It’s been awhile since we’ve seen or heard about something new from Ricoh
At Photo Plus Expo today, Ricoh is announcing the next evolution of lenses for their K Mount DSLRs from Pentax. First up is the new Pentax-D FA 50mm f1.4 SDM AW that is designed to provide full frame coverage on a camera like the Pentax K-1. Then there is the Pentax 11-18mm f2.8–which would have been a fantastic offering for the full frame crowd; except that it’s an APS-C lens.
Both lenses are slated to arrive on the market next year. The press release is after the jump.
RICOH ANNOUNCES NEXT-GENERATION, HIGH-PERFORMANCE PENTAX STAR-SERIES LENS LINE
Optimized for super-high-resolution photography with high-megapixel digital SLRs, new Star series lenses on display at Photo Plus Expo 2017 and Salon de la PHOTO 2017
WEST CALDWELL, NJ, October 26, 2017 — Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced a new-generation of high-performance Star-series lenses optimized for super high-resolution photography and high megapixel digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. The first two lenses in the new line—the HD PENTAX-D FA★ 50mm F1.4 SDM AW and the HD PENTAX-DA★ 11-18mm F2.8—will be on display as reference products at Photo Plus Expo 2017 in New York (October 26-28) and SALON de la PHOTO 2017 in Paris (November 9-13).
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 a wide range of shooting conditions, and are the perfect companion to PENTAX SLR camera bodies.
Although final names, specs and pricing will not be released until 2018, here are preliminary key features of the two lenses:
· HD PENTAX-D FA★ 50mm F1.4 SDM AW
o PENTAX K-mount covering the image circle of a 35mm-format full-frame image sensor
o Newly developed ring-shaped SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) for faster, quieter AF operation
o AW (All-Weather) construction to prevent intrusion of dust and rain and ideal for use in demanding shooting conditions
o Minimum shooting distance of 0.4 meters
o Note: this is an updated version of the reference product shown at CP+ 2017
o Availability: Scheduled for the spring of 2018
· HD PENTAX-DA★ 11-18mm F2.8
o PENTAX K-mount covering the image circle of an APS-C-format image sensor
o High-performance Star-series model providing excellent resolution even at open aperture
o Large-aperture, ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F2.8 (fixed) and an angle of view between 17mm and 27.5mm (in the 35mm format)
o Availability: Scheduled for the summer of 2018