The SMC Pentax-A 35–70mm f/3.5–4.5 is a compact, manual-focus standard zoom introduced in 1985 and produced through the late 1980s, designed for full-frame K-mount film cameras. It was part of the A-series lineup, offering Program and Shutter-Priority automation via the “A” setting on the aperture ring, and was marketed as a lightweight, affordable walkaround lens for general-purpose photography. Optically, it features an 8-element - 8-group design with Super Multi-Coating (SMC) and a 6-blade automatic diaphragm. The lens stops down to f/22, focuses as close as 0.7 meters in normal mode or 0.32 meters in macro mode, and delivers up to 0.25× magnification—making it surprisingly useful for close-up work. It uses a 49mm filter thread, weighs 248g, and measures 64 × 60mm. The lens was produced in both one-touch (push-pull) and two-touch (separate zoom/focus) versions, though the former is more common. It lacks internal focusing or weather sealing, but includes a manual aperture ring, and was often sold with a clip-on hood and soft case.

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Release Date: 1985
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