Ricoh, company behind Pentax Cameras has announced the development of its third “Star-Series lens” and second Prime in the lineup: the high definition Pentax-D FA* 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW. Like previous FA* lenses, this new 85mm promises to deliver “perfect image quality” and “high quality workmanship” for users of Pentax DSLRs. Now while FA* 85mm f/1.4 is still in development, the company says its optical formula and build quality promises a “no compromises” design.
Inside the lens, you’ll find three Super ED elements, one aspherical element, and a “newly-developed developed Supersonic Direct-drive Motor (SDM) to handle autofocus. Aperture is controlled by 9 rounded blades, and the whole thing is wrapped up in a weather sealed design that will keep your glass safe from dust and moisture.
According to Pentax, the lens will match the optical performance of the FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 and the FA* 50mm f/1.4 which by reviews is said to be premium and flawless. The lenses in the Star series are said to boast the following three characteristics:
- Best possible image quality with uniform sharpness from the center to the edges of the image.
- Large aperture with a particularly expressive image effect.
- High quality workmanship and materials with high robustness and easy handling.
But the combination of performance and build quality doesn’t come cheap. The 50mm FA* lens costs a whopping $1100, so we don’t expect this lens to be what you’d call “affordable” when it’s officially released.
