photosnews.com (Pdas News) - http://www.photosnews.com
Pentax 18-35mm f/4-5.6 AL SMC P-FA J lens review
http://www.photosnews.com/articles/2906/1/Pentax-18-35mm-f%7B47%7D4-5.6-AL-SMC-P-FA-J-lens-review
 
By Manthos Tzorbatzakis
Published on 03/24/2008
 

The 18-35mm f/4-5.6 wide angle zoom lens was initially a kit lens option for the *ist series of dSLR cameras. The lens has now been discontinued, replaced in the lineup by the APS-C sized 16-45mm f/4 ED.
The lens name bears a long list of standards. SMC stands for Pentax's proprietary ''super multi-coating''; AL represents the lens' use of aspherical lens elements; FA explains the lens is autofocus-enabled, with a digital chip in the lens; and the J designation explains the lens is part of Pentax's budget series of lenses, with a plastic lens mount and no aperture ring. Read the whole review
here