Are you looking for the best lenses for Pentax K-1 Mark II? Do you feel the kit lens is unsuitable for the performance you are trying to achieve?
If you think you can elevate this Pentax camera by choosing the right lens, you need to keep reading the article.
Before we get to the list, I must say that Pentax K-1 Mark II is a rugged camera with an outstanding weather-sealing solution and an extraordinary 36,2 MPX full-frame CMOS sensor.

The camera has 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization and 4.4 continuous shooting while supporting 1080/30 p video recording.
If you are still using your Pentax K-1 Mark II kit lens, you probably wonder how much improvement a new lens gives. A lot!
Pentax-D 24-70mm f/2.8ED Lens | Pentax 70-200mm f/2.8ED Lens | Pentax-D 50mm f/1.4 Lens |
Capture unforgettable moments with incredible sharpness and versatility, thanks to its exceptional performance and wide focal range. | Experience the power of telephoto photography with superb zoom capabilities and impressive light-gathering capabilities. | Unleash your creativity without breaking the bank, with a lens that delivers outstanding low-light performance and precise focus. |
5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
Pentax-D 24-70mm f/2.8ED Lens
Capture unforgettable moments with incredible sharpness and versatility, thanks to its exceptional performance and wide focal range.
Pentax 70-200mm f/2.8ED Lens
Experience the power of telephoto photography with superb zoom capabilities and impressive light-gathering capabilities.
Pentax-D 50mm f/1.4 Lens
Unleash your creativity without breaking the bank, with a lens that delivers outstanding low-light performance and precise focus.
Best Prime Lens for Portraits
Pentax-D 50mm f/1.4 is an all-weather sealed lens with a dependable dustproof and weather-resistant structure that prevent water and dust intrusion interior.
Pentax-D FA 50mm f/1.4 is an all-weather sealed lens with a dependable dustproof and weather-resistant structure with eight special seals that prevent water and dust intrusion interior.
From a technical perspective, I am fond of a new ring-type ultrasonic wave motor in this lens that does a great job in light-fast focusing.
What is great about this lens is its stable build quality. The lens in the matter is a massive and solid lens that can quickly meet serious weather challenges.
The image quality is outstanding. All of the pictures taken with this lens appeared full of life, with crisp details and superior contrast. I liked the color rendering, with naturally warm tones.
At f/1.4, opening portraits are beautiful, with great separations between the subject in focus background blur.
Unfortunately, there is also a bit of a chromatic aberration at maximum aperture, but I noticed it had disappeared entirely at f/1.8.
Since this is a Pentax K-1 Mark II prime lens, you will not be able to shoot landscape images of the highest quality, but it is the right choice for portrait and macro photography.
Pros
- Outstanding image quality
- Build quality
- All-weather sealed
Cons
- Chromatic aberration at maximum aperture
Best Wide-Angle Lens for Landscapes
Pentax-D 15-30mm f/2.8 is designed with eight seals that prevent water intrusion, paired with extra-low dispersion glass elements for clear and sharp images.
Pentax-D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 is designed with eight seals that prevent water intrusion, paired with extra-low dispersion glass elements for clear and sharp images.
The lens’s minimum focus distance is 28 cm, ensuring shooting subjects have a well-defined field depth.
Supersonic direct-drive motor indeed does a remarkable job in delivering silent and accurate autofocus operations.
Compared to other wide-angle lenses I have tested for this Pentax K-1 Mark II camera, this one delivered much more saturated images.
The color rendering is incredible, while the amount of preserved details is magnificent. Distortion at 15 mm was expected but was also easily corrected in Lightroom.
Furthermore:
The field of vision is much improved at 15 mm, so I spent a great deal of testing at this focal length.
The first thing you notice about this lens is its heft.
The lens is a bit on the large side and very solid. I prefer the focus ring toward the front and the zoom ring to the rear towards the body from an ergonomic perspective. Both are easily accessible without moving my hand’s grip.
Pros
- Build quality
- Incredible color rendering
- Sharp images
Cons
- Distortion at 15 mm
Best All-Around lens for everyday photography
Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 has a weather-resistant construction with dependable seals that stop water intrusion and it has smooth bokeh effect.
- Lens Type: Normal
- Mounting Type: Pentax KAF
- Focal Length Range: 24-70mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.38 meters (1.25 feet)
- Weight: 1.75 pounds
- Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.48 x 4.3 inches
Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 has a weather-resistant construction with dependable seals that stop water intrusion.
From a technical perspective, this all-in-one lens for Pentax K-1 Mark II incorporates a new generation of a supersonic direct-drive motor that ensures a silent and fast autofocus operation.
The rounded diaphragm produced a silky smooth bokeh effect while it balanced the impact of point light sources.
The focusing system does a great job of producing sharp images while the system noise is reduced to a minimum. The captured images are full of life and can take you back to the moment they were born.
The constant f/2.8 aperture is fantastic. This lens handles low-light situations like a charm, with exceptional sharpness and quality throughout the frame.
During the test, I saw no aberrations or distortions in the edges. The only downside of the lens is its weight. It is bulky for a lens that you will be mounting a lot.
However:
It is a versatile optical solution with extraordinary performance. I have used it for interior shooting in low light, with a low ISO value, and it performed well. The lens also did a great job shooting live subjects in natural light.
Pros
- Weather-resistant construction
- Excellent image quality
- Great low-light performance
Cons
- Weight
Best Telephoto Lens for Wildlife Photography
Pentax FA 70-200mm f/2.8 is a weather-sealed lens that also provides dependable dustproof protection and also picture quality is outstanding.
Pentax FA 70-200mm f/2.8 is a weather-sealed lens that provides dependable dustproof protection.
It is possible to instantly switch from autofocus to manual by pressing the shutter button halfway down and turning the focusing ring after locking on the subject.
The package of this telephoto lens for the Pentax K-1 Mark II camera is also quite lovely. You get a front lens cap, lens mount cap, lens hood, and a case in the box.
There is a tripod mount bracket with an integrated lock mechanism that protects the lens from falling on the outer side of the lens.
The lens packs a considerable weight, so the tripod is a must for most situations in the wilderness.
The picture quality is outstanding, with excellent color rendering that is as realistic as possible.
The contrast is also relatively high, and the amount of detail is incredible, even at the 200 mm end.
One of these lenses ‘ biggest pluses is a consistently high sharpness and low chromatic aberration across the focal length. Interior focusing system that operates in silence and is yet to disappoint me.
Unfortunately, there is no built-in image stabilization, but I did not have any problems with shaking.
Pros
- High contrast
- Good build quality
- Consistently high sharpness
Cons
- Considerable weight
Best Macro Lens for Macro Photography
Pentax 100mm f/2.8 features a full-frame design that is optically optimized for digital imaging and it produces sharp images full of details.
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Mounting Type: Pentax KAF
- Focal Length Range: 100mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.13 meters (0.43 feet)
- Weight: 0.75 pounds
- Dimensions: 3.19 x 2.56 x 2.56 inches
Pentax 100mm f/2.8 features a full-frame design that is optically optimized for digital imaging. The lens has rounded aperture blades that improve bokeh effects at wide apertures.
A total 1:1 image magnification ratio and super p protective coating for extra protection are featured.
During the testing:
The focus worked great when I was near the subject, but it took me a while to target if I was further away on several occasions.
The images I have taken with this macro lens on a Pentax K-1 Mark II camera were too sharp and full of details. Colors appear crisp, bright, and well-defined.
I like to try macro lenses for portrait purposes, and the lens does an excellent job of achieving silky-smooth portraits.
The images are tack-sharp even at f/2.8, which delighted me the most.
From a design point of view, the lens is constructed of metal pieces that are well put together to create a weather-resistant lens.
Since it looks and feels like it can take a beating, I was not so careful with it, and I am sure that any soft bumps would not ruin it.
Pros
- Detailed images
- Great build focus
- Bokeh effects
Cons
- Focusing at night
Best lenses for Pentax K-1 Mark II – Wrapping Up
Pentax K-1 Mark II is a camera that I like for several reasons. Among them are its toughness and weather-resistance solution.
Throughout the testing, it gave excellent results with all of the lenses in the matter.
Since the camera is so good, why not upgrade it with high-quality optics? Pick any lens on the list, and your portfolio will see a significant improvement in no time!
Read other guides such as Canon Rebel T6 lenses or Canon Rebel T7 lenses guide.
Hopefully, this guide helped you make the right decision and get yourself the best lens for Pentax K-1 Mark II in 2024.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to comment below.
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