These are the best Pentax lenses for portrait photography when you want flattering compression, creamy bokeh, and consistent color in weather-ready K-mount kits for studio, lifestyle, and on-location work—across APS-C and full frame—and here’s what to look for as you buy: pick focal lengths that fit your working distance (FF: 50–135mm; APS-C: 35–90mm equiv.), fast apertures (f/1.4–f/2.8) for separation, rounded diaphragms for smooth highlight disks, reliable AF drives (SDM/DC/PLM) and a useful focus limiter for faster locks, minimal focus breathing if you shoot video, close-focus for beauty and detail crops, WR/AW sealing for outdoor sessions, manageable weight/balance for long days, and a tactile MF ring with a clear distance scale for precise pulls; also prioritize lenses that share color rendering across your set to simplify grading. Flagship full-frame primes deliver the luxe look: the HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW is the hero for headshots—buttery falloff, crisp eyes wide open, robust sealing—while the HD PENTAX-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW covers three-quarter portraits, environmental scenes, and low-light editorial with modern sharpness and cat’s-eye-controlled bokeh; add the characterful FA Limited trio—smc/HD PENTAX-FA 31mm f/1.8, 43mm f/1.9, 77mm f/1.8—for compact, jewel-like rendering and elegant micro-contrast when you want a cinematic feel. For compressed looks with creamy backgrounds on a budget, the Samyang 135mm f/2 (K-mount) is a cult classic with a long, smooth manual throw that shines for deliberate portrait sessions; beauty shooters should keep the HD PENTAX-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR handy—1:1 precision, rounded blades, and WR build make it perfect for lashes, jewelry, and skin texture. Zoom flexibility for events and portraits comes from the HD PENTAX-D FA* 70–200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW (pro-speed AF, weather sealing, graceful bokeh) and the lighter HD PENTAX-D FA 70–210mm f/4 ED SDM WR for travel sets; mid-range coverage with fast speed is handled by the HD PENTAX-D FA 24–70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR for full-length to half-body without swaps. On APS-C, the smc/HD PENTAX-DA★ 55mm f/1.4 SDM is the portrait staple—skin-friendly bokeh and fast glass in a compact body—while the HD PENTAX-DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited delivers flattering compression in a pocketable metal shell; the HD PENTAX-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited makes a stealthy environmental-portrait pancake, and the smc/HD PENTAX-DA★ 50–135mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM remains a stage/event favorite with creamy rendering and constant f/2.8. Detail-forward sets on APS-C benefit from the HD PENTAX-DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited for close-ups of makeup, fabrics, and accessories that cut seamlessly into portrait edits. Practical buyer tips: if you shoot tight spaces or groups, lean 35–50mm on FF (24–35mm on APS-C); for head-and-shoulders with maximum blur, start at 85–135mm (55–90mm APS-C); if you mix stills/video, test breathing (the 70–200/2.8 and D FA★ primes are well-behaved); match filter sizes where possible; and if you work outdoors, WR/AW plus a lens hood saves shots in wind and drizzle. Shooting tips: give your subject generous distance from the background for bigger, smoother bokeh balls, start near wide open and stop down 1/3–2/3 stop for extra eyelash crispness, use TAv to lock shutter/aperture with ISO floating, enable in-body SR for steadier handhelds (disable on tripod), try Skin Tone/Fine Sharpness settings for flattering color, and use Quick-Shift to micro-tune focus after AF locks. Whether you’re crafting window-light headshots, editorial city portraits, bridal sessions in the rain, or beauty close-ups in studio, the best Pentax portrait lenses combine fast glass, refined rendering, and rugged handling—so your images feel polished, dimensional, and ready for print.