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Ricoh Announces Pentax 24-70mm f2.8 Zoom
24 September 2015
Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. has announced its HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f2.8 ED SDM WR lens for Pentax dSLRs with a weather-resistant design.
"We've built our new 24-70mm lens to meet the rigorous demands of pro photographers for speed, sharpness and performance," said Jim Malcolm, president of Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. "With its versatile focal length and constant f2.8 aperture, we expect this to be the 'go-to' lens for many Pentaxians."
The company said it is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C K-mount Pentax cameras. Pentax has said for a while that it is working on a full-frame body.
FEATURES
Highlights of the new lens include:
- Supersonic Direct-drive Motor to shoot discreetly with a quiet, motorized autofocus.
- High Definition technology includes a high grade, multi-layer coating delivering crisp, high-contrast images free of flare and ghosting, even under demanding lighting conditions.
- Extra-low Dispersion glass lens elements provide clear, high resolution imagery with edge-to-edge sharpness throughout the entire zoom range.
- Weather Resistant design includes five special seals to prevent water intrusion.
SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications for the new 24-70mm lens are:
PENTAX 24-70mm SPECIFICATIONS Focal Length 24-70mm>
37-107mm 35mm equivalentAperture Range f2.8 to f22 Diaphragm Blades Nine bladed, rounded aperture f2.8 to f5.6 Angle of View 84 to 34.5 degrees
61 to 23 degrees APS-CConstruction 17 elements in 12 groups Minimum Focus 1.25 feet Magnification 0.20x Filter Size 82mm Dimensions 4.3 x 3.5 inches Weight 28.76 oz.
28.65 oz. with hoodPRICE, AVAILABILITY
Adorama at $1,299.95 and B&H at $1,296.95 are currently accepting pre-orders for October delivery.
For more information see the news release below.
Ricoh Extends dSLR Optics Line with Versatile 24-70mm f2.8 Lens Ideal for Wide Variety of Conditions
Weather-resistant HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f2.8 ED SDM WR lens delivers exceptional image quality throughout zoom range and is full-frame-compatible for use with both current and future Pentax-brand dSLRs
DENVER, Sept. 24 -- Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. today announced a 24-70mm high-performance K-mount lens for Pentax digital single-lens reflex cameras. The HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f2.8 ED SDM WR lens offers a versatile focal length range and weather-resistant design that makes it ideal for a wide variety of applications -- from wedding, portraiture and sports, to nature, landscape and travel. Its large f2.8 constant maximum aperture reduces the need for a tripod in low-light conditions such as sunsets and indoor scenes while producing a desirable, soft defocus effect on the background throughout the entire focal-length range.
The new lens is compatible with full-frame, 35mm image sensors, making it usable with both current and future-model Pentax dSLRs. It effectively provides a 24-70mm focal-length range with full-frame 35mm image sensors (a Pentax full-frame dSLR body is currently in development) and a 37-107mm range with current Pentax K-series APS-C bodies.
"We've built our new 24-70mm lens to meet the rigorous demands of pro photographers for speed, sharpness and performance," said Jim Malcolm, president, Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. "With its versatile focal length and constant f2.8 aperture, we expect this to be the 'go-to' lens for many Pentaxians."
By incorporating three Extra-low Dispersion optical elements and four aspherical optical elements, the lens assures sufficient light levels even at the edges of the image field and compensates for various aberrations to deliver fine-detailed images, rich in contrast and resolution. All elements are treated with a high-grade, multi-layer High-Definition coating that enables higher light transmittance and less reflection than conventional multi-layer coatings, providing high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even under demanding lighting conditions such as backlight.
Weather-resistant construction with customized seals effectively prevents water intrusion into the lens interior. When paired with a weather-resistant Pentax dSLR camera body, it assures superb performance in demanding conditions, including rain, mist or snow or in locations prone to water splashing or spray.
Other noteworthy features include a built-in Supersonic Direct-drive Motor that provides quiet, high-speed autofocus operation; 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 for fine-tuning; and a zoom lock lever to prevent the accidental extension of the lens barrel when pointed downwards.
Pricing and Availability
The HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f2.8 ED SDM WR lens will be available in October at http://www.ricohimaging.com and retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,299.99.