TOKYO, February 25, 2021
RICOH COMPANY, LTD and RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. are pleased to announce the launch of three HD PENTAX-FA Limited interchangeable lenses for use with PENTAX K-mount SLR cameras. Featuring the latest HD coating and a round-shaped diaphragm, these new lenses boast much-improved imaging performance to deliver distinctive, well-defined images in combination with a K-mount camera body, while sporting an attractive exterior design.
Developed based on the FA Limited Lens series -- renowned for their meticulousness in every detail, from outstanding image rendition to high-quality, machined aluminum bodies -- these new lenses are designed to assure even better optical performance than the original Limited-series models. This is all a part of PENTAX's attempt to reach a level of performance that can't simply be measured in numerical values. Along with the distinguished qualities of the HD FA Limited series -- outstanding description of texture, fine reproduction of gradation in highlight areas, faithful reproduction of details, and natural reproduction of the bokeh (defocus) effect -- they have been treated with the PENTAX-original HD coating, which assures much higher light transmittance than conventional multi-layer coatings. They deliver sharp, clear images free of flare and ghost images, even under such demanding conditions as backlight. They also feature a completely round-shaped diaphragm to produce a natural, beautiful bokeh effect in the foreground and background.
Main features of the HD PENTAX-FA Limited lenses (common to all three models)
1. High-grade HD coating for exceptional image rendition
The three new lenses are treated with the PENTAX-original HD coating.* Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this high-grade coating assures higher light transmittance and lower reflectance to deliver sharp, clear images free of flare and ghost images, even under such adverse lighting conditions as backlight. It elevates the imaging performance of these new lenses a further step up.
* HD stands for High Definition.
2. Round-shaped diaphragm for beautiful bokeh effect
All lenses feature a completely round-shaped diaphragm, which produces a natural, beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect in the images captured, while optimizing the imaging performance of the distinctive Limited Lens-series optics contained within.
3. Acclaimed Limited Lens-series quality for distinctive visual rendition and premium appearance
While inheriting the design concept of the Limited Lens series, these lenses were designed through a series of mechanical and numerical evaluations, as well as human assessment of test-shooting samples, to deliver an image rendition unmatched by other models. The barrel, hood and cap are all made of high-grade aluminum, meticulously machined for an attractive appearance and beautiful texture. The HD PENTAX-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited features a mount pointer made of a Shippoyaki (cloisonné) ware. This pointer allows the user to mount the lens to a camera body as effortlessly as other Limited Lens-series models.
4. Other features
1. SP (Super Protect) coating is applied to the front surface of each lens to repel dust and stains.
2. Black models are marked with a serial number starting with 0000001; silver models start with 1000001.
3. The aperture ring has been retained so that the user can still use a variety of functions featured in K-mount film-format cameras.