Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is a Variable aperture Auto Focus (AF)
Super Telephoto Zoom lens with 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with
KAF3 Mount cameras.
What type of photography is the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW lens good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated its suitability to various photography scenarios:
Reasons to Buy Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW Lens
Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW lens in a list form to help you determine whether it offers the features you need.
Weather-sealed |
Autofocus |
Distance Scale |
Hood supplied |
Tripod Collar |
Full-time Manual Focusing |
Focus Distance Limiter |
Zoom Lock |
Covers Full-Frame Sensor |
9 Diaphragm Blades for Smooth Bokeh |
450mm reach great for Wildlife Photography |
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Lens Extents while zooming |
Slow Aperture at Wide end |
Slow Aperture at Tele end |
Variable Aperture |
Heavy |
Pricey |
Lens Mount
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is compatible with cameras that have a Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF3 lenses are Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
Size and weight is a very important decision factor when searching for your next lens. Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW has a maximum diameter of 95mm and total length of 242mm when not extended. It weighs 2000g / 70.5 oz.
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW has a filter thread of 86mm. Below are links to the filters that we recommend you to consider for your Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW:
Focal Range
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW has a focal range of 150-450mm and 3.0X zoom ratio. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 225 - 675mm.
Weather Sealings
The Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is a weather-sealed lens, which provides extra protection to prevent water and dust get inside the lens and camera body under light rain, snow and wind. In order to have effective protection, you have to pair the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW with a weather-sealed camera body such as the Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Tripod Collar
With a total length of 242mm and a weight of 2000g, the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is a large lens. Fortunately, it comes with a tripod collar which you can use to attach the lens directly to a tripod or monopod instead of attaching the camera. This connection helps to better balance the lens/kit combination.
Optical Image Stabilization
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW doesn't have an optical image stabilization system so the only option to stabilize the image taken with this lens is to mount on a camera body with IBIS (sensor based In-body image stabilization).
Alternatively, you can check the Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM in Pentax KAF3 mount that have similar focal range but features Optical Image Stabilization.
Lenses Similar to Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW With Optical Image Stabilization
Zoom Method
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW features Rotary (extending) zoom method where the length of the lens changes as you zoom in or out. This makes it possible to design the lens with a smaller minimum length ( generally when it is zoomed out) compared to internal zoom lenses. The disadvantages of this design are being harder to seal against dust and moisture, weight balance shifting while zooming and zoom creep in certain lenses.
Zoom Lock
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW has a Zoom lock feature which eliminates Zoom creep where focal length of the lens changes with gravity when it's held downwards or upwards.
Maximum Magnification Ratio
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.22x and has a minimum focusing distance of 2m.
Below are the 3 Super Telephoto Zoom type Pentax KAF mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:
Aperture
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is a variable aperture lens with a max aperture of f4.5 and a minimum aperture of f22 at 150mm, and a max aperture of f5.6 and minimum aperture of f27 at 450mm .
Focal Length |
Max Aperture |
Min Aperture |
150mm
|
F4.5 |
F22 |
450mm
|
F5.6 |
F27 |
Optical Formula
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW's optical formula consists of 18 elements in 14 groups . Following special elements are used in this design:
- HD
- Super protect coatings
- ED elements
Lens Hood
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW comes with a removable lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos. The model number of the hood is PH-RBA86.
Body Colour
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is available in Black color.
Popular Comparisons of Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW
Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW amongst Camera Decision readers.
Top Alternatives of Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW Lens
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