HD Pentax-D FA 645 35mm F3.5AL [IF]

Ricoh has announced a new lens in the Pentax 645 medium-format DSLR camera system – the HD Pentax-D FA 645 35mm F3.5AL [IF] wide-angle lens. The design is based on the smc Pentax-FA645 35mm F3.5AL[IF]. This was a highly regarded Pentax medium format lens, but the new FA 645 35mm aims to set a new standard for image quality.

The HD Pentax-D FA 645 35mm F3.5AL [IF] features newly designed high-grade aspherical optical elements to help minimise chromatic aberration and lens distortion. Treated with the PENTAX-original HD Coating, the lens helps to create high-contrast and high-resolution images even in the most demanding lighting situations. This makes it ideal for landscape and seascape photography.

Main Features

Optical design supporting super-high-resolution images captured with medium-format DSLR cameras

Combining a newly designed, high-grade glass-moulded aspherical element with a high　refractive index low dispersion glass element and a hybrid aspherical element in its optics, this lens effectively compensates for chromatic and spherical aberrations. It also assures a sufficient peripheral brightness level, while enhancing image resolution and crisp image description at edges of the image field. The lens coating and reflective material used for the interior of the lens barrel are optimised for the distinctive characteristics of digital imaging. This allows it to draw out the optimum performance of PENTAX medium-format DSLR cameras, while minimising flare and ghost images.

Wide-angle perspective – perfect for scenic photography

This lens provides a focal length of 27.5mm (in the 35mm format; when mounted on a 645Z or 645D camera body) to capture wide-angle landscape and architectural images. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.3 metres and a maximum magnification of 0.25 times, it can also be used for close-up photography, allowing the photographer to capture subjects, like flowers, while retaining the scenery in the background to emphasise the sense of depth. Its inner-focus mechanism keeps its total length unchanged during focusing, and allows the user to maintain the ideal balance during handheld shooting.

HD Coating for high-resolution images

This lens is treated with the PENTAX-original, high-grade HD Coating.* Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this innovative coating assures higher light transmittance and lower reflection to deliver bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even in demanding lighting situations

^* HD stands for High Definition.

Rounded diaphragm for a beautiful bokeh effect

This lens features a nine-blade, rounded diaphragm to produce a smooth, beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect, while minimising the streaking effect of point light sources.

Other features

・Image circle covering the entire image size of 645-series film-format SLR cameras

・SP (Super Protect) Coating applied to the front surface of the lens to effectively repel water and grease

・Attachment of various filters, such as a C-PL (circular polarising) filter, to the front end of the lens

・PL filter window for easy control of a polarising filter without requiring the removal of the lens hood

For more information visit www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk