Announced: HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4ED SDM AW lens for K-mount




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 FA85mmF1.4ED 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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