Three new prime lenses have been announced for Pentax digital SLRs – and all of them are compatible with Pentax’s K-mount film SLRs.
The new lenses – called the Pentax HD Pentax-FA Limited lenses – are described by Ricoh (Pentax’s owner) as in keeping with the earlier DA version but with several improvements, including a high definition (HD) coating on the lens.
The three lenses are:
Ricoh says the new HD 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”.
The lenses also feature completely round aperture diaphragms to create smoother bokeh.
While aimed for the new generation of Pentax DSLR cameras such as the K-1 or KP, the lenses all retain an aperture ring which means they can be used on Pentax K-mount films SLRs such as the K1000, MX, LX and MZ-S.
In a statement, Ricoh said: “Lenses in the FA Limited Lens series are renowned for their high-quality details inside and out – from outstanding image rendition to durable aluminium bodies. These new lenses are specifically designed to ensure even better optical performance than the original Limited Lens series and are a prime example of Pentax’s commitment to high-performance, high-quality products.”
All three lenses are available in both black and chrome. Recommended prices are – at least in the US – $1,049.95 (31mm), $599.95 (43mm) and $799.95 (77mm).
I'm a New Zealander who has been living in London since the mid-1990s, shooting film seriously since the year 2000. Kosmo Foto was launched in 2012 and has since become a film brand, with the release of my first films Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm (2017) and Kosmo Foto Mono 120 (2019).
I’m doing everything I can to promote film photography in the 21st Century, and help it survive and thrive. If you want to write something for Kosmo Foto, please drop me a line at foto.dowling@gmail.com.
That 43mm lens looks tasty!