Asahi Pentax K2 DMD

35mm MF film SLR camera

Specification

Production details:
Announced:1976
System: Pentax K (1975)
Format:
Maximum format:35mm full frame
Film type:135 cartridge-loaded film
Mount and Flange focal distance:Pentax K [45.5mm]
Shutter:
Type:Focal-plane
Model:Electronically controlled
Speeds:8 - 1/1000 + B
Exposure:
Exposure metering:Through-the-lens (TTL), open-aperture
Exposure modes:Aperture-priority Auto
Manual
Physical characteristics:
Weight:685g
Dimensions:143x91.4x52.5mm

Manufacturer description #1

A new and dazzling dimension...

THE NEW AUTOMATIC PENTAX K2DMD

The fascination of motor drive.

At two shots a second, your film consumption (and costs) can be fantastic ...but the action you'll be capturing will be even more fantastic. A left jab, a steal at second, a photo finish... the potential is enormous. The integral intervalometer lets you shoot at two frames per second, one frame per second, one frame every two seconds - or you can shoot single frames. You can set an exposure counter that will let you preprogram to shoot a set number of frames, and there's a remote triggering or a time-lapse timer. Potential... and more potential.

...a beautiful piece of equipment that will only be used, appreciated (and afforded) by a few photographers whose needs and skills now require this kind of horsepower.

How it got that way.

The K2DMD was designed as a system - a consideration, believe it or not, that makes it virtually unique in the world of motor drives. The Pentax engineers started with the requirements of a motor drive system... the demand of top photographers... as the basic design requirements. The result is a beautifully singular piece of equipment that we feel (showing little modesty) will become the standard for future motor-drive developments.

The camera portion is a beauty.

A quick, sure perfected bayonet lens mount. Automatic with shutter speeds of 8 to 1/1000 of a second. Manual override capability is there if you need it. For special effects - automatic under- or overexposure control. Metering is center-weighted, and fast with silicon photo diodes sensing the light level. The needles are superimposed over the shutter speed scale in the viewfinder. The f/stop is reflected from the lens barrel into the viewfinder via a tiny prism - you see exactly where you've set the aperture (and there are no strings to break). The f/stop turns red when you set the exposure meter to 1/4X, 1/2X, 2X or 4X - reminding you to return it to 1X when done with these special exposure situations.

More good news.

The Seiko engineers (superb watches) worked with Pentax engineers to design a unique metal focal plane shutter for the K2 cameras. This shutter made possible a very compact automatic camera with a high speed X sync of 1/125 of a second. A memory lock allows the K2DMD to temporarily "memorize" an automatic exposure. For a backlit portrait or other tricky lighting situations, it's a welcome feature. The memory lock also allows you to lock up the mirror and simultaneously cause the camera to "memorize" the exposure of the previous instant. This memory lock will function for about ten minutes, allowing you to take as many photos as you wish at the same "memorized" exposure. A low battery warning seems like a small idea but it can prevent missing big pictures. Besides, with this unit ... you "get it all."

Built-in viewfinder blinds that block out all the ambient light in critical situations, and a combination split/microprism focusing screen, are neat details that can make big differences.

That unique data back.

Rare, but to some, invaluable. There are no cords. It attaches quickly and securely to the camera and provides the K2DMD with the ability to be the only automatic motor drive that will record date, minute and second automatically. Your own notations can also be recorded on the film.

And even more.

You can use all 31 Super-Multi-Coated Pentax lenses on the new K2DMD. Since their introduction, these "flare tamers" have been considered by many to be the finest lenses in the world. With the addition this year of the perfected bayonet-mount, these truly elegant lenses are hard to beat.

Inexpensive they aren't, but going with a K2DMD is going first cabin and using it with lesse lenses would be ...rather gauche.

There are, for those of you with very large camera bags, almost 200 accessories that make this one of the most complete systems in the world.

Human engineering.

When you hold this camera in your hands - even the very first time - all the controls fall naturally into place. The camera feels as if it were custom made for you.

The edges that normally rest against your hands are beveled for a comfortable, more secure grip - so important for those long shooting sessions.

The raised white bump on the lens barrel allows you to change lenses quickly. Even in the dark. Less than a quarter turn locks the lens firmly in place.

Your Pentax dealer can show you still more of what makes the K2DMD feel as though it were made exclusively for you.

And that might add a new dimension to your photography and new quality to your pictures.

Manufacturer description #2

With the motor drive unit specifically designed for it attached, the Asahi Pentax K2 DMD is capable of consecutive exposures of two frames per second when using shutter speeds of 1/60 second or shorter (1/60 - 1/1000 sec.). Moreover, it is possible to combine the Data Back MD with the Pentax K2 DMD and Motor Drive Unit MD for the imprinting of data upon the film as it is automatically transported.

Manufacturer description #3

The K2 DMD is a fully automatic SLR camera built with precision and engineered for durability. Yet it maintains the ease of use and compact styling that has made Pentax cameras world renowned. Like the K2, the K2 DMD is fully automatic, utilizes a stepless electronic Seiko metal focal-plane shutter (with full manual overide capabilities) and an extremely fast and accurate silicon photo diode metering system. It also offers a full range of manual shutter speeds from 8 to 1/1000 second, plus B, electronic flash synch at 1/125 second, an exposure compensation dial that permits automatic over/under exposure up to 2 f/stops and a large, bright silver coated pentaprism for easy viewing and focusing.

In addition to motor drive capabilities, the K2 DMD incorporates several other features, unique in the line to the K2 DMD:

  • A full information viewfinder that shows whether the camera is being used on auto or manual; whether the exposure compensation feature is in use; what shutter speed has been selected and what lens aperture is in use.
  • Unique exposure control with use of a "Memory Lock." This enables the user to lock in an exposure reading and repositioning the subject in the viewfinder to compensate for harsh lighting conditions.
  • An automatic "Shutter Lock" that prevents the user from using the camera in the automatic mode when batteries are too weak.
  • An Eyepiece Blind.
  • Interchangeable backs.

Manufacturer description #4

TYPE: Aperture-Priority AE 35mm SLR with manual override and provision for motor drive.

SHUTTER: Electronically controlled Seiko MF vertically moving, metal focal plane shutter. Auto: Stepless range of 1/1000 - 8 seconds. Manual: 1/1000 - 8 seconds & b. Mechanical Shutter: B, 1/125 sec. (no batteries and dial set to 1/125 - 1 sec), 1/1000 sec. (no batteries and dial set to 1/1000 - 1/250 sec.).

SYNCHRONIZATION: Hot Shoe with built-in circuit breaker, FP and X threaded terminals, X-sync at 1/125 sec.

SELF-TIMER: 5 - 9 sec. delay, starts with Shutter Release Button, can be stopped while operating and by-passed.

VIEWFINDER: Silvered pentaprism for brilliant viewing, Split-Micro focusing aid, magnification of .88x with 50mm lens at infinity. 95% of picture taking area visible, eyepiece of .8 diopter, built-in Eyepiece Blind. Auto/Manual Indicator, aperture, Shutter Speed Indicator for both auto and manual operation, and Exposure Compensation Warning visible in Viewfinder. Match-Needle operation possible for manual exposure control.

MIRROR: Extra-large, swing back mirror for elimination of mirror cut-off and with provision for Mirror Lock-up.

EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT: Silicon Photo Diode open-aperture, center-weighted through-the-Iens exposure measurement for aperture-priority AE or match-needle manual exposure control. ±2 EV exposure compensation provision, Photo Memory Lock (automatic exposure temporarily memorized when Mirror Lock-Up Lever is held downward or memorized approximately 10 minutes when mirror is locked in the upraised position), exposure measurement range of EV 1 - 18 (f/1.4 lens, 100 ASA) ASA range of 8 - 6400, meter switch incorporated into Film Advance Lever and Shutter Release Button.

FILM ADVANCE LEVER: Plastic thumb grip, single stroke 135° throw with stand-off angle of 25°.

EXPOSURE COUNTER: Additive type with automatic reset.

FILM REWIND: Rapid Rewind Crank built into Rewind Knob.

LENS MOUNT: Pentax K Bayonet Mount.

POWER SOURCE: Two 1.5V silver oxide batteries which last approximately one year with normal use, Battery Check Lamp (LED) to test battery condition, automatic "Shutter-Lock" when attempting to use camera with batteries of insufficient voltage, serving as warning to replace batteries.

BACK COVER: Back Cover has built-on film tab holder and is interchangeable with data back, opens by pulling up Rewind Knob.

BUILT-IN COUPLING: Shutter Release Pin, Film Transport Coupler, and direct contact terminals which couple to motor drive. Built-in Data Light Shield which couples to Data Switch, and direct contact terminal which couples to data back.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Built-on Tripod Socket, Depth of Field Preview Button, lenses provided with upraised dots for instant matching and mounting to camera body, reinforced neck strap lugs, all back body, texturized body surface for sure grip.

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35mm full frame • Manual focus • Film • Singe-lens reflex • Pentax K mount

Model Shutter Metering Modes Year
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aka Ricoh CR-10
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E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1980
Ricoh KR-10SE E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1980
Ricoh KR-5SV M, 1/2000 TTL • OA M 2000
Ricoh XR Solar M, 1/2000 TTL • OA M 1994
Ricoh XR-1 M, 1/1000 TTL • OA M 1977
Ricoh XR-1S M, 1/1000 TTL • OA M 1979
Ricoh XR-2 E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1977
Ricoh XR-2000
aka Ricoh KR-10 Super
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Ricoh XR-2S E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1979
Ricoh XR-8
aka Ricoh KR-5 Super II
M, 1/2000 TTL • OA M 1993
Ricoh XR-8 Super
aka Ricoh KR-5 III
M, 1/2000 TTL • OA M 1994
Ricoh XR-F E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1983
Ricoh XR-S E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1981
Ricoh XR5
aka Ricoh CR-5
aka Ricoh KR-5 Super
M, 1/1000 TTL • OA M 1980
Ricoh XR500
aka Ricoh KR-5
M, 1/500 TTL • OA M 1978
Ricoh XR500 auto E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1982
Ricoh XR6 E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1981
Ricoh XR7 E, 1/1000 TTL • OA AM 1982
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Copyright © 2012-2024 Evgenii Artemov. All rights reserved. Translation and/or reproduction of website materials in any form, including the Internet, is prohibited without the express written permission of the website owner.

Chromatic aberration

There are two kinds of chromatic aberration: longitudinal and lateral. Longitudinal chromatic aberration is a variation in location of the image plane with changes in wave lengths. It produces the image point surrounded by different colors which result in a blurred image in black-and-white pictures. Lateral chromatic aberration is a variation in image size or magnification with wave length. This aberration does not appear at axial image points but toward the surrounding area, proportional to the distance from the center of the image field. Stopping down the lens has only a limited effect on these aberrations.

Spherical aberration

Spherical aberration is caused because the lens is round and the film or image sensor is flat. Light entering the edge of the lens is more severely refracted than light entering the center of the lens. This results in a blurred image, and also causes flare (non-image forming internal reflections). Stopping down the lens minimizes spherical aberration and flare, but introduces diffraction.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism in a lens causes a point in the subject to be reproduced as a line in the image. The effect becomes worse towards the corner of the image. Stopping down the lens has very little effect.

Coma

Coma in a lens causes a circular shape in the subject to be reproduced as an oval shape in the image. Stopping down the lens has almost no effect.

Curvature of field

Curvature of field is the inability of a lens to produce a flat image of a flat subject. The image is formed instead on a curved surface. If the center of the image is in focus, the edges are out of focus and vice versa. Stopping down the lens has a limited effect.

Distortion

Distortion is the inability of a lens to capture lines as straight across the entire image area. Barrel distortion causes straight lines at the edges of the frame to bow toward the center of the image, producing a barrel shape. Pincushion distortion causes straight lines at the edges of the frame to curve in toward the lens axis. Distortion, whether barrel or pincushion type, is caused by differences in magnification; stopping down the lens has no effect at all.

The term "distortion" is also sometimes used instead of the term "aberration". In this case, other types of optical aberrations may also be meant, not necessarily geometric distortion.

Diffraction

Classically, light is thought of as always traveling in straight lines, but in reality, light waves tend to bend around nearby barriers, spreading out in the process. This phenomenon is known as diffraction and occurs when a light wave passes by a corner or through an opening. Diffraction plays a paramount role in limiting the resolving power of any lens.

Doublet

Doublet is a lens design comprised of two elements grouped together. Sometimes the two elements are cemented together, and other times they are separated by an air gap. Examples of this type of lens include achromatic close-up lenses.

Dynamic range

Dynamic range is the maximum range of tones, from darkest shadows to brightest highlights, that can be produced by a device or perceived in an image. Also called tonal range.

Resolving power

Resolving power is the ability of a lens, photographic emulsion or imaging sensor to distinguish fine detail. Resolving power is expressed in terms of lines per millimeter that are distinctly recorded in the final image.

Vignetting

Vignetting is the darkening of the corners of an image relative to the center of the image. There are three types of vignetting: optical, mechanical, and natural vignetting.

Optical vignetting is caused by the physical dimensions of a multi-element lens. Rear elements are shaded by elements in front of them, which reduces the effective lens opening for off-axis incident light. The result is a gradual decrease of the light intensity towards the image periphery. Optical vignetting is sensitive to the aperture and can be completely cured by stopping down the lens. Two or three stops are usually sufficient.

Mechanical vignetting occurs when light beams are partially blocked by external objects such as thick or stacked filters, secondary lenses, and improper lens hoods.

Natural vignetting (also known as natural illumination falloff) is not due to the blocking of light rays. The falloff is approximated by the "cosine fourth" law of illumination falloff. Wide-angle rangefinder designs are particularly prone to natural vignetting. Stopping down the lens cannot cure it.

Flare

Bright shapes or lack of contrast caused when light is scattered by the surface of the lens or reflected off the interior surfaces of the lens barrel. This is most often seen when the lens is pointed toward the sun or another bright light source. Flare can be minimized by using anti-reflection coatings, light baffles, or a lens hood.

Ghosting

Glowing patches of light that appear in a photograph due to lens flare.

Retrofocus design

Design with negative lens group(s) positioned in front of the diaphragm and positive lens group(s) positioned at the rear of the diaphragm. This provides a short focal length with a long back focus or lens-to-film distance, allowing for movement of the reflex mirror in SLR cameras. Sometimes called an inverted telephoto lens.

Rectilinear design

Design that does not introduce significant distortion, especially ultra-wide angle lenses that preserve straight lines and do not curve them (unlike a fisheye lens, for instance).

Focus shift

A change in the position of the plane of optimal focus, generally due to a change in focal length when using a zoom lens, and in some lenses, with a change in aperture.

Transmittance

The amount of light that passes through a lens without being either absorbed by the glass or being reflected by glass/air surfaces.

Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)

When optical designers attempt to compare the performance of optical systems, a commonly used measure is the modulation transfer function (MTF).

The components of MTF are:

The MTF of a lens is a measurement of its ability to transfer contrast at a particular resolution from the object to the image. In other words, MTF is a way to incorporate resolution and contrast into a single specification.

Knowing the MTF curves of each photographic lens and camera sensor within a system allows a designer to make the appropriate selection when optimizing for a particular resolution.

Veiling glare

Lens flare that causes loss of contrast over part or all of the image.

Anti-reflection coating

When light enters or exits an uncoated lens approximately 5% of the light is reflected back at each lens-air boundary due to the difference in refractive index. This reflected light causes flare and ghosting, which results in deterioration of image quality. To counter this, a vapor-deposited coating that reduces light reflection is applied to the lens surface. Early coatings consisted of a single thin film with the correct refractive index differences to cancel out reflections. Multi-layer coatings, introduced in the early 1970s, are made up of several such films.

Benefits of anti-reflection coating:

Circular fisheye

Produces a 180° angle of view in all directions (horizontal, vertical and diagonal).

The image circle of the lens is inscribed in the image frame.

Diagonal (full-frame) fisheye

Covers the entire image frame. For this reason diagonal fisheye lenses are often called full-frame fisheyes.

Extension ring

Extension rings can be used singly or in combination to vary the reproduction ratio of lenses. They are mounted between the camera body and the lens. As a rule, the effect becomes stronger the shorter the focal length of the lens in use, and the longer the focal length of the extension ring.

View camera

A large-format camera with a ground-glass viewfinder at the image plane for viewing and focusing. The photographer must stick his head under a cloth hood in order to see the image projected on the ground glass. Because of their 4x5-inch (or larger) negatives, these cameras can produce extremely high-quality results. View cameras also usually support movements.

135 cartridge-loaded film

43.27 24 36
  • Introduced: 1934
  • Frame size: 36 × 24mm
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Diagonal: 43.27mm
  • Area: 864mm2
  • Double perforated
  • 8 perforations per frame

120 roll film

71.22 44 56
  • Introduced: 1901
  • Frame size: 56 × 44mm
  • Aspect ratio: 11:14
  • Diagonal: 71.22mm
  • Area: 2464mm2
  • Unperforated

120 roll film

79.2 56 56
  • Introduced: 1901
  • Frame size: 56 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 1:1
  • Diagonal: 79.2mm
  • Area: 3136mm2
  • Unperforated

120 roll film

89.64 56 70
  • Introduced: 1901
  • Frame size: 70 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 5:4
  • Diagonal: 89.64mm
  • Area: 3920mm2
  • Unperforated

220 roll film

71.22 44 56
  • Introduced: 1965
  • Frame size: 56 × 44mm
  • Aspect ratio: 11:14
  • Diagonal: 71.22mm
  • Area: 2464mm2
  • Unperforated
  • Double the length of 120 roll film

220 roll film

79.2 56 56
  • Introduced: 1965
  • Frame size: 56 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 1:1
  • Diagonal: 79.2mm
  • Area: 3136mm2
  • Unperforated
  • Double the length of 120 roll film

220 roll film

89.64 56 70
  • Introduced: 1965
  • Frame size: 70 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 5:4
  • Diagonal: 89.64mm
  • Area: 3920mm2
  • Unperforated
  • Double the length of 120 roll film

Shutter speed ring with "F" setting

The "F" setting disengages the leaf shutter and is set when using only the focal plane shutter in the camera body.

Catch for disengaging cross-coupling

The shutter and diaphragm settings are cross-coupled so that the diaphragm opens to a corresponding degree when faster shutter speeds are selected. The cross-coupling can be disengaged at the press of a catch.

Cross-coupling button

With the cross-coupling button depressed speed/aperture combinations can be altered without changing the Exposure Value setting.

M & X sync

The shutter is fully synchronized for M- and X-settings so that you can work with flash at all shutter speeds.

In M-sync, the shutter closes the flash-firing circuit slightly before it is fully open to catch the flash at maximum intensity. The M-setting is used for Class M flash bulbs.

In X-sync, the flash takes place when the shutter is fully opened. The X-setting is used for electronic flash.

X sync

The shutter is fully synchronized for X-setting so that you can work with flash at all shutter speeds.

In X-sync, the flash takes place when the shutter is fully opened. The X-setting is used for electronic flash.

Unable to follow the link

You are already on the page dedicated to this lens.

Cannot perform comparison

Cannot compare the lens to itself.

Image stabilizer

A technology used for reducing or even eliminating the effects of camera shake. Gyro sensors inside the lens detect camera shake and pass the data to a microcomputer. Then an image stabilization group of elements controlled by the microcomputer moves inside the lens and compensates camera shake in order to keep the image static on the imaging sensor or film.

The technology allows to increase the shutter speed by several stops and shoot handheld in such lighting conditions and at such focal lengths where without image stabilizer you have to use tripod, decrease the shutter speed and/or increase the ISO setting which can lead to blurry and noisy images.

Original name

Lens name as indicated on the lens barrel (usually on the front ring). With lenses from film era, may vary slightly from batch to batch.

Format

Format refers to the shape and size of film or image sensor.

35mm is the common name of the 36x24mm film format or image sensor format. It has an aspect ratio of 3:2, and a diagonal measurement of approximately 43mm. The name originates with the total width of the 135 film which was the primary medium of the format prior to the invention of the full frame digital SLR. Historically the 35mm format was sometimes called small format to distinguish it from the medium and large formats.

APS-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the film negatives of 25.1x16.7mm with an aspect ratio of 3:2.

Medium format is a film format or image sensor format larger than 36x24mm (35mm) but smaller than 4x5in (large format).

Angle of view

Angle of view describes the angular extent of a given scene that is imaged by a camera. It is used interchangeably with the more general term field of view.

As the focal length changes, the angle of view also changes. The shorter the focal length (eg 18mm), the wider the angle of view. Conversely, the longer the focal length (eg 55mm), the smaller the angle of view.

A camera's angle of view depends not only on the lens, but also on the sensor. Imaging sensors are sometimes smaller than 35mm film frame, and this causes the lens to have a narrower angle of view than with 35mm film, by a certain factor for each sensor (called the crop factor).

This website does not use the angles of view provided by lens manufacturers, but calculates them automatically by the following formula: 114.6 * arctan (21.622 / CF * FL),

where:

CF – crop-factor of a sensor,
FL – focal length of a lens.

Mount

A lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a camera body and a lens.

A lens mount may be a screw-threaded type, a bayonet-type, or a breech-lock type. Modern camera lens mounts are of the bayonet type, because the bayonet mechanism precisely aligns mechanical and electrical features between lens and body, unlike screw-threaded mounts.

Lens mounts of competing manufacturers (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony etc.) are always incompatible. In addition to the mechanical and electrical interface variations, the flange focal distance can also be different.

The flange focal distance (FFD) is the distance from the mechanical rear end surface of the lens mount to the focal plane.

Lens construction

Lens construction – a specific arrangement of elements and groups that make up the optical design, including type and size of elements, type of used materials etc.

Element - an individual piece of glass which makes up one component of a photographic lens. Photographic lenses are nearly always built up of multiple such elements.

Group – a cemented together pieces of glass which form a single unit or an individual piece of glass. The advantage is that there is no glass-air surfaces between cemented together pieces of glass, which reduces reflections.

Focal length

The focal length is the factor that determines the size of the image reproduced on the focal plane, picture angle which covers the area of the subject to be photographed, depth of field, etc.

Speed

The largest opening or stop at which a lens can be used is referred to as the speed of the lens. The larger the maximum aperture is, the faster the lens is considered to be. Lenses that offer a large maximum aperture are commonly referred to as fast lenses, and lenses with smaller maximum aperture are regarded as slow.

In low-light situations, having a wider maximum aperture means that you can shoot at a faster shutter speed or work at a lower ISO, or both.

Closest focusing distance

The minimum distance from the focal plane (film or sensor) to the subject where the lens is still able to focus.

Closest working distance

The distance from the front edge of the lens to the subject at the maximum magnification.

Magnification ratio

Determines how large the subject will appear in the final image. Magnification is expressed as a ratio. For example, a magnification ratio of 1:1 means that the image of the subject formed on the film or sensor will be the same size as the subject in real life. For this reason, a 1:1 ratio is often called "life-size".

Manual focus override in autofocus mode

Allows to perform final focusing manually after the camera has locked the focus automatically. Note that you don't have to switch camera and/or lens to manual focus mode.

Manual focus override in autofocus mode

Allows to perform final focusing manually after the camera has locked the focus automatically. Note that you don't have to switch camera and/or lens to manual focus mode.

Electronic manual focus override is performed in the following way: half-press the shutter button, wait until the camera has finished the autofocusing and then focus manually without releasing the shutter button using the focusing ring.

Manual diaphragm

The diaphragm must be stopped down manually by rotating the detent aperture ring.

Preset diaphragm

The lens has two rings, one is for pre-setting, while the other is for normal diaphragm adjustment. The first ring must be set at the desired aperture, the second ring then should be fully opened for focusing, and turned back for stop down to the pre-set value.

Semi-automatic diaphragm

The lens features spring mechanism in the diaphragm, triggered by the shutter release, which stops down the diaphragm to the pre-set value. The spring needs to be reset manually after each exposure to re-open diaphragm to its maximum value.

Automatic diaphragm

The camera automatically closes the diaphragm down during the shutter operation. On completion of the exposure, the diaphragm re-opens to its maximum value.

Fixed diaphragm

The aperture setting is fixed at F/ on this lens, and cannot be adjusted.

Number of blades

As a general rule, the more blades that are used to create the aperture opening in the lens, the rounder the out-of-focus highlights will be.

Some lenses are designed with curved diaphragm blades, so the roundness of the aperture comes not from the number of blades, but from their shape. However, the fewer blades the diaphragm has, the more difficult it is to form a circle, regardless of rounded edges.

At maximum aperture, the opening will be circular regardless of the number of blades.

Weight

Excluding case or pouch, caps and other detachable accessories (lens hood, close-up adapter, tripod adapter etc.).

Maximum diameter x Length

Excluding case or pouch, caps and other detachable accessories (lens hood, close-up adapter, tripod adapter etc.).

For lenses with collapsible design, the length is indicated for the working (retracted) state.

Weather sealing

A rubber material which is inserted in between each externally exposed part (manual focus and zoom rings, buttons, switch panels etc.) to ensure it is properly sealed against dust and moisture.

Lenses that accept front mounted filters typically do not have gaskets behind the filter mount. It is recommended to use a filter for complete weather resistance when desired.

Fluorine coating

Helps keep lenses clean by reducing the possibility of dust and dirt adhering to the lens and by facilitating cleaning should the need arise. Applied to the outer surface of the front and/or rear lens elements over multi-coatings.

Filters

Lens filters are accessories that can protect lenses from dirt and damage, enhance colors, minimize glare and reflections, and add creative effects to images.

Lens hood

A lens hood or lens shade is a device used on the end of a lens to block the sun or other light source in order to prevent glare and lens flare. Flare occurs when stray light strikes the front element of a lens and then bounces around within the lens. This stray light often comes from very bright light sources, such as the sun, bright studio lights, or a bright white background.

The geometry of the lens hood can vary from a plain cylindrical or conical section to a more complex shape, sometimes called a petal, tulip, or flower hood. This allows the lens hood to block stray light with the higher portions of the lens hood, while allowing more light into the corners of the image through the lowered portions of the hood.

Lens hoods are more prominent in long focus lenses because they have a smaller viewing angle than that of wide-angle lenses. For wide angle lenses, the length of the hood cannot be as long as those for telephoto lenses, as a longer hood would enter the wider field of view of the lens.

Lens hoods are often designed to fit onto the matching lens facing either forward, for normal use, or backwards, so that the hood may be stored with the lens without occupying much additional space. In addition, lens hoods can offer some degree of physical protection for the lens due to the hood extending farther than the lens itself.

Teleconverters

Teleconverters increase the effective focal length of lenses. They also usually maintain the closest focusing distance of lenses, thus increasing the magnification significantly. A lens combined with a teleconverter is normally smaller, lighter and cheaper than a "direct" telephoto lens of the same focal length and speed.

Teleconverters are a convenient way of enhancing telephoto capability, but it comes at a cost − reduced maximum aperture. Also, since teleconverters magnify every detail in the image, they logically also magnify residual aberrations of the lens.

Lens caps

Scratched lens surfaces can spoil the definition and contrast of even the finest lenses. Lens covers are the best and most inexpensive protection available against dust, moisture and abrasion. Safeguard lens elements - both front and rear - whenever the lens is not in use.