The SMC Pentax-A* 135mm f/1.8 is a legendary manual-focus telephoto prime introduced in 1984 and produced until 1989, designed for full-frame K-mount film cameras. It was the fastest 135mm lens ever made by Pentax and one of the fastest in any system, earning its place in the elite “A*” (A-Star) series reserved for Pentax’s most optically ambitious designs. With its f/1.8 maximum aperture, it delivers exceptional subject isolation, low-light performance, and a rendering style that many describe as “painterly.” Optically, it features a 7-element - 6-group design with Super Multi-Coating (SMC) and a 9-blade automatic diaphragm. The lens stops down to f/22, focuses as close as 1.2 meters, and delivers 0.15× magnification. It uses a 77mm filter thread, weighs 865g, and measures 80 × 98mm. It includes a manual aperture ring with “A” setting, a dedicated RH-A77 screw-in hood, and was originally sold with the HE-169B hard case. The lens employs a Fixed Rear Element Extension (FREE) focusing system to maintain optical performance across distances, though it lacks internal focusing or autofocus.

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Release Date: 1984
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