Jun Hirakawa

Albert Siegel · 07-11-2010, 06:29 AM - **1 Like**

I was wondering if anyone knows of a list of lenses designed by Jun Hirakawa?

Inspector 17 · 07-11-2010, 07:23 AM

I have had an interest in this designer since I have owned Pentax...

I believe he designed:

10-17mm
77 Limited
40 Limited
55-200mm
and others?

Asahiflex · 07-11-2010, 07:33 AM

I know for sure he designed:

- FA* 85/1.4
- FA* 80-200/2.8
- FA77 Limited
- FA43 Limited
- DA* 55/1.4 SDM

I'm not sure about other lenses. You can search his name on patent search engines, but it's hard to couple patents to actual lenses. BTW: I have all of the five lenses above and I think I see Jun Hirakawa's fingerprint in the rendering of the lenses...

Albert Siegel · 07-11-2010, 07:33 AM

I have read that he designed the FA* 80-200 and the FA 43 Limited. Is he still working for Pentax/Hoya?

**dadipentak** · 07-11-2010, 07:45 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Asahiflex

I know for sure he designed:
- FA* 85/1.4
- FA* 80-200/2.8
- FA77 Limited
- FA43 Limited
- DA* 55/1.4 SDM

Wow, somebody, please--photoshop his face on Mt. Rushmore!

Asahiflex · 07-11-2010, 07:48 AM

Originally posted by AlbertSiegel

I have read that he designed the FA* 80-200 and the FA 43 Limited. Is he still working for Pentax/Hoya?

Unfortunately not; he retired after he completed his last work: the DA* 55.

farfisa · 07-11-2010, 08:02 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Asahiflex

I think I see Jun Hirakawa's fingerprint in the rendering of the lenses...

If you're seeing fingerprints, you might need to use a lint-free cloth and ... okay, I'm kidding.

Here's a list I found somewhere a while back...
FA* 80-200 mm, 24 mm, 85 mm, 600 mm
FA Limited 43 mm, 77 mm
DA 14 mm, 50-200 mm, 10-17 mm
DA Limited 40 mm
DA*55.

Albert Siegel · 07-11-2010, 08:45 AM

Knowing he designed the DA* 55 might be what I need to buy it.....

tumbleguts · 07-11-2010, 07:56 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by farfisa

If you're seeing fingerprints, you might need to use a lint-free cloth and ... okay, I'm kidding.

If you're seeing his fingerprints - it is because he assembled each lens personally by hand ...

Hoya had to let him go - it was getting too expensive to fly him to Vietnam each week so he could perform these duties ...

tumbleguts · 07-11-2010, 08:50 PM

^^^^^^^^^
I'm only joking above.
He definitely designed the 43mm and 77mm Limiteds. It would be interesting to know other Pentax lens designers too - cos' lets face it, Pentax has created some pretty amazing lenses in it's time.
I'm particularly interested in knowing who designed the 31mm?

jsherman999 · 07-11-2010, 09:38 PM - **9 Likes**

Originally posted by Asahiflex

Unfortunately not; he retired after he completed his last work

.

I imagine him living quietly in a secluded, heavily wooded hilltop villa in view of Mt Fuji. He bides his time reading philosophy and novels, feeding his goats, and occasionally - entertaining questions from young Pentaxians and lens designers who are persistent enough to locate him, and to hike up to where he lives, to get close to his genius. He serves them tea, and laughingly waves them off with an "Oh, I don't do those things any more. It's a young man's game."

After they leave, he shuffles back to his house, opens up a notebook, pages through brilliant, unrealized diagrams of 26 f/1.6, 50 f/1.2, 135 f/2, 180 f/2.8, and 300 f/4 Limiteds, their design and potential capability peerless.

He closes the notebook, finishes his tea, and sits down in front of the fire with his cat to finish his novel before retiring for the evening.

.

Mike Cash · 07-12-2010, 06:03 AM

That Jun fellow may have been a heck of a lens designer, not owning any of his glass I have no way of knowing. But Pentax never named a a series of lenses after him like they did for Takuma Kajiwara.

jsherman999 · 07-12-2010, 02:29 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Mike Cash

That Jun fellow may have been a heck of a lens designer, not owning any of his glass I have no way of knowing. But Pentax never named a a series of lenses after him like they did for Takuma Kajiwara.

Jun was probably one of Mr. Kajiwara's young hilltop-villa visitors.

.

**Pål Jensen** · 07-12-2010, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by tumbleguts

^^^^^^^^^
.
I'm particularly interested in knowing who designed the 31mm?

Not Hirakawa. I believe it was designed by a team of Pentax optics engineers....

zuiko · 11-28-2010, 06:45 AM

Originally posted by Asahiflex

Unfortunately not; he retired after he completed his last work: the DA* 55.

Sorry but have to rectify that, it is not RETIREMENT but LAYOFF, as it occurred he was only 47 years old, which would have been one`s heyday.

07-11-2010, 06:29 AM - 1 Like	#1
Albert Siegel Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 372	Jun Hirakawa I was wondering if anyone knows of a list of lenses designed by Jun Hirakawa?

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07-11-2010, 07:23 AM	#2
Inspector 17 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 75	I have had an interest in this designer since I have owned Pentax... I believe he designed: 10-17mm 77 Limited 40 Limited 55-200mm and others?

07-11-2010, 07:33 AM	#3
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	I know for sure he designed: - FA* 85/1.4 - FA* 80-200/2.8 - FA77 Limited - FA43 Limited - DA* 55/1.4 SDM I'm not sure about other lenses. You can search his name on patent search engines, but it's hard to couple patents to actual lenses. BTW: I have all of the five lenses above and I think I see Jun Hirakawa's fingerprint in the rendering of the lenses...

07-11-2010, 07:45 AM - 1 Like	#5
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by Asahiflex I know for sure he designed: - FA* 85/1.4 - FA* 80-200/2.8 - FA77 Limited - FA43 Limited - DA* 55/1.4 SDM Wow, somebody, please--photoshop his face on Mt. Rushmore!

07-11-2010, 07:48 AM	#6
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Originally posted by AlbertSiegel I have read that he designed the FA* 80-200 and the FA 43 Limited. Is he still working for Pentax/Hoya? Unfortunately not; he retired after he completed his last work: the DA* 55.

07-11-2010, 08:02 AM - 1 Like	#7
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Originally posted by Asahiflex I think I see Jun Hirakawa's fingerprint in the rendering of the lenses... If you're seeing fingerprints, you might need to use a lint-free cloth and ... okay, I'm kidding. Here's a list I found somewhere a while back... FA* 80-200 mm, 24 mm, 85 mm, 600 mm FA Limited 43 mm, 77 mm DA 14 mm, 50-200 mm, 10-17 mm DA Limited 40 mm DA*55.

07-11-2010, 08:45 AM	#8
Albert Siegel Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 372 Original Poster	Knowing he designed the DA* 55 might be what I need to buy it.....

07-11-2010, 07:56 PM - 1 Like	#9
tumbleguts New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 20	Originally posted by farfisa If you're seeing fingerprints, you might need to use a lint-free cloth and ... okay, I'm kidding. If you're seeing his fingerprints - it is because he assembled each lens personally by hand ... Hoya had to let him go - it was getting too expensive to fly him to Vietnam each week so he could perform these duties ...

07-11-2010, 08:50 PM	#10
tumbleguts New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 20	^^^^^^^^^ I'm only joking above. He definitely designed the 43mm and 77mm Limiteds. It would be interesting to know other Pentax lens designers too - cos' lets face it, Pentax has created some pretty amazing lenses in it's time. I'm particularly interested in knowing who designed the 31mm?

07-11-2010, 09:38 PM - 9 Likes	#11
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Asahiflex Unfortunately not; he retired after he completed his last work . I imagine him living quietly in a secluded, heavily wooded hilltop villa in view of Mt Fuji. He bides his time reading philosophy and novels, feeding his goats, and occasionally - entertaining questions from young Pentaxians and lens designers who are persistent enough to locate him, and to hike up to where he lives, to get close to his genius. He serves them tea, and laughingly waves them off with an "Oh, I don't do those things any more. It's a young man's game." After they leave, he shuffles back to his house, opens up a notebook, pages through brilliant, unrealized diagrams of 26 f/1.6, 50 f/1.2, 135 f/2, 180 f/2.8, and 300 f/4 Limiteds, their design and potential capability peerless. He closes the notebook, finishes his tea, and sits down in front of the fire with his cat to finish his novel before retiring for the evening. .

07-12-2010, 06:03 AM	#12
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	That Jun fellow may have been a heck of a lens designer, not owning any of his glass I have no way of knowing. But Pentax never named a a series of lenses after him like they did for Takuma Kajiwara.

07-12-2010, 02:29 PM - 1 Like	#13
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Mike Cash That Jun fellow may have been a heck of a lens designer, not owning any of his glass I have no way of knowing. But Pentax never named a a series of lenses after him like they did for Takuma Kajiwara. Jun was probably one of Mr. Kajiwara's young hilltop-villa visitors. .

07-12-2010, 02:36 PM	#14
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Originally posted by tumbleguts ^^^^^^^^^ . I'm particularly interested in knowing who designed the 31mm? Not Hirakawa. I believe it was designed by a team of Pentax optics engineers....

11-28-2010, 06:45 AM	#15
zuiko Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Shanghai Posts: 9	Originally posted by Asahiflex Unfortunately not; he retired after he completed his last work: the DA* 55. Sorry but have to rectify that, it is not RETIREMENT but LAYOFF, as it occurred he was only 47 years old, which would have been one`s heyday.