What do the various Pentax lens designations mean?

What do FA, DFA, DA etc. mean? I realize that any designation with a D must be related to digital. Do

FA lenses perform well on digital cameras?

Pentax-FA lenses was the last pre-digital generation, designed to cover 35mm film. D-FA will also cover 35mm film, but are also updated to work better with APS-C sensors. DA lenses are not intended to be used with film, but only with APS-C sensors (although some of the mid- to tele- focal lengths have been reported to still cover film anyway, but are not really optimized for it). Some -FA lenses work just fine on digital, others don't. For example, the 24/2 has an excellent reputation as a film lens, but exhibits a lot of purple fringing on digital. The best way to find out is to ask on the forums about a particular lens.

There is an excellent website that explains and shows virtually all the Pentax K-mount

history and designations at

<a href="http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/" target=new><b>

http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/</b></a>.

<br><br>

summary:<br>

<ul>

<li>"SMC Pentax-DA" and "SMC Pentax-D-FA" - <br>

Current series AF lenses that support every DSLR feature. DA series are optimized for the

16x24 sensor format, D-FA series also include image circle for the 35mm film SLR format.

DA series lense do not have aperture rings (aperture control is through the body

exclusively).

<br><br>

<li> "SMC Pentax-FA" and "SMC Pentax-FA-J" - <br>

Current series AF lenses designed for 35mm film SLR cameras. They support all body

features but do not have the latest QuickShift focus feature of the DA/D-FA series. Most, if

not all, work extremely well on the DSLR bodies. FA-J series are like the DA series with

respect to the aperture ring.

<br><br>

<li> "SMC Pentax-F" - <br>

Original Pentax AF lenses for 35mm film bodies. Much like the FA series but lacking the

MTF data available from the FA and later lenses. Again, most work very well on DSLR

bodies.

<br><br>

 

<li> "SMC Pentax-A" - <br>

Manual focus lenses with "Automatic" position on aperture ring. Work with all DSLR

metering options, no autofocus of course. No focal length or MTF data is supplied to the

body so some options of the body are disabled or have to be set manually. Optically, most

work very well with the DSLRs.

<br><br>

 

<li> "SMC Pentax-M" and "SMC Pentax" bayonet mount lenses - <br>

Manual focus lenses without any electronic couplings. Used with the DSLRs, metering

pattern is restricted to CW Averaging and Spot, and exposure modes available are Av (at

wide-open lens opening only) or Manual (with semi-automatic aperture priority stop-

down function metering). Again, optically, most work very well with the DSLRs.

</ul>

 

Godfrey

Godfrey, thanks. As usual, you are a veritable fountain of useful information. I am leaning

heavily in the direction of the K10D. I just need to get one in my hands to see if it feels

right.

 

Rob

glad to help. I expect to receive mine just about when I get back home in a week or two. :-)

 

Godfrey