HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm F1.4 SDM AW officially announced on European Ricoh Imaging sites

**Madaboutpix** · 03-25-2020, 01:02 AM - **1 Like**

This much-awaited lens has been finally announced on several European Ricoh Imaging sites, such as the French, British, and German sites.

Here's a link to the announcement on the British site:

Development in progress of the lens HD PENTAX-D FA?85mmF1.4 SDM AW - RICOH IMAGING EUROPE S.A.S

The post dated 23 March 2020 basically confirms what was already rumoured, including the much-cited launch date now phrased "Scheduled to be launched in late, [sic] 2020".

Maybe not earth-shattering news, but still nice to see something official.

Paul the Sunman · 03-25-2020, 01:10 AM - **1 Like**

Posted a day ago and already with 5 pages of discussion

HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW - PentaxForums.com

**Madaboutpix** · 03-25-2020, 01:35 AM

Sorry, I had overlooked that FozzFoster (post #4) had already included a link to the German Ricoh Imaging website.

Unregistered User · 03-25-2020, 04:41 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Madaboutpix

This much-awaited lens has been finally announced on several European Ricoh Imaging sites, such as the French, British, and German sites.

Here's a link to the announcement on the British site:

Development in progress of the lens HD PENTAX-D FA?85mmF1.4 SDM AW - RICOH IMAGING EUROPE S.A.S

The post dated 23 March 2020 basically confirms what was already rumoured, including the much-cited launch date now phrased "Scheduled to be launched in late, [sic] 2020".

Maybe not earth-shattering news, but still nice to see something official.

This lens is the next in line that can not be used on older camera's, that's a shame. One of the strong points of Ricoh-Pentax is/was backwards compatibility. It forces you to reconsider investing money in a Ricoh-Pentax product. If you are fond of your Pentax K-5 i.e. than it will not be likely you buy one of the new lenses, unless you are convinced by who knows to buy a more modern camera as well. This is perhaps the new strategy, forcing you more or less to say goodbye to the older camera. On the other hand, other camera brands did the same without offering the backward compatibility that Ricoh-Pentax offers and still offers. Nothing dramatic there. But, they also make a cheap but fantastic 35mm and 50mm lens, that fits all the camera's of the past and the future (possibly).

xandos · 03-25-2020, 05:01 AM - **5 Likes**

Originally posted by AfterPentax

This lens is the next in line that can not be used on older camera's, that's a shame. One of the strong points of Ricoh-Pentax is/was backwards compatibility. It forces you to reconsider investing money in a Ricoh-Pentax product. If you are fond of your Pentax K-5 i.e. than it will not be likely you buy one of the new lenses, unless you are convinced by who knows to buy a more modern camera as well. This is perhaps the new strategy, forcing you more or less to say goodbye to the older camera. On the other hand, other camera brands did the same without offering the backward compatibility that Ricoh-Pentax offers and still offers. Nothing dramatic there. But, they also make a cheap but fantastic 35mm and 50mm lens, that fits all the camera's of the past and the future (possibly).

This is nothing new right? I'd argue that all lenses without aperture ring could already not be used on a lot of older cameras. Lenses are not always backwards compatible, but cameras are, and pentax keeps doing that. That way we can keep using our (sometimes large) collection of pentax glass, while occasionally updating the camera. Updating a camera once every very many years is a much more financially feasible solution to users than having to change all lenses by changing the mount completely.

**Kevin B123** · 03-25-2020, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by AfterPentax

This lens is the next in line that can not be used on older camera's, that's a shame.

It can be mounted to any K mount body, you just accept that it is wide open.

A question for anyone with a KAF4 lens, can you set the aperture on one body for use on another? say F8 and then put it on an old film body like an ME Super?

normhead · 03-25-2020, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by xandos

Updating a camera once every very many years is a much more financially feasible solution to users than having to change all lenses by changing the mount completely.

My DA 55-300 PLM works just fine on my wife's K-5. ƒ6.3 is fine as a telephoto aperture, even if the lens is wide open.

03-25-2020, 01:02 AM - 1 Like	#1
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,444	HD PENTAX-D FA★ 85mm F1.4 SDM AW officially announced on European Ricoh Imaging sites This much-awaited lens has been finally announced on several European Ricoh Imaging sites, such as the French, British, and German sites. Here's a link to the announcement on the British site: Development in progress of the lens HD PENTAX-D FA?85mmF1.4 SDM AW - RICOH IMAGING EUROPE S.A.S The post dated 23 March 2020 basically confirms what was already rumoured, including the much-cited launch date now phrased "Scheduled to be launched in late, [sic] 2020". Maybe not earth-shattering news, but still nice to see something official.

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03-25-2020, 01:10 AM - 1 Like	#2
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,846	Posted a day ago and already with 5 pages of discussion HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW - PentaxForums.com

03-25-2020, 01:35 AM	#3
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,444 Original Poster	Sorry, I had overlooked that FozzFoster (post #4) had already included a link to the German Ricoh Imaging website.

03-25-2020, 04:41 AM - 1 Like	#4
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by Madaboutpix This much-awaited lens has been finally announced on several European Ricoh Imaging sites, such as the French, British, and German sites. Here's a link to the announcement on the British site: Development in progress of the lens HD PENTAX-D FA?85mmF1.4 SDM AW - RICOH IMAGING EUROPE S.A.S The post dated 23 March 2020 basically confirms what was already rumoured, including the much-cited launch date now phrased "Scheduled to be launched in late, [sic] 2020". Maybe not earth-shattering news, but still nice to see something official. This lens is the next in line that can not be used on older camera's, that's a shame. One of the strong points of Ricoh-Pentax is/was backwards compatibility. It forces you to reconsider investing money in a Ricoh-Pentax product. If you are fond of your Pentax K-5 i.e. than it will not be likely you buy one of the new lenses, unless you are convinced by who knows to buy a more modern camera as well. This is perhaps the new strategy, forcing you more or less to say goodbye to the older camera. On the other hand, other camera brands did the same without offering the backward compatibility that Ricoh-Pentax offers and still offers. Nothing dramatic there. But, they also make a cheap but fantastic 35mm and 50mm lens, that fits all the camera's of the past and the future (possibly).

03-25-2020, 05:01 AM - 5 Likes	#5
xandos Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 120	Originally posted by AfterPentax This lens is the next in line that can not be used on older camera's, that's a shame. One of the strong points of Ricoh-Pentax is/was backwards compatibility. It forces you to reconsider investing money in a Ricoh-Pentax product. If you are fond of your Pentax K-5 i.e. than it will not be likely you buy one of the new lenses, unless you are convinced by who knows to buy a more modern camera as well. This is perhaps the new strategy, forcing you more or less to say goodbye to the older camera. On the other hand, other camera brands did the same without offering the backward compatibility that Ricoh-Pentax offers and still offers. Nothing dramatic there. But, they also make a cheap but fantastic 35mm and 50mm lens, that fits all the camera's of the past and the future (possibly). This is nothing new right? I'd argue that all lenses without aperture ring could already not be used on a lot of older cameras. Lenses are not always backwards compatible, but cameras are, and pentax keeps doing that. That way we can keep using our (sometimes large) collection of pentax glass, while occasionally updating the camera. Updating a camera once every very many years is a much more financially feasible solution to users than having to change all lenses by changing the mount completely.

03-25-2020, 05:12 AM	#6
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,186	Originally posted by AfterPentax This lens is the next in line that can not be used on older camera's, that's a shame. It can be mounted to any K mount body, you just accept that it is wide open. A question for anyone with a KAF4 lens, can you set the aperture on one body for use on another? say F8 and then put it on an old film body like an ME Super?

03-25-2020, 05:45 AM	#7
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by xandos Updating a camera once every very many years is a much more financially feasible solution to users than having to change all lenses by changing the mount completely. My DA 55-300 PLM works just fine on my wife's K-5. ƒ6.3 is fine as a telephoto aperture, even if the lens is wide open.