Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW

The 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.

Pentax HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR

This 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. 

HD PENTAX-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR

The 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.

Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

The 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.

HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR

This 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 WR

The 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. 

HD Pentax-D FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW

There 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/1.4

The 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'.

Pentax SMC P-D FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro

Optically, 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.

Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR

As 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 Limited

Here 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 Limited

Although 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.

Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4 Model I (8-Element) Vintage Lens

If 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 Lens

A 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 Lens

The 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 Lens

There 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.

Pentax SMC P-FA 20-35mm f/4.0 AL Vintage Lens

20-35mm 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 Lens

We 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.

HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR

Although 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.

Pentax HD PENTAX DA AF 1.4X AW Rear Converter

In 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 Limited

In 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 Limited

On 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 Limited

This 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.

Pentax HD PENTAX-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited

Overall, 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.

Pentax HD PENTAX-DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited

With this 70mm f/2.4 optic, Pentax has created a lens worthy of their 'Limited' moniker. Optically, this lens is more than capable of delivering images with outstanding sharpness, low CA, distortion and falloff. Thanks to the aluminium lens barrel, this lens also feels sturdy whilst remaining lightweight. The HD optical coating also helps with retaining contrast when shooting into the light. Overall, this is a very, very good lens.

Pentax HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

The HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens has some interesting and useful features. Weather resistance, superb bokeh, good sharpness at most focal lengths, electromagnetic diaphragm and retractable construction. Overall, the Pentax HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE is a useful lens with good punchy results and lovely bokeh.

SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR

There is a lot to like about this lens and in a practical sense it gives a good account of itself. There are design compromises that have led to drawbacks, but often it is a matter of matching a lens design with the desired application. If a lens for architecture and copying of documents is wanted, then this is not it. If it is wanted for general shooting of pictorial subjects and portraits then the lens produces excellent, visually appealing images that have a very attractive character about them. When we add to this the ability to keep shooting in the rain and cold, then we do have an extremely versatile option for Pentax users. In terms of handling the lens is an absolute joy to use.

Pentax SMC DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED(IF) SDM

Pentax has created a near-perfect super telephoto optic in the 200mm f/2.8. It is capable of producing images with outstanding sharpness, low levels of chromatic aberrations, and negligible distortion. All this from a compact, lightweight package that focuses quickly, has sealing against dust and it's a bargain. 

Pentax SMC DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM

This 55mm lens from Pentax is without a doubt a superb performer. Unfortunately, despite the excellent sharpness of images when stopped down, and great build quality, this kind of performance isn't uncommon for a standard lens.

SMC Pentax-DA 35mm f/2.4 AL

Low cost, high quality, and a very useful experience in simple, one-lens photography. A standard lens is still a good place for photographers to start before decisions are made as to whether wider or longer lenses are needed. There is a certain discipline in using a fixed focal length, plus of course a very high level of optical quality. Very Highly Recommended!