[Transit]

So when will the 43mm 1.9 HD WR appear?

Might need a new barrel to get those seals in...
They might round out the iris leaves...
heck... thow a focus motor at it...
tweak the elements for digital...
It's like Captain Cook's axe, 2 new heads and 5 new handles

[stevebrot]

I'm guessing B&H didn't use that wording because the black is still available and another almost the same apple will fall from the Ricoh tree.

Apples to apples in terms of how B&H sells. They do not determine the status of the Ricoh tree nor are they in the business of generating rumor or confirming rumor. They sell what the distributor is able to fulfill and the distributor chooses how much and what inventory to provide at wholesale. If you don't like the adapter example, perhaps a lens would be more appropriate. Case in point might be the FA 35/2 which completely disappeared from both the N. America and Europe market for some time (IIRC, over a year) only to miraculously come back from the dead a couple of years ago at a higher price point. The lens was still available in some Asia markets the whole time.

If you want to know the current status, simply check Ricoh Japan Web site where both the silver and black versions of the FA 43/1.3 are still current product.

smc PENTAX-FA 43mmF1.9 Limited / Standard Lenses / K-mount Lenses / Lenses / Products | RICOH IMAGING

All that being said, both the black and silver versions may well be permanently out of production with no provision for a replacement model. As a result, those who really want to buy this lens new should buy one while it is still available. OTOH, it may be that a HD WR version will be announced within the next two month in multiple anodized colors and with silent micro ring motor allowing use of the traditional compact form factor. As a result those who don't want to be stuck with an expensive outmoded lens should hold on to their money and wait to get the next generation (possibly vaporous) product.


Steve

[carlb]

dcxpert (the ebay store of CR Kennedy in Australia) still has one available on their website for $749 but they only ship within Australia. And they'll chuck in a free 8GB Sandisk card

[pid]

Actually all three FA Limiteds can be ordered in black and silver by any distributor. They are not discontinued. That was the answer to our german distributor from Ricoh.