FA-J lenses lack the aperture ring found on M, A, F and FA lenses. That
means if you put an FA-J on a ZX-5n or similar camera, you're forced to
use Program mode or Shutter priority. The ZX-5n doesn't have a
user-settable aperture control in camera, so Aperture priority and
Metered Manual is impossible if the lens doesn't have an aperture ring.
The J lenses, in general, were introduced to be "cost effective" lenses.
The removal of the aperture ring is indicative of the design philosophy;
eliminate the things that most people won't miss in order to keep costs
down.
Pentax's DA lenses also lack the aperture ring, but most people don't
care because they're designed for Pentax's digital SLR's, which have
in-camera user aperture controls anyway (and in fact work better that
way than by rotating a lens's aperture ring).
By the way, the SMC Pentax-DA 16-45 f/4 ED AL is listed on Pentax's USA
website as a "SMC Pentax-DA J 16-45 f/4 ED AL." In this case the 'J'
designation is simply a mistake on the website. I've emailed Pentax
about this but they don't seem to care. It's not a J lens.
Peter McIntosh wrote:
Guys,
2 questions regarding this lens:
1. What does the "J" designation indicate? Does it relate to the lack of an
aperture ring?
2. Are there any current/past owners of this lens who would be prepared to
offer an opinion of same?
Many thanks,
Peter in Sydney
