Table of Contents
Pentax SMC 30mm f/2.8
Summary
The SMC Pentax 30mm f/2.8 is a rare and distinctive manual-focus wide-angle prime introduced in 1975 and produced until 1984, designed for full-frame K-mount film cameras. It holds the unique distinction of being the only 30mm prime lens ever made by Pentax, sitting between the more common 28mm and 35mm focal lengths. With a 7-element/7-group optical design, Super Multi-Coating (SMC), and a 5-blade automatic diaphragm, it delivers a 72° diagonal field of view on full-frame (or ~51° on APS-C), making it a versatile option for street, landscape, and general-purpose photography. The lens focuses down to 30cm, offers 0.13× magnification, and uses a 52mm filter thread. It weighs 215g, measures 63 × 39.5mm, and includes a dedicated PH-S52 hood and hard case. There are two cosmetic variants—one engraved SMC PENTAX 1:2.8/30 and the other smc PENTAX 1:2.8 30mm—but both are optically identical. It lacks an “A” setting on the aperture ring, so it’s best used in manual or aperture-priority modes on modern digital bodies.
Tech Specs
| Manufacturer | Pentax |
| Series | K Series Prime |
| Model | SMC |
| Focal Length | 30mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/22 |
| Format | Full-Frame |
| Image Circle | - |
| Minimum Focus | 30cm |
| Focus Rotation | ° |
| Iris Blades | 5 |
| Optical Design | 7/7 |
| Squeeze | none |
| Front Diameter | 63mm |
| Filter Thread | 52mm |
| Focus/Zoom Rod | none |
| Native Mount | Pentax K |
| Data Protocol | none |
| Length | 39.5mm |
| Weight | 215g |
| Body Telescope | - |
| Body Material | - |
| Focus Drive | - |
| Iris Drive | - |
| Zoom Drive | - |
History
Country of Origin:
Release Date: 1975
Launch Price:
Design Revisions: