 2004, so it’s a shame that there are no current versions. 400mm was a popular focal length on film and there are many available on the used market at an affordable price, so most people have owned one over the years and are familiar with the focal length. Whether Pentax ever releases a new digital version of the 400mm prime is anyone’s guess. I like to use my 400mm primes around the Vancouver water front for birds, boats, harbor activity and “paparazzi” shots of people.

Build:
The build of the FA*400/5.6 is not bad, but it’s not as good as any K/M/A* Series lens I own. The biggest problem with the FA*400/5.6 is the silver paint used on the lens and hood. It’s prone to scratching and makes the lens look cheap. The rubber focusing grip is also pretty cheap looking compared to the older Pentax K/M Series focusing grips. The lens hood also has “PENTAX” big and bold across both sides, so this and above make the FA*400/5.6 a somewhat tacky/cheap looking lens.

Usage/Handling:
For a 400mm prime the FA*400/5.6 is a nicely sized well balanced lens that's pretty easy to hand hold, as it only weighs 1140g and is under 200mm/8 inches in length. (The FA*400/4.5 weighs less than the new Pentax DFA* 85/1.4 ED!) For longer exposures the built-in tripod mount comes in handy, it also has a locking knob so you can change the cameras orientation when using a tripod.

I only do manual focusing, so I can’t comment on the FA*400/5.6 auto-focus capabilities. The focus ring on the FA*400/5.6 pushes up for auto focus (the words “AUTO FOCUS” will appear below the focus ring) and down for manual focusing. (“AUTO FOCUS” will disappear). The distance scale on the FA*400/5.6 is in a plastic window, it’s acceptable but not great. The FA*400/5.6 manually focuses past the infinity mark and also uses internal “IF” focusing. The minimum focusing distance of 2.0 meters, is superb for a 400mm lens. I have no issues manually focusing the FA*400/5.6, though it’s not quite as smooth as a manual focus lens. Overall, the handling of the FA*400/5.6 is one of the best features of the lens.

The FA*400/5.6 has a 77mm filter ring and uses an outside mounting bayonet hood MH-RBB77. This hood does not have a filter cutout window, so using a polarizer is a bit tricky. The hood can be reverse mounted for storage and both the hood & FA*400/5.6 fit in the OEM S110-230 soft lens case. It would have been nicer if the hood was built-in.

Speed:
F/5.6 is standard for a Pentax 400mm lens, so no complaints. There was a faster A*400/2.8 lens, but it’s over five times the weigh and will cost you thousands more. No chance of hand holding that lens either.

The FA*400/5.6 vs my other 400mm telephoto primes:
I also own the K400/5.6 and the 6x7 Takumar 400/4, this is how I rate them against each other:

Speed: The 6x7 Takumar 400/4 is one stop faster than the other two.
Minimum focusing: The FA*400/5.6 is only 2 meters, the other two are 8 meters!
Build: K400/5.6 & 6x7 Takumar 400/4 (tie), FA*400/5.6.
Optics: Newer does mean better in this case. The updated ED optics of the FA*400/5.6 lens are better than the late 1960’s optical design of the two manual focusing lenses.
Handling: The FA*400/4.5 is the clear winner again and the only one of the three that I would shoot hand-held. The older two lenses also have a manual diaphragm, so you have to use stop-down metering with them.
Value: The FA*400/5.6 is on the pricey side and will cost you about three times as much as the K400/5.6 & 6x7 Takumar 400/4, but for me it’s worth it.

This is size comparison of the three lenses. 6x7 Takumar 400/4, K400/5.6 and the FA*400/5.6:


Overall the FA*400/5.6 5 is my favorite of the three. I rated the K400/5.6 & 6x7 Takumar 400/4 as an 8 and will give the FA*400/5.6 a 9.5. I would have given it a perfect 10 if the finish were better and it was not so cheap looking.

Summary:
If you are looking for a good 400mm lens I can highly recommend the FA*400/5.6. It’s the best handling of any Pentax 400mm lens due to its small size/weight and along with the A*400/2.8 the only ones with the ED lens elements.

Price:
I bought my FA*400/5.6 online and paid $1,750. It was in excellent+ condition with a few typical marks to the finish and came with the MH-RBB77 hood. I purchased the S110-230 soft lens case separately.

Sample shots taken with the FA*400/5.6. Photos are medium resolution scans from original negatives. All shots were taken in Vancouver. All shots are manual focus and the third shot is handheld.


Camera: LX Film: Kodak Portra 400 ISO: 400



Camera: LX Film: Kodak Portra 400 ISO: 400



Camera: Z-1p Film: Kodak Portra 800 ISO: 800



Camera: MZ-S Film: Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO: 400
   
Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2009
Location: County Durham
Posts: 32
Review Date: December 20, 2020 Recommended | Price: $1,599.99 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Good lens for Wildlife and Walk about.
Cons: Non Yet
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 7    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K3II   



Bought from Japan off Flee bay. Lens in excellent condition in every respect. Other than testing front/back focus (-10)! After a few test shots and user error, AF quite quick, CA seems acceptable, handling for a 400mm lens fine.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: February, 2017
Posts: 65

6 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 28, 2019 Recommended | Price: $1,200.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Really sharp, even at F5.6, compact & light, fast AF, nice Bokeh
Cons: it is a Diva - like the FA77 (purple fringing, CAs)
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K1, K3, KP   

I bought the lens two years ago from a friends in the blue forum. The intention was to get a similar view with the K1 as with the DA*300 at the K3 - without much more weight. I am absolutely not disappointed .
Before I tested the Bigma and the Pentax DFA150-450 - both too heavy and unhandy.

It is a pleasure to use the FA*400 but keep in your mind, this lens is a Diva. It could deliver beautiful pictures but also scrap. I like to compare it with the FA77 Ltd. .

Very often I am using the lens wide open - mostly with F5.6. The CAs could be corrected in ACR with the profile of the 645- 400mm lens and it does the job well to remove most of the CAs.
The AF is fast enough for most of my applications - see attached picture:

The AF is noisy with the KP but acceptable with the K1.

The color fits to the silver K1, which is a nice difference to most other systems around.

Since I have the FA*400, my Sigma 500 F4.5 stays at home more often - too heavy. And the much closer minimal distance of about 2m (instead of 3.8 with the heavy Sigma) can be used for smaller goals like:
   
Site Supporter

Registered: February, 2014
Posts: 501

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: July 20, 2019 Recommended | Price: $1,100.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Very sharp, relatively compact & light
Cons: can exhibit CA in severe backlight
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K-1 and KP   

I recently bought this lens from Forum member Snappy. I'd been watching for a 400mm to use as a hand-held birding lens on either my K-1 or KP. It works beautifully with both. See my recent K-1 thread post for image examples. Net, this lens is a perfect match for my needs and budget. I love it.

I think the negative comments on aberrations, while perhaps technically correct, are not an issue as practical matter. I would'nt attempt to photograph birds in extreme backlight. Furthermore, Camera Raw and Lightroom can remove most if not all CA if you do.

Unfortunately, LR doesn't have a profile for it, so I use the 645 400mm f5.6. I did buy a LensCoat to protect the finish, which I recommend also.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: June, 2011
Posts: 485

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 8, 2019 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: image quality, build quality
Cons: some CA, heavy, loud focusing
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 8    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: Pentax K-1   

I am not much of the type of photographer that would use this focal length very often, so this lens was picked up, played with, and past on fairly quickly for me. This was also my first high end lens, so maybe that skews my bias somewhat.

I thought the image quality was astounding on the K-1. I used single point focusing, and while it was somewhat slow at times, when it said it was locked on it was locked on. The images came out very sharp. I'm not really a "pixel peeper" as they say nowadays, but it's on par with the sharpest lens I own (Rokinon 135mm f/2). Sharp as I'd ever need.

I didn't have any serious problems with chromatic aberrations. I don't think other people are overstating it necessarily, I definitely saw it when I shot a tree branch with the sun directly behind it, but for everything I shot with it normally it was just fine. Like I said, my first high end lens, so I have just been giddy getting this kind of reach on my K-1 in full frame mode and having it look so good.

I made a video with some of my thoughts, hoping to benefit people in the future who find one of these lenses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmQ1RxxP8c0

Here's a sample photo, straight from the camera
Cardinal by ThatA480Guy, on Flickr
   
Pentaxian

Registered: August, 2010
Location: zurich
Posts: 409

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 20, 2015 Recommended | Price: $2,150.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Weight, size, reach on APS-C, Sharpness
Cons: CA can be terrible, silver finish
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 5    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 10    Value: 6    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K-3, K-7, K-5   


200% Crop

CA is heavy! its the worst lens i own... I have FA* 24, 28-70, 80-200 and a lot more but this FA* 400 is with quite some distance the worst lens regarding CA i have ever used on the K-3.
Maybe its my copy but its not only the magenta there is green and sometimes even some weird white border....

but then it can produce some outstanding pictures... its a diva and you need to treat it with respect otherwise it will not do what you want....
the problem is that i have a copy of the DA*300 and this is one of my most loved lenses and you can treat it like sh... it still does the job.... even with the HD TC

Get a lens coat for it otherwise you are permanently in fear of scratching the lens

if you ask me its way overpriced on Ebay right now...

i have front focus if i remember right, i'll look it up.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: May, 2012
Location: White Rock
Posts: 450

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 19, 2014 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: size, weight, sharpness
Cons: slow aperture
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K5   

I already own the DA* 60-250 and found that I wasn't getting the reach needed to capture birds in flight as well as other wildlife. I found this lens by chance on my local craigslist. AF is a bit tricky and can easily be engaged by accident - not something I find desirable as I only shoot manual. Wide open at f/5.6 is very sharp in my opinion and only mildly noticeably sharper stopped down.

Paired up with the WR 1.4x TC, I've had great results photographing the moon, even handheld. My only complaint would be the slow aperture. Photographing birds in flight requires me to compensate for the f/5.6 by increasing my shutter speed to 1/1000 or faster, with that bumping up ISO. Even with that minor 'flaw', it's become my main walk around lens since getting it.

It's a perfect lens for birding, while remaining somewhat inconspicuous to them.

   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2007
Location: France
Posts: 804

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 1, 2014 Recommended | Price: $2,300.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharpness stopped down, light and compact
Cons: CA, autofocus hunts sometimes, price on second hand market
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 7    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: Pentax K5iis   

As I already owned a FA*600, and a DA*300 I bought this lens for a dedicated mission : an hand-holdable, lightweight lens for travel, birds in flight, and tricky approach of birds, with more reach than the DA*300 and better than a DA300 + a converter. It met 90 % of my expectations. The lens is a compact as my DA*300. It largely outperforms the DA*300 with a sigma teleconverter. Stopped down to F8, it is sharp, sharp enough to produce moiré on the birds feathers. Wide open it is not that sharp. 400 mm is already a long lens, you have to take it in account, but the K3 image stabilisation seems much more efficient on this lens than the K5's. At slow speed (1/100), handheld, I have more than 50 % of the shots sharp at the pixel level.
The autofocus sometimes failed to focus on static birds, with the K5, I'm not alone to have had issues. I still have to test it on the field with the K3. With the K5iis it is a great combo.
Of course it has not the reach and the sharpness of the 600 but it is a good workhorse when you are not in position to carry an heavy lens.
Aberrations are a bit on the high side but can be corrected in lightroom.
I have rated the value a bit low because this lens is too expensive on the second hand market now. It is a pity that Pentax discontinued it.
All in all an excellent point of entry for birding if you can't go with the big beasts.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: November, 2006
Location: Norway
Posts: 702

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: April 16, 2013 Recommended | Price: $1,200.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small
Cons: A little slow at f/5.6
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-5   

As a 400mm lens, this is small and hand hold able. It is about the same size as DA*300/4. Image quality is excellent, but DA*300/4 is still a little bit sharper at f/5.6 and if you crop the image from DA*300/4 to the same size as from FA*400, it is difficult to see any difference. But if FA*400 is stopped down it will resolve more detail than the 300mm lens. Autofocus is fast, but I never could get it to work properly on any K-5 I tried it on. My lens is focusing perfect on K-7 and K-5 IIs, but not on a K-5. I don’t know if this is a problem with only my lens or if it is a common problem.

   
Site Supporter

Registered: March, 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 486

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 30, 2007 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Size and weight
Cons: Purple fringing, distracting bokeh

This is the only FA* lens that I own and I'm very impressed with it. The colors and sharpness from this lens are amazing.

The FA* 400mm is actually a lot lighter and a bit smaller than a manual focus Vivitar 400mm lens that I owned. It's actually hand holdable in good light, but it's probably still best to use a tripod or brace it against something.

I've used it with a Pentax 1.4x-S telephoto adapter for shots of the moon and it worked really well. I can only wonder how much better it'd look if I had used a 1.4x-L adapter, which is designed for 300mm and up.

As for the cons... This lens exhibits purple fringing at f/5.6 pretty easily. I also find the bokeh to be a bit distracting. The out of focus regions in some of my photos look like blurry mosaics. Neither of these issues really bother me, but I expected better from an FA*.

Overall, it's a great lens and I'd recommend it if you needed a 400mm lens and you could find one at a decent price.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: December, 2006
Location: Ontario
Posts: 744

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: January 9, 2007 Recommended | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Size, weight, build
Cons: cost
New or Used: New   

Perhaps the best 400mm lens out there for hand-holding. Size-wise, it's comparable to most other manufacturer's 300mm lenses.

This lens also has the typical FA* build quality. In otherwords excellent.

The FA* 400 can be used with a 1.4x teleconverter and still maintain AF and very good image quality (I've used it with the Tamron 1.4x teleconverter). AF speed suffers significantly though and poor light renders AF useless with this set-up. I haven't bothered trying with a 2x teleconverter.

It should be mentioned that in spite of the hand-holdability of this lens, good long-lens technique will yield a greater number of sharp images (ie, using a tripod and dampening any possible vibration by placing your hand on the lens).

To my experience, SR works well with this lens for closer subjects with some success coming a 1/60 second shutter speeds with the focus point very near minimum focus. However, for more distant subjects (10' or more away) SR improves sharpness overall but doesn't guarantee a crisp image, regardless of the speed.

Optimum performace of this lens does come at around f/11-f/16 from what I've seen. The difference is not substantial though, and I regularly use this lens wide open without fear of softness.

As far as sharpness itself goes, I've seen nothing to indicate it's at all soft. Any failures in that department have been due to minor focus errors on my behalf or due to minor camera movements. However, it's not as sharp as some other 400mm lenses out there in terms of yielding some of the finer details. I would have to grade this lens at about 7 or 7.5/10 when comparing to the L 400 f/5.6 & L 400 f/4.0 DO by Canon or the Pentax A* 400 f/2.8. In otherwords, it's very good but it's not anywhere near the best.

2010-01-01
Sample being added:

(Non working link removed)

Shot with the k-7 and 400mm at f/8.0. ISO 400. 1/250th of a second shutter speed.
Image cropped for framing.
Photo was taken on January 3, 2010
Add Review of SMC Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED [IF]



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