Difference between F and FA lenses??

mr tibbs · 04-16-2009, 12:12 PM

I tried searching first I swear!!

I thought the FA's were auto focus, and the F's were manual but it looks like I might be wrong. I ask because I have started to look around for a 50mm prime for my k100D and I thought I was after the FA lens because of the auto focus, but this shows that the F is also auto focus?

SMC Pentax-F 50mm F1.7

So, what is the difference exactly?

Ole · 04-16-2009, 12:24 PM

F's were the first line of autofocus lenses, then came FA.

The FA transmits data about at which aperture the lens is sharpest thus facilitating the MTF program line.

Other than that and for cosmetic differences a, say F 50/1.7 and an FA 50/1.7 are basically the same lens.

Look here for an overview of the lens types:

http://www.mosphotos.com/PentaxLensesExplained.html

SOldBear · 04-16-2009, 12:25 PM

Pentax-F series is auto-focus. Technically there is no difference between F and FA.

Some people prefer F series. They say that the F series is better built. I don't know about that, but my F50 1.7 does feel heavier than my FA50 1.7.

mr tibbs · 04-16-2009, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

Pentax-F series is auto-focus. Technically there is no difference between F and FA.

Some people prefer F series. They say that the F series is better built. I don't know about that, but my F50 1.7 does feel heavier my FA50 1.7.

I think those are the two lenses I am looking at. I want a 50mm 1.7f, but after looking around I was a bit confused at the difference between the F and FA. Thanks for the quick answer guys!! Sorry for my noobness.

AndrewG NY · 04-17-2009, 09:50 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by SOldBear

Pentax-F series is auto-focus. Technically there is no difference between F and FA.

Some people prefer F series. They say that the F series is better built. I don't know about that, but my F50 1.7 does feel heavier than my FA50 1.7.

It's not exactly true that there is no difference but from a practical standpoint you get pretty much full functionality on D-SLRs using F (KAF) as well as FA. (KAF2) The FA (KAF2) mount added support for MTF program line and data and contacts related to power zoom.

It's hard to completely generalize but the F lenses tended to have a little more metal and a little less plastic. Some of the F designs were direct autofocus ports of previous Pentax-A manual-focus designs. The F's tend to be a little more rugged-feeling.

At that time, it doesn't seem that there were any real cheapy Pentax-F SMC lenses. This market was instead served by various non-SMC Pentax-F and "Takumar" releases--some of these designs were similar to Pentax-F SMC but may have had some cheaper materials & finish, lacked SMC coatings, etc.

The F designs, being a bit older tended to lack some things that we might take for granted in the latest designs. They generally didn't come with lens hoods at all and when hoods were available they usually were screw-in rather than bayonet designs. Furthermore, most had rotating front elements when focusing, which is less friendly for polarizers and also means that hoods were round rather than using more efficient petal designs. They generally didn't focus as closely and when close-focus was available, it was (like with Pentax-A) often at one end of the zoom and involved entering a 'macro mode' on the zoom ring. This can be problematic at times because you may only be able to focus closely at 70mm but minimum focus distance might be quite long at the short end of the zoom.

FA designs gradually adopted some of these more modern features--internal focus, bayonet hoods, closer-focusing throughout the focal length range. As zooms became the standard "kit" lenses sold with autofocus cameras however, more cheap kit zooms were released with a priority on low cost, size & weight, often with slower f/4-5.6 apertures, sometimes with plastic bayonet mounts, etc.

04-16-2009, 12:12 PM	#1
mr tibbs Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Utah Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 303	Difference between F and FA lenses?? I tried searching first I swear!! I thought the FA's were auto focus, and the F's were manual but it looks like I might be wrong. I ask because I have started to look around for a 50mm prime for my k100D and I thought I was after the FA lens because of the auto focus, but this shows that the F is also auto focus? SMC Pentax-F 50mm F1.7 So, what is the difference exactly?

04-16-2009, 12:24 PM	#2
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,409	F's were the first line of autofocus lenses, then came FA. The FA transmits data about at which aperture the lens is sharpest thus facilitating the MTF program line. Other than that and for cosmetic differences a, say F 50/1.7 and an FA 50/1.7 are basically the same lens. Look here for an overview of the lens types: http://www.mosphotos.com/PentaxLensesExplained.html Last edited by Ole; 04-16-2009 at 12:30 PM.

04-16-2009, 12:25 PM	#3
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Pentax-F series is auto-focus. Technically there is no difference between F and FA. Some people prefer F series. They say that the F series is better built. I don't know about that, but my F50 1.7 does feel heavier than my FA50 1.7. Last edited by SOldBear; 04-16-2009 at 12:35 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What is the difference between these two 55-300mm lenses?	RUSBoris	Pentax DSLR Discussion	6	10-11-2010 07:49 PM
What's the difference between K and M lenses?	ismaelg	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	17	02-02-2010 02:48 PM
What is the difference bwt WR and DA* lenses?	rdrum76	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	07-16-2009 10:43 AM
Difference between 50mm lenses	Tammmzy	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	02-28-2009 06:51 PM
What's the difference between these lenses? (Sigma)	Tom M	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	09-17-2007 05:31 PM

04-16-2009, 12:28 PM	#4
mr tibbs Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Utah Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 303 Original Poster	Originally posted by SOldBear Pentax-F series is auto-focus. Technically there is no difference between F and FA. Some people prefer F series. They say that the F series is better built. I don't know about that, but my F50 1.7 does feel heavier my FA50 1.7. I think those are the two lenses I am looking at. I want a 50mm 1.7f, but after looking around I was a bit confused at the difference between the F and FA. Thanks for the quick answer guys!! Sorry for my noobness.

04-17-2009, 09:50 AM - 1 Like	#5
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	Originally posted by SOldBear Pentax-F series is auto-focus. Technically there is no difference between F and FA. Some people prefer F series. They say that the F series is better built. I don't know about that, but my F50 1.7 does feel heavier than my FA50 1.7. It's not exactly true that there is no difference but from a practical standpoint you get pretty much full functionality on D-SLRs using F (KAF) as well as FA. (KAF2) The FA (KAF2) mount added support for MTF program line and data and contacts related to power zoom. It's hard to completely generalize but the F lenses tended to have a little more metal and a little less plastic. Some of the F designs were direct autofocus ports of previous Pentax-A manual-focus designs. The F's tend to be a little more rugged-feeling. At that time, it doesn't seem that there were any real cheapy Pentax-F SMC lenses. This market was instead served by various non-SMC Pentax-F and "Takumar" releases--some of these designs were similar to Pentax-F SMC but may have had some cheaper materials & finish, lacked SMC coatings, etc. The F designs, being a bit older tended to lack some things that we might take for granted in the latest designs. They generally didn't come with lens hoods at all and when hoods were available they usually were screw-in rather than bayonet designs. Furthermore, most had rotating front elements when focusing, which is less friendly for polarizers and also means that hoods were round rather than using more efficient petal designs. They generally didn't focus as closely and when close-focus was available, it was (like with Pentax-A) often at one end of the zoom and involved entering a 'macro mode' on the zoom ring. This can be problematic at times because you may only be able to focus closely at 70mm but minimum focus distance might be quite long at the short end of the zoom. FA designs gradually adopted some of these more modern features--internal focus, bayonet hoods, closer-focusing throughout the focal length range. As zooms became the standard "kit" lenses sold with autofocus cameras however, more cheap kit zooms were released with a priority on low cost, size & weight, often with slower f/4-5.6 apertures, sometimes with plastic bayonet mounts, etc.