Lens patent: 4.2mm (20mm equiv.)

JPT · 01-14-2016, 06:00 AM

I haven't seen and Q-centric patents registered for a while, or much talk of the Q at all. Here is one that appeared this week for a f1.7 wide-angle prime for a 1/1.7" sensor.

Ricoh 4.2mm F1.8(1/1.7")?????????????So-net???

The writer points out that a similar patent already exists for a 4.4mm f1.4, but this one seems a bit simpler. It strikes me that it would be a very good lens to have if it were put into production.

CarlJF · 01-14-2016, 09:24 AM

Many Q users dream of having this kind of small, affordable, fixed lens wide angle solution for the Q line. At least, I'm one of them and would gladly buy 4.2mm 1.8 lens for my Q, as long as the price isn't insanely high.

**luftfluss** · 01-14-2016, 10:06 AM

I'm not so sure this patent means anything substantive for the Q system - where's our macro lens, where's the superzoom, there are patents for those - I guess it does give us a glimmer of hope that there may be a Q-vival.

Alizarine · 01-14-2016, 02:38 PM

New Ricoh patent for a Pentax Q 4.2mm f/1.8 lens | Pentax Rumors

Yup it seems to be true. Glad Ricoh hasn't given up on the tiny, fun system. This would be the next "serious" prime after the 01, right? Anyway, even if the lens doesn't come out soon (though I hope it will, along with earlier patents), I hope Pentax makes an announcement for them to show their commitment to keeping the Q alive.

**pacerr** · 01-14-2016, 04:09 PM

To support a commitment to new Q lenses there must also be a parallel commitment to new Q bodies incorporating advances that keep them marketable.

As the current bodies age there'd be no market for lens for outdated technology.

If you see a new body there may or may not be new lenses forthcoming, but if there are new lenses there must also be new bodies to support the future market profitability.

fuent104 · 01-14-2016, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by JPT

I haven't seen and Q-centric patents registered for a while, or much talk of the Q at all. Here is one that appeared this week for a f1.7 wide-angle prime for a 1/1.7" sensor.

Ricoh 4.2mm F1.8(1/1.7")?????????????So-net???

The writer points out that a similar patent already exists for a 4.4mm f1.4, but this one seems a bit simpler. It strikes me that it would be a very good lens to have if it were put into production.

I desperately want a wide prime for my Q. I'm curious as to how hard it would have been to make these lenses fast, like 1.0 or 0.95.

Alizarine · 01-14-2016, 05:47 PM

I think it's not really hard to make fast lenses for the Q - the problem is how to maintain them being small...

reh321 · 01-14-2016, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by fuent104

I desperately want a wide prime for my Q. I'm curious as to how hard it would have been to make these lenses fast, like 1.0 or 0.95.

I would be satisfied with f/1.9 even, if that allows them to keep the price in the 01's neighborhood

fuent104 · 01-18-2016, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by Alizarine

I think it's not really hard to make fast lenses for the Q - the problem is how to maintain them being small...

I don't know. The lens elements for the 01 lens are tiny, especially compared to the size of the mount. even if the front and rear elements were double the size they are now, they would still be small.

Ontarian50 · 01-20-2016, 12:56 PM

Wow. That thing has 11 elements in it!

Alizarine · 01-31-2016, 04:11 AM

Originally posted by fuent104

I don't know. The lens elements for the 01 lens are tiny, especially compared to the size of the mount. even if the front and rear elements were double the size they are now, they would still be small.

For us yes it will still be small - but most likely the Pentax engineering and design teams have some sort of standard or limits to the size they can make. Otherwise I guess we should have those f1 lenses by now, given their skill

Sandy Hancock · 01-31-2016, 04:27 AM

Pancake form and a 49mm filter (like the 08 zoom) would be better than longer and thinner in my opinion, but a fast wide prime would be most welcome in any guise.

raider · 01-31-2016, 04:42 AM

so this would be almost like an DA14 on K-3 kind of field of view yes? unless I got my math wrong...

Looks good....if the price is reasonable AND if Pentax still decides to keep the Q going...

The thought of Pentax killing the Q did cross my mind sometimes.....

Sandy Hancock · 01-31-2016, 04:49 AM

Originally posted by raider

So this would be almost like an DA14 on K-3 kind of field of view yes? unless I got my math wrong...

Wider than that. More like 12.6mm judging by the diagonals of the respective sensors - about 18.9mm in FF terms.
In other words, bloody wide.

raider · 01-31-2016, 04:54 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

Wider than that. More like 12.6mm judging by the diagonals of the respective sensors - about 18.9mm in FF terms.
In other words, bloody wide.

Ok. That is indeed wide! Prolly won't be cheap!!

01-14-2016, 06:00 AM	#1
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821	Lens patent: 4.2mm (20mm equiv.) I haven't seen and Q-centric patents registered for a while, or much talk of the Q at all. Here is one that appeared this week for a f1.7 wide-angle prime for a 1/1.7" sensor. Ricoh 4.2mm F1.8(1/1.7")?????????????So-net??? The writer points out that a similar patent already exists for a 4.4mm f1.4, but this one seems a bit simpler. It strikes me that it would be a very good lens to have if it were put into production.

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01-14-2016, 09:24 AM	#2
CarlJF Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Quebec City Posts: 1,185	Many Q users dream of having this kind of small, affordable, fixed lens wide angle solution for the Q line. At least, I'm one of them and would gladly buy 4.2mm 1.8 lens for my Q, as long as the price isn't insanely high.

01-14-2016, 10:06 AM	#3
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	I'm not so sure this patent means anything substantive for the Q system - where's our macro lens, where's the superzoom, there are patents for those - I guess it does give us a glimmer of hope that there may be a Q-vival.

01-14-2016, 02:38 PM	#4
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	New Ricoh patent for a Pentax Q 4.2mm f/1.8 lens \| Pentax Rumors Yup it seems to be true. Glad Ricoh hasn't given up on the tiny, fun system. This would be the next "serious" prime after the 01, right? Anyway, even if the lens doesn't come out soon (though I hope it will, along with earlier patents), I hope Pentax makes an announcement for them to show their commitment to keeping the Q alive.

01-14-2016, 04:09 PM	#5
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,349	To support a commitment to new Q lenses there must also be a parallel commitment to new Q bodies incorporating advances that keep them marketable. As the current bodies age there'd be no market for lens for outdated technology. If you see a new body there may or may not be new lenses forthcoming, but if there are new lenses there must also be new bodies to support the future market profitability.

01-14-2016, 05:40 PM	#6
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	Originally posted by JPT I haven't seen and Q-centric patents registered for a while, or much talk of the Q at all. Here is one that appeared this week for a f1.7 wide-angle prime for a 1/1.7" sensor. Ricoh 4.2mm F1.8(1/1.7")?????????????So-net??? The writer points out that a similar patent already exists for a 4.4mm f1.4, but this one seems a bit simpler. It strikes me that it would be a very good lens to have if it were put into production. I desperately want a wide prime for my Q. I'm curious as to how hard it would have been to make these lenses fast, like 1.0 or 0.95.

01-14-2016, 05:47 PM	#7
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	I think it's not really hard to make fast lenses for the Q - the problem is how to maintain them being small...

01-14-2016, 05:47 PM	#8
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,177	Originally posted by fuent104 I desperately want a wide prime for my Q. I'm curious as to how hard it would have been to make these lenses fast, like 1.0 or 0.95. I would be satisfied with f/1.9 even, if that allows them to keep the price in the 01's neighborhood

01-18-2016, 03:11 PM	#9
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	Originally posted by Alizarine I think it's not really hard to make fast lenses for the Q - the problem is how to maintain them being small... I don't know. The lens elements for the 01 lens are tiny, especially compared to the size of the mount. even if the front and rear elements were double the size they are now, they would still be small.

01-20-2016, 12:56 PM	#10
Ontarian50 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 530	Wow. That thing has 11 elements in it!

01-31-2016, 04:11 AM	#11
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by fuent104 I don't know. The lens elements for the 01 lens are tiny, especially compared to the size of the mount. even if the front and rear elements were double the size they are now, they would still be small. For us yes it will still be small - but most likely the Pentax engineering and design teams have some sort of standard or limits to the size they can make. Otherwise I guess we should have those f1 lenses by now, given their skill

01-31-2016, 04:27 AM	#12
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Pancake form and a 49mm filter (like the 08 zoom) would be better than longer and thinner in my opinion, but a fast wide prime would be most welcome in any guise.

01-31-2016, 04:42 AM	#13
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	so this would be almost like an DA14 on K-3 kind of field of view yes? unless I got my math wrong... Looks good....if the price is reasonable AND if Pentax still decides to keep the Q going... The thought of Pentax killing the Q did cross my mind sometimes.....

01-31-2016, 04:49 AM	#14
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by raider So this would be almost like an DA14 on K-3 kind of field of view yes? unless I got my math wrong... Wider than that. More like 12.6mm judging by the diagonals of the respective sensors - about 18.9mm in FF terms. In other words, bloody wide.

01-31-2016, 04:54 AM	#15
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock Wider than that. More like 12.6mm judging by the diagonals of the respective sensors - about 18.9mm in FF terms. In other words, bloody wide. Ok. That is indeed wide! Prolly won't be cheap!!