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HD PENTAX-DA★ 16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW

Posted on 07 March 2021 | 21:4507 March 2021 | 22:14 | 1 Comment

HD PENTAX-DA^★16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW (tentative name), high-performance Star-series lens for PENTAX APS-C-format digital SLR cameras

RICOH COMPANY, LTD. and RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. are pleased to announce the development of the new-generation high-performance Star-series lens, the “HD PENTAX-DA^★16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW (tentative name)” designed exclusively for APS-C size digital SLR cameras.

This new lens is the latest model of PENTAX’s new-generation Star series. In developing this series, PENTAX conducted an extensive review of its in-house standards, particularly in regard to resolving power, to pursue its ultimate goals: top-class image quality, large aperture, and exceptional dependability and operability. Currently in development, this lens is designed to deliver the highest level of performance, and to be regarded as the ideal standard zoom lens for the PENTAX K-3 Mark III, the new flagship of PENTAX’s APS-C-format digital SLR lineup. PENTAX plans to make a public announcement of this product shortly. Please look forward to the announcement and market launch.

Product name: HD PENTAX-DA^★16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW (tentative name)

・High-performance Star-series model providing excellent resolution even at open aperture
・PENTAX K-mount covering the image circle of an APS-C-format image sensor
・Large-aperture, standard-angle zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F2.8 (fixed) and an angle of view between 24.5mm and 76.5mm (in the 35mm format)
・KAF4 lens mount corresponding to electromagnetic diaphragm-control mechanism
・Pulse motor (PLM) for high-speed AF operation in still-image shooting, and smooth AF tracking operation during movie recording
・AW (All-Weather) structure to prevent intrusion of dust and rain for use in demanding shooting conditions
・Minimum shooting distance of 0.4 meters
・Market launch: Scheduled for the 2021

Note: Model name, design, and specification and market launch schedules is all tentative and subject to change without notice. Price will be announced at later date.

Source

Photos from PENTAX K-3 III Meeting (Tokyo/Japan) – Pt.2

Posted on 26 December 2020 | 23:0926 December 2020 | 23:12 | 2 Comments

Mr. Shinobu Takahashi (President and CEO of Ricoh Imaging)

< Part 3

Part 1 >

Source

Photos from PENTAX K-3 III Meeting (Tokyo/Japan) – Pt.1

Posted on 26 December 2020 | 23:0826 December 2020 | 23:15 | No Comments

First hands-on photos of upcoming flagship APS-C DSLR PENTAX K-3 III published on dc.watch.impress.co.jp!

Shutter sound & Burst Mode

< Part 2

Source

PENTAX Product Updates for CP+ 2020

Posted on 17 May 2020 | 01:3417 May 2020 | 01:34 | No Comments

Video broadcast introducing PENTAX products currently in development

PENTAX has broadcast a video to introduce a selection of the new products currently in development, which were originally scheduled to be showcased at the RICOH IMAGING booth at the now-cancelled CP+ 2020.

In this video, members of PENTAX’s Product Planning Department described a range of models now in development, including the next flagship model of the PENTAX APS-C-format digital SLR series and new interchangeable lenses. A great chance to witness the future of PENTAX!

Please note that, due to the coronavirus outbreak, PENTAX has decided to broadcast a pre-recorded web conference.

New Products

1. Flagship APS-C DSLR + New Battery Grip

PENTAX, in the video above, talked about the camera’s optical viewfinder, which is designed to be as good as a full-frame DSLR viewfinder, with a magnification of 1.05x giving a view as good as the K-1, and K-1 II. There is also an improved focus system, said to be as good as the K-1/K-1 II. There is an eye-sensor underneath the optical viewfinder, which will automatically dim the rear screen when the camera is held up to your eye. The viewfinder also protrudes further from the rear of the camera to help keep your nose away from the screen.

Speaking of technology, although Wakashiro did not elaborate on the exact specifications, he did state the the camera would bring enhanced burst shooting and tracking performance, and that users should have “high expectations”.

Features:

Large 1.05x magnification optical viewfinder
The camera design is said to follow the K-1 design style
Improved AF performance, with improved AF tracking
Improved drive control
New battery grip shown
Still planned for release by the end of 2020

The new camera will have an available battery grip, with the corresponding new control layout and a custom-tailored ergonomic design.

The camera is still scheduled for a 2020 launch, although Pentax admits that there are some coronavirus-related risk factors in the supply chain that could affect the timeline. However, all efforts will be made to stick to the 2020 launch.

2. HD PENTAX-D FA 21mm ED Limited (tentative name)

The new HD PENTAX-D FA 21mm Limited (tentative name) has a completely different design compared to the previous PENTAX-DA 21mm Limited lens, and the new lens is designed for use with both APS-C and Full-Frame cameras. Features a built-in DC motor and weather resistant (WR).

This will be the first Limited prime lens to include weather sealing as well as a silent DC motor. To see both of these features in a compact lens is no small feat!

The new 21mm Limited is slated for launch in 2021. We expect to see it late in the year, after the HD PENTAX-DA★ 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW.

3. HD PENTAX-DA★ 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW (tentative name)

HD PENTAX-DA★ 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW lens is designed for APS-C cameras, and is weather sealed (AW), and features a “pulse motor” (PLM) and a redesigned optical construction, to give quiet operation. The lens is due to be launched in the first half of 2021. The lens updates the current smc PENTAX-DA★ 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM lens, and is said to give improved image quality.

PENTAX also said that whilst their focus currently is on FF, high-quality lenses, which are quite large, they plan on working on lower cost, more compact lenses in the future.

4. HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW

An updated full-frame 85mm has been roadmapped ever since the launch of the PENTAX K-1. Pentax finally officially announced most of the specifications of this lens back in March 2020.

During today’s video, Iwasaki talked about just how much effort went into making sure that this lens delivered the absolute highest level of image quality so that it would enable consistent results not only with today’s DSLRs, but also with cameras of tomorrow. This design goal is similar to that of the HD PENTAX-D FA★ 50mm F1.4 SDM AW and HD PENTAX-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8 ED DC AW new-generation star lenses.

Three super extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements are used to reduce purple fringing similar to what would be possible with fluorite. When combined with the rest of the new optical design, which makes the lens quite a bit larger than it film-era counterparts, the lens promises to deliver incredible sharpness, but without compromising on bokeh.

As the prototype appears to have been finalized, the coronavirus will not delay the launch of this lens, which remains scheduled for summer 2020. We were told to expect an official announcement very soon.

Source 1 | Source 2

DPReview TV: HD PENTAX-DA★ 11-18mm F2.8 ED DC AW review

Posted on 15 January 2020 | 22:3815 January 2020 | 22:38 | No Comments

“It’s Pentax week on DPReview TV, so Chris and Jordan review the DA* 11-18mm F2.8 ultra-wide zoom for Pentax APS-C cameras. Do they like it? They sure do! Enough to inspire Jordan to sing. And sing some more. Get out your earplugs.”

Samples

Original JPG and RAW files on DPR sample gallery

Source

‘Into Bloom’ – Exploring PENTAX Lenses with Richard Wilford

Posted on 30 July 2019 | 00:5430 July 2019 | 00:54 | No Comments

Source

First 3rd user photos of HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED!

Posted on 10 July 2019 | 01:4410 July 2019 | 01:46 | No Comments

First 3rd user (preview/hands-on) photos and a demonstration video (which shows removing the newly designed removable lens hood with lens cap) of HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED published on yaotomi.co.jp.

Source

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HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED announced!

Posted on 10 July 2019 | 01:0710 July 2019 | 01:12 | No Comments

A fish-eye zoom lens for use with K-mount digital SLR cameras,featuring the latest HD Coating to further upgrade image quality, and a totally redesigned body

RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. are pleased to announce the launch of the HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED. Designed for use with PENTAX K-mount digital SLR cameras, this fish-eye zoom lens provides a zoom range covering the fish-eye to ultra-wide angles.

The development of this new zoom lens was based on the currently marketed smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED (IF), 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.

Main Features of the new HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. New exterior design to match latest digital SLR models

While retaining the overall size of the original smc PENTAX-DA10-17mmF3.5-4.5ED(IF), 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.

4. 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.

5. Other features

・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

・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

Specification


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)