A round-up of some of the best Pentax Full Frame & APS-C lenses including a brief history of Pentax lenses.
Posted: 30/03/2023 - 09:03
Pentax Full Frame & APS-C Lenses
A round-up of some of the best Pentax Full Frame and APS-C lenses.
An Introduction To Pentax Lens History
The history of Pentax, originally the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd., is a long one, firmly embedded in the single-lens reflex concept. The first to offer the pentaprism finder in the 1950s and now almost the last man standing in the DSLR market, the tide flowing onwards towards mirrorless cameras. However, Pentax has seemingly firmly attached themselves to the DSLR and continues to develop cameras and lenses, realising that there may always be a niche market for that style of camera and being ready and willing to serve it.
All Pentax lenses can be used on all current Pentax DSLR camera bodies, the only limitations being the lenses themselves, so for example a manual focus lens is still a manual focus lens. That statement is almost true, as there is even an AF adapter for manual focus lenses to enable AF. The adapter is long discontinued, but still to be found used.
This article is not covering the very oldest lenses as we have not reviewed them, but some have been looked at and some may yet be covered as further Vintage reviews. The original Asahiflex used a 37mm thread and from the Pentax camera onwards the 42mm screw thread became the norm. There was an Asahiflex adapter to use the oldest lenses on the new M42 screw-thread camera bodies. In 1975, the new Pentax K bayonet mount was developed in conjunction with Zeiss, and that is still in use today, albeit with electronic additions. There is a Pentax Adapter K that enables all older screw thread lenses to be used on the bayonet-fit bodies, with some restrictions.
Concentrating on the bayonet fit lenses, there are some basic categories. The original K series lenses are often the same as the last of the screw thread lenses and they will be labelled SMC Pentax, the SMC standing for Super-Multi-Coating, Pentax's 7-layer coating technology that was another first in 1972.
Competing with the original Olympus OM-1 and the new trend for compact SLRs, the next range are the M series, labelled SMC Pentax-M. The K and the M lenses have no electronic contacts but can still be used, with some limitations on metering and the stop-down mechanism.
Still with manual focus lenses, we move to the A series, labelled SMC Pentax-A and this adds an A setting to the aperture ring, enabling the camera to control the aperture. From this point onwards, lenses are fully functional on current DSLR cameras, giving us almost 50 years of lenses that are still totally viable and conveniently fully compatible with the latest DSLRs.
The final step is the AF lens range, and the first are labelled SMC Pentax-F, then SMC Pentax-FA as the lens and camera are able to share more information and offer more features including enhanced metering options. A star indicates lenses of the highest quality, for example, SMC-Pentax FA*.
Up to this point, all lenses are full frame. With the introduction of Digital SLR cameras, the APS-C crop frame was initially adopted. All the full-frame lenses can still be used, but their field of view will be cropped. The “crop factor” is 1.5x, meaning a 50mm lens would have the field of view of a 75mm lens. However, it is still a 50mm lens and have depth of field accordingly greater than a full frame 75mm would have. We get more depth of field, which could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on what the photographer wants to achieve. Crop format digital lenses are labelled SMC Pentax-DA.
Finally, full-frame DSLRs have arrived and the new digital lenses for them are marked SMC Pentax-D FA. Coating technology has also moved on and a new HD coating is replacing the SMC, so a full frame lens would now be marked as HD Pentax-D FA.
Whilst the statement that all Pentax lenses can be used is almost correct, the latest incarnation of the K bayonet mount is called KAF4 and this means that lenses have an electronic aperture mechanism, for accuracy and silent operation. These lenses will still work with older camera bodies, but only at open aperture, so any KAF4 mount lenses should be checked for compatibility with your camera. All current cameras and some older ones are all fine and details can be found on the Ricoh website.
There are a number of Pentax features that are worth mentioning. The Quick Shift clutch mechanism allows full-time manual focusing even when using AF. This is found in DA and D FA lenses. WR is Weather Resistance and AW is All Weather, an upgraded version of WR. Star lenses are intended to be the highest quality group. Limited lenses are generally finished in Aluminium, with high-class engravings, superior optics and hand finishing in Limited quantities, hence the name. SMC refers to Super-Multi-Coating. HD reduces reflections even further and is High Definition coating. Takumar lenses are Pentax M42 screw thread, labelled Takumar for conventional coating, Super-Multi-Coated Takumar for multi-coated lenses and finally SMC Takumar, also multi-coated but also having an actuator lever for open aperture metering.
Best Pentax Full Frame Lenses
HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AWThe Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW delivers very good sharpness and good build quality. It offers silent focusing, weather/dust resistance, low falloff/distortion and a full-time manual focus override. The zoom creeps a little when titled but overall, it performs as you'd expect for a top-of-the-range lens of this ilk. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 |
HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WRThis lens is a very satisfying one to use and offers lovely results with a very high level of consistency over its entire range. Sharpness is even, you get smooth bokeh, autofocus is silent, CA is well managed and it's resistant to flare. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 |
HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WRThe Pentax D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR is quite simply a beautiful, sweet lens to use. It is heavy and bulky and not inexpensive, but it delivers a very high standard of performance and maintains that standard equally well at all apertures and focal lengths. From sweeping vistas to expansive interiors, a lens to aspire to. Sample Photos | Equipment Gallery - HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 |
HD Pentax-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AWThe 70-200mm is up amongst the best Pentax zoom lenses - a very fine lens with good "character" and bokeh and a high level of sharpness that applies very evenly across the frame. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - HD Pentax-D FA* 70-200mm f.2.8 |
HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WRThis is a low-cost, standard lens but it seems there have been no compromises on performance. There is a more limited aperture range than some of the alternatives, but this also gives us a more compact and lighter optic. The lens performs very well, with an incredible evenness across its range, with centre and edge matching each other in sharpness over most of the apertures and focal lengths. CA values are low, distortion well within acceptable limits, and to that, we add Weather Resistance as well. |
HD Pentax-D FA 70-210mm f/4 ED SDM WRThe Pentax-D FA 70-210mm f/4 ED SDM WR is compact, light and efficient with a lovely balance of optical properties. Sharpness levels are generally very good, you get low CA, modest vignetting, low distortion, reliable AF, smooth bokeh and excellent flare control at a good price. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - HD Pentax-D FA 70-210mm f/4 |
HD Pentax-D FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AWThere are plenty of 50mm f/1.4 lenses, although many of them have designs that date back possibly decades. There is nothing intrinsically wrong in this as the 50mm has always been a high-quality optic, generally considered the perfect standard focal length for 35mm format. However, things move on, and even higher standards are now possible, albeit using complex designs and being very expensive to produce. This Pentax 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens aspires to be amongst the best of the best, and indeed it achieves that and at a price which is still high, but which is highly competitive within its own bracket. Add effective AF and all-weather construction where some much more expensive lenses are manual focus only, and Pentax Users have a very desirable package. |
HD Pentax-D FA* 85mm f/1.4The lens delivers the highest quality, unfortunately at the highest price in its group as well. However, the quality cannot be denied, so if that is what is required the answer is clear. It is large and heavy, there is no escaping that, but there is a clear reason for it in the construction detail that has gone into the end product. To be as good as it is, it needs to be a big, heavy lens. We are always looking for that "pixie dust" in a lens as well, that magical quality that cannot be measured but which we know when we see it. These lenses are the keepers, the ones that don't get swapped about, and once a Pentax user has the HD Pentax-D FA* 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW lens in their hands I very much doubt that they will want to give it up. 'Highly Recommended'. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - HD Pentax-D FA* 85mm f/1.4 |
SMC Pentax-D FA 50mm f/2.8 MacroOptically, it is tough to fault this lens, as its performance is excellent in every respect. Unfortunately, the design of the lens and the way it handles does feel a little dated. Still, if you can live with the slightly antiquated design, you will be rewarded with outstanding sharpness, from a relatively lightweight lens that should be no trouble to pack in your kit bag ready for a time you fancy taking the occasional close-up. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - SMC Pentax-D FA 50mm f/2.8 |
Best Pentax Full Frame SMC Lenses (Now Upgraded To HD)
SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WRAs far as lenses go, this one is a top-notch performer. It's sharp from maximum aperture, displays very little fringing, falloff or distortion and it is built to a very high standard. Considering all this, the price is very reasonable too, and this lens should find many a fan amongst Pentax camera owners as a result. |
SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL LimitedHere we have a very fine lens indeed. It is an ideal fast standard for DSLRs, but then so is the 35mm f2.4 and that is offered at a fraction of the price. The less expensive lens is also excellent, but not quite as good as this 31mm. Casual users may not appreciate the difference, but keen users will. Not in isolation, but when given the chance to compare there is a difference. There is also a difference between a plastic construction and the gorgeous aluminium finish that we have here. For photographers who make large prints for exhibition then this 31mm will add a new level of pleasure in its rendering and subtle qualities. |
SMC Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 LimitedAlthough a fairly unusual focal length for APS-C DSLRs the 43mm proves to be a versatile lens with excellent imaging properties. It will be appreciated most by those who need a lens capable of producing large prints or the highest quality for magazine reproduction. It is compact, ideal for travelling light, and has a superior rendering to say the 50mm f/1.4 FA lens. |
Best Pentax Full Frame Vintage Lenses
Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4 Model I (8-Element) Vintage LensIf one of these can be found, its status and reputation unfortunately means that the price will be higher. It may also be inflated by the collectors market. What a fair price would be is something for debate, but if a good sample can be found at a price that seems acceptable to the buyer, then it will be an excellent lens to own. And, hopefully, to use. Does it have a special quality? Yes, it probably does. There needs to be a longer period to explore the possibilities, but in this short review period the lens has certainly delivered. Without doubt there will be a pang of regret when it has to go back, which does indicate that this journey of discovery was worth the effort. |
Asahi Super Takumar 55mm f/2.0 M42 Vintage LensA typical price for one of these lenses might be as little as £10, or perhaps up to £25. Faster options will be slightly more, but something really nice should be easily found at under £35. At these price levels, a good example is perfectly usable for critical photography and the performance is significantly better than many standard zooms. Factor in the cost of the adapter for your camera, but even so the value for money is without question. There is nothing to lose by trying these older lenses and much fun to be gained. They can easily be used for the most critical photography if desired. |
Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Vintage LensThe sample used for review was found on eBay and purchased for £26 plus shipping. It's a superb lens at that price, fun to use and absolutely viable on a modern DSLR. Manual focus may not suit everyone, but the tactile feel of it is sublime. Well worth a try and this could easily become a firm favourite. |
SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Vintage LensThere is still a case for the fast standard lens. Zooms have convenience and avoid too much lens changing, but the fast prime lens is smaller, lighter and sometimes even of better quality. The quality issue is perhaps of less relevance as the results from zoom lenses have become so good, but the bright maximum aperture and small size do give us the freedom to continue shooting in much lower light. The 50mm lens was at one time the lens of choice with a new camera, and it is still a very versatile option today. Many photographers will carry such a lens as well as a bag of zooms, and the SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 is an excellent choice. The quality is high, the lens handles well and it is an unobtrusive addition to any camera kit. |
SMC Pentax-FA 20-35mm f/4 AL Vintage Lens20-35mm is a very useful ultra-wide to wide standard lens range, ideal for travel, architecture and landscape as well as street photography and group portraits. The f/4 constant aperture is useful and the compact size is amazing. Performance wise the lens is also pretty impressive, with just the caveat that the close up or test target distances used for the technical tests reveal the edge weakness of the non-telecentric design. Fortunately, normal distances reveal a sharper end result and the Pentax SMC P-FA 20-35mm f/4.0 AL lens is a very useful addition to the armoury of lenses for the Pentax full frame photographer. Highly recommended. |
SMC Pentax-FA 24-90mm f/3.5-4.5 AL [IF] Vintage LensWe don't spend our lives photographing test charts, and this would be the wrong lens to use if we did. Central sharpness is very good throughout, the only problem being the indifferent edge sharpness. This is not as bad as it seems though, in that real-world 3D images are fine and the lens delivers clean, crisp images. Clearly the newer 24-70mm lens is a better performer, but at a much higher cost, but the option is there. As the lens is actually very usable, despite its foibles, it remains good value for money. Flat subjects are not rendered as well at close distances, so this is not ideal for copying documents or test charts, for example. But 3D images in the real world are sharp and crisp with very pleasant bokeh and general rendering. This reviewer has this lens on the K-1 for general shooting and it handles beautifully and is very versatile. It is also a perfect choice of focal lengths for the full-frame K-1, filling a gap by extending the focal length range when compared to the 24-70mm and 28-105mm alternatives. It can definitely be recommended. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - SMC Pentax-FA 24-90mm f/3.5-4.5 |
Best Pentax APS-C Crop Format Lenses
HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WRAlthough the on-paper specification of this lens may not set the world on fire with excitement, this lens delivers excellent levels of sharpness, handles well, focuses reasonably quickly and is reasonably priced. As a result, it should win over many fans amongst Pentax camera users. Read Review | Equipment Gallery - HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 |
HD Pentax-DA AF 1.4X AW Rear ConverterIn the past, teleconverters gained a reputation for poor image quality, forcing too many compromises from your existing lenses. Pentax has proved with this converter that you need not compromise on image quality with a teleconverter, nor on weather sealing, or handling. This converter will be well worthy of consideration by those who already own compatible lenses. |
HD Pentax-DA 15mm f/4 ED AL LimitedIn the case of this lens, the sharpness towards the edges of the frame isn't up to the standard you might expect from a lens of this calibre, which is a shame. Even so, the compact dimensions make this an ideal choice for street photography or for travelling light. |
HD Pentax-DA 21mm f/3.2 AL LimitedOn the whole, this is a very decent lens, capable of producing very high quality images. The premium build and handling alone are probably worth the slightly higher price this lens carries. Those looking for a moderately wide angle lens or their Pentax SLR should certainly keep this lens in mind. |
HD Pentax-DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro LimitedThis lens appears to have everything going for it. It's built well, handles well and produces stunningly sharp images from maximum aperture. Given the performance this lens delivers, the slight price premium is a small ask. Even those not specifically looking for a macro optic will be pleased with how this lens performs. |
HD Pentax-DA 40mm f/2.8 LimitedOverall, this lens performs excellently, addressing some of the weaknesses of the other 40mm pancake lenses in their lineup at the same time. Whether this is worth the extra hundred pounds or more to you, will depend on how much you value things like, resistance to flare, whether a hood is included, build quality or how nice the lens is to focus manually. |
Members photos with related tags: Pentax
Add Comment
To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.
365 posts
4 years