HD Pentax-DA Fisheye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED lens officially announced


The rumored HD Pentax-DA Fisheye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED lens is now officially announced (the previously reported July 26th date was for the release/shipping):

“The development of this new zoom lens was based on smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE10-17mmF3.5-4.5ED, while conducting a thorough review of lens coatings. The high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating has been applied to the optical elements for high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness and free of flare and ghost images. The exterior has been totally redesigned to match the design of the latest PENTAX K-mount digital SLR models, and also to make its lens hood removable. When mounted on a PENTAX K-1 or PENTAX K-1 Mark II camera body, the photographer can remove the lens hood to produce nearly circular fish-eye images.”

Sample photos can be found here. Pre-orders should be open soon at Adorama and B&H (don’t get confused with the old Pentax HD DA Fisheye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED lens version).

Technical specifications:

Focal Length 10-17mm
Maximum Aperture F3.5-4.5
Minimum Aperture F22-32
Lens Construction 10 elements in 8 groups
Angle of View (Diagonal) 180-100°
(when attached to PENTAX APS-C size DSLR cameras)
Mount KAF
Minimum Focusing Distance 0.14m (0.46ft.)
Maximum Magnification 0.39x
Filter Diameter N/A
Diaphragm Control Fully automatic
Number of Diaphragm Blades 6
Aperture Ring N/A
Tripod Mount N/A
Lens Hood PH-RBA60 (included)
Lens Cap O-LW70A (included)
Lens Case S80-120 (included)
Maximum Diameter x Length approx. 67.5mm x 70mm (approx. 2.7in. x 2.8in.)
Weight approx. 317g / with hood approx. 323g
(approx. 11.2oz./ with hood approx. 11.4oz.)
Temperature -10°C~40°C (14°F~104°F)
Humidity 85% or less
(no condensation)
Included Accessories Lens Hood PH-RBA60,
Lens Cap O-LW70A,
Lens Mount Cap K,
Lens Case S80-120
Others HD Coating
SP (Super Protect) Coating
Quick-shift Focus System (QFS/A)

Additional information:

HD Coating to enhance imaging power

After a thorough review of lens coatings, PENTAX applied HD Coating* — PENTAX’s latest multi-layer coating — to the lens. Compared to conventional multi-layer coatings, this high-performance, multi-layer coating reduces average reflectance in the visible light range by more than 50 percent and improves light transmittance, to minimize the adverse effects of flare and ghost images even in demanding lighting conditions such as backlighting. This zoom lens also incorporates an Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass element to effectively compensate for chromatic aberration for extra-clear, high-contrast images.
* HD is the abbreviation of High Definition.

Zoom range covering the fish-eye angle

When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this zoom lens provides a 180-degree diagonal angle of view in the APS-C format at a focal length of 10mm to deliver eye-catching fish-eye images. Since the angle of view shifts dramatically with a slight change of focal length, the photographer can easily create visual expressions typical of an ultra-wide-angle lens, such as exaggerated perspective, deformed subjects and a pan-focus effect to capture the entire image field in focus.

New exterior design to match latest digital SLR models

While retaining the overall size of the original smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE10-17mmF3.5-4.5ED, this zoom lens features a totally new exterior design, similar to that of the latest DA- and D FA-series lenses. This new appearance also makes it a perfect partner for the newest K-series digital SLR models. Although it is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, it has been designed to be extremely compact and lightweight. The removeable lens hood allows for nearly circular fish-eye images* to expand the range of photographic expressions, when mounted on a PENTAX K-1 or PENTAX K-1 Mark II camera body.
* When the lens hood is removed with the Crop Function set to FF mode, there may be vignetting and/or lowered imaging performance at the edges of the image field, because the resulting image contains elements outside the lens’s image circle.

SP Coating to repel stains

SP (Super Protect) Coating, highly repellent to water, grease and dirt, has been applied to the lens’s front surface using a PENTAX-exclusive fluorine deposition process, making it easy to wipe off any stains such as fingerprints. This frees the photographer from worries in outdoor photography.

Other features

I. Quick-Shift Focus System, to provide instant shift to manual-focus operation after locking the subject in focus during AF operation by pressing the shutter-release button halfway down; usable at any time during AF operation
II. A minimum focusing distance of 14 centimeters, allowing the photographer to move in as close as approximately 2.5 centimeters from the front end of the lens to the subject, for ultra-close-up photography

What’s in the box:

  • HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE10-17mmF3.5-4.5ED
  • LENS HOOD PH-RBA60
  • LENS CAP O-LW70A
  • LENS MOUNT CAP K
  • LENS CASE S80-120

Press release:

Ricoh announces redesigned fish-eye zoom lens for K-mount digital SLR cameras

New HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5ED features the latest HD coating for enhanced image quality and completely redesigned body

WEST CALDWELL, NJ, July 9, 2019 -Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the launch of the HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED zoom lens for use with K-mount digital SLR cameras. The compact and lightweight fish-eye lens features the latest HD coating and a completely redesigned body.

The lens provides a 180-degree diagonal angle view in the APS-C format at a focal length of 10mm to deliver eye-catching fish-eye to ultra-wide-angle images. It has a minimum focusing distance of 14 centimeters, allowing photographers to be as close as approximately 2.5 centimeters from the front end of the lens to the subject for ultra-close-up photography. It also features a Quick-Shift Focus System which provides an instant shift to manual-focus operation after locking a subject in focus during autofocus operation.

This lens is an upgrade based on the currently available smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5ED (IF). A high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating has been applied to the optical elements of the lens, enabling the capture of high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness and minimizing flare and ghost images. A SP (Super Protective) Coating, highly repellent to water, grease and dirt, has also been applied to the lens’ front surface, making it easy to wipe off any stains or fingerprints.

The exterior of the lens has been redesigned to match the design of the latest PENTAX K-mount digital SLR models, and also to make its lens hood removable. When mounted on a PENTAX K-1 or PENTAX K-1 Mark II camera body, the photographer can remove the lens hood to produce nearly circular fish-eye images, expanding the range for photographic expressions.

Pricing and Availability

The HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED lens will be available for sale at the end of July, at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $499.95.

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