Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL : Specifications and Opinions

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL

The Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL is a standard lens for APS-C, manufactured from 2004 to 2008 (discontinued). The focus is done by In-camera AF motor, it does not have image stabilization. The average price was 110 €;

12 users have given it an average vote of 7.7 out of 10.

Specifications
Focal lenght	18-55 mm
Angle of view	77.3 - 29.3° (equivalent to a 27-83mm in Fullframe 24x36mm format)
Format	APS-C
Max. aperture	f/3.5-5.6
Aperture blades	6
Lenses/Groups	12 elements in 9 groups
Min. focus distance	0.25 meters
Reproduction ratio	0.34x
Features
Zoom type	Ring, external
Stabilization	No
Focus	In-camera AF motor
Internal Focus	No
Built and notes
Tripod ring	No
Extenders	No
Filters	52 mm
Lens hood	Yes (not supplied)
Weather sealing	No
Weight	225 g
Dimensions	68 x 68 mm
Buy
Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL, buy on Ebay JuzaPhoto contains affiliate links from Amazon and Ebay and JuzaPhoto earn a commission in case of purchase through affiliate links.

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

Reviews

What do you think?

Do you want add your opinion? You do it by joining JuzaPhoto, it is easy and free!

There is more: by registering you can create your personal page, publish photos, receive comments, join discussions and you can use all the features of JuzaPhoto. With more than 262000 members, there is space for everyone, from the beginner to the professional.

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Maurizio85

sent on 12 Agosto 2026

Pros: Great for getting started right away successfully.

Cons: None for the use it is intended for.

Opinion: If all the major brands in the sector offer this lens in kit form on entry level SLRs, there is a reason. It is equivalent to the fifty that was offered in the 70s on the analog SLRs of the time. So it is an easy optic to use even for a beginner. Compared to the fifties of the time, with it you immediately become familiar with wide-angle and medium-telephoto focal lengths in addition to the so-called "normal". The disadvantage is the low brightness at any focal length (F3.5-5.6) compared to the F1.7-2 of the fifties of the time. With DSLRs it is a relative limitation, given the possibility of easily changing the ISO and obtaining excellent results anyway. This Pentax is also extraordinary for the level of both optical and mechanical quality it offers at the price at which it was sold. You can manually change the autofocus without having to act on buttons or switches but directly on the focus ring. Canon, Nikon, Sony etc. they offer this function only on lenses of a very different level and cost. I took thousands of photos at my debut on DSLRs (Pentax K100D Super) 19 years ago and every now and then I continue to use it with satisfaction for its qualities and lightness. Once again Thank you Pentax.

Pucci Mirti della Valle

sent on 27 Settembre 2024

Pros: Weight, few chromatic aberrations, they pull it after you

Cons: Everything starting with construction

Opinion: I have this lens, taken in kit with the Pentax K-r, I think that of all the Kit lenses, it is absolutely the worst I have ever had. Resolution and details really too poor, construction entirely in plastic which on the one hand is a plus point for the weight, vignette a bit but it is solvable, a TA in the edges detail totally absent. From 40 mm upwards it is pathetic and distorts a lot, not even the Canon 18-55 1 series (the kit one of the 1000D to be clear) distorts so much. If you close the aperture to f8 from 22 to 35 mm more or less it can be used for street and some trips, but let's forget portraits and landscapes. At least in terms of colors it is not too evil, indeed rather neutral, at least in something it is saved. To take a few shots without any pretense and to have fun on the road you can still go.

user172585

sent on 02 Marzo 2024

Pros: By now they're dragging it behind you; it has a metal bayonet and in general it is well built to be an optic supplied in kit; if you really don't have anything else to photograph, at intermediate focal lengths it can still have its say even on more recent cameras (let's say up to 16 megapixels); in my opinion it returns more beautiful colors than the 18-55 second series;

Cons: It's the 18-55 "first series" Pentax, it was fine on a few megapixel sensors, to use it today on newer cameras you have to diaphragm a bit and anyway it's better to avoid focal lengths from 40mm upwards;

Opinion: First of all, it is necessary to make a clarification: the photo on the site depicts a DA L (one of the 4 declinations of the DA 18-55 AL "second series" Pentax, including the very popular WR version), not the DA 18-55 AL "first series" produced from 2004 to 2008. I think this has misled many users who have posted photos taken with the DA L (I have personally ascertained), but which have nothing to do with the DA 18-55 "first series", because the optical scheme is completely different. So let us come to the objective in question. It is a "cap" supplied in a kit, so everything is forgiven. Even if globally surpassed by the new optical scheme of the DA 18-55 AL II (especially at telephoto focal lengths that in my opinion in the "first series" are unusable), it is still able to return some good results, always without losing sight of its nature as a cheap kit optic. I use it between 21mm and 35mm and at least one stop diaphragm recovers resolution, in my opinion it even manages to exceed the DA 18-55 AL II at the same aperture, but given the variability of the specimens these words leave the time they find. Very beautiful colors, in my opinion natural and "clear", I don't know how better to define them. On one occasion I found that from 28mm upwards the colors become warmer. From 40mm upwards you need to close the aperture a lot, generally at that point I prefer to use a 50mm. At 18mm I don't use it much, just out of necessity indoors and most of the time using an external flash. The chromatic aberrations are there as well as the vignetting, you have to go through the software supplied with the camera to correct these defects if you consider it necessary (at the focal lengths I use the chromatic aberrations are not particularly evident).

Diepao

sent on 17 Luglio 2015

Pros: To be a lens kit: chromatic aberrations often absent or reduced without the software of the machine, very good detail, excellent sharpness, af fast while using the car engine, because good focal range from wide angle to normal.

Cons: Slight vignetting at 18 mm, underexpose by 0.3 stop by 50mm, to be set, it remains a lens almost top!

Opinion: A lens that I do not think so good to be kit, I found the good as the 18-55 kit lens of sony that is best only for macro compared. A detail of the images really good, we're on the excellent sharpness, af just right for a Pentax, is not as slow as many say, aberrations really ridiculous and often absent in comparison of a lens as Sigma or Tamron to buy separately leggermenti more cari.rnHo found that all Pentax lenses, even the kit, are processed in a special glass that other "super famous" brands do not, allows this work, really quality above average despite the kit, which is why a little costicchiano more, and all those coins are worth more if I had to buy it separately but fortunately it bought in kit!

user38888

sent on 06 Dicembre 2014

Pros: AF precise and fast, good sharpness and very good detail to be an "optical kit", color rendering and superior to other brands of the same "category kit" statement in line with the prices of basic optics, but of much higher quality compared to competitors

Cons: Slight vignetting between 18 and 22 mm

Opinion: Simply raise 2 stop and ... the scenery is very good. Although I have evolved in optical Pentax I own, I have to say that this will be in my team because it betrays me in detail and sharpness even if the quality is not at the top, but since it is an optical kit I must say that is far superior to competitors.rnLeggera vignetting between 18 and 22 mm, nothing that can not be correct in PP, even today the fashion like vignetting so it might be an advantage (for some) .rnNon it doesnt but by much more than it should give perspective of the base. Recommended for photos not binding and rapide.rnVoto 9 of 10 in the category of basic optical kit (to me), no comparison to its superior optics, because it is very different systems and quality

There are 1 more reviews. Show all »

Photos taken with Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL

The strength of Nature

by Alessandro Traverso
248 comments, 17871 views

The salt marshes

by Alessandro Traverso
186 comments, 11820 views

Fantasy

by Alessandro Traverso
70 comments, 7704 views

Magic of Nature

by Alessandro Traverso
116 comments, 8890 views

Beech forest in autumn

by Alessandro Traverso
77 comments, 6407 views

Architecture of the 20s

by Alcenero
121 comments, 2398 views

Beng ....

by Alessandro Traverso
41 comments, 4975 views

3 to 1

by Alcenero
106 comments, 3074 views

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

Research

by Alessandro Traverso
91 comments, 2539 views

Somewhere in Puglia

by Alcenero
103 comments, 3473 views

"The Salt Travelers"

by Claudio Sciarra
83 comments, 3178 views

Crossing Milan

by Giangenti
35 comments, 3682 views

One of the seven!

by Claudio Sciarra
73 comments, 3130 views

Vernazza

by Alessandro Traverso
62 comments, 5100 views

Betrayed

by Alcenero
81 comments, 1877 views

Amiata forest and rock

by Alcenero
93 comments, 2723 views

"Gold&emerald"

by Claudio Sciarra
52 comments, 2272 views

Skyline from Lake Tirana

by Alcenero
91 comments, 2013 views

Beech forest Liguria

by Alessandro Traverso
38 comments, 4242 views

Light Trail

by Alcenero
80 comments, 1499 views

Stooop!!!

by Alcenero
73 comments, 2056 views

I remember in the summer

by Orietta Bussolino
61 comments, 2691 views

Out of the shadow........ in to the light

by Alcenero
58 comments, 1635 views

Observation point

by Alcenero
59 comments, 1807 views

In the blue painted blue

by Alcenero
81 comments, 6929 views

Bibione clouded

by Angioiluca
37 comments, 4012 views

Proportions

by Alcenero
61 comments, 1935 views

Full Autumn

by Alcenero
90 comments, 4149 views

There are waves and waves

by Alcenero
108 comments, 6126 views

Power and mystery ...

by Alessandro Traverso
27 comments, 3180 views

Looking for Dorothy

by Alcenero
47 comments, 1927 views

Publish your advertisement on JuzaPhoto (info)

That branch ...

by Alcenero
64 comments, 3822 views

More bnianco you can't

by Orietta Bussolino
42 comments, 2188 views

The Crete toscane2 (yes)

by Francesco Abbate
9 comments, 3322 views

Fog in banks ...

by Alessandro Traverso
47 comments, 3365 views

Sunset.

by Pier Giuseppe Grolla
17 comments, 1383 views

One day in paradise

by Alcenero
61 comments, 3110 views

The sample photos are selected automatically between all photos posted by JuzaPhoto members, using the camera and the lens selected in the techs. If you find evident errors (e.g. photos taken with cameras and lenses that are not available yet), you can contribute to improve the page by sending a private message to the user that has entered incorrect values in the photo caption.

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL : Specifications and Opinions

Buy

Offerte Usato RCE

Reviews

What do you think?

Photos taken with Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL