The Pentax K-mount, sometimes referred to as the "PK-mount", is a bayonet lens mount standard for mounting interchangeable photographic lenses to 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It was created by Pentax in 1975, and has since been used by all Pentax 35 mm and digital SLRs and also the MILC Pentax K-01. A number of other manufacturers have also produced many K-mount lenses and K-mount cameras.
This article discusses the cameras – mainly 35 mm SLRs – manufactured by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Corp. and its predecessors, Pentax Corporation and Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.. Pentax must not be confused with Pentax 6x7 or Pentax 67 which are 120 medium format 6x7cm film cameras.
Pentax lenses were first badged as Takumar. The Takumar branded lenses were well respected for their line of Super Takumar, which designated the high performance coating applied to the lens as well as the optical formulas used to make them. The majority of the industry at the time was still satisfied with the variations of the "plumb" coating process and later some of the two and three layer processes as well. Asahi Pentax soon introduced the Takumar Super-Multi-Coated line of lenses which was a 7 layer process as the industry had just caught up with similar forms of 5 layer multi-coated optics. Eventually Asahi Optical and Pentax slowly shifted much of their lens production under the Pentax name and transitioned some of the successful designs that were first introduced under the Takumar name to use Asahi/Pentax badging as well as beginning to use the "smc" abbreviation. Eventually the Asahi partnership disappeared and the Pentax name became solely used. Pentax lenses saw many feature changes to answer the market, such as: incorporating "Auto-Aperture" with the M42, the light weight and compactness with the 'M' series, Aperture Priority overrides with the 'A' series, and Auto-Focus with the 'F' series. Modern Pentax lenses for digital SLR cameras have seen the elimination of the aperture ring completely as found on Pentax DA and D-FA series lenses. They use the Pentax KAF mount. All of these lenses have an autofocus feature, either operated from the camera body or from an internal SDM motor. Pentax compatible lenses are also made by third-party companies.
The Pentax K-5 is a 16.3-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on September 20, 2010. It began shipping in mid-October 2010 and it was replaced by the Pentax K-5 II in the third quarter of 2012.
The smc Pentax-D FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens is a normal macro lens for the Pentax K-mount. While optimized for digital use, it offers full frame 135 film coverage. The lens is capable of reaching 1:1 magnification.
The Pentax 645 is a medium format single-lens reflex system camera manufactured by Pentax. It was introduced in 1984, along with a complementary line of lenses. It captures images nominally 6 cm × 4.5 cm on 120, 220, and 70 mm film, though the actual size of the images is 56 mm × 41.5 mm.
The smc Pentax-DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED (IF) Fish-Eye lens is a fisheye zoom lens for the Pentax K-mount. It offers an up to 180 degree view, and allows quick shift focus.
The HD Pentax DA 55-300mm lens, is a telezoom lens line for the Pentax K-mount. There are 4 generations so far.
As of July 2015, the Pentax HD DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW is the longest prime lens in production under the Pentax brand. It has a telescope-type optical design.
The lens is fully compatible with the K-1 full-frame DSLR and covers the 35mm image circle. On the K-1, lens correction profiles are supported to remove chromatic aberrations and vignetting.
The HD Pentax-D FA* 70–200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW lens is a professional telephoto zoom lens for the Pentax K-mount. Announced jointly with the HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW in February 2015, it is one a pair of full-frame lenses to reboot Pentax' involvement in that format, the last previously introduced full-frame lens being the D FA 100mm weather-sealed macro lens in 2009. On Pentax APS-C cameras, the D FA* 70–200mm has an equivalent focal length range of 107–307mm.
Mr. Jun Hirakawa(平川純) is a Japanese lens designer best known for creating the Pentax FA 43mm Limited and FA 77mm Limited lenses during his time at Pentax.
The DA* 16–50mm lens is a family of professional wide-angle lenses made by Ricoh Imaging. The current version, the HD DA* 16-50mm f/2.8L ED PLM AW, replaced the older smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM lens in 2021.
The HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR is an advanced standard zoom lens for Pentax APS-C DSLR cameras announced by Ricoh on November 6, 2013. Being part of Pentax's Limited series, it features a metal barrel and a comparably small form factor. Within the Limited series, it is the first zoom lens as well as the first lens to feature a silent built-in autofocus motor (DC) and weather resistance (WR).
The HD Pentax-D FA 645 Macro 90mm F2.8 ED AW SR is an interchangeable macro lens for the Pentax 645 system, announced by Pentax on September 10, 2012.
The HD Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR is an interchangeable standard zoom lens announced by Ricoh on September 24, 2015. It covers a full frame (35mm) imaging circle.
The HD Pentax-D FA 645 35mm F3.5 AL [IF] is a medium format wide angle lens for the Pentax 645 system. It was announced by Ricoh on November 11, 2015.
The HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens is a professional normal prime lens for the Pentax K-mount. It was officially announced on October 27, 2017, launched on June 28, 2018, and first shipped on July 26, 2018.
The HD Pentax-D FA 70–210mm f/4.0 ED SDM WR lens is a telephoto zoom lens for the Pentax K-mount. The lens was on the roadmap since 2019, has been announced in January 2020 and should be available from March 2020. It is an additional full-frame lens to reboot Pentax' involvement in that format, the last previously introduced newly developed full-frame lens being the D FA* 50mm ED SDM AW in 2018. On Pentax APS-C cameras, the D FA 70–210mm has an equivalent focal length range of 107–322mm.
The HD Pentax-D FA* 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens is a professional short telephoto prime lens for the Pentax K-mount. The lens was officially announced on February 26, 2019, launched on June 25, 2020 and announced to be first shipped on June 26, 2020.
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