Pentax Lens Knowledge Base

E ngineered specifically for PENTAX DSLR camera line, the PENTAX DA line of professional grade lenses, employ a silent SDM focus structure with tightly sealed weather and dust-resistant quality to augment resilience for employment in rainy and dusty environments.

Pentax's K mount, often called the "PK mount", an accepted camera lens mount for attaching an interchangeable camera lens to a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera. Created by Pentax back in 1975, it has been employed by all 35mm and Pentax DSLRs since. Several other camera makers have also manufactured a number of K-mount cameras and lenses.

Pentax Lens Acronyms

The Pentax K-mount lenses are are the lens mounts for Pentax. Any DSLR made by Pentax is compatible with their lenses as far back as 1973 without an adapter.
AL: Aspherical Lens Elements.
DA: The current lens line for Pentax DSLR's DA L: These are lighter lenses and are also bundled with and designed for the Pentax K-2000.
ED: Extra low Dispersion. Lens element to help correct chromatic aberrations.
FA Lenses: These lenses are designed with use for full-frame film SLR cameras.
IF: Internal Focus
J: Lenses without external aperture ring; camera controlled aperture.
SDM: Supersonic Drive Motor
SMC: Super-Multi Coating (Pentax camera lens coating)
SMCP FA: current generation of autofocus lenses
SP: (Super Protective) coating made of a special fluoride compound
WR: Weather Resistant Lens

Samsung Compatibility

Pentax DA and DA* lenses are compatible with Samsung DSLRs because they are also made by Pentax. The "Samsung" GX-10 and GX-20 are compatible with DA and DA* lenses.

Backward Compatibility

Pentax claims that any camera that can take a DA lens is backward compatible with lenses dating back as far as 1975 without use of an adapter. All other older lenses are compatible with the use of a 645/67 screw mount adapter.

Pentax Q Lenses

PENTAX Q lenses are created to be compatible with the PENTAX Interchangeable Lens Q-series Cameras. Unbelievably compact, Q-mount camera lenses provide a wide variety of adaptable, creative options for Q photographers for a total camera system solution.

Pentax 01 Standard Prime - Q Lens • Unifocal lens for everyday use • Included with purchase of Q body • The Pentax 01 9mm unifocal standard prime lens features a focal length like a 47mm in 35mm SLR format. As it provides a natural perspective nearly identical to that of a human eye, allowing it to be employed as a daily-use, multi-purpose standard lens for a wide variety unique subjects, including portraits and landscapes.  Jun  23, 2011

Pentax 02 Standard Zoom - Q Lens • 3X zoom • Compact form factor • Ideal for wide to medium telephoto applications. The Pentax 5-15 mm Q moount Zoom Lens is an ideal all around lens for Pentax Q cameras. It's a 3x telephoto featuring a focal length similar to a 35mm SLR 27.5-83mm. It's lightweight, compact and envelops range from moderately wide-angle to terse telephoto reach.  Jun  23, 2011

Pentax 03 Fisheye - Q Lens • Unique fisheye effect • Ultra-wide-angle with edge distortion effects. The Pentax Fisheye 3.2mm f/5.6 Q Lens delivers focal length similar to 17.5mm SLR fisheye lens when mounted on a Q camera which it was created for. An ultra wide-angle image effect containing distorted edges provides a unique appearance that's pretty much in vogue. Jun  23, 2011

Pentax 04 Toy Lens Wide - Q Lens  • Wide angle lens • Similar to photographs taken through a traditional toy camera. The Pentax Q Mount Wide-angle Toy Lens dispenses nostalgic, subdued style wide-angle images similar to pictures shot using a toy camera. It is a unifocal lens containing a viewing angle similar to a 35mm lens in the 35mm SLR format. Designed to be used on the Pentax Q cameras  Jun  23, 2011

Pentax 05 Toy Lens Telephoto - Q Lens  • The Pentax Q Mount Telephoto Toy Lens dispenses nostalgic, subdued style wide-angle images similar to pictures shot using a toy camera. It is a unifocal lens containing a viewing angle similar to a 100 mm lens in the 35mm SLR format.   Jun  23, 2011

The PENTAX D FA lens series, are compatible with PENTAX SLR 35mm film cameras, although designed specifically for DSLR cameras, utilizes lens curvatures, coatings, and layout of the optical elements to get rid of ghosting and flare for clear, highest-quality images shot with DSLR cameras. similar to FA, although the optics are optimized for both film and digital

Pentax DA Lenses

The PENTAX DA lens series are manufactured specifically for PENTAX DSLR cameras. DA lenses are harmonize with the digital image sensor in an efficient compact design, to provide the best recipe of price to performance. but optimized for digital bodies and covering the image circle of the reduced-size digital sensor

PENTAX DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED (IF) Fish-Eye Typical internet price $650.

Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 ED AL (IF)  Typical internet price $713.

Pentax 16-45mm f/4.0 SMC PDA ED ALTypical internet price $600.

Pentax SMC DA* Series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM . Typical internet price $1,130.

Pentax 17-70mm f/4 DA SMC AL IF SDM

Pentax SMCP-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Typical internet price $200.

The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR  Typical internet price $200.

Pentax smc DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL IF DC WR lens - Sep 21, 2010

Pentax DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL IF  Typical internet price $500.

Pentax SMC DA* Series 50-135mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM  Typical internet price $857.

Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED Typical internet price $191.

The Pentax SMC Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR  Typical internet price $250.

Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED  Typical internet price $363.

Pentax SMC DA* 60-250mm f/4 ED IF SDM Typical internet price $1,500.

DA Prime Lenses

Pentax 14mm f/2.8 DA ED (IF) Typical internet price $639.

Pentax DA 15mm f/4 Limited $649.95.

Pentax 21mm F/3.2 AL Limited  Typical internet price $518.

Pentax DA 35mm f/2.4 inexpensive prime   - Released Sep 9, 2010

Pentax 35mm f/2.8 DA Macro Limited  Typical internet price $570.

Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 Ultra Compact  Typical internet price $500.

Pentax SMC DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM Prime  Typical internet price $622.

Pentax 70mm f/2.4 DA Limited  Typical internet price $559.

Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM. The SMCP-DA* 200mm Pentax f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM telephoto Lens is a professional tool engineered for restricted use with Pentax DSLR cameras. It features a 300mm 35mm format equivalent focal length. This extended zoom is perfect for a diverse assortment of telephoto shooting, which includes portraiture, action sports and landscapes. May 5, 2011. Typical internet price $1,200.

The Pentax SMCP-DA* 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM . Typical internet price $1,400.

Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses For SLR and Digital

The PENTAX D FA lens series, are compatible with PENTAX SLR 35mm film cameras, although designed specifically for DSLR cameras, utilizes lens curvatures, coatings, and layout of the optical elements to get rid of ghosting and flare for clear, highest-quality images shot with DSLR cameras. similar to FA, although the optics are optimized for both film and digital. These lenses are coated with glazes and are built with clearer and better glass.  SMCP DFA: new lenses being introduced - unlike recent lenses for the istD, maintains the aperture ring and has an image circle big enough for use with 35mm film cameras, but size and optically optimized for digital

Pentax SMCP-D FA 50mm f/2.8 Typical internet price $428.

Pentax FA Zoom Lenses - Both Full Frame and Digital

PENTAX FA series lenses are designed for SLR film cameras, although they are compatible with DSLR cameras. The FA series provides full-frame coverage complete with full automatic or manual aperture control.

Pentax 28-80 F3.5-4.7 FA - Note: This lens is not compatible with some of the older PZ series cameras, or with manual exposure camera models. Typical internet price $120.

Pentax SMCP-FA 28-105mm f/3.2-4.5 AL AF [IF]

Pentax SMCP-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited. Typical internet price $578.

Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 - Pentax standard autofocus lens. An excellent selection for poor light handheld shooting, and effectively turns into a short bright telephoto lens for portrait work when mounted upon an APS-C series DSLR camera. Pentax Super Multi Coati allows the highest possible light transmission. This fast, normal prime has been marketed for more than ten years, but there's not another lens in Pentax's current stable can create creamy defocus backgrounds like this one. Typical internet price $449. May 11, 2011

Pentax SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited  A flexible, medium-telephoto high resolution lens that was specially designed for portrait and snapshot photography. As a consequence, it precisely reproduces the hues, color and texture of your subject's skin, along with their clothes and accessories, assuring an excellent depiction of highlights, out of focus (bokeh) areas and edge-to-edge image sharpness. Typical internet price $1,049.  May 10, 2011.

Pentax 100mm f/2.8 WR D FA smc Macro  Typical internet price $850.

PENTAX D FA 645 camera lenses are created for exclusive use on the PENTAX 645D system cameras. In addition to providing full compatibility with PENTAX 645 mounts, D FA 645 system lenses encompass today's imaging in coatings, glass, and construction technologies to get the best image quality for rigorous demands of digital camera image sensors.

Discontinued Pentax Lenses

Pentax SMCP-FA 35mm f/2.0 AL

Pentax SMC P FA J 75-300 mm - f/4.5-5.8 AL