Buy Pentax Lenses ((TOP))
If you're shooting with a Pentax DSLR, we've picked out the best Pentax lenses for you to choose. From portable budget lenses to the bigger, professional-oriented zooms and primes, the Pentax stable consists of all sorts of different lenses. In this guide, we've chosen the best of the best, based on our reviewing experience with Pentax gear.
buy pentax lenses
Despite getting in on the DSLR action early with the APS-C format *ist D in 2003, it would take Pentax another thirteen years to create a full-frame DSLR in the shape of the K-1 in 2016. As such, there are plenty APS-C format lenses to choose from, and a more limited full-frame range.
Those with an APS-C format camera like the Pentax K-70 can use full-frame lenses with a 1.5x focal length multiplier (approx). For example, the professional Pentax-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens on a Pentax K-70 becomes a 76.5mm lens.
Pentax doesn't offer nearly as many lenses for its system as other manufacturers do for theirs and third parties don't support it quite as extensively, either. Sigma released a handful of its Art and Contemporary K-mount lenses, but many have gone out of production; you can still get the 30mm F1.4 Art for APS-C and 35mm F1.4 Art for full-frame, but that's it. Tamron doesn't offer any of its current lenses for the system but does license out some of its designs under the Pentax banner.
That said, all the basics are available. You might just have one or two options for a particular type in the mount, and some options might seem a bit outdated compared with lenses from other systems. For instance, whereas Pentax still relies on screw-driven focus for many lenses, most other systems go for quieter in-lens focus motors. That said, you won't find a match for some Pentax-exclusive lenses on competing mounts. The svelte DA Limited series, a line of compact lenses with metal construction, has obtained an almost cult-like following, for example.
For primes, many of Pentax's best are pricey Limited lenses. We haven't reviewed a couple of its affordable options, such as the DA 35mm F2.4 ($150) and DA 50mm F1.8 ($125), but they should be on your radar. If you want an F1.4, the $500 Sigma 30mm F1.4 Art is available in K-mount.
There are several telephoto lenses in the DA series, too. We've not had a chance to review one of the most recent and popular entries, the HD DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE, but hope to soon. The DA* 60-250mm F4 and 50-135mm F2.8 also perform well.
Pentax established the Limited lens lineup with its first full-frame FA offerings and translated the concept into the digital realm with its DA Limited series. The Limited lenses are all built around the same concept: quality optics, compact size, and sturdy metal construction.
In this respect, Pentax photographers can choose from countless original Pentax lenses that can be classified into different classes. Although the Pentax company has since been bought up by Ricoh, the lenses of this manufacturer nevertheless continue to convince in numerous tests and comparisons. Even if the range of lenses is not as extensive as that of the global players in the lens market - Nikon and Canon - the company still offers the right lens for every shooting situation and every requirement. Fixed focal lengths are offered as well as zoom lenses, whereby all important focal length ranges are covered by the wide-angle, standard and telephoto lenses. Moreover, there are not only Pentax lenses for APS-C SLR cameras, but also for system cameras.
If you know exactly which Pentax lens you would like to buy, you are welcome to use our filter function to quickly find the suitable model. Are you still unsure about your choice and don't know which lens is best for your Pentax camera? Then simply scroll down to the lower section of our webshop, because there we have compiled a comprehensive buying guide for you, which provides a lot of further useful information, such as about the available bayonet connections and the typical abbreviations in the product names of the lenses.
The lenses with K bayonet are designed for the Pentax DSLRs. The mount was developed back in 1975 and is still valid for the digital SLR cameras of this brand today. This means that the K lenses of today can still be used on the older, analogue SLR cameras. In the meantime, this bayonet is also used on other SLR cameras - such as the Samsung models manufactured between 2005 and 2008.
The Q bayonet was developed specifically for the Pentax system camera series, which has been around since 20011. Since the sensor of these cameras is smaller than that of many other system cameras, special lenses had to be developed. Especially in the wide-angle range, very short focal lengths are required because of the smaller image circle, as the crop factor is 5.53. A focal length of 3.2 millimetres on the Q lens therefore corresponds to a 35 mm equivalent focal length of 18 millimetres.
Now that you know which series you should be looking at for a Pentax lens, it remains to choose the right focal length for your needs. To do this, you first need to decide whether you want to use the lens to zoom - that is, to get closer to subjects that are further away - or whether you are more interested in a fast fixed focal length. While the former are perfect all-rounders and are therefore well suited for travelling, fixed focal lengths are especially good for portrait photography. But fixed focal lengths are also usually a good choice for macro shots, where you can capture small details in a big way. Among the Pentax zoom lenses you will find a wide range of standard, travel, telephoto and ultra-wide-angle zooms, so that you are prepared for every application. Telephoto zooms, for example, are ideal for wildlife, sports and action photography, while ultra-wide-angle lenses are great for landscapes and architecture. Standard and travel zooms are flexible to use and compact, which makes them very suitable as an "always-on lens".
In the days of analogue photography and here especially in the 80s, Pentax SLR cameras (like the ME or ME super) were quite common. Unfortunately, Pentax's market share has shrunk in times of digital cameras. As a result, Pentax owners usually have to dig a little deeper into their pockets when it comes to lenses, and third-party lens manufacturers have not equipped their entire range of focal lengths with a Pentax mount.
That's a difficult and painful decision to make, though, because it typically accompanies another, no less gut-wrenching choice: either you ditch all of your existing beloved lenses or you continue to use them via a dumb adapter. Do the latter and in the process you'll lose autofocus capability and possibly aperture control, too.
But what if all of that wasn't the case? That's where MonsterAdapter and its new LA-KE1 adapter come in. MonsterAdapter has a fair bit of experience with lens adaptation, as it has previously created four electronically-equipped, E-mount MonsterAdapters for Contax N, Nikon F, Minolta Vectis and Sony A-mount lenses. This new K-to-E-mount adapter is more or less the same tech in a different form factor.
The LA-KE1 lets you shoot your K-mount lenses on crop or full-frame Sony E-mount bodies and allows you to either switch back and forth between K-mount and E-mount bodies while sharing lenses, or move to Sony entirely while taking many of your Pentax lenses along for the ride. It's essentially a KAF2 mount, meaning it supports both screw-drive AF and electronic control for in-lens AF, and also has an aperture actuation lever.
It's equally important to note what this adapter can't do though. It won't allow autofocus during video capture at all, and nor will it fully work with every AF-capable K-mount lens or E-mount camera body. But, if your lenses are fully supported, it'll give you the access to autofocus and electronic aperture control that other adapters lack. And in most cases, it will also let you access Sony's excellent AF tracking, face recognition and human/animal eye detection with your Pentax glass.
Since it sits in between the camera body and lens with which you're shooting, the MonsterAdapter adds 46mm (1.8") to the depth of their combination. That, along with the fact that SLR lenses tend to be bulkier in the first place, effectively negates the size and weight advantage of the mirrorless body.
Hence, you'll still get a better shooting experience with designed-for-mirrorless lenses, unless size and weight aren't a concern as in, say, studio shooting. Save for a couple of protrusions to allow space for motors, the barrel of the adapter is about 66mm (2.6") diameter. That's about the same diameter as Pentax's 100mm F2.8 WR Macro lens, by way of comparison.
Flick this switch out of its default position and for lenses which offer a choice of either in-lens or screw-drive AF, operation will be locked into the screw-drive mode. If you own a lens with a failed internal motor that's potentially a big deal, breathing new life into an otherwise AF-less lens. Given that SDM motors have a questionable reputation, especially those which aren't used frequently, this switch could be a lifesaver for some Pentaxians.
The list of supported lenses is even lengthier and made up almost entirely of primes, with only nine of 53 supported lenses being zooms. Of these, 21 are APS-C lenses and the remainder are full-frame types. APS-C lenses will be automatically detected by the attached camera and the crop applied, although you can override this if you prefer.
And not only are many beloved Limited and Star lenses included on the list, but also some quirkier models too. Don't expect support for low-end consumer glass any time soon, though. Not surprisingly, kit or travel zooms don't make the cut. In all, the list of supported lenses is as follows, sorted by focal length:
Compared to Pentax's phase-detection autofocus, the adapted lenses focus around 40-60% more slowly, although this does vary significantly by lens model and AF technology. A fairer comparison is to Pentax's live view AF, perhaps, and here the MonsterAdapter comes closer, trailing by about 20-40%. 041b061a72