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First announced last October, Ricoh is ready to ship the HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW, a weather-sealed fast prime for the company’s full-frame DSLRs. The lens has 15 elements in 9 groups: one anomalous dispersion and three aspherical. A newly developed SDM ring-type motor has 7.5x as much torque as previous models in order to move all of that glass quickly and smoothly. As the lens uses an electromagnetic diaphragm, it is fully compatible with only the K-1 Mark II, K-1, K-3 II, K-3, KP, K-70, K-S2 or K-S1.
HD and Aero Bright II coatings reduce flare and ghosting while a Super Protect coating on the front element should help repel dirt and precipitation. The lens is sealed against dust and moisture and weighs in at 910g / 2lbs. The 50mm F1.4 has nine rounded aperture blades, and a minimum focus distance of 40cm / 15.6″. The maximum magnification is 0.18x.
You’ll be able to pick up the FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW in late July at an MSRP of $ 1199.
Official samples:
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Press Release:
RICOH ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF HD PENTAX-D FA? 50mm F1.4 SDM AW STAR-SERIES LENS
First model in new generation of high-performance K-mount lenses delivers exceptional imaging performance and superior dependability in a wide range of shooting conditions
WEST CALDWELL, NJ, June 28, 2018 ?Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the availability of the first model in its new generation of PENTAX Star series lenses, the HD PENTAX-D FA?50mm F1.4 SDM AW. This large-aperture, prime lens delivers stellar imaging performance and maximum light transmission—the hallmarks of the acclaimed Star series line—and is the perfect companion to any K-mount digital SLR camera including the full-frame PENTAX K-1 and new PENTAX K-1 Mark II models.
Premium-quality Star-series lenses deliver the highest performance among the PENTAX SLR interchangeable lens series, and have enjoyed enthusiastic support from PENTAX SLR camera users since the days of film. In addition to the initial design concepts of optimum image quality and large apertures for maximum light transmission, the series has embraced the additional concepts of exceptional toughness and outstanding operability, achieved through the development of a dustproof, weather-resistant lens housing. The resulting lenses provide superior dependability in wide range of shooting conditions.
The HD PENTAX-D FA?50mm F1.4 SDM AW lens delivers exceptional resolving power from the center to the edges of the image field, even when set to open aperture. The lens incorporates state-of-the-art PENTAX-developed lens coating technologies — including the new Aero Bright Coating II for exceptionally low reflectance and high-grade high-definition (HD) Coating — that enable it to produce extra-sharp, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images. The lens’s dustproof, weather-resistant body also makes it extremely dependable and durable for shooting in demanding outdoor conditions. Its PENTAX K-mount covers the image circle of a 35mm-format full-frame image sensor.
The new lens is the first produced following Ricoh’s extensive review of standards for the top-of-the-line Star series. Engineers evaluated a variety of approaches to minimize aberrations and deliver the highest image quality. The HD PENTAX-D FA?50mm F1.4 SDM AW lens is designed to deliver optimum imaging performance with all compatible camera bodies, including next-generation digital SLRs.
| Key Features |
- New-generation, high-performance Star-series lens with large F1.4 maximum aperture
This lens has been developed as a new-generation member of the high-performance Star series — a lineup designed to deliver extra-clear, high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness while keeping aberrations to a minimum. The lens, which is the result of an extensive review of traditional Star-series standards, provides greatly improved resolving power, which enables it to deliver excellent imaging performance even with more advanced, next-generation camera bodies. Developed as the first model of the new-generation Star-series lenses, the new lens boasts an extra-large F1.4 maximum aperture, useful with many different subjects in a range of applications, including portraiture with an effectively de-focused (bokeh) background, and handheld shooting of indoor scenes. It provides exceptional image quality even at open aperture, as well as outstanding performance at close ranges.
- State-of-the-art optical technology
The lens is treated with PENTAX-developed Aero Bright Coating II — a lens coating developed using a state-of-the-art nanotechnology process. It consists of a silica aerogel layer with a uniform porous structure over a regular multi-coating layer that reduces surface reflections across a wide wavelength range and produces crisp, high-quality images.
By coupling this advanced lens coating with the high-grade, multi-layer HD (high definition) Coating, average reflectance in the visible ray spectrum is reduced to less than 50% compared to conventional multi-layer coatings. As a result, the lens effectively reduces flare and minimizes ghost images even in demanding lighting conditions, such as backlighting. The lens incorporates three super-low dispersion glass elements and one aspherical element to effectively compensate for chromatic and spherical aberrations, enabling it to produce brilliant, high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness. Since distortion is minimized even at a focusing distance of approximately one meter, the lens produces crisp, distortion-free images over the entire focusing range, from the minimum focusing distance to infinity.
- Dustproof, weather-resistant construction
Developed as an AW (all weather) model, this lens features a dependable dustproof, weather-resistant body with eight special seals to prevent the intrusion of water and dust into the lens interior. When paired with a PENTAX weather-resistant digital SLR camera body, it forms a durable, reliable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding conditions — even in rain or mist, or at locations prone to water splashes or spray.
- Newly developed ring-type motor
This lens features a newly developed ring-type SDM (supersonic direct-drive motor), which generates as much as 7.5 times the torque as the SDM installed in previous-generation lenses. This enormous driving power assures a smooth, high-speed shift of the heavy, multi-element rear lens group during focusing operation.
- Other features
?Nine-blade, round-shaped diaphragm produces a natural-looking de-focus (bokeh) effect up to an F2.8 aperture setting, while minimizing the streaking effect of point light sources
?A minimum focusing distance of 0.4 meters, effective for capturing images with a de-focus effect
?Electromagnetic diaphragm-control mechanism,* for flawless, high-precision exposure control during movie recording
?SP (Super Protect) coating to keep the front surface free of dust and spots
* This mechanism is available when the lens is mounted on a PENTAX K-1 Mark II, K-1, K-3 II, K-3, KP, K-70, K-S2 or K-S1 camera body.
| Pricing and Availability |
HD PENTAX-D FA?50mm F1.4 SDM AW will be available in late July 2018 at www.ricohimaging.com and retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $ 1,199.95.
HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW specifications
| Principal specifications |
| Lens type |
Prime lens |
| Max Format size |
35mm FF |
| Focal length |
50 mm |
| Image stabilization |
No |
| Lens mount |
Pentax KAF4 |
| Aperture |
| Maximum aperture |
F1.4 |
| Minimum aperture |
F16 |
| Aperture ring |
No |
| Number of diaphragm blades |
9 |
| Optics |
| Elements |
15 |
| Groups |
9 |
| Special elements / coatings |
1 aspherical + 3 anamalous dispersion elements, Aero Bright II + HD + Super Protect coatings |
| Focus |
| Minimum focus |
0.40 m (15.75″) |
| Maximum magnification |
0.18× |
| Autofocus |
Yes |
| Motor type |
Ring-type ultrasonic |
| Full time manual |
Yes |
| Focus method |
Internal |
| Distance scale |
Yes |
| DoF scale |
No |
| Physical |
| Weight |
910 g (2.01 lb) |
| Diameter |
80 mm (3.15″) |
| Length |
106 mm (4.17″) |
| Sealing |
Yes |
| Colour |
Black |
| Filter thread |
72 mm |
| Hood supplied |
Yes |
| Tripod collar |
No |
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
