These are the best Pentax lenses for video when you want quiet, confident autofocus, controlled breathing, and color-consistent optics in rugged, travel-ready K-mount kits—across APS-C and full frame—and here’s what to look for as you buy: prefer modern drive motors (PLM/DC/updated SDM) for low-noise, responsive AF; minimal focus breathing for cleaner pulls; internal focus or internal zoom for steadier balance on gimbals/monopods; a smooth, well-damped manual ring with a clear distance scale for repeatable racks; close-focus or macro capability for product B-roll; WR/AW sealing for rain, steam, and dust; filter friendliness (shared 67/77/82mm threads) for NDs; consistent color across lenses to simplify grading; and manageable weight so the rig stays comfortable—then pair glass with body tools like in-body SR (use judiciously), electronic level, focus peaking, and anti-flicker. Full-frame workhorses start with the HD PENTAX-D FA 24–70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR as your A-cam mid-range—sharp, sealed, reliable AF, flattering range for interviews and handheld doc—paired with the HD PENTAX-D FA* 70–200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW when you need subject isolation for stage, ceremonies, and tele cutaways; travelers can swap to the lighter HD PENTAX-D FA 70–210mm f/4 ED SDM WR for steadier handholding. For ultra-wides in tight interiors, the HD PENTAX-D FA 15–30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR is bright and tank-tough, while the compact, sealed HD PENTAX-D FA 21mm f/2.4 Limited DC WR delivers jewel-like rendering, quick DC drive, and close-focus intimacy for lifestyle reels. Prime speed with polished roll-off comes from the HD PENTAX-D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW and HD PENTAX-D FA* 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW—quiet, modern AF, creamy bokeh, and robust AW builds for low-light interviews and cinematic portraits; detail-driven sets shine with the HD PENTAX-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR, whose 1:1 close-focus, WR metal barrel, and smooth ring make it a staple for product, food, and texture inserts. On APS-C, prioritize PLM glass for video: the HD PENTAX-DA★ 16–50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW brings lightning-fast, quiet AF and sealed, modern optics as your core zoom; the HD PENTAX-DA 55–300mm f/4.5–6.3 PLM WR RE is a sleeper tele for events and nature B-roll—featherweight, retractable, and famous for snappy, silent AF-C on the K-3 III; add the HD PENTAX-DA★ 11–18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW for sealed ultra-wide gimbal work and dynamic room moves. For compact, characterful walk-around sets, the HD PENTAX-DA 20–40mm f/2.8–4 Limited DC WR offers a quiet DC motor, metal build, and close-focus for documentary details; tiny Limited primes (DA 21mm f/3.2, DA 40mm f/2.8, DA 70mm f/2.4) keep rigs discreet with pleasing transitions. Manual-focus specialists with long, repeatable throws include the IRIX 15mm f/2.4 (great for controlled wides), the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D (rectilinear interiors), and the Samyang 24/1.4, 35/1.4, and 135/2 (buttery pulls for deliberate, tripod-based scenes). Practical buyer tips: if you film handheld a lot, favor internal-focus/zoom designs and lighter f/4 teles for steadier horizons; for interviews, pick a fast normal (D FA* 50/1.4) plus a short tele (D FA* 85/1.4 or 70–210/4) and match filter sizes for shared NDs; if you record in mixed light, choose lenses from the same family (D FA or DA★/Limited) for easier color matching; test breathing on your body—DA★ 16–50 PLM and D FA 70–210/4 are well-behaved; and keep a true macro in the bag so you’re not faking product close-ups. Shooting tips: use manual exposure for consistent ramps, add a high-quality variable ND for outdoor control, enable peaking for precise manual racks, stabilize with SR for static handhelds (but disable SR on tripods/gimbals), pre-focus and mark distances for repeatable pulls, and mind minimum focus distance to create foreground-to-background depth in tight spaces. Whether you’re filming handheld docs in drizzle, capturing ceremony speeches from the aisle, or crafting product reels with crisp, close-up texture, the best Pentax video lenses combine quiet, confident drive systems, controlled breathing, macro-friendly close-focus, and weather-sealed builds—so your footage looks polished straight off the card and your rig stays dependable all day.