West Caldwell, NJ—Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation released the HD Pentax-DA Fisheye 10–17mm F3.5–4.5 ED zoom lens. The new lens works with the company’s K-mount digital SLR cameras. In addition, the compact and lightweight fisheye lens features the latest HD coating and a completely redesigned body.
The zoom lens also provides a 180º diagonal angle view in the APS-C format at a 10mm focal length. As a result, it delivers fisheye to ultrawide-angle images. Its minimum focusing distance of 5.5 inches also permits photographers to get as close as an inch from the front end of the lens to the subject for ultra-close-up photography.
A quick-shift focus system is also featured on the lens; it provides an instant shift to manual focus operation after locking a subject in focus during autofocus operation.
HD Pentax-DA Fisheye 10–17mm F3.5–4.5ED Upgrades
The new Ricoh lens is an upgrade based on the currently available smc Pentax-DA Fisheye 10–17mm F3.5–4.5ED (IF) lens. A high-grade, multilayer HD coating was applied to the optical elements of the new lens. As a result, it can capture high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness while minimizing flare and ghosting.
In addition, the lens’s front surface has an SP (super protective) coating. Repellent to water, grease and dirt, the coating also makes it easy to wipe off any stains or fingerprints on the lens.
Moreover, the exterior of the lens matches the design of the latest Pentax K-mount digital SLR models. Also, the design allows for a removable lens hood. When mounted on a Pentax K-1 or K-1 Mark II camera body, photographers can remove the lens hood to produce nearly circular fisheye images.
Ricoh’s HD Pentax-DA Fisheye 10–17mm F3.5–4.5 ED lens will be available the end of July. It will retail for $499.95.
