6 Best Pentax 67 Lenses 2023 – Details Reviews

Pentax 67 is, no doubt, a great and classic camera. But even though it is one of the most drooled over SLR cameras in town, the power of its kit lens can be pretty limited. This is why it makes perfect sense to begin the search for the best Pentax 67 lenses.

Talking about lenses – what are some of the best options available on the markets currently? Well, our seasoned experts reviewed some of those and came up with the following comprehensive guide.

Pentax 67 Lenses – Comparison

Whether its ergonomics you’re looking for or simply a lens that can add an oomph to your shots, the list below has something for you.

1. Pentax- SMC-FA Lens 645 150mm f/2.8 IF

This particular lens is designed with a 150mm focal length which is quite narrow, making the lens a specialized telephoto lens for doing portraiture videos and stills.

Just as importantly, the SMC-FA has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which is wide and makes the lens a performer in low-light environments.

Further, the telephoto angle and maximum aperture produce beautiful shallow depth of field effects. Besides, the lens weighs 1.1 pounds which is reasonably light.

Pros

• The lens is covered by the manufacturer’s one year warranty
• It has a fast aperture
• It is an excellent unit if you want to achieve shallow depth of field

Cons

• It is a non-zoomable lens, which limits its versatility

2. Pentax-DA 18-55mm Lens f/3.5-5.6 AL

The Pentax-DA 18-55mm is a zoomable lens. It packs a focal length of 18-55mm, which is a wide angle to a standard angle and quite varied, meeting different photography needs.

The lens comes with a lens hood which works to minimize ghost images and flare. However, it has an aperture of f/3.5-5.6, which limits the lens’ performance in dimly lit environments.

Pros

• It is a multipurpose lens, thanks to its wide zoomable range from a wide angle to a standard angle.
• It is competitively priced
• The lens’ hood minimizes flare and ghost images

Cons

• It is not ideal for shooting portraits
• The lens is limited in low-lit conditions

3. Pentax-SMC 67 45mm f/4 Lens

Looking for a sharp prime lens? The Pentax-SMC 67 45mm f/4 might just be the right one for you.

It has a focal length of 45mm, but the equivalent of 24mm focal length in a 35mm format camera. As such, it seems like the best bet for wide angle photography which is quite important for shooting landscapes.

It is, however, not a zoomable lens and therefore limited in the variety of photos it can take. Further, the lens’ maximum aperture of f/4, is in medium range which is not suitable for doing night adventures.

The lens has a medium range price point, however, it is not a budget lens.

Pros

• It has a wide angle and excellent for doing specialized landscapes
• It produces sharp images

Cons

• A little Chromatic aberrations at image corners
• It is a non-zoomable lens and limited in its offer
• The maximum aperture is narrow and cannot work in dimly lit conditions

4. Pentax 67 SMC 165mm f/2.8 Lens

What if you could find a telephoto prime lens with a relatively wide aperture? Well, the Pentax 67 SMC is one of the rare breeds of lenses that dexterously combine these two specs.

And even though it’s not zoomable, this glass provides you with an incredible focal length. That’s not to mention the fact that it provides you with a generous f/2.8 aperture which is superb for day and night photography.

The lens provides an excellent shallow depth of field with its narrow focal length. However, with a shipping weight of 5 pounds, it is a bit heavy to carry around.

Pros

• The lens performs in all lighting conditions
• It has a fast aperture
• It is an excellent lens for producing images with shallow depth of field

Cons

• It is heavy and not convenient to carry around

5. Pentax-SMCP-FA 300mm f/4.0 Lens 645 ED

The Pentax-SMCP-FA 300mm f/4.0 Lens is a long-distance lens suitable for wildlife photography and sports adventures. Its 300mm focal length makes it a prime telephoto lens.

Further, it has a maximum aperture of f/4.0, which is a slow aperture offering slow shutter speeds.

More importantly, it is an autofocusing lens constructed with Extra-Low dispersion elements and a super multi-coat to produce high-quality images free of chromatic aberrations.

Besides that, it weighs 3.28 pounds, which is a bit heavy for convenient portability.

Pros

• It is an excellent portraiture lens
• It is covered by the manufacturer’s one year warranty
• It constructed with an autofocus system
• It produces sharp images

Cons

• It is quite heavy
• Its aperture size is narrow and does not suffice in low light environments

Read another post: Best Point and Shoot Camera Under $100: An Informative Guide

6. Pentax-SMC 200mm F/4.0 Lens

Who said that prime lenses are only suited for shooting portraits? With the Pentax-SMC 200mm f/4.0’s incredible focal length, long distance photography is bound to be a breeze. The lens is manufactured with a super multi-coat to reduce chromatic aberrations.

Its maximum aperture of f/4.0, however, provides slow shutter speeds allowing little light in and it is, therefore, not suitable for night photography. The good thing is that the narrow-angle offers superb shallow depth of focus images.

In addition, it is constructed with an automatic diaphragm which produces amazing bokeh.

Pros

• It produces amazing bokeh
• It has a superb shallow depth of focus
• It is a good long distance lens

Cons

• It is doesn’t perform well in dimly lit conditions

The Buying Guide For Pentax 67 Lenses

What are the key factors to keep in mind when shopping for a lens for this specific camera model? Well, the first factor we happen to think is quite important is the aperture range. This is usually given in the form of f-stops.

In our view, the best lens is one that can clock the lowest f-stop number possible. Also, the wider the range, the better. For instance, a lens with a 2.8-22 aperture range would be better than one with 4.0-22.

The next factor that matters is the lens construction. You basically want your lens to be well-made and resilient so it can stand the test of time as well.

Also, depending on your style of photography, it makes sense to ponder upon factors such as minimum focusing distance. Portraiture works best with a camera whose minimum focusing distance is less than a meter.

Ultimately, the most important factor to consider is compatibility. You want your lens to be compatible with your camera. Fortunately, the lenses we’ve reviewed above are compatible with the Pentax 67 and, therefore, there’s no cause for alarm.

Which One Is The Best?

There is something about the Pentax SMC-FA 645 150mm that we really like. For instance, its f/2.8 aperture is quite awesome, especially in low light photography. We also generally like its front and rear lens caps.

Final Thoughts

While Pentax 67 lenses remain some of the finest on the market, research still needs to be done when one is making a purchase. That way, it’s possible to avoid common pitfalls and only settle for a product that meets the grade.

It’s our hope that the guidelines offered above will help you make a solid and succinct decision.