Coloured ring on lenses

GrimWolf · 03-28-2015, 11:10 AM

I have been wondering what the significance of the coloured rings on pentax lenses, My 18-55 has green, blue on my 50-200 and I have seen a gold ring advertised on a lens I saw on ebay. More idle curiosity than anything :-)

Dlanor Sekao · 03-28-2015, 11:18 AM - **2 Likes**

Green is for Nature shots....Blue is for Birthday and shooting around the water........Gold is for Wedding and Glamor shots !
Its real simple when everything is color coded......hope that helps clarify things.

Parallax · 03-28-2015, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao

Green is for Nature shots....Blue is for Birthday and shooting around the water........Gold is for Wedding and Glamor shots !
Its real simple when everything is color coded......hope that helps clarify things.

**boriscleto** · 03-28-2015, 11:19 AM

The ring is just a way to visually identify what lime the lens comes from.

Green for DA, Silver for DA L, Red for HD DA, Gold for DA*. Blue was for Samsung branded lenses. The new D FA 150-450 has a green ring even though it is HD. Maybe the red ring is for the HD DA Limiteds only.

GrimWolf · 03-28-2015, 11:20 AM

Aaaah, thanks :-)

Dlanor Sekao · 03-28-2015, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by GrimWolf

Aaaah, thanks :-)

No problem....lol. Glad to help

FantasticMrFox · 03-28-2015, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Maybe the red ring is for the HD DA Limiteds only.

No, the new HD DA 16-85 WR and the DA HD 55-300 WR have the red ring too. I think it's just a matter of inconsistency. At some point in time Hoya/Ricoh/Pentax decided to distinguish lenses bearing the new HD coating with a red ring, this decision has recently been reversed and a green ring has been reintroduced on some lenses (the new FF zooms and the HD DA 18-50 WR DC RE). A similar inconsistency exists with the DA/DA L distinction. DA L is usually understood as a cheaper kit lens lacking quick shift, a metal mount, a dedicated AF motor (DC or SDM) and the HD coating. However the DA 35 f/2.4 and DA 50 f/1.8 fully fit this description and are still labelled 'DA', conversely the new DA L 18-50 kit lens features a DC motor and is still labelled 'DA L'.

It's getting a bit confusing

GrimWolf · 03-28-2015, 12:23 PM

It is at that lol. What exactly is meant by full frame? I'm guessing that's what my k20d is.

FantasticMrFox · 03-28-2015, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by GrimWolf

It is at that lol. What exactly is meant by full frame? I'm guessing that's what my k20d is.

I don't quite understand your post, sorry

Your K20D has an APS-C sized sensor, it is not full frame (a larger sensor size) - if that was your question?

GrimWolf · 03-28-2015, 12:29 PM

Yeah. I just get confused with all the terminology.

Dlanor Sekao · 03-28-2015, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by GrimWolf

Yeah. I just get confused with all the terminology.

Im sure with people as myself shining light on the color code things are not perfectly clear at all.
I too wandered what the color code rings stood for and all I came to the conclusion was green was for WR (Weather Resistant) and Red was for the higher end glass. Actually am learning something here , and sorry for my joking answer for what may have been a serious question.....I apologize

GrimWolf · 03-28-2015, 01:12 PM

Np dlanor, it made me chuckle :-) the thought of using a telephoto lens to photo birthdays lol.

**patrick9** · 03-28-2015, 05:13 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao

Actually am learning something here , and sorry for my joking answer for what may have been a serious question.

I thought it was a funny answer.

Nicolas06 · 03-29-2015, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao

Im sure with people as myself shining light on the color code things are not perfectly clear at all.
I too wandered what the color code rings stood for and all I came to the conclusion was green was for WR (Weather Resistant) and Red was for the higher end glass. Actually am learning something here , and sorry for my joking answer for what may have been a serious question.....I apologize

To me this is sufficiantly messed up for rings etc that it is best to think the ring has no meaning.

cmar · 03-31-2015, 05:07 AM

It's there to break up the otherwise all black lens. I think there was a system once, but as pointed out above it seems to have gotten mixed. Maybe they went back to green rings because the red ones look too Canicon.

03-28-2015, 11:10 AM	#1
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87	Coloured ring on lenses I have been wondering what the significance of the coloured rings on pentax lenses, My 18-55 has green, blue on my 50-200 and I have seen a gold ring advertised on a lens I saw on ebay. More idle curiosity than anything :-)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K-3 and FA lenses - aperture ring setting / focus ring	zzeitg	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	10	11-05-2014 08:10 PM
Focus Ring Dampening on Legacy MF lenses	godwinaustin	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	03-04-2013 04:51 PM
Using the Aperture Ring on Auto Focus Lenses	agsy	Pentax DSLR Discussion	9	10-12-2010 10:51 AM
Aperture ring on FA lenses	ankit	Pentax DSLR Discussion	8	02-04-2008 04:54 AM
Aperture ring on lenses for Pentax?	Duh_Vinci	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	12-06-2006 09:24 PM

03-28-2015, 11:18 AM - 2 Likes	#2
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	Green is for Nature shots....Blue is for Birthday and shooting around the water........Gold is for Wedding and Glamor shots ! Its real simple when everything is color coded......hope that helps clarify things.

03-28-2015, 11:19 AM	#3
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,333	Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao Green is for Nature shots....Blue is for Birthday and shooting around the water........Gold is for Wedding and Glamor shots ! Its real simple when everything is color coded......hope that helps clarify things.

03-28-2015, 11:19 AM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	The ring is just a way to visually identify what lime the lens comes from. Green for DA, Silver for DA L, Red for HD DA, Gold for DA*. Blue was for Samsung branded lenses. The new D FA 150-450 has a green ring even though it is HD. Maybe the red ring is for the HD DA Limiteds only.

03-28-2015, 11:20 AM	#5
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Aaaah, thanks :-)

03-28-2015, 11:30 AM	#6
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	Originally posted by GrimWolf Aaaah, thanks :-) No problem....lol. Glad to help

03-28-2015, 12:21 PM	#7
FantasticMrFox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Munich Posts: 2,339	Originally posted by boriscleto Maybe the red ring is for the HD DA Limiteds only. No, the new HD DA 16-85 WR and the DA HD 55-300 WR have the red ring too. I think it's just a matter of inconsistency. At some point in time Hoya/Ricoh/Pentax decided to distinguish lenses bearing the new HD coating with a red ring, this decision has recently been reversed and a green ring has been reintroduced on some lenses (the new FF zooms and the HD DA 18-50 WR DC RE). A similar inconsistency exists with the DA/DA L distinction. DA L is usually understood as a cheaper kit lens lacking quick shift, a metal mount, a dedicated AF motor (DC or SDM) and the HD coating. However the DA 35 f/2.4 and DA 50 f/1.8 fully fit this description and are still labelled 'DA', conversely the new DA L 18-50 kit lens features a DC motor and is still labelled 'DA L'. It's getting a bit confusing

03-28-2015, 12:23 PM	#8
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	It is at that lol. What exactly is meant by full frame? I'm guessing that's what my k20d is.

03-28-2015, 12:28 PM	#9
FantasticMrFox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Munich Posts: 2,339	Originally posted by GrimWolf It is at that lol. What exactly is meant by full frame? I'm guessing that's what my k20d is. I don't quite understand your post, sorry Your K20D has an APS-C sized sensor, it is not full frame (a larger sensor size) - if that was your question?

03-28-2015, 12:29 PM	#10
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Yeah. I just get confused with all the terminology.

03-28-2015, 01:10 PM	#11
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	Originally posted by GrimWolf Yeah. I just get confused with all the terminology. Im sure with people as myself shining light on the color code things are not perfectly clear at all. I too wandered what the color code rings stood for and all I came to the conclusion was green was for WR (Weather Resistant) and Red was for the higher end glass. Actually am learning something here , and sorry for my joking answer for what may have been a serious question.....I apologize

03-28-2015, 01:12 PM	#12
GrimWolf Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	Np dlanor, it made me chuckle :-) the thought of using a telephoto lens to photo birthdays lol.

03-28-2015, 05:13 PM - 1 Like	#13
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao Actually am learning something here , and sorry for my joking answer for what may have been a serious question. I thought it was a funny answer.

03-29-2015, 02:23 PM	#14
Nicolas06 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 4,854	Originally posted by Dlanor Sekao Im sure with people as myself shining light on the color code things are not perfectly clear at all. I too wandered what the color code rings stood for and all I came to the conclusion was green was for WR (Weather Resistant) and Red was for the higher end glass. Actually am learning something here , and sorry for my joking answer for what may have been a serious question.....I apologize To me this is sufficiantly messed up for rings etc that it is best to think the ring has no meaning.

03-31-2015, 05:07 AM	#15
cmar Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sunshine Coast Photos: Gallery Posts: 113	It's there to break up the otherwise all black lens. I think there was a system once, but as pointed out above it seems to have gotten mixed. Maybe they went back to green rings because the red ones look too Canicon.