The K series of Pentax cameras are solid performers, and they are liked by many in the landscape and portrait sides of photography. Their excellent build quality and feature-packed bodies are complimented well with some quite excellent Pentax lenses.



Pentax users aren’t as spoiled for choice when it comes to lens selection when compared to the likes of Canon, Nikon, Sony, and even Fujifilm. But alongside the older Pentax lenses so many on the platform enjoy using, there are some newer Pentax lenses that should be given serious consideration if you are buying into the system. Here are three Pentax lenses you should give a serious look at whether you are a newcomer or have been using the platform for a while.

Pentax 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR

Every platform needs to have one lens so versatile that it can be slapped onto the camera and just left there. A lens that is versatile enough to be used as a walk around lens, a landscape lens, a portrait lens, and one that is good for event photography. Pentax users are blessed as they have a lens just like this in the 28-105mm f3.5-5.6 ED DC WR.

The 28-105mm focal range is a great all-purpose lens that will help you get the shot in any situation you may find yourself in. The lens is weather sealed which means you can take it out and about and not worry about inclement weather, and the overall design and build quality make it a delight to use.

In our review we said:

“The lens is mostly defined by that giant rubber, textured zoom ring. For that reason, you’ll enjoy even just gripping onto the lens because of how good it feels in the hand.”

Inside the lens you will find 15 elements in 11 groups, and nine rounded aperture blades. The optics in Pentax lenses are always great, and this lens is no exception to this rule. Pictures produced with this glass are great across the board. Sharp images, and great color rendition are paired with really nice bokeh when the lens is used at longer focal lengths. The 28-105mm performs well when it comes to autofocus and even does great in low light situations.

The Pentax 28-105mm weighs in at 1.02lbs which means you can walk around with this lens for long periods of time and it will not become uncomfortable. If you want a versatile lens that can go from shooting landscapes one minute to portraits and event photography the next, this lens is for you, and should be considered as one of the must have Pentax Lenses.

Buy now ($496.97): Amazon

Pentax 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Image Samples

Pro Tip: While the Pentax 28-105mm is weather sealed, not all lenses offer the same luxury. Don’t get caught out by mother nature, be prepared to protect your gear in case of a downpour. Put some of these affordable rain covers in your camera bag so you can keep on shooting when the weather gets tough.

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art

While this option isn’t Pentax-branded, it is still an excellent lens to consider for those using the platform. The Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM Art is a fantastic prime lens that comes in Pentax K mount and is perfect for Pentax users who like to shoot weddings, portraits, events, and documentary style photos. The Art series of lenses from Sigma have become known for their outstanding image quality, build quality, and accurate color reproduction.

In our review we said:

“Overall, we can’t really say anything very terrible about the Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG. Even though it doesn’t have weather sealing, there are options out there that can do this for you. Otherwise, it has a wonderful build quality, eye-popping image quality, and is a relative speed demon when it comes to focusing.”

The Sigma 35mm f1.4 is a great prime lens that performs well in every area. The lens features 13 elements in 11 groups, and has nine rounded aperture blades. When shot wide open it’s capable of producing some beautiful, creamy bokeh. Colors rendered have natural tones, and image sharpness is something to behold. The lens weighs 1.4lbs so it has a little bit of heft to it, but it’s still comfortable to use for long periods.

If you are a Pentax user who likes to use primes, and would like to give Sigma a chance, then this lens will not disappoint you in any way, shape, or form. Performance is excellent, and you will be able to get consistent results all the time.

Buy now ($899): Amazon

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Image Samples

Pro Tip: Be sure to carry extra memory cards in your camera bag. While SD cards are generally very reliable, they do fail and corrupt from time to time. Prices right now are at an all-time low so buy a few extras just in case the unthinkable happens.

Pentax D FA F2.8ED SDM WR 15-30mm F2.8 Ultra-Wide

There is no doubt about it, the Pentax 15-30mm f2.8 is a beast of a lens. When it comes to this focal length, Pentax users may well have the best lens in this class at their disposal. The overall build quality, the excellent weather sealing, and fast focusing make this a brilliant lens for wide angle landscapes, environmental portraits, and street photography.

In our review we said:

“The colors from this lens are truly something special. They’re saturated more so than Canon and Nikon’s offerings, but not like Sony’s. When you apply the camera profiles to the images, you’ll get even better results too.”

Inside the Pentax 15-30mm f2.8 you will find 18 elements in 13 groups, along with nine rounded aperture blades. Thanks to these optics the lens is capable of producing sharp images with saturated colors, and very nice bokeh when shot wide open.

The Pentax 15-30mm f2.8 is certainly not the lightest lens on the platform as weighs it in at 2.3lbs. But thanks to its great build quality and ergonomics it feels great in the hand. The lens focuses very quickly in both good and low light situations, and it’s very accurate which means you will be get the shots you want. The 15-30mm f2.8 is one of the best Pentax lenses available and you should seriously consider adding it to your collection.

Buy now ($1,169.24): Amazon

Pentax D FA F2.8ED SDM WR 15-30mm F2.8 Ultra-Wide Image Samples

Are you a Pentax user? What lenses did you start out with? Which lenses are your favorites? Let us and others know in the comment section below.