Ricoh Imaging officially announced the new Pentax HD FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens. This is the first Star-series lens developed under Pentax’s renewed performance evaluation criteria. This large-aperture, standard lens assures exceptional image quality with minimal aberrations.
The HD FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW Lens from Pentax is a standard length prime lens with a bright maximum aperture that enables accurate low-light shooting as well as providing a wide range of depth of field control. While designed for full-frame Pentax K-mount cameras, the lens can be used on APS-C format cameras where it provides a 76.5mm focal length.
The US price for this lens is $1,199.99, it will be shipping in this July, 2018. You can pre-order this lens at Amazon | B&H Photo Video | Adorama.
Pentax HD FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW Lens Key Features
- K-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- 1 Aspherical Element
- Anomalous Dispersion Aspherical Element
- Ultrasonic Motor SDM
- Aero Bright Coating II & HD Coating
- Front Element SP Coating
- Rounded 9-blade Diaphragm
- Weather Sealed
Aero Bright Coating II and HD Coating on the 15 lens elements reduces flare and ghosting even when shooting in harsh lighting, and a front element SP Coating repels water and fingerprints from affecting the front of your lens. Autofocus is powered by Pentax’s Ultrasonic Motor SDM, providing fast and accurate focus while shooting. Additionally, the rounded 9-blade diaphragm produces smooth bokeh for portraits or other types of shots. This lens is also weather sealed, ensuring consistent performance during adverse outdoor shooting conditions.
Main Features
High-performance, next-generation lens with large F1.4 maximum aperture
The HD PENTAX-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW was developed as part of the new next-generation Star series, delivering high image resolving power. It assures exceptional imaging performance from the center to the edges of the image field, even at open aperture, while providing a beautiful bokeh effect and outstanding image rendition at close ranges. Its large maximum aperture of F1.4 delivers bright, clear images in portraiture and indoor photography, making it versatile in capturing a wide array of subjects and scenes.
State-of-the-art optical technology
The lens has been treated with PENTAX-developed Aero Bright Coating II – a lens-coating nanotechnology employing a super-low refractive film fabrication process. By coupling this advanced lens coating with the high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating, which reduces average reflectance in the visible ray spectrum to less than 50% of conventional multi-layer coatings, this lens effectively reduces flare and ghost images to a minimum even in demanding lighting conditions such as backlighting.
Dustproof, weather-resistant construction
Developed as an All Weather (AW) model, this lens features a dependable dustproof, weather-resistant structure with eight special seals to prevent the intrusion of water and dust in 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 outdoor shooting settings.
Newly developed ring-type ultrasonic motor SDM
The lens features a newly developed ring-type ultrasonic motor SDM, which generates almost twice the torque of a conventional lens-driving motor. Thanks to this enormous driving power, the lens assures smooth, high-speed shifting of the heavy, multi-element rear lens group during focusing operation.
Rounded Diaphragm
Nine-blade rounded diaphragm to produce a natural bokeh (defocus) effect at up to F2.8 aperture setting, while minimizing the streaking effect of point light sources.
Quick-Shift Focus System
Allows for instant switching from auto-focus to manual-focus operation.
SP Coating
SP (Super Protect) Coating applied to the front surface of the lens to effectively repel water and grease.
