Here, we round up the 10 best scoring Pentax lenses to date that we’ve reviewed.

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

This lens scored an excellent 5 out of 5 star rating. It’s a weather sealed professional quality super telephoto lens that has a silent focusing motor and full time manual focus override. It has almost no distortion, low CA levels, is light weight and features fantastic build quality, making it a great lens for anyone who wants the best quality in a longer reach lens.

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

This lens was released as the second lens in a line of the new standard zooms for the Pentax K-1 body. It’s a full frame lens and uses the SDM (Supersonic Direct Motor) system, making zooming fast and silent. It’s also weather sealed to prevent ingress of water and dust. Made from 17 elements in 12 groups, the lens has 3 ED (Extra Low Dispersion) elements and one anomalous dispersion element. It was awarded our Highly Recommended rating for its even sharpness, smooth bokeh and excellent flare resistance.

3. HD Pentax DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR – 

This standard zoom lens has weather-resistant construction and a field of view equivalent to 24-130mm in 35mm terms. With great quality build, this lens has excellent sharpness throughout the zoom range and is capable of fast, close focusing making it very versatile. It handles well and is very resistant to flare making it a top choice.

4. HD Pentax-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW – 

As a Pentax FA* lens, expectations are high regarding the quality of both the build and optics and this lens doesn’t disappoint. It features a HD multi coating plus an SP (Super-Protect) coating on the front element to repel water, grease and dirt. An aero bright coating II layer promises great resistance to flare. The lens is quite heavy but balances well on DSLR bodies like the Pentax K-1. The lens earned our Highly Recommended rating for its high and even sharpness, smooth bokeh, fast silent AF and excellent flare resistance.

5. HD Pentax D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR – 

This full frame wide angle zoom is a chunky and bulbous lens that offers HD multi-coating and SP coating on the front to repel water, grease and dirt. The lens earned itself our Highly Recommended rating for low distortion considering it’s an ultra-wide lens, smooth bokeh, fast and silent AF and weather resistance.

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

This standard zoom lens is the lightest and most compact lens of the original batch of full frame zoom lenses to be released in line with the K-1. The lens has 8 seal points, to prevent the ingress of water and dust. We awarded the lens a Highly Recommended rating for its well controlled CA levels, excellent flare resistance, fast and silent Autofocus and smooth bokeh.

7. Pentax HD FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW – 

This super telephoto zoom lens covers a zoom range that fills a gap in the Pentax lens line-up. It has silent focusing, weather sealing and HD anti-reflective lens coatings. Focus is performed internally and the 86mm filterthread doesn’t rotate, making it ideal for use with graduated filters. The lens has very good sharpness, full-time manual focus override and low falloff and distortion.

8. Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR – 

The Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR has a fast maximum aperture and is capable of life-size magnification at its closest focusing distance. It has an aluminium weather resistant and dust resistant construction. It has a quick shift focusing system, and low levels of CA, distortion and falloff. It’s a great performer with sharp results right from maximum aperture.

9. SMC Pentax-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited – 

This is a hand assembled lens that was designed for film cameras, but works just as well  with modern DSLR cameras. The lens has accurate and fast AF, making it ideal for fast moving subjects. It is excellent to handle and gives a superb image quality. It is capable of producing lovely skin tones so is also ideal as a portrait lens.

10. SMC Pentax-DA 35mm f/2.4 AL – 

This 35mm prime lens is a modern version of the traditional standard lens. It has a wide max aperture of f/2.4, making it great for bokeh and shallow depth of field work. We gave the lens a highly recommended rating for its high-quality optics, compact design, good price and the quality of build.

11. SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited – 

The FA 31mm is the widest lens in the set of 3 FA lenses launched in 2011. All were designed for film cameras, and are hand assembles to the highest standards. There are 9 elements in 7 groups including a moulded glass aspherical element. it’s compact and not overly heavy. It was awarded our Highly Recommended rating for its impeccable quality in manufacturing, robust construction, fast maximum aperture and full frame design.

12. Pentax 16-45mm f/4 SMC DA ED AL – 

This standard zoom lens offers a moderately bright f/4 aperture throughout the zoom range. It’s made from high-quality plastics that make it feel robust and rigid. It’s lightweight for a lens of its type. Focus is powered by the screw driven motor in the camera and is quick to obtain a lock in a wide range of conditions. We gave it a highly recommended rating for its good sharpness, low distortion, low CA and excellent value as well as build quality.

13. Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM – 

This lens is a Pentax premium optic with a fast f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. It has good sharpness in the centre of the frame at maximum aperture, and has good build quality. We gave the lens 4.5 stars for its very good sharpness in the centre at maximum aperture, weather and dust resistant construction and silent focusing.

14. Pentax Q 01 Standard 8.5mm f/1.9 – 

This standard prime lens is for Q mirrorless camera and is really compact, weighing only 36g. It features SMC coating and SP (Super Protect) grease resistant coating on the front element. We awarded the lens our Highly Recommended rating for being compact and light, as well as offering excellent sharpness, low distortion, and a bright f/1.9 aperture.

15. Pentax SMC P-DA 12-24mm f/4.0 ED/AL (IF) – 

The Pentax SMC P-DA 12-24mm scored 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review. This is an ultra-wide angle zoom lens that has a constant aperture of f/4, and is a premium lens. Build quality is extremely solid and focusing is performed internally. There is a minimum focusing distance of 30cm. This lens features outstanding sharpness and has very fast focusing.

16. HD Pentax-DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited – 

This is a compact macro lens that provides life size magnification at its closest focusing distance and is a premium lens. It’s lightweight and balances well with the camera. The lens controls distortion well, features outstanding sharpness and can focus very fast at normal distances, a great lens for close up macro work.

17. HD Pentax-DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited – 

This is a very compact lens that has an angle of view equivalent to the classic 105mm focal length. It’s also a premium lens and weighs only 147g. It’s only 26mm long, and is great for use with more compact K-mount bodies. It has a sturdy build and is fast focusing, making it ideal for those that want a more compact all round lens for shooting all sorts of subjects.

18. SMC Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited – 

This lens was the first to be released of 3 Limited lenses aiming to give the highest manufacturing and optical standards. Its a compact lens that weighs only 155g despite its metal construction. It has a very high standard of finishing, with beautifully rendered engraving. We gave the lens a highly recommended rating for its high-quality construction, compact design, fast maximum aperture and built-in lens hood.

19. SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 – 

This classic Pentax lens from 1991 has been given a new lease of life thanks to the full-frame Pentax K-1. It’s one of the few full frame lenses still available from the film era. It has a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture and the focusing scale can be found through a plastic window. We gave the lens a Recommended rating for high sharpness levels, low central CA, low flare and excellent colour.

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

This 18-135mm zoom is weather resistant and compact, sporting the latest DC motor. It’s constructed with 13 elements in 11 groups, and the 7 blade diaphragm ensures a virtually round aperture for enhanced bokeh. The lens also has Quick Shift enabled a feature whereby after AF is acheived the focus point can be tweaked manually. We gave it a recommended rating for its superb handling, close focusing and silent DC motor.

21. Pentax HD DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited – 

This pancake lens is a flagship optic. With a bright maximum aperture of f/2.8, it’s only 15mm thick making it a super compact option. It features newly developed HD coatings which promise to greatly reduce internal reflections the can cause ghosting and flare. It weighs only 89g. We gave the lens a Recommended rating for its excellent sharpness from maximum aperture, thin and lightweight built and fast focusing.

22. HD Pentax-DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited – 

This wide-angle lens is a member of the Pentax Limited premium range and as such has excellent build quality. Auto focus is screw driven, and locks onto subjects quickly and accurately. We gave the lens a recommended rating for its outstanding sharpness when stopped down, compact style, very good build and fast focusing.

23. Pentax SMC DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM – 

This lens has a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4 and silent SDM focusing. It’s weather sealed and generally well made. Then lens controls flare and ghosting well, only appearing in extreme image conditions. We gave the lens a recommended rating for its excellent optical quality, fast focusing, weather sealing and low distortion and CA.

24. HD Pentax-DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited – 

Another Pentax Premium optic, this Limited lens sports fantastic build quality. it’s compact and weighs only 212g. Manual focusing action is smooth and well damped, and the lens has the quick shift focusing ability, meaning adjustments can be made after the lens has autofocussed. We gave the lens a Recommended rating for its excellent sharpness in the centre of the frame, good build quality and fast focusing.

25. Pentax SMC DA 50mm f/1.8 – 

This standard 50mm lens sports a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture and weighs only 122g. High-quality plastics have been used for the lens barrel and focusing is performed internally. There is a minimum focusing distance of 45cm and we awarded it a Recommended rating for its fast focusing, excellent sharpness and lack of CA and distortion.

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

This is a lightweight 50mm macro lens that offers life-sized magnification at its closest focus distance. Despite the focus being screw driven, it locks onto subjects fairly quickly for a macro lens. We gave it a recommended rating for its outstanding sharpness, decent build quality and good value.

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

The Pentax HD Da 55-300mm is an APS-C lens that offers a retractable construction. It is weather resistant and is capable of producing excellent bokeh. It offers low flare, very good sharpness and great value, not to mention that it covers a very useful focal range.

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