In addition to the Pentax FA and DA series lenses, which series of lenses can autofocus?

In the early 1990s, Pentax entered the era of autofocus.

1. The first generation of autofocus K-mount lenses marked F

Representatives include F*300/4.5, F*250-600/5.6, etc., as well as world-famous The king of sharpness is F50/1.4. In this generation, Pentax authorized a factory in Taiwan to produce some lenses. In addition to the star head, Pentax's self-produced lenses are also divided into red letters and white letters. The red letter lens is considered to be the highest quality lens after the star head, so if you encounter it and the price is right, you can consider purchasing it. White-letter lenses are considered low-end lenses, and it is said that most white-letter lenses are OEM-made in Taiwan. This period did not last long, and many white lenses were very cheap and suitable for purchase and collection.

The lenses often encountered during this period include: F70-210/4-5.6, F100-300/4-5.6, F50/2.8M, F50/1.4, F50/1.7, F*300/ 4.5 is more common in the second-hand market, but the rest are rare.

F70-210, known as the poor man’s little gold, has a black lens body, excellent imaging, and excellent sharpness at full aperture. Sharpness is also the biggest feature of F-era lenses. However, because the F lens is deified, the second-hand price of this lens exceeds 1,500 yuan. The focal length is not as good as the DAL55300. The lens is heavy, but it supports full frame. If you want to experience the taste of an old lens, you can also come in and play with it.

F100-300, the perfect choice for your dream lens. The telephoto end reaches 300MM, the sharpness at full aperture is very good, the lens is heavy, and the price is cheaper than the 70-210, usually around 1,200 yuan. If you encounter a good quality camera, you will definitely buy it.

Three standard lenses have been sold to sky-high prices. Those who are not short of money can buy it and play with it.

F*300/4.5, many people say that the aperture of 4.5 is too small. In fact, the characteristic of this lens is its size. To be honest, this lens is not much larger than the DA50-135 except for the lens hood, but it comes with a tripod ring that is the brightest in the universe. For men who are taller than 175cm and weigh more than 75KG, the small lens can be handheld and is very convenient to carry. Another point to note is that the lens is white, which is different from the silver one of FA*. The lens hood is now protected by front rubber, and the PENTAX logo on the lens hood is gray, which is also different from FA*.

2. The second generation autofocus K-mount lens is marked FA.

In this era, magical mirrors emerged in large numbers. Representative works include: FA*24/2, FA*28-70/2.8 (little gold), FA*80-200/2.8 (little gold), FA*85 /1.4 (cup), FA*250-600/5.6, FA*300/2.8, etc., various star scopes are famous in the photography world for their parameters that are not inferior to Canon and Nikon, higher real-life shooting effects, and excellent workmanship. During this period, Pentax's FA lenses appeared at several levels.

I won’t talk about the star mirror. It has top-grade workmanship, top-grade materials, top-grade imaging and top-grade collection value. Generally, the lens is silver-gray coated. There are gold five-pointed stars and red lens optical structure diagrams on the mirror body, which are all engraved. The workmanship is luxurious, but there is a problem with the FA* lens. The silver exterior paint may peel off if accidentally bumped. This should be noted.

Limited edition lenses, represented by the three princesses (FA43/1.9, FA77/1.8, FA31/1.8), have the Limited mark behind the lens parameters. The aperture of this type of lens is not large, and the parameters are not good-looking, but the workmanship is exquisite, the appearance is elegant, the size is small, and the imaging is unexpected. There are currently new products launched, but they are basically made in Vietnam. The Grand Princess also used lead-containing glass in the early stage. Therefore, if you encounter lead-containing glass, the price will definitely be 200 more expensive, and the Nissan Princess will be 200 more expensive. . . But when it comes to the lead-containing second princess and the lead-containing little princess, it is pure nonsense.

Dark Star. I don’t know how Dark Star was named. It is precisely because Pentax does not give any special mark to this type of lens that this so-called Dark Star is extremely popular among profiteers. Representative works of this type of lens include FA35/2, FA20-35/4, and FA24-90/3.5-4.5. This type of lens has average workmanship, relatively small size, good imaging, and is not expensive. Among them, FA35/2 and FA20-35/4 are said to be designed by Takayuki Izumi. This guy later jumped to Nikon and designed famous lenses such as AFS1755. Precisely because they are called dark stars by profiteers, these three lenses are becoming more and more expensive, and they have gradually lost their cost-effectiveness. But if you come across a cheap one, you can also buy it.

Ordinary FA heads are of average workmanship. Since the FA era used a large number of plastic parts, on low-end lenses, FA lenses do not have the same metallic feel as F and manual heads. However, the specifications and convenience of FA lenses are difficult to compare with manual lenses.

Regarding the FA head, there is another thing that I have to say is PZ. The full name of PZ is POWER ZOOM. It's a zoom motor that Pentax added to the lens. When Canon added a focus motor to the lens, Pentax developed something to compete with it. But the results were far from satisfactory.

The zoom motor brings heavier weight to the lens, but it does not bring about a qualitative leap in controllability. Therefore, the PZ function is basically a function specially set up for shooting explosion effects. After entering 2006, Pentax also gradually removed support for the PZ function on the fuselage. Therefore, subsequent models of K10D no longer support the PZ function. Only the native firmware 1.0 of the K10D supports the PZ function, and the new firmware does not support the PZ function. It has to be said that Pentax’s bet in the 1990s was really wrong. But times have changed. In order to reduce the size, Olympus' M43 system lens is equipped with a PZ function on the zoom lens. It may be different from Pentax's PZ function, but the concept has been picked up again. Just like radio, it got a new life in a taxi just when everyone thought it was going to be replaced by television. Will the PZ function be reborn with the full arrival of mirrorless cameras?

In fact, everyone has heard of the famous lenses of the FA era. Let’s talk about a few famous lenses here. In 2003, photographer Wuji’s Eye of the Wind posted a post naming several Pentax lenses. Since then, the names of Xiaojin, Xiaoxiaojin, Cup, and the Three Princesses have been resounding throughout China.

Xiao Jin: FA*80-200/2.8, the legendary General Jin. I won’t talk about other features of this lens, but I have to say one thing. Pentax always hides some key things when introducing lenses. For example, when introducing the second generation of DA1855, it is basically not mentioned that in addition to the marked AL (aspherical lens), there is also an abnormally dispersive lens. Therefore, the reason why Xiaojin is so highly regarded is of course not only the use of 4 ED lenses (for the new Nikon Bamboo Pao and Xiaobai, this material is shabby), the key is that the fourth lens is marked as ED. In fact, It is a fluorite (calcium fluoride) lens. Pentax's calcium fluoride fluorite lens is said to be made of natural fluorite from Australia. It is purer and of better quality than the artificial fluorite of Canon's Novice II. Some people compare it to Pentax's fluorite. Compared with Canon's fluorite, it can basically be regarded as the difference between diamond and zircon.

Xiao Xiaojin: FA*28-70/2.8. Compared with Canon and Nikon’s 28-70/2.8, its biggest feature is that it is smaller and inherits Pentax’s consistent concept, even if it is 28-70/2.8. For specifications, Pentax has a 67mm caliber, Nikon's AFS28-70 is a 77-caliber, and Canon's 28-70/2.8 is also a 77-caliber.

FA*85/1.4, as one of Pentax’s few 1.4 aperture lenses, FA*85 has received more praise than Nikon 85/1.4D (there was no 85/1.4 in the Canon EOS era). In addition to the photo effect, its size is still a very noteworthy advantage. The diameter of this 85/1.4 top portrait lens is only 67mm for Pentax, while Nikon’s 85/1.4D and the latest 85/1.4G both have a diameter of 77mm. caliber. For this lens, in addition to its small size, it also has a large lens hood. Like the tripod ring of the F*300/4.5, the lens hood of this lens is also an indispensable component for collectors. The lens hood of the Pentax FA*85 is large and exaggerated. Compared with the small lens, this lens hood is very flamboyant and shaped like a cup, so this lens is also nicknamed "cup"; and with the help of the A*85 After losing its reputation, some people even gave it the title of A*85, which is "Simba Dance".

3. The third generation of autofocus K mount (second and a half generation)

This generation can be said to be a transitional generation. It has very few lenses and is divided into two series. One is DFA. One is the FAJ standard, which was probably produced during the transition from film to digital. But this generation of lenses all support full-frame image fields.

The DFA lens has excellent workmanship. As you can tell from the name, it is the digital version of the FA lens. Optimized for digital cameras. It is generally understood that the coating of the rear lens is changed to reduce ghosting. There are currently two types of this lens in production on the market: DFA100/2.8M and DFA50/2.8M.

DFA100/2.8M is the macro with the longest focal length currently produced by Pentax. The volume is smaller than Canon's BiMicro, Nikon's BiMicro and even Socai's BiMicro (of course, the aperture cannot be compared with Canon's and Sona's BiMicro). It's so small that it's hard for you to believe that this is a BiMicro. ! It adopts an all-metal lens body, and even the lens hood is made of metal, giving it a Zeiss feel. The imaging is worth the price.

FAJ lenses were launched when Pentax launched the first generation of digital cameras, and are currently discontinued. There are only three lenses in this series: FAL18-35/4-5.6, FAJ75-300/4.5-5.8, and FAJ28-80/3.5-5.6. The FAJ series lenses are very rough in workmanship, and there are no high-standard lenses, not even fixed focal lengths, and the wide angle is only 18mm. Maybe it was because I entered the DA series so quickly that some of FAJ’s lenses were digitized and changed to DA labels. These three lenses have no collection or practical value. If you are preparing for full frame in the future, FAJ18-35 may be worth owning, after all, it has an 18mm super wide angle.

4. The latest generation of autofocus K-mount lenses, DA standard

DA lenses are a series of lenses specially launched for digital SLRs. Some people say that DA lenses cannot be used in full frame, and Pentax does not It’s not stated as such, it’s just that it’s a lens launched for digital SLRs. Therefore, many of the DA series still support full frame.

DA heads are basically in production, so I won’t introduce them much. Here are just a few points:

(1) DA heads are basically covered with SP coating. SP means super protection, which can prevent damage to the coating caused by normal bumps. With this coating, if there is dust on the surface of the lens, you can wipe it with toilet paper instead of lens paper.

(2) The DA head basically supports full-time manual (except DA35/2.4), which is a configuration only found in high-end lenses in the Canon Nikon Sigma Tamron system.

(3) The most worthy lenses for DA heads.

DA1855 (any generation except 1st generation, only one). 10 elements in 8 groups, with SP coating and SMC coating. The II and WR versions support full-time manual operation. The price is cheap enough. It has an AL aspherical lens and an unusually dispersive lens. The imaging is good, and the imaging sharpness of F5.6-F11 is still good. When entering Pentax, you must have at least one 1855. If you are playing Canon and Nikon, you don’t need an 1855. If you are playing Pentax, it is best to get one.

DA*55/1.4. Why do I say this? Many people don’t like this lens and call it an expensive lens. In fact, its structure can be regarded as a header, but what else can you say about the only 1.4 aperture lens in Pentax’s current lineup? The 1.4 wide-open sharpness is very high, and the 2 sharpness has already demonstrated its quality. The workmanship of the star mirror, the 58mm diameter, although the price is 1,000 yuan more expensive than when it was first launched, but the Pentax has a large aperture, so I will not buy it. This, what can you buy?

Three princesses and three cookies. I won’t introduce them here, just search and you’ll find a lot.

DA1645, I can’t explain this either. The wide angle is 16mm, which converts to 24-70/4.

Finally, let’s talk about the characteristics of Pentax lenses:

1. Lens hood:

As for the hoods in the late film era, Canon and Nikon’s telephoto lenses have It was changed into a lotus shape. From old black to young white, from big steel cannon to small bamboo cannon, there are undoubtedly exceptions. Pentax's telephoto and mid-focus lenses all use tubular hoods. This is related to a concept of Pentax. This has to start with Canon and Nikon. .

Since the screw mount entered the bayonet, Canon and Nikon have been worrying about the bayonet release button. Finally, except for the opposite direction of the bayonet, Canon and Nikon have consistently placed the bayonet release button on the right side of the bayonet, which is the other side of the bayonet to the handle, which is the left side of the lens when we hold the camera. location. This is something that people who often use Canon and Nikon have a deep understanding of. But Pentax is different. It places the button between the lens and the handle, so that it is impossible or very difficult for the left hand to press the button. Therefore, many users who switched jobs from Nikon and Canon to Pentax or those who have dual majors and multiple majors are not used to it.

But Pentax’s design has brought good news to users who have been using Pentax. When removing the lens, you don't need your left hand at all. You can just press the button with the middle finger or ring finger of your right hand and take off the lens with your left hand. It is very convenient. There is no need to take the camera off your neck and then turn the camera towards you. , then kneel on the ground with the bayonet facing up, press the button with your left hand, and go around the handle with your right hand to remove the lens. Regardless of habit, Pentax's method is the most convenient.

Speaking of pressing the bayonet release button with your right hand, Pentax has had a ring of rubber on the front of the lens hood since A*, and basically all mid-focus and telephoto lenses have barrel-shaped lens hoods. Combined with the design of the bayonet release button, Pentax can remove and install the lens with one hand, which is very convenient when changing lenses.

First, let’s take a look at how Canon and Nikon users need to change lenses. Turn the camera over to face you, press the button with your left hand, take off the lens with your right hand, and put it into the bag. At this time, the bayonet is open. Then take the lens out of the bag and mount it. Not to mention how to take out the lens when the backpack is behind you, just take off the lens and put it in the bag, then take out the lens and put it back on. The bayonet in the middle is not covered, and it is easy for the CMOS to get dusty.

The Pentax one is much more convenient. First take out the lens and place it on the ground. The method is to put the bayonet upward and the lens hood downward. Because the front end of the lens hood has rubber and is barrel-shaped, it can be placed very stably without being bumped. At this time, the lens on the body mount has not yet been removed. Then press the lens on the fuselage downwards on the ground, and hold the button with the ring finger or middle finger of your right hand. As soon as you turn it, the lens will be separated from the fuselage. Then quickly put the lens on the ground and put it on. As soon as you turn it, it will hit it. , you can even complete the lens changing operation with one hand.

2. SMC coating

SMC coating is very magical. It is said that it was a multi-layer coating developed in cooperation with Zeiss, so it is also said to be more Japanese and German. SMC coating has evolved through many generations, and it is also an aspect where Pentax has an advantage over Canon and Nikon. Although Canon and Nikon have also been involved in multi-layer coating for many years, the patent barrier prevents Canon from publicizing its coating. And Nikon's latest nano-coating has no qualitative changes compared to the old coating.

Even so, Nikon still does not use its top-notch coating on low-end lenses. The same goes for Canon. Comparing the photos of Xiaobai IS and 1855IS will clearly lead to a conclusion. If you use the Canon and Nikon brands, you need high-end lenses to produce good pictures, unless you use vigorous post-PS. Pentax, on the other hand, uses the SMC coating used on star mirrors on its entire series of lenses. The coating of DA*50-135 is basically the same as the coating of DA1855. This is not to say that Pentax's coatings are not divided into layers, but it also shows the development momentum of Pentax coatings.

In addition to SP coating, the lenses currently produced by Pentax have about three types of coatings: one is the SMC coating for ordinary DA lenses and DA* lenses, one is the ghostless coating unique to the princess head, and the other is the This is the latest evolution of SMC, ABC coating. ABC coating is currently only used on two lenses, DA*55/1.4 and DA*60-250/4. Therefore, the color and backlight effects of these two lenses are unmatched by other lenses using multi-layer coating.

3. SP coating

Super protective coating. This coating was developed in 2006 and is widely used in various lenses of the DA series. The characteristic of this coating is that it can protect the front lens coating from falling off when it is bumped or subjected to external friction.

We know that there is a coating on the front lens of the lens. This coating is the coating of the first lens when light enters the lens, and it has a great impact on the light. The front lens often has dust, and when we wipe the dust, if we accidentally scratch the coating of the front lens. This is why people say that most lenses are not worn out, but scratched. Therefore, it is particularly troublesome when wiping off dust, such as blowing with air, using a jelly pen, etc. However, inferior jelly pens are often more harmful to the lens coating than dust.

The SP coating provides good protection. In time, users can use ordinary cotton cloth and toilet paper to wipe away the dust outside the front lens group without damaging the coating. This is what super protection means.

In 2011, Canon also launched super protective coating and applied it to Xiaobai II. It proves that the coating is still very practical. As early as 5 years ago, Pentax applied this coating to all DA heads, including the 300 yuan DAL1855.

But there are exceptions. SP coating basically does not affect light, but an extra layer of coating will have a weak impact after all. Therefore, SP coating is not used on Pentax’s two star-rated lenses, the DA*55 and DA*60250, which pursue the ultimate in image quality. This also makes some people understand that ABC coating and SP coating cannot be used at the same time. But in any case, if you use these two lenses, you must carefully deal with the dust on the surface of the lens. The best way is to wear a high-quality protective lens.

4. Biscuit head

The biscuit head is a major feature of Pentax. Many people join Pentax just to experience the charm of the ultra-small lens. Pentax currently has several biscuit heads: Three Princesses (if you count biscuit heads), Three Biscuits, DA15, and the upcoming DA40XS, which is small enough to be mounted on the camera and looks like a bayonet cover on the side.

In fact, what needs biscuit heads most is not the DSLR, but the mirrorless camera. The slogan of mirrorless cameras is portability, so cameras from Olympus, Panasonic and other brands have also reduced the size of their lenses to the extreme. However, compared to Pentax's biscuit heads, they still have no competitive advantage, even though their biscuit heads only need to support 4/4 3 image field and Pentax’s biscuit head needs to support APS image field or even full-frame image field.