Confused with Pentax lens types

[airconvent]

I was trying to figure out the nomenclature for Pentax lens and just when I thought I did, an odd one came out. I had assumed M series is "Manual" and A series is "auto"
but now I realise that its the FA which is auto and the A is actually manual. I figured DA stands for "Digital Auto?".
Can a kind soul please explain what the various codes mean?

[CY_OH]

Originally Posted by airconvent I was trying to figure out the nomenclature for Pentax lens and just when I thought I did, an odd one came out. I had assumed M series is "Manual" and A series is "auto" but now I realise that its the FA which is auto and the A is actually manual. I figured DA stands for "Digital Auto?". Can a kind soul please explain what the various codes mean?

I read on other forums that M stands for "Miniature" or "Miniaturised", since many M lenses were more compact versions of K series lenses. K is for "King" or some German word beginning with K.

A should stand for "Automatic", which refers to the aperture control and not the method of focus.

Autofocus lenses, except for DA lenses, have the letter F in the name which should stand for "Focus". The J in FAJ lens, which don't have aperture rings, is believed to be "Junior", though some people nickname them "Junk". DA should stand for "Digital Automatic".

The codes also applies to body names, with PZ as Power Zoom and MZ as Miniature Zoom.

[istDeS]

Hope this thread is useful...

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=204370

[airconvent]

thanks guys....that was more helpful than their websites!