Asahi Pentax 15mm f/3.5
The Asahi Pentax 15mm f/3.5 SMC is an ultra-wide-angle prime designed for the Pentax K bayonet (with earlier M42 screw-mount counterparts), aimed at 35mm film SLR users who needed an extreme angle of view without resorting to a fisheye projection. It belongs to Pentax's SMC era of multi-coated optics, intended for landscape, architectural and reportage work where rectilinear correction across a very wide field was the priority.
UK auction activity on this lens is thin — the only verified saleroom result on file is a single hammer price of £460 in November 2025, so today's market read is necessarily based on that one data point rather than a broad spread. As a wholesale figure (auction hammer results exclude buyer's and seller's commission), it suggests clean copies sell for somewhere in the mid-hundreds at saleroom level in 2026, though more sales would be needed before a confident range or median could be quoted, and clean, unmolested examples typically command a premium over user-grade glass.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMC | — | — | 2 | £325 – £460 |
| SMC Pentax-A | — | — | 1 | £600 – £600 |
| SMC Takumar | — | — | 1 | £600 – £600 |
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: November 2025
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | £460 | Special Auction Services | SMC | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 296) Title: An Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 15mm f/3.5 Lens
Description:
An Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 15mm f/3.5 Lens, M42 mount, serial no 7726668, barrel G-VG, elements G-VG, with front & rear caps and worn Takumar lens |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Mar 2022 | £600 | Flints Auctions | SMC Takumar | |
|
Auction: The Collectors sale (Lot 581) Title: An Asahi. Opt. Co. Pentax SMC Takumar 15mm f/3.5 Lens
Description:
black, body G-VG, optics G-VG, some small dusts present, with front & rear caps, also with maker's box, (Qty: 1) |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Mar 2022 | £325 | Flints Auctions | SMC | |
|
Auction: The Collectors sale (Lot 645) Title: An Asahi SMC Pentax f/3.5 15mm Lens
Description:
black, serial no. 7368083, body, VG-E, elements, VG, some light internal haze to middle element group, complete with lens cap and maker's case |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2008 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | SMC Pentax-A | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_17515) Title: Pentax SMC Pentax-A 3.5/15mm
Description:
rare 15mm wide angle with perfect lenses, caps, keeper, maker's box Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 900 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
Frequently asked questions
What is an Asahi Pentax 15mm f/3.5 SMC worth today?
Based on the single verified UK auction record on file, one sold for £460 hammer in late 2025, which gives a working reference for what a clean copy is worth, though one data point is not a reliable median.
How much does a Pentax 15mm f/3.5 SMC sell for at UK auction?
The only logged hammer price is £460, so at present that is the best available indication of the price this lens sells for in the UK saleroom market.
Is the Pentax 15mm f/3.5 SMC a rectilinear ultra-wide rather than a fisheye?
Yes — it is a rectilinear ultra-wide prime, designed to keep straight lines straight across the frame rather than producing the curved projection of a fisheye.
What should I check before buying one?
Prioritise the condition of the large front element and SMC coating, look for fungus or haze in the inner groups, and confirm that the aperture blades are dry and the focus helicoid moves smoothly.