Ricoh announces two new Pentax full frame DSLR zoom lenses

Ricoh/Pentax just announced their two new full frame DSLR zoom lenses.

B&H already has the new lenses listed on their website - check prices and availability here:

• HD Pentax D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW lens
• HD Pentax D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 DC AW lens

Full specifications and press release after the break:

Specifications for the HD Pentax D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 DC AW lens

Specifications for the HD Pentax D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW lens

Press release:

RICOH IMAGING BROADENS LENS LINE-UP-PROVIDING PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH TWO NEW OPTIONS TO CAPTURE OUTSTANDING SPORTS, ACTION AND LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

With the Introduction of the HD PENTAX D FA ★ 70-200mm F2.8 and the HD PENTAX D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6, photographers have exceptional lens options to use with current and future imaging sensor technology.

DENVER, Colorado, February 4, 2015- RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION is pleased to announce the launch of two new HD PENTAX D FA Lenses. Designed for use with current PENTAX K-mount DSLR cameras and future PENTAX sensor technology, these lenses offer ranges not found in previous PENTAX lens models, including a star-series telephoto zoom and super- telephoto zoom ideal for capturing clear images of distant subjects and weather resistant for shooting in all conditions.

The HD PENTAX D FA lenses feature a high-grade HD Coating which helps to produce extra- sharp, high-contrast images, minimizing flare and ghosting, even under demanding lighting conditions such as in backlight situations.

The HD PENTAX-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW has a brand new optical design in the PENTAX Star (★) series, which boasts the highest image quality of all PENTAX interchangeable lenses. In addition to the HD coating, this lens features Aero Bright Coating II, assuring exceptionally low reflectance. Thanks to its large- constant aperture design, the lens provides an accelerated maximum aperture of F2.8 at all focal lengths from 70mm to 200mm. In addition to four super-low dispersion glass elements and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements, its optics includes a pair of new Super ED glass elements to effectively compensate chromatic aberration over the entire zoom range and deliver crisp, high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness. Its dustproof, weather-resistant body also makes it extremely dependable and durable in demanding outdoor conditions. This new lens boasts fast yet quiet internal focusing, zoom versatility, and an AF limiter switch which improves autofocus response time.

The HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW covers focal lengths from 150mm to 450mm — a focal-length range demanded by higher end PENTAX-camera users. Also incorporated are three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and a super-low dispersion glass element to effectively compensate chromatic aberration. The highly desirable weather-resistance body protects RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION www.ricohimaging.com 633 17th Street I Suite 2600 I Denver, CO 80202 I Phone: 303-799-8000 the inside of the body from both dust and moisture, making it an extremely dependable and durable DSLR accessory in demanding outdoor conditions.

“Ricoh Imaging continues to provide quality and performance in lens construction,” said Jim Malcolm, President, Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation. “With the addition of two new zoom lenses, we demonstrate our commitment to helping photographers reach their full potential.”

Pricing and Availability
Both the HD PENTAX-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW and HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-
5.6ED DC AW will be available in March 2015 at both www.ricohimaging.com and retail outlets nationwide with the following suggested retail prices:

• HD PENTAX-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW- $2299.95
• HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW- $2499.95

Main Features

HD PENTAX-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW

High-performance Star (★)-series lens with large F2.8 maximum aperture
This telephoto zoom lens has been developed as a new model of the high-performance Star (★) series, which assures exceptional image rendition with edge-to-edge sharpness by effectively compensating various aberrations to a minimum. When mounted on a PENTAX K-mount SLR camera body, it provides a zoom ratio of approximately 2.9 times to cover a telephoto range from 107mm to 307mm in the 35mm format. Since it provides a large maximum aperture of F2.8 over the entire zoom range, it is ideal for portraiture with beautifully defocused foreground/background and sports photography demanding high shutter speeds to freeze the action. Its image circle is optimized to cover even the image size of 35mm film-format SLR cameras. As the result, it not only assures brilliant, high-resolution images without compromising the sharpness at edges even when mounted on an existing PENTAX digital SLR camera body, but it is also capable of accepting future models with larger image sensors without modifications.

State-of-the-art optical technology
This zoom lens is treated with the newly developed Aero Bright Coating II — a lens-coating nanotechnology that employs a super-low refractive film fabrication process to assure light reflectance lower than that of the conventional Aero Bright Coating.* By coupling this advanced lens coating with the high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating** that reduces an average reflectance in a visible ray spectrum to less than 50% of conventional multi-layer coatings, this lens effectively reduces flare and ghost images to a minimum even under demanding lighting conditions such as backlight. In its optics, it also features four super-low dispersion glass elements, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements, and two Super ED glass elements, which have optical properties similar to fluorite and assure lower light dispersion and more effective compensation of chromatic aberration. As the result, this lens produces brilliant, high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness, while effectively compensating chromatic aberration over the entire zoom range.

* A state-of-the-art, PENTAX-original lens coating technology developed from nanotechnology. It applies a silica aerogel coating layer with uniform porous structure over a regular multi-coating layer to reduce surface reflections across a wide wavelength range and produce crisp, high-quality images.
** HD stands for High Definition.

Dustproof, weather-resistant construction
Developed as an AW (All Weather) model, this zoom lens features a dependable dustproof, weather-resistant construction with 13 special seals to prevent the intrusion of water and dust particles into the lens interior. By pairing it with a PENTAX weather-resistant digital SLR camera body, it assures a durable, reliable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting settings — even in rain or mist, or at locations prone to water splashes or spray.

Newly installed three-position switch for Quick-Shift Focus System
The lens is equipped with the PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. In order to improve its operability, a three-position switch is newly installed on this lens, allowing instant switching among QFS/A, QFS/M and MF modes. QFS/A is an autofocus- priority mode, which allows the user to switch to manual-focusing operation only when autofocus operation is completed. QFS/M is a manual-focus-priority mode, which enables the user to switch to manual focusing at any time — even when the AF system is in operation. MF mode allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing with a simple twist of the focus ring on the lens. With a choice of three distinctive modes, the user is assured of speedier, more accurate focusing operation for a given subject or application.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW

Super-telephoto coverage with three-times zoom ratio
When mounted on a PENTAX K-mount SLR camera body, this zoom lens covers a super-telephoto range from approximately 230mm to 690mm in the 35mm format. It is designed to be compact and light enough to handhold during long-range shooting of such subjects as wildlife, aircraft and sports.
Outstanding image description
Thanks to its state-of-the-art optics featuring three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one super-low dispersion glass element, this zoom lens effectively minimizes spherical and chromatic aberrations, while producing crisp, high-quality images free of color bleeding. Its MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) curve is programmed to be higher than those of conventional models in the same class to deliver high-resolution, fine-detailed images. Its image circle is optimized to cover even the image size of 35mm film-format SLR cameras. As the result, it not only assures brilliant, high-resolution images without compromising the sharpness at edges even when mounted on an existing PENTAX digital SLR camera body, but it is also capable of accepting future models with larger image sensors without modifications.

HD Coating to optimize image rendition
This lens is treated with the high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating.* Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this PENTAX-original coating assures higher light transmittance and less reflection to deliver bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even under demanding lighting conditions such as backlight.
* HD stands for High Definition.

Dustproof, weather-resistant construction
Developed as an AW (All Weather) model, this zoom lens features a dependable dustproof, weather-resistant construction with 21 special seals to prevent the intrusion of water and dust particles into the lens interior. By pairing it with a PENTAX weather-resistant digital SLR camera body, it assures a durable, reliable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting settings — even in rain or mist, or at locations prone to water splashes or spray.

Newly installed three-position switch for Quick-Shift Focus System
The lens is equipped with the PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. In order to improve its operability, a three-position switch is newly installed on this lens, allowing instant switching among QFS/A, QFS/M and MF modes. QFS/A is an autofocus- priority mode, which allows the user to switch to manual-focusing operation only when autofocus operation is completed. QFS/M is a manual-focus-priority mode, which enables the user to switch to manual focusing at any time — even when the AF system is in operation. MF mode allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing with a simple twist of the focus ring on the lens. With a choice of three distinctive modes, the user is assured of speedier, more accurate focusing operation for a given subject or application.

Four AF buttons installed on the lens barrel
In order to provide more stable AF operation and better hold of the lens regardless of the camera’s orientation — horizontal or vertical — this lens provides four AF buttons on its barrel — one at every 90 degrees.** The user can assign preferred settings to these AF buttons, including: a Focus Preset mode to preprogram the focus position and instantly shift the focus to that position; and an AF Cancel mode to intentionally fix the focus at a desired point during Continuous AF operation.
** The PETANX K-3 is currently the only model to accommodate the AF button functions. To activate these functions, the camera’s firmware must be updated to the latest version.

Other features

• Smooth, quiet AF operation using a lens-installed AF driving motor
• Round-shaped diaphragm to produce a natural, beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect, while minimizing the streaking effect of point light sources
• Focus range limiter to minimize AF operation time by fixing the focus range to one of three sub-ranges
• SP (Super Protect) coating to keep the front surface free of dust and stains
• Zoom lock lever to prevent the lens barrel from free-falling
• Detachable tripod mounting with a newly designed anti-falling mechanism