Pentax DA 18-55mm lens

The SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL lens is a standard zoom lens for the Pentax K-mount. It is often sold as a kit lens with Pentax digital SLR cameras and has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27–82.5mm. Its optical formula is made of 12 elements in 9 groups. There are two variants of this lens:

  • SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL (first version of 18–55; LensType=252)
  • Samsung D-XENON 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL (Schneider Kreuznach branded variant; supplied with Samsung GX-series DSLRs; LensType=246)
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II
MakerPentax
Technical data
TypeZoom
Focal length18-55mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)27-82.5mm
Crop factor1.5
Aperture (max/min)f/3.5-5.6 / f/22-38
Close focus distance0.25 metres (9.8 in)
Max. magnification0.34x
Diaphragm blades6
Construction11 elements in 8 groups
Features
ApplicationStandard zoom
Physical
Max. length67.5 millimetres (2.66 in)
Diameter68.0 millimetres (2.68 in)
Weight220 grams (7.8 oz)
Filter diameter52mm
Accessories
Lens hoodPH-RBA 52mm
CaseS80-120
Angle of view
Diagonal76°-28°
History
Introduction2008
Retail info
MSRP$199.95 USD

A new optical formula (11 elements in 8 groups) was introduced in 2008 and exists in five variants:

  • SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL II (revised version with greater sharpness; LensType=229)
  • Samsung D-XENON 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL II (Schneider Kreuznach branded variant of revised 18–55; LensType=223)
  • SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL (lightweight variant with plastic mount; LensType=222)
  • SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL WR (weather-resistant variant; LensType=218)
  • SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL WR (weather-resistant but with lighter build with plastic mount; introduced with K-50; LensType=202)

All lenses except the DA L variants provide the Quick-Shift Focus System, providing full-time manual focus while in autofocus mode. The DA L variants also lack a distance scale and are sold without a hood. The hood for non-WR variants is PH-RBA52 while the hood for WR variants is PH-RBC52

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