By Tati Taylor 3 days ago, Cameras & Lenses
The best Pentax lenses at an affordable prices.
This brand is quite famous among photography enthusiasts, and it’s hard to say whether the cameras or the lenses have brought that popularity. Either kind of device is robust and performant so you can rely on the high quality being delivered with any purchase. In fact, if you are interested in the best Pentax lenses, here is the list of the most valued models for different kinds of uses.
For any camera, there can be found some compatible lenses manufactured by independent companies like Sigma. The latter, however, recently stopped producing models with the K mount so it is a good thing Pentax has its own production. Let’s see what are the best models they’ve created.
Mount: Pentax KAF, Pentax KAF4 | Diaphragm blades: 9 | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.95 m | Max magnification: 0.32x | Filter thread: 67 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 78.5x175 mm | Weight: 819 g
⊕ Protective coating
⊕ In-body SR system
⊕ Very detailed images
⊕ Pleasant bokeh
⊕ Sealed body
⊖ Expensive
This is one of the best Pentax lenses of the telephoto range, compatible with full-frame and APS-C cameras. On the latter, the range will shift towards 105-315mm, so keep that in mind. The lens operates on a ring-type SDM and has a quick-shift focus system added to it.
This means that the autofocus is pretty quick and quiet and you can easily override it to do a manual correction. The optics are coated with the brand’s special formula that increases the quality of the image with a protective fluorine layer on the objective to ensure that water, grease or dust won’t obscure your shot.
Mount: Pentax KAF | Diaphragm blades: 9 | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.95 m | Max magnification: 0.3x | Filter thread: 58 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 76.5x89 mm | Weight: 442 g
⊕ Space-saving design
⊕ Agile AF
⊕ Multi-layer HD coating
⊕ Electromagnetic aperture controller
⊕ Tightly sealed barrel
⊖ Slow diaphragm
This powerful Pentax telephoto lens is great for those who record footage as well as take still pictures. It can also be mounted on APS-C cameras and give an effective 84.5mm and 460mm range on them. It received full image-enhancing coating and an extra layer of repelling solution, and these make sure the image is as clear and detailed as possible.
The focus is shifted with the PLM that performs really well during video recording and is quite convenient for photography as well. In addition, you have a hood on the lens that allows inserting various filters on the go.
Mount: Pentax KAF | Diaphragm blades: 9 | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.38 m | Max magnification: 0.2x | Filter thread: 82 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 88.5x109.5 mm | Weight: 787 g
⊕ Quick-shift focus system
⊕ Incorporated SDM
⊕ Outstanding visuals
⊕ Flawless bokeh
⊕ Zoom locking feature
⊖ Perceivable distortion
This universal Pentax full frame lens will also work on an APS-C but with a 37-107mm view, instead. In either case, the outcomes will be beautiful and detailed. That is in part conditioned by the ED glass used throughout the lens elements which include four aspherical ones.
The installation of the new-generation SDM is another reason for such great performance as it allowed the lens to focus instantly. With such little perks as water and dust resistance, a hood, and a soft carrying case, this is a good purchase indeed.
Mount: Pentax KAF | Diaphragm blades: 6 | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.3 m | Max magnification: 0.17x | Filter thread: 49 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 64x44.5 mm | Weight: 193 g
⊕ Compact profile
⊕ Protective treatment
⊕ Hybrid aspherical lens
⊕ Shake-eliminating construction
⊖ Not weather-resistant
Here is a great Pentax wide angle lens but make sure to use it on a full-frame device. The APS-C format would narrow it to 53.5mm. The construction includes two rings, the aperture and distance ones, but their inclusion did not add bulk to the body. It will add under 200 gr to your camera weight.
The special chemical treatment increases the amount of light that can penetrate the optical system and eliminates annoying occurrences like flares and such. This empowers you to work successfully in demanding environments like with the use of backlighting. Needless to say, the images will be saturated and detailed in any conditions.
Mount: Pentax KAF | Diaphragm blades: 9 | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.28 m | Max magnification: 0.2x | Filter thread: N/A | Dimensions (WxL): 98.5x143.5 mm | Weight: 1040 g
⊕ High-profile optics
⊕ Ultra-wide angle
⊕ Impressive AF performance
⊕ Sealed barrel
⊕ Integrated hood
⊖ Hefty
If you’re looking for a Pentax autofocus lens with an ultra-wide angle, you are likely to fall in love with this piece of optics. The fixed f/2.8 aperture requires some skill from the photographer but pays back by allowing precise control and performing outstandingly in approaching or full darkness. It has great SDM-type autofocus that operates swiftly and noiselessly.
The multiple layers of coating include those enhancing the image quality and some to protect the objective from having stains or attracting particles. The entire barrel is sealed, too, so shooting in the rain will actually result in beautiful frames with no risk for the equipment.
Mount: Pentax KAF | Diaphragm blades: 9 | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.2 m | Max magnification: 0.13x | Filter thread: 77 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 91.5x203 mm | Weight: 1755g
⊕ Fluid and silent AF
⊕ Mesmerizing bokeh effect
⊕ Aero Bright Coating II
⊕ Not afraid of dust
⊕ Detachable mount
⊖ Unwieldy
If you’re looking for Pentax K1 lenses in particular, here is a popular model you should consider. It has several enhancing coatings applied to improve image quality and brightness as well as protect the main objective from collecting streaks and dust particles that obscure the view.
You can be sure that your pictures will be saturated and detailed at all times. Inside is a DC motor that provides smooth and fast adjustment of focus. This is a highly-resistant lens so you can safely expose it to any natural elements your photo shoots require. As a small bonus, the manufacturers included a tripod mount that will help keep the whole construction in better balance.
Mount: Pentax KAF3 | Diaphragm blades: 9 | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.5 m | Max magnification: 0.22x | Filter thread: 62 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 73x86.5 mm | Weight: 440 g
⊕ Compact body
⊕ Aero Bright Coating
⊕ Rounded diaphragm
⊕ Resistant to elements
⊕ Sensibly priced
⊖ Quality loss towards edges
One of the more standard Pentax lenses, it offers great opportunities for those working with portraiture. It can focus quickly and precisely between its wide-angle and telephoto positions.
Moreover, after your AF has locked on an object, you can override it and introduce a manual adjustment. This feature makes this lens useful for macro frames. The dimensions of this piece of optics are pretty miniature so you can comfortably carry it to outdoor photo sessions. It also helps that the barrel is sealed so no rain or flying dust particles can do any harm.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pentax 70-210mm f/4
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Pentax 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3
Cheap |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Pentax 24-70mm F2.8
Full Frame |
CHECK PRICE → |
As you have seen already, there is an array of the best Pentax lenses with one or even several models for each genre. To find your own among the overwhelming numbers of alternatives, make sure to set the right priorities for your budget and working conditions. Here are a few crucial things you should pay attention to.
This is something you should really look deeper into but in a nutshell, the focal length defines how close the object you’re shooting will look in the picture. The marking indicates the distance between the camera’s sensor and the optical center of the lens itself. The latter can be static, for instance, 100mm. It can also be variable and have the 24mm-55mm or 100mm-400mm markings, such as you see in zoom lenses.
This issue flows out of the previous one, should you go for a fixed or variable focal length? The former is what you call a prime lens and it has some good and bad sides. For instance, it can be very small and lightweight because there are fewer internal parts, which also means it is cheaper and more robust. In addition, the image quality obtainable by such a lens is higher, especially since you can get a wider aperture pretty often and thus shoot at night.
The one thing primes don’t have is flexibility, and they tend to demand a much higher skill of photography for good results. So, if you’re a beginner or you often switch between things, the zoom lens will be your trusty partner. You can easily experiment with genres or use one lens in a variety of situations, saving money and space your gear takes. Carefully selected, the zoom lens can match a prime in quality.
The sensors in cameras have sizes, too, and if you disregard this fact you can discover that your new Pentax telephoto lens has a range very different from the one indicated on its body. To avoid confusion, check what your camera’s crop factor is and then do simple math to calculate the real range in full-frame equivalent. For instance, a Pentax SLR that doesn’t have a full-frame sensor has a 1.5 crop factor. You multiply that number to the range to see what it would have been on a properly-sized sensor. If the lens has an 18–55 mm marking, it would behave like a 27–83 mm on this camera.
If you’re a studio photographer, there is no need for you to bother with such protection. However, if you plan to go outside with the lens even occasionally, then set the preference on a resistant piece of optics. There are levels to it, from surviving a drizzle to resisting strong outpours and other unfavorable weather outbreaks, so estimate what you’re likely to experience.
There are not too many Pentax digital lenses on the market if you compare the selection to that of other big names. However, what they may lack in variety, they certainly don’t in quality. Both the cameras and lenses of this brand are feature-packed and performant.
The newer SLR bodies all take SDM lenses without trouble. With the DA* 55mm, 17-70mm, 18-135mm lenses, you will experience problems in case of mounting on the older K110D and many of those that came before.
If you carefully read the supporting documents, you will see “Assembled in the Philippines” or Vietnam, depending on the type of lens. The fact that they don’t use the word “Made” tells you that the parts come from elsewhere so it’s hard to answer this question.
This abbreviation, found in the names of a whole range of lenses, stands for Super-Multi-Coated. This type of enhancement was created in the 1970s, just when the M42 mount started to fall out of popularity.
