These are 5 MUST-HAVE lenses for Pentax K3 [In 2023] 📸

Feb 18, 2023 | Buying Guides

Are you looking for the best lenses for the Pentax K3 in 2023?

If you feel you have achieved everything possible with the kit lens and want to expand, you have come to the right place.

This article will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the best Pentax K3 lenses.

For shooting wildlife, landscape, portrait, and macro photography at the highest level, one needs to be equipped with suitable Pentax K3 lenses.

lenses for Pentax K3

Although Pentax K3 is a reliable camera with its 24.4 Mpx APS-C CM

OS sensor, an autofocus system with 27 points, and 8.3 fps continuous shooting is still a camera that relies on lenses for the best photographic experience.

If you are wondering which lenses fit your Pentax K3 in the best possible way, keep reading. I have done thorough research to bring you the five best lenses for Pentax K3.

Editor's Choice
Best Runner Up
Best Budget
Description:

Exceptional sharpness and low-light performance in a compact package, perfect for portraits and everyday photography.

Description:

Versatile zoom lens with a wide focal range, offering high-quality images for landscapes, travel, and general shooting.

Description:

Affordable telephoto lens with a long reach, ideal for wildlife and sports photography without breaking the bank.

Editor's Choice
Description:

Exceptional sharpness and low-light performance in a compact package, perfect for portraits and everyday photography.

Best Runner Up
Description:

Versatile zoom lens with a wide focal range, offering high-quality images for landscapes, travel, and general shooting.

Best Budget
Description:

Affordable telephoto lens with a long reach, ideal for wildlife and sports photography without breaking the bank.

Pentax-D 50mm f/1.4 Lens

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.

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Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 allows extra-fast shutter speeds with perfect control of field depth. With an angle of view of 47 degrees and a weight of only 7,8 OZ, the lens represents a compact solution for portrait photography.

This prime lens for Pentax K3 takes good photos, but you always want to use a good hood since the front element is well-exposed to extraneous light if you wish for excellent contrast.

Generally speaking:

The image quality is excellent, particularly in low-light and high-contrast environments. Fringing is barely noticeable, and it only occurs in outdoor light.

The f/1.4 aperture allows photographers to take photos in unusually low-light situations without a flash, not to mention remarkable bokeh effects.

For portrait photography, the large aperture will enable me to capture the slightest changes in my subject’s emotions. I did interior photo shoots with this lens and was impressed with the outcome.

Although the lens is made of plastic, it feels solid in the hands.

Pros

  • Fast shutter speeds
  • Great contrast
  • Excellent image quality

Cons

  • Made from plastic

Best Wide-Angle Lens for Landscapes

Pentax 12-24mm f/4 Lens

Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 is an excellent lens for taking fantastic pictures of landscapes and structures and it has smooth focusing system.

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Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 is an excellent lens for capturing landscapes and structures.

First and foremost:

The angle of view at 12 mm is incredible, and the distortion is minimal. There are no optical faults at 24 mm, a moderately wide angle, like color fringing at edges or high, unnatural contrasts.

The lens is made primarily of plastics, yet it feels solid and well-made. It is also lightweight, so it is easy to carry around.

The focusing system is internal, and the lens barrel does not extend. On the other hand, manual focus operates quite smoothly.

The focusing distance is 30 cm, making this wide-angle lens for Pentax K3 an excellent choice for interior and landscape sessions. I was satisfied with the image quality.

All the images came out well-exposed with a decent number of small details. I am content with the sharpness, even at the maximum aperture.

Pros

  • Very sharp
  • Contrast is relatively high
  • Color rendering is consistently good

Cons

  • High price

Best All-Around lens for everyday photography

Pentax 16-85mm Lens

Pentax 16-85mm is a weather-resistant lens that is ready to operate under challenging conditions, including cold and dusty environments.

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Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 has a new HD coating to optimize light transmission and minimize reflections.

The lens is weather-resistant, while the SP coating protects the glass elements. The autofocus system is fast and silent, but the internal focusing shortens the sufficient focal length to focus closer.

The built quality of the lens is quite excellent. The materials feel rugged and dependable, and the design does not seem cheap.

The Pentax lens, in the matter, is the short zoom lens, which means you can shoot landscapes, streets, architecture, and much more while getting phenomenal results. The image quality is better than satisfactory.

Images come out nicely exposed and with an extraordinary level of sharpness. The main point of this all-around lens for Pentax K3 is its versatility.

I used it for various types of photography, and it performed well in all cases. Although the aperture is not so wide, don’t let it deter you from buying.

Bottom line:

The lens gave good results in low-light situations throughout intensive testing in all light conditions. And since the maximum aperture is set at a high notch, you can count on consistent sharpness throughout the shooting range.

Pros

  • Weather-resistant
  • Very sharp
  • Color saturation

Cons

  • Small amount of distortion

Best Telephoto Lens for Wildlife Photography

Pentax 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens

Pentax 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 has nine diaphragm blades and a rear focus system with a pulse motor and its construction is weather-resistant.

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Pentax 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Resets a short minimum focusing distance at 0,95 m, while the electromagnetic diaphragm control system ensures quiet sound operation during video recording.

The lens has a weather-resistant construction with a super protective coating on the lens front surface.

I was impressed mainly by the color rendering of this Pentax K3 telephoto lens, which is exceptional in all regards. Images were well-saturated, with natural colors and fine details.

Of course:

The sharpness is excellent as well. I didn’t have any problems with sensitivity, even at f/4.5. Image quality is good throughout the zoom range. At 300 mm, I could spot softness at the edges of images, but I had no trouble correcting it in post-production.

The matter lens is my favorite solution for numerous applications, especially for long-range and fast-moving actions.

Autofocus is responsive and accurate, with virtually zero hunting. It is easy to grab the focus ring without switching when you need to change to manual.

From an ergonomic perspective, it is not too heavy, though it packs a severe zooming capability. However, I recommend having a tripod for a more intense photo session.

Pros

  • Weather-resistant
  • Razor sharp images
  • Amazing bokeh

Cons

  •  Aperture could be wider

Best Macro Lens for Macro Photography

Pentax 100mm f/2.8 Lens

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.

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  • 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 is a weather-resistant lens with an incredibly rounded aperture. The lens blades work in favor of a beautiful defocusing effect at wide apertures.

The super coating on the front repels dust, water, and grease, which means many photographers often get their gear dirty.

Of course:

The lens features a maximum 1:1 image magnification ratio. I was delighted with the physical manufacture of the lens.

The primary material is metal, and though I was not gentle while testing this Pentax K3 macro lens, I didn’t face any damage. The pictures taken with this lens came out pretty crisp and clean, with excellent brightness and a fair amount of detail.

Due to its extreme focus throw, it can hunt now and then, but that is the only objection.

I tested the lens for its portrait capabilities and was not disappointed with the results. The subjects in focus are sharp, while the background is smoothly defocused.

I was content with the results when I used it for purely macro work. Images were clear, with no visible distortions. I mainly shoot small insects and flowers, and if your definition of macro photography aligns with mine, you will be happy to purchase this lens.

Pros

  • Detailed images
  • Great build focus
  • Bokeh effects

Cons

  • Focusing at night

Best lenses for Pentax K3 – Wrapping Up

Pentax is well-known for being just a slightly different camera manufacturer from other major players in the industry.

I am especially fond of features such as weather resistance and nicely made viewfinders.

Pentax K3 is quite a good camera that packs some of its predecessors’ best features and improves it further. As owners of this camera know, it is a powerful piece of hardware, yet it can be pushed further even more. Pick out any Pentax K3 lens from the list and get going.

Hopefully, this article will help you get the best lens for Pentax K3 within your budget.

However, if you are still not sure which lens to choose, feel free to post a comment below. I will do my best to help you with any further questions.

Make sure to read other articles from the LensesPro blog, such as Fujifilm X-T200 lenses and lenses for Nikon D200.

Happy shooting!

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These are 5 MUST-HAVE lenses for Pentax K3 [In 2023] 📸
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These are 5 MUST-HAVE lenses for Pentax K3 [In 2023] 📸
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Discover the best lenses for Pentax K3 to start shooting much better photos in 2023. Read this ultimate lens buying guide to learn more.
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Edward Avedon

Edward Avedon

Professional Photographer

I’m Edward Avedon, a seasoned professional photographer with over 7 years of experience and the co-founder of the renowned LensesPro blog. Currently, I am furthering my knowledge as a student at Columbia University in the heart of New York, USA.

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