SMC Pentax-DA 1 Review: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

For the opportunity Pentax-DA 1 SMC Lens Review: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR Many thanks to Oleg Ilesk.

SMC Pentax-DA 1 Review: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

SMC Pentax-DA 1 Review: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR is a kit lens for Pentax cameras. The lens is interesting for its weather protection. The lens is included with some cameras PentaxEg Pentax K-30.

Full list of standard Pentax lenses for cropped cameras:

  1. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL, the very first version, was released from September 2004 to 2008.
  2. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL II, optical design for 11 elements in 8 groups. It has been produced since 2008.
  3. SMC Pentax-DA L 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL, lightweight version of the previous version. There are two options for body color - black and white. It has been produced since 2008.
  4. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR, weatherproof version of the lens, available since 2009. Shown in this review.
  5. SMC Pentax-DAL 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 AL WR, weatherproof version of the lens in a lightweight housing.
  6. HD Pentax-DA 1: 4-5.6 18-50mm DC WR RE, February 10, 2015, 11 elements in 8 groups, weatherproof lens option. Available in different body colors.
  7. SMC Pentax-DA L 1: 4-5.6 18-50mm DC WR RE, February 10, 2015, 11 elements in 8 groups, weatherproof version of the lens in a lightweight folding case. Exists in different colors of the case.

 

Differences between models can be found here.

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

The lens hood comes complete with lenses. The hood can be worn backwards, in this state it completely blocks access to the focus ring.

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

When focusing, the front lens does not rotate, it only goes a little forward, about half a centimeter. When zooming, the front element moves in a wave-like fashion: when zooming from 18mm to 35mm, the trunk of the lens retracts, and when zooming from 35mm to 55mm, it protrudes again. Such a wave-like movement is typical for most whale lenses 18-55mm.

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

With manual focus, the focus ring rotates approximately 90 degrees. The manual focus ring is quite comfortable, much better than the Nikon and Canon whale lenses. The lens has a very small minimum focusing distance, which allows you to shoot close-ups (macro mode). Focusing is carried out through the focus motor in the camera itself. Yes, SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR Is a non-motorized whale lens. When focusing, the lens and camera buzz very much, I would even say they emit a piercing whistle.

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

The lens is very well assembled, without backlash. The lens has a metal bayonet mount, and on the lens itself there is an interesting inscription Assembled in vietnam.

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Image quality

SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR behaves well in back and side light, has good contrast and normal color reproduction. Suffers ha and distortion, especially at 18mm. A strong drawback of my copy can be considered mediocre sharpness. Perhaps I did not get the most successful instance.

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Examples of photos taken on a SMC Pentax-DA 1 lens: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

All photos were shot on camera. Pentax K-30 in JPEG mode, saturated mode, with the functions of noise reduction, dynamic range expansion, distortion correction and HA. Also, part of the pictures were shot in RAW to check the real picture on the lens. All photos in the review without processing, reduced size to 2MP, imprinted data from EXIF.

Personal experience

This whale lens SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR proved to be pretty good. It would be great if it had an image stabilizer, but there is a stabilizer in the camera itself Pentax K-30I used this lens with. Build and control quality is superior when compared to other lenses.

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Sample photo on SMC Pentax-DA 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

Catalog of modern Pentax lenses can look at this link.

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Conclusions:

SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR is a good kit lens for Pentax cameras. Structurally surpasses many other kit lenses from Nikon, Canon. The disadvantage of the lens is poor sharpness, perhaps, in my review, not the best example was used. If you liked the review photo, then the lens is good for a number of common tasks.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 34, on the topic: Overview of the SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR

  • Inzoom

    the lens is whale, I think this is all +/- quite the ones that should be)

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    As a whale is very good, but the WR series has lost in quality! The very best is 18-55 AL II, at one time he competed with 16-45! It is a pity but neither AL II nor 16-45 are already produced: ((
    In the "film" times there were super-duper KITS SMC A 28-80 and SMC F 28-80

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thanks for the very helpful information.

    • Pent Ax

      I support Arcadia!
      Thanks for the valuable and helpful information. I had both (both AL II and WR). When I had a choice of which of them to get rid of, I got rid of WR, because in my subjective opinion, pictures from AL turned out better. But then, when I got rid of the WR, I wondered if I was getting excited ... Still, moisture resistant! But now I definitely don’t regret it!
      Thank you for your opinion, it confirmed my own!

  • Yuriy

    I can make a decision to build a kit up to K-5 and tweak this robot with analogs from Canon and Nikon. For the quality of the vintages, there are analogs, but the class is very different from the zoom at a price of $ 100, it is unlikely that you can check the same as the price of $ 1500. I recommend trying the Pentax photographic technique yak kostu is cheaper and is available for people :)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I agree, the assembly and work is better for the analogues of Nikon and Kenon.

  • Eugene

    I got confused, before buying a K-30 I did not know whether to take it with a whale or a body, then buy something like Tamron AF 17-50mm ... on the forums they shout “don’t take a whale buy PENTAX DA 35 F / 2.4 AL” but 35mm on the crop is clearly not wide ... maybe it's worth for the money to find a manual 24mm or wider

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It is possible and manual.

  • Michael

    I have a K-r. A whale lens, of the same Vietnamese assembly, with a decent backlash of the trunk (which is very annoying), but it also allows you to sometimes take good pictures. Now, of course, replaced by Sigma 18-200, for travel and everyday use. Stars from the sky are not enough, but the build quality is at a height and, with skillful use, allows you to take good pictures. Personally, to me, as a tourist, the K-30 is very attractive, not only because of its characteristics, but also its security, and therefore, KIT WR will come in handy precisely in case of extreme hiking conditions, otherwise, why buy such a model. Often, I have to shoot in the rain and when passing thresholds, such a lens is useful here, and for all other cases there are more advanced models. Good luck everyone!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thank you for sharing your experience.

    • Valentine

      Dear Michael! I've also been walking thresholds for a long time, but with a Pentax W30 (soap dish). Nikon D90 (body) took this year - it's time to improve the quality of images, incl. and thresholds. What do you recommend from the lenses, taking into account our specifics? I'm aiming at Tamron 17-50, and here I read about your protected (WR) Pentax. What do you advise? Thank you in advance.

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    Hello! Tell me, is it possible to attach a lens with a K mount (JCPenney PK MOUNT 135mm f2.8 PORTRAIT LENS) to Nikon ???
    I rummaged through "the whole" Internet and did not find it ...
    Thank you very much in advance!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      You can, the adapter is called Pentax-Nikon, it usually comes with a lens, the lens spoils the image quality. If without a lens, then there will be no infinity.

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    And if without infinity it becomes without an adapter, or what?
    I read on Wikipedia that they seem to have a different working distance, about 1 centimeter ...
    Thank you!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The adapter is needed in any case, since the mount K and F are different.

  • Vladimir

    ... The disadvantage of the lens is poor sharpness, perhaps, in my review, not the best example was used ...
    It's a common accident that I have the same sneakers ...

  • Jury

    Slightly not sharp and good ... Ideal for a portrait, it will always hide all imperfections and slightly smooth the skin of the face

  • Olga

    Good evening!
    Tell me, please, is it worth it to overpay for the WR version? Is this option strongly inferior to the ordinary whale 18-55.

    • Michael

      Optically the same thing. If you do not need moisture protection, then do not overpay.
      PS EEEEhhhh, how the word “whale” hurts my ear and my soul in Russian letters. Wouldn't it be better, if you really communicate in Russian, to use the word “full-time”?

  • Andrei

    I have been using the above lens since October 2012 (it came bundled with the Pentax K-30). I can add the following to the review of Arkady:
    1. at the beginning I also thought that the sharpness is mediocre, until I figured out the operation of the camera itself, it is not always necessary to use it as an ordinary “soap box”.
    2. If you set the spot focus mode, then the sharpness will be at the level. In the default settings, there was a multipoint, so the lens often smeared.
    3. if, depending on the lighting, the device can sharpen, it’s better not to disturb it, it’s not always better with your hands (I speak for this lens). The exception is night shooting.
    4. The lens is lightweight, convenient operation. In my kit came without a hood.

  • Vladimir

    Filming on K-30. An excellent device, good lenses (standard). But, Olympus lenses are more like it. (There is E-420)

  • Kira

    I have such a lens but a model without WR.
    horror on the wings of the night :))) dark - no flash anywhere. to shoot something close to them makes sense. if the landscape is something dumb, not detailed, not harsh, with an ever-white sky and black shadows, even in cloudy conditions .... In general, I have it on the shelf, but there are no such problems with a Soviet lens. even for landscapes sigma 30 fix and that is wonderful if the conditions are observed ... in short, I still spit and never take a fotik with a whale again. but I plan to change mine :)

  • Timur

    I also have no WR, really not sharp. As for the focus points, I think if you set one point in the settings, it will be better, but not much. Dark very, almost all the time doing exposure compensation. But if you shoot, then in general, nothing.

  • Alexander

    ... by the way, at the beginning it was written that the hood becomes the opposite and closes access to the focusing ring! let me disagree, there is an insert, when removed, access to the focusing ring opens up .... I have 2 hoods from AL and ALII .... maybe from WR and without ???

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Without.

      • Vladimir

        ... I have WR and there is an insert on the hood)

  • Elena

    I have two staffers - the one that is discussed in this topic and the one that came with my first film Pentax-ME30-18-80. So, personally, in my opinion, the old is better.
    PS I still use Tamron 70-300 and a fix of 50mm / 1,8

  • Alexey

    Please tell me, I have a K5 + full-time 18-55mm AL WR, when shooting in an apartment, dark pictures are obtained, what can I take for shooting in an apartment? I want a fix with a wide angle.

    • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

      It depends on what you want to shoot in the apartment. If this is for the most part the room itself, objects in it, etc. inanimate objects, it is better to take a good tripod and shoot from it at longer shutter speeds. And if you plan to shoot children, animals in a dark apartment, then it is better to take a good flash and shoot with it in reflected light, directing it to the ceiling of the room.

  • Sergiy

    I can tell you about the Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6 AL. Dodge 1decorum@gmail.com abac 0508203241

  • Sergiy

    I can tell you what Pentax SMC DA 50-200mm f / 4-5.6 ED WR is. Dodge 1decorum@gmail.com abac 0508203241

  • Ilya

    Can I put it through a PK-EOS adapter to 5D full-frame?

    • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

      What for? For such a carcass, you can find a lens much more interesting. The same lens is best suited for Penax crop.

  • Victor

    The lens is really not bad, but the sharpness is not enough! but light, the impression of him as a toy. I rent them rarely I do not like autofocus, more on the manual., thanks for the review.

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