The Pentax K mount covers every generation of Pentax bayonet, the original K, plus KA, KAF, KAF2, KAF3 and KAF4, which share the same physical bayonet and flange distance. Older manual K-mount lenses mount on current Pentax DSLRs, though autofocus and electronic aperture control vary by generation.

These 8 Pentax K lenses are rated for infrared photography from real-world tests by IR photographers. Ratings are Good (7 lenses), Maybe (1 lens), Bad (0 lenses), and Unknown (0 lenses) for hot spots, the bright spot some lenses leave in the center of an infrared image, and follow the thresholds below.

IR Focal
Length
Minimum
Aperture
Lens Filter Weight Notes Images
Good 19-35mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 Cosina / Vivitar / Phoenix / Promaster 19-35mm ƒ/3.5-4.5
⌀77mm 320 g Submitted by Rich Lukey View images
Good 31mm ƒ/1.8 smc PENTAX-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited
KEH
⌀58mm 350 g No hotspot.  
Good 35mm ƒ/2.8 smc PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro
KEH
⌀49mm 215 g My best lens on my converted Pentax K-7; good sharpness wide open; very sharp at ƒ/5.6 and above. Charles Kinghorn  
Good 43mm ƒ/1.9 smc PENTAX-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited
KEH Adorama
⌀49mm 155 g No hotspot.  
Good 50mm ƒ/1.7 smc PENTAX-M 50mm F1.7
KEH Adorama
⌀49mm 185 g No hotspot.  
Good 77mm ƒ/1.8 smc PENTAX-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited
⌀49mm 270 g Hotspot starts at ƒ/11, but it’s usable up to ƒ/22.  
Maybe 85mm ƒ/1.4 smc PENTAX-FA* 85mm F1.4 IF
⌀67mm 620 g Hotspot starts at ƒ/8, but it’s usable up to ƒ/22.  
Good 135mm ƒ/1.8 smc PENTAX-A* 135mm F1.8
⌀77mm 865 g No hotspot.  

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What the ratings mean. Hot spots usually appear as you increase the lens ƒ-number, so each rating depends on the lowest ƒ-stop where a hot spot shows and how severe it is, and the thresholds differ by sensor format.

  • Good: No hot spots, or one that starts at ƒ/11 or higher where diffraction impacts image sharpness.
  • Maybe: Contains a mild hot spot that starts at ƒ/5.6 or ƒ/8 and is correctable in editing.
  • Bad: A hot spot that starts at ƒ/4 or lower, or is hard to correct in editing.
  • Unknown: No data reported.

How reports are checked and rated

Pentax K Lens Mount Adapters

Use an adapter to mount these lenses to many mirrorless cameras.

B&H - Pentax K lens mount adapters

Adorama - Pentax K lens mount adapters