smc Pentax-A* 300mm F/4

Super telephoto prime lens • Film era • Discontinued

  • Announced:
  • · March 1983
  • Production status:
  • ● Discontinued
  • Country of design:
  • · Japan
  • Original name:
  • · SMC PENTAX-A* 1:4 300mm
  • Class:
  • · Slow full-frame super telephoto prime lens
  • · Professional model
  • System:
  • · Pentax K (1975)

Abbreviations

SMC Multi-layer anti-reflection coating is applied to the surfaces of lens elements. This anti-reflection coating increases light transmission, eliminates flare and ghosting, and maintains color consistence among all lens models.
* Professional lens with high quality optics and robust build. Meets the highest standards and provides excellent performance and flawless image quality unachievable with traditional optical technologies.
A A manual focus lens with automatic maximum aperture indexing and automatic aperture control. Learn more

Model history (10)

■Asahi Takumar 300mm F/4M3 - 37.50m⌀82 1958 ●
■Asahi Takumar 300mm F/4 [346, 43460]M4 - 45.50m⌀82 1962 ●
■Asahi Super-Takumar 300mm F/4 [43891, 43894]A5 - 55.50m⌀77 1965 ●
■Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 300mm F/4 [43892]A5 - 55.50m⌀77 1971 ●
■smc Pentax 300mm F/4A7 - 54.00m⌀77 1975 ●
■smc Pentax-M* 300mm F/4A8 - 74.00m⌀77 1981 ●
■smc Pentax-A* 300mm F/4A8 - 74.00m⌀77 1983 ●
■smc Pentax-F* 300mm F/4.5 ED [IF]A9 - 72.00m⌀67 1987 ●
■smc Pentax-FA* 300mm F/4.5 ED [IF]A9 - 72.00m-- 1991 ●
■smc Pentax-DA* 300mm F/4 ED [IF] SDMA8 - 61.40m⌀77 2008 ●

Specification

Optical design:
35mm full frame
300mm
F/4
8 elements in 7 groups
Pentax K [45.5mm]
8.2° (35mm full frame)
On Pentax K APS-C [1.53x] cameras:
35mm equivalent focal length:
459mm (in terms of field of view)
35mm equivalent speed:
F/6.1 (in terms of depth of field)
Diagonal angle of view:
5.4°
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:
Automatic
Aperture control:
Aperture ring (Manual settings + Auto Exposure setting)
8 (eight)
Focusing:
4m
<No data>
Focusing modes:
Manual focus only
Manual focus control:
Focusing ring
Physical characteristics:
850g
⌀84×132mm
Accessories:
Screw-type 77mm
Built-in telescopic round
<No data>

Sources of data

  • Manufacturer's technical data.
  • smc Pentax-A lenses operating manual.
  • Pentax lenses & accessories booklet (December 1986).
  • Pentax super A booklet (PUB. 06101) (May 1983).
  • Pentax A3 booklet (PUB. 08061) (January 1985).
  • Pentax cameras booklet (PUB. 06091, 40 pages) (March 1987).
  • Pentax SLR cameras booklet (PUB. 050101) (September 1988).
  • Pentax Super Program booklet (PUB. 06191).
  • Pentax New "A" Series Lenses booklet (PUB. 06701) (April 1984).
  • Pentax lenses & accessories - A Comprehensive and Versatile Photographic System booklet.

Manufacturer description

smc Pentax-A* 300mm f/4, smc Pentax-M* 300mm f/4, smc Pentax 300mm f/4:

With a magnification of 6X, the 300mm telephoto lens is ideal for long-range photography, yet is compact enough for hand-held shooting. The M* and A* lenses are a new generation of telephoto lens - among the most compact on the market, and they incorporate low-dispersion glass to reduce chromatic aberration.

Pentax-A series

The third generation of lenses designed for Pentax 35mm SLR cameras with bayonet mount. Introduced with the Pentax super A in 1983.

  • Robust, all-metal design with recessed focusing distance scale;
  • Fully automatic diaphragm;
  • Support for TTL open-aperture metering;
  • Electronic contacts for transmission of aperture information;
  • "A" setting on the aperture ring for automatic aperture control in the Programmed AE and Shutter-priority AE modes;
  • Extremely accurate manual focusing with rubberized focusing ring;
  • Multi-layer anti-reflection coating.

Other super telephoto prime lenses in the Pentax K system

■Pentax K mount (11)
smc Pentax 300mm F/4A7 - 54.00m⌀77 1975 ●
smc Pentax-M* 300mm F/4A8 - 74.00m⌀77 1981 ●
smc Pentax-A* 300mm F/2.8 ED [IF]A8 - 83.00m-- 1983 ●
smc Pentax 400mm F/5.6M5 - 58.00m⌀77 1975 ●
smc Pentax-M 400mm F/5.6A5 - 55.00m⌀77 1979 ●
smc Pentax-A 400mm F/5.6A7 - 62.80m⌀77 1984 ●
smc Pentax-A* 400mm F/2.8 ED [IF]A8 - 84.00m-- 1984 ●
smc Pentax 500mm F/4.5M4 - 410.00m-- 1975 ●
smc Pentax-A* 600mm F/5.6 ED [IF]A8 - 65.50m⌀112 1983 ●
smc Pentax 1000mm F/8M5 - 530.00m-- 1975 ●
smc Pentax-A* 1200mm F/8 ED [IF]A9 - 88.00m-- 1985 ●

Lenses with similar focal length

■Pentax K mount (8)
Ricoh XR Rikenon 300mm F/4.5 APOA8 - 62.50m⌀67 1982 ●
Sigma MF 300mm F/4 APO Tele Macro ZENA10 - 71.20m⌀77 1994 ●
Sigma MF 300mm F/4.5 APO Multi-CoatedA8 - 62.50m⌀67 1980 ●
Sigma[-Z] MF Pantel 300mm F/5.6 [Multi-Coated]A6 - 56.00m⌀62 1975 ●
Soligor G/S Tele-Auto 300mm F/4.5 MC (s/n 3xxxxxx)A5 - 54.00m⌀72 ●
Telezenitar-K APO 300mm F/4.5 MC
akaТЕЛЕЗЕНИТАР-К АПО 300mm F/4.5 МС		A7 - 63.00m⌀72 1988 ●
Tokina 300mm F/5.6 RMC
akaTokina SL 300mm F/5.6		A6 - 34.50m⌀58 ●
Vivitar Auto Telephoto 300mm F/5.6 (s/n 37xxxxxx)A5 - 36.00m⌀58 1975 ●
■Interchangeable mount (22)
Century Tele-Athenar 300mm F/3.2 IIM4 - 26.00mS.9 1977 ●
Hanimex Tele-Lens 300mm F/5.5 [T]P4 - ?8.00m⌀62 ●
Heinz Kilfitt Munchen Tele-Kilar 300mm F/5.6P4 - 23.00m⌀68 1948 ●
Heinz Kilfitt Munchen Pan-Tele-Kilar 300mm F/4
akaZoomar Muenchen Pan-Tele-Kilar 300mm F/4		P4 - ?⌀88 1956 ●
Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Orestegor 300mm F/4P5 - 43.60m⌀95 1967 ●
Pentacon 300mm F/4P5 - 43.60m⌀95 1971 ●
Sankyo Kohki Super-Komura 300mm F/5 [Unidapter Auto]A5 - ?5.50m⌀62 ●
Komuranon 300mm F/4.5 K·M·CA? - ?4.50m 1974 ●
Sigma[-XQ] MF Macrotel / Telephoto 300mm F/4 [Multi-Coated] [YS]A6 - 54.50m⌀77 1972 ●
Soligor Tele-Auto 300mm F/5.5 Type 1 (s/n 1xxxxxx) [T-4]A5 - 56.00m⌀62 ●
Soligor Tele-Auto 300mm F/5.5 Type 2 (s/n 1xxxxxxx) [T-4]A5 - 36.00m⌀62 ●
Tair-3A 300mm F/4.5 [T]
akaТАИР-3 300mm F/4.5 А		P3 - 32.20m⌀72 ●
Tair-1A APO 300mm F/4.5 [T]P5 - 52.25m 1972 ●
Steinheil Munchen Tele-Quinar 300mm F/4.5P5 - 33.00mS.IX 1956 ●
Tamron SP 300mm F/5.6 MC Tele Macro 54B [Adaptall-2]A6 - 51.40m⌀58 1979 ●
Tamron 300mm F/5.6 CT-300 [Adaptall]A4 - 42.50m⌀58 1976 ●
Tamron Auto 300mm F/5.6 [Adapt-A-Matic]A4 - 22.50m⌀62 1972 ●
Tamron 300mm F/5.6 [T]P4 - 23.50m⌀62 1962 ●
Tamron 300mm F/6.9 [T]
akaSoligor 300mm F/6.9		P3 - 26.00m⌀58 1963 ●
Vivitar Tele 300mm F/5.6 [T]P5 - 44.50m⌀62 ●
Vivitar Auto Telephoto 300mm F/5.5 (s/n 37xxxxxxx) [T-4]A5 - ?6.00m⌀62 1968 ●
Vivitar Auto Telephoto 300mm F/5.6 (s/n 37xxxxxx) [TX]A5 - 36.00m⌀58 1976 ●

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