It is often sold as a kit lens with Pentax digital SLR cameras and has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27–82.5mm.

Its optical formula is made of 12 elements in 9 groups.

There are two variants of this lens: A new optical formula (11 elements in 8 groups) was introduced in 2008 and exists in five variants: All lenses except the DA L variants provide the Quick-Shift Focus System, providing full-time manual focus while in autofocus mode.

The DA L variants also lack a distance scale and are sold without a hood.

The hood for non-WR variants is PH-RBA52 while the hood for WR variants is PH-RBC52 This photography-related article is a stub.