Ricoh Announces 11-18mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4 Pentax Star-series Lenses
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Ricoh has unveiled two new lenses in its premium Star-series lineup: the Ricoh HD Pentax-DA 11-18mm f/2.8 and the HD Pentax-D FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW. Both lenses are optimized for “super high-resolution photography and high megapixel digital SLR cameras.”
“Premium-quality Star-series lenses deliver the highest performance among the PENTAX K-mount interchangeable lens series, and have been highly regarded by PENTAX K-Mount users since the days of film,” Ricoh says.
The Star-series has a clear focus on quality, with an additional aim of providing “exceptional toughness” and “outstanding operability” so that the lenses stand up to a number of situations that could be thrown at them. This means the lenses boast a dustproof and weather-resistant build.
The 11-18mm f/2.8 lens will cover the image circle of an APS-C format crop sensor and will be available in summer 2018.
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The 50mm f/1.4 lens is built for full-frame sensors and has a minimum shooting distance of 0.4 meters (15.7 inches). There’s also a newly developed ring-shaped SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) which enables faster and quieter autofocus. It’s scheduled for launch in the spring of 2018.
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Further details, including final names and pricing, will be made available by Ricoh at some point in 2018.