Pentax lenses: reviews and descriptions

Pentax was founded in 1919, and in2008 it was swallowed up by a large Japanese corporation "Hoya". Now Pentax is a trademark, under which high-quality optical equipment is offered. In the world the company takes the fourth place among the firms that produce SLR cameras and accessories. Traditionally, Pentax's lenses are in high demand both among professionals and novices and amateurs.

Brand labeling

The Pentax lenses are marked as follows:

1. DA - for digital camera format APS C.
2. DA L - simplified configuration with plastic bayonet. On sale recently, other models are equipped with metal components.
3. DA Star, FA Star - professional products, protected from dust, water.
4. SDM - focus works on ultrasound.
5. IF is equipped with a front lens unit that slides inside the structure.
6. FA, F - with full frame provides automatic focusing.
7. A - equipped with automatic aperture, but does not have auto focus.
8. M - a design managed exclusively by hand. The aperture is adjusted with the lens.
9. Without a diaphragm ring, full-frame photography is performed with FA Pentax lenses.
10. The products protected from moisture and dust are marked with WR.
11. The SMC symbol stands for the one developed by engineersPentax multilayer enlightenment. The system includes a coating that reduces the loss of light at the air / glass boundary. Development of brand, it is equipped with all Pentax products.
12. Enhanced protection against contamination is provided with products designated SP.
13. Low-dispersion glass brand marks with ED symbols. Lenses made of this material provide a better color transfer, since the light is decomposed into components.
14. Aspherical constructions are designated AL. They cope with various distortions while minimizing the size. Such products are compact, have high performance.
15. Goods with increased light output, enclosed in compact cases, is Limited. In the assortment the brands are represented by two types: FA, DA. Suitable for both crop and full frame.

Compatibility

To use Pentax lenses"Canon", it is necessary to have a transition ring. The product ensures the correct transfer of information through the bayonet into the carcass of the camera. Simplified constructions are presented: they do not transmit data, but only serve as adapters from one type of attachment to another.

Adapters are different

When choosing Pentax lenses for Canon, remember that adapters that are not equipped with electrical contacts can not support the functions:

• autofocus;
• automatic aperture setting.

Such products work correctly if the cameraset to manual mode or set the aperture priority. Adjust the mechanism yourself, correcting the result by the value of exposure to the carcass. Since autofocus is not supported, focusing is possible only manually. The advantage of such adapters is an affordable price.

Adapters support shooting: crop, full frame.

To simplify photography and work withautomatic programs, an adapter with electrical contacts is needed. When choosing a product, specify whether the adapter ring is compatible with a particular camera.

Whale "Pentax": the best choice

The cheapest lenses "Pentax" - those thatenter the camera's starter kit. It is believed that they are much better than the whale specimens offered by "Canon", "Nikon" and "Sony". The package includes:

• lens;
• a window of a blend;
• a lens hood;
• instruction;
• protective cover;
• rear protective cover.

The whale kit hood is made of plastic. As evidenced by the reviews available on Pentac's lenses, it is firmly held and easily mounted even with one hand. The advantage of bundling: a window that allows you to use gradient filters, polarization.

Whale Pentax is a minimized tolerance,complete exclusion of looseness and reliable materials. The focus rings are machined with corrugated rubber, and a distance scale is provided at the front. The bayonet is fixed with metal components, the product is protected from moisture and dust. The quality of the frames is guaranteed by multilayer enlightenment. The proprietary coating simplifies the cleaning of the glass and prevents the sticking of dust and dirt.

Auto focus

In whale products, autofocusing haspositive and negative sides. Quick mode change is the main advantage. As an automatic, you can use the manual ring to adjust the focal length.

Reading about Pentax lenses (the description of focusing, in particular), it becomes clear that the weak side is the lack of an engine in the system that would provide autofocusing.

Another drawback: When the focus is automatic, the ring rotates. It is located quite conveniently, nevertheless at times it comes to hand. On the other hand, almost all whale lenses, regardless of the brand accessory, are equipped with rotating automatic focus rings.

For the professional

Photographers with high Pentax requirementsoffers lenses with "stars." The series was launched in the 90s of the XX century. The first models had automatic focus, were filmed, supported by focal lengths 31 / 1.8, 43 / 1.9, 77 / 1.8. They are produced to this day and are in demand among experts.

Structural solutions are valuable:

• high protection against glare;
• backlight;
• optical quality.

Professional series "Pentax" hasfast automatic focus systems. Sharpness of the image is achieved even with the aperture open to maximum, stored throughout the entire frame area, including angles. The manufacturer solved the problem of chromatic aberrations.

The products of the star series are:

• metal casing;
• elimination of play;
• small dimensions.

Summing up

Choosing a lens for your camera, the photographer does notit is worth immediately rushing to the most expensive product available on the market. Analyze your needs: what are the usual shooting conditions, what is the nature of the frame.

Light weight, exceptional lightthose who photograph activities. For portraits in everyday life enough whale "Pentax". The lens with an "asterisk" will have to be placed in the place of a professional photographer who demands perfect quality of the frame. Brand offers a wide range of products, with an adapter perfectly working with cameras from other manufacturers.