As previously reported, Ricoh just officially released the latest HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4ED SDM AW lens for K-mount. The US price is $1899.95 (£2,099.59 in the UK, CHF 2,299 in Switzerland). The deidcated Ricoh website can be found here. Pre-orders should open soon at Adorama, B&H and Amazon.
Additional information:
Technical specifications:
| HD PENTAX-D FA★85mmF1.4ED SDM AW | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 85mm |
| Equivalent to 130mm in 35mm format (when attached to PENTAX APS-C size DSLR cameras) |
|
| Maximum Aperture | F1.4 |
| Minimum Aperture | F16 |
| Lens Construction | 12 elements in 10 groups |
| Angle of View (Diagonal) | 28.5° |
| 19° (when attached to PENTAX APS-C size DSLR cameras) |
|
| Mount | KAF4 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 0.85m (2.8ft.) |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.12x |
| Filter Diameter | 82mm |
| Diaphragm Control | Electromagnetic diaphragm Fully automatic |
| Number of Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Rounded diaphragm （85mm:F1.4-F2.8） | |
| Aperture Ring | N/A |
| Tripod Mount | N/A |
| Lens Hood | PH-RBG82 (included) |
| Lens Cap | O-LC82 (included) |
| Lens Case | S130-160 (included) |
| Maximum Diameter x Length | approx. 95mm x 123.5mm (approx. 3.7in. x 4.9in.) |
| Weight | approx. 1255g / with hood approx. 1355g (approx. 44.3oz./ with hood approx.47.8oz.) |
| Temperature | -10°C～40°C (14°F～104°F) |
| Humidity | 85% or less (no condensation) |
| Included Accessories | Lens Hood PH-RBG82, Lens Cap O-LC82, Lens Mount Cap K,Lens Case S130-160 |
Ricoh announces HD PENTAX-D FA★85mm F1.4ED SDM AW for K-mount digital SLR cameras
Second fixed focal-length model added to next-generation, high-performance Star lens series
PARSIPPANY, NJ, May 27, 2020 － Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the HD PENTAX-D FA★85mm F1.4ED SDM AW lens, the second fixed focal-length lens in the new-generation PENTAX Star (★) lens series. Designed for use with PENTAX K-mount digital SLR cameras, Star-series lenses boast the highest imaging performance of all PENTAX lens lineups.
PENTAX developed a new, ring-type SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) exclusively for this new lens to enable flawless, high-speed autofocus operation, with an exterior design that assures a firm grip for manual-focus operation. The HD PENTAX-D FA★85mm F1.4ED SDM AW lens is designed not only to assure the highest imaging power currently possible, but also to optimize the joy of picture-taking.
The new lens incorporates three Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optical elements to effectively minimize chromatic aberration, and a glass-molded aspherical optical element to effectively compensate for spherical and chromatic aberrations and field curvature to deliver extra-clear, high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness, even at open aperture. This design also reduces distortion to nearly zero at a focusing distance of four meters to deliver well-defined, distortion-free images over the entire focusing range, from the minimum focusing distance to infinity.
The HD PENTAX-D FA★85mm F1.4ED SDM AW lens boasts an F1.4 maximum aperture, useful with many different subjects in a range of applications, including portraiture with an effectively defocused background, handheld shooting of indoor scenes and scenic photography. The extra-large aperture produces a bright, clear viewfinder image that will surely inspire photographic creativity and imagination.
Developed as an AW (All Weather) model, the new lens features dustproof, weather-resistant construction with eight special seals to prevent the intrusion of water into the lens barrel. When paired with a dustproof, weather-resistant PENTAX digital SLR camera body, it assures a durable, reliable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting settings — even in rain or mist, or at locations prone to water splashes or spray.
Pricing and Availability
The HD PENTAX-D FA★85mm F1.4ED SDM AW lens will be available in mid-June at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1899.95.
Main Features of the new HD PENTAX-D FA★85mm F1.4ED SDM AW
1. New-generation, high-performance Star-series lens to deliver ideal image quality
Anticipating the further advancement of SLR camera bodies in the future, PENTAX has designed this lens to deliver extra-clear, high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness by compensating various aberrations to a minimum, while greatly enhancing resolving power — two factors absolutely essential in the next-generation Star series. It provides exceptionally high imaging performance even at open aperture, a beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect and outstanding image rendition at close ranges — all reasons why it produces high-quality, well-defined images. It also boasts an extra-large F1.4 maximum aperture, useful with many different subjects in a range of applications, including portraiture with an effectively defocused background, handheld shooting of indoor scenes and scenic photography. It helps the camera to produce a bright, clear viewfinder image that will inspire the photographer’s creativity and imagination.
2. State-of-the-art optical technology
This lens incorporates three Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optical elements to effectively minimize chromatic aberration, and a glass-molded aspherical optical element to effectively compensate for spherical and chromatic aberrations and field curvature to deliver extra-clear, high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness, even at open aperture. It also reduces distortion to nearly zero at a focusing distance of four meters to deliver well-defined, distortion-free images over the entire focusing range, from the minimum focusing distance to infinity. This lens is also treated with high-grade, multi-layer High-Definition (HD) Coating, which reduces average reflectance in the visible ray spectrum to less than 50% of conventional multi-layer coatings, effectively reducing flare and ghost images to a minimum even in demanding lighting conditions such as backlighting.
3. Newly designed, large ring-type SDM
To deliver the highest image quality possible over the entire focusing range — from the minimum focusing distance to infinity — this lens features a newly designed, large ring-type SDM to efficiently drive the focusing mechanism, which consists of a larger number of optical elements than ordinary lenses, and is required to shift heavy rear-optical-element groups in unison. Generating a torque approximately 1.3 times that of the unit installed in the HD PENTAX-D FA★50mm f1.4 SDM AW, this new SDM assures flawless, high-speed autofocus operation.
4. Dustproof, weather-resistant construction
Developed as an AW (All Weather) model, this lens features a dependable dustproof, weather-resistant construction with eight special seals to prevent the intrusion of water into the lens barrel. When paired with a dustproof, weather-resistant PENTAX digital SLR camera body, it assures a durable, reliable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting conditions — even in rain or mist, or at locations prone to water splashes or spray.
5. Other features
- Nine-blade, round-shaped diaphragm to produce a natural, beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect up to the F2.8 aperture setting, while minimizing the streaking effect of point light sources
- Exterior design that facilitates focus-ring operation in manual-focus shooting and provides a firm hold
- Electromagnetic diaphragm-control mechanism** for flawless, high-precision exposure control during video recording
- SP (Super Protect) coating to keep the front surface free of dust and spots
Update – sample photos can be found here.
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