HD Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 and smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic

Mistral75 · 05-10-2023, 04:23 AM - **7 Likes**

According to the person who used to run Nokishita Camera, Ricoh Imaging will soon announce two lenses, to be released on the 9th of June:

HD Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 (street price: ¥54,800 incl. 10% VAT)
smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic (street price: ¥59,800 incl. 10% VAT)

Source: リコーが「HD PENTAX-FA 50mmF1.4」「smc PENTAX-FA 50mmF1.4 Classic」を近日中に発表？ - デジカメinfo

It seems these lenses are variants of the now discontinued smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4.

Kunzite · 05-10-2023, 04:26 AM - **2 Likes**

I'll throw a wild, completely unsupported guess: aperture ring on the Classic, but not on the HD.

I'm probably wrong though.

**BarryE** · 05-10-2023, 04:54 AM

If the HD version is light and WR, it will be a great walkabout option for me.

Mistral75 · 05-10-2023, 05:17 AM - **2 Likes**

If it were WR I think it would be included in its designation.

Asahiflex · 05-10-2023, 05:19 AM

Interesting, the "classic" designation is new? And just the old SMC FA with a new name (though I don't understand why it would be more expensive than the HD FA)?

**GregL564** · 05-10-2023, 05:32 AM - **4 Likes**

Great. Where is the 70-300?

**Serkevan** · 05-10-2023, 05:39 AM - **1 Like**

I assume the HD has the barrel/focus ring of the HD FA 35/2, while the SMC Classic keeps the FA barrel styling.

pblogic · 05-10-2023, 05:42 AM - **1 Like**

Why??

Mistral75 · 05-10-2023, 05:43 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by pblogic

Why??

Why not??

**Stefan Jr** · 05-10-2023, 05:52 AM - **1 Like**

I love this!
Pentax respect and accept/acknowledge that the community want both SMC and HD options.
Please, please, continue this route Pentax!

**Pål Jensen** · 05-10-2023, 05:59 AM - **2 Likes**

Not D-FA? Perhaps they are primarily targeted at (future) film camera users?

**RobA_Oz** · 05-10-2023, 06:00 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pblogic

Why??

Possibly because it’s less than half the price of the DFA*50/1.4?

**Serkevan** · 05-10-2023, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by pblogic

Why??

Because if it were a design with any construction differences to the SMC FA 50/1.4, it would have likely been named HD D-FA.

This is in line with the HD FA 35/2.0 - same optics, same construction. The outside aesthetics of the barrel sleeve and focus ring have been updated, but that's it.

Reed · 05-10-2023, 06:06 AM - **2 Likes**

I'm in the market for HD revamp of old fifty

I'm curious if this is maybe Ricoh way to utilize leftover glass blanks for SMC- as very likely the glass formula differs between HD and SMC, while they run out of casings/mechanical parts such as apertures etc. and cost of manufacture does not justify to do another batch. Few car companies done that to sell stocks of older models as "Classic" version while new generation or "Facelift" was in place.

**Serkevan** · 05-10-2023, 06:08 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Stefan Jr

I love this!
Pentax respect and accept/acknowledge that the community want both SMC and HD options.
Please, please, continue this route Pentax!

I'm rather more inclined to think they have some stock of smc-coated glass left, but not a lot, so they are preparing for the relaunch while getting those last ones out. If they say the Classic version is a limited edition, it would point to this. If it isn't, it might be they actually re-re-tooled for SMC coatings... which wouldn't make a lot of sense, financially, but I suppose you never know.

05-10-2023, 04:23 AM - 7 Likes	#1
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	HD Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 and smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic According to the person who used to run Nokishita Camera, Ricoh Imaging will soon announce two lenses, to be released on the 9th of June: HD Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 (street price: ¥54,800 incl. 10% VAT) smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic (street price: ¥59,800 incl. 10% VAT) Source: リコーが「HD PENTAX-FA 50mmF1.4」「smc PENTAX-FA 50mmF1.4 Classic」を近日中に発表？ - デジカメinfo It seems these lenses are variants of the now discontinued smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4.

05-10-2023, 06:00 AM - 1 Like	#12
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Originally posted by pblogic Why?? Possibly because it’s less than half the price of the DFA50/1.4? Last edited by RobA_Oz; 05-10-2023 at 06:22 PM.*

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05-10-2023, 04:26 AM - 2 Likes	#2
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	I'll throw a wild, completely unsupported guess: aperture ring on the Classic, but not on the HD. I'm probably wrong though.

05-10-2023, 04:54 AM	#3
BarryE Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,653	If the HD version is light and WR, it will be a great walkabout option for me.

05-10-2023, 05:17 AM - 2 Likes	#4
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527 Original Poster	If it were WR I think it would be included in its designation.

05-10-2023, 05:19 AM	#5
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Interesting, the "classic" designation is new? And just the old SMC FA with a new name (though I don't understand why it would be more expensive than the HD FA)?

05-10-2023, 05:32 AM - 4 Likes	#6
GregL564 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2018 Photos: Albums Posts: 80	Great. Where is the 70-300?

05-10-2023, 05:39 AM - 1 Like	#7
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	I assume the HD has the barrel/focus ring of the HD FA 35/2, while the SMC Classic keeps the FA barrel styling.

05-10-2023, 05:42 AM - 1 Like	#8
pblogic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 141	Why??

05-10-2023, 05:43 AM - 3 Likes	#9
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527 Original Poster	Originally posted by pblogic Why?? Why not??

05-10-2023, 05:52 AM - 1 Like	#10
Stefan Jr Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 338	I love this! Pentax respect and accept/acknowledge that the community want both SMC and HD options. Please, please, continue this route Pentax!

05-10-2023, 05:59 AM - 2 Likes	#11
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Not D-FA? Perhaps they are primarily targeted at (future) film camera users?

05-10-2023, 06:06 AM	#13
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by pblogic Why?? Because if it were a design with any construction differences to the SMC FA 50/1.4, it would have likely been named HD D-FA. This is in line with the HD FA 35/2.0 - same optics, same construction. The outside aesthetics of the barrel sleeve and focus ring have been updated, but that's it.

05-10-2023, 06:06 AM - 2 Likes	#14
Reed Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Warsaw Photos: Gallery Posts: 638	I'm in the market for HD revamp of old fifty I'm curious if this is maybe Ricoh way to utilize leftover glass blanks for SMC- as very likely the glass formula differs between HD and SMC, while they run out of casings/mechanical parts such as apertures etc. and cost of manufacture does not justify to do another batch. Few car companies done that to sell stocks of older models as "Classic" version while new generation or "Facelift" was in place.

05-10-2023, 06:08 AM - 1 Like	#15
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by Stefan Jr I love this! Pentax respect and accept/acknowledge that the community want both SMC and HD options. Please, please, continue this route Pentax! I'm rather more inclined to think they have some stock of smc-coated glass left, but not a lot, so they are preparing for the relaunch while getting those last ones out. If they say the Classic version is a limited edition, it would point to this. If it isn't, it might be they actually re-re-tooled for SMC coatings... which wouldn't make a lot of sense, financially, but I suppose you never know.