Pentax announce two new 50mm and 11-18mm “star series” lenses for super-high resolution photography

There’s been a whole lot of new lens announcements lately. This latest pair are coming from Ricoh, with a 50mm f/1.4 full frame prime and an 11-18mm f/2.8 APS-C zoom for Pentax K-Mount. They form the beginning of a new generation of “Star series” lenses aimed specifically super-high resolution photography.

Ricoh say that the final specs, and even the names of these lenses are subject to change before official announcement next year. But here’s the information they’ve released so far.

HD PENTAX-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW

• PENTAX K-mount covering the image circle of a 35mm-format full-frame image sensor
• Newly developed ring-shaped SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) for faster, quieter AF operation
• AW (All-Weather) construction to prevent intrusion of dust and rain and ideal for use in demanding shooting conditions
• Minimum shooting distance of 0.4 meters
• Note: this is an updated version of the reference product shown at CP+ 2017

HD PENTAX-DA* 11-18mm F2.8

• PENTAX K-mount covering the image circle of an APS-C-format image sensor
• High-performance Star-series model providing excellent resolution even at open aperture
• Large-aperture, ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F2.8 (fixed) and an angle of view between 17mm and 27.5mm (in the 35mm format)

Obviously, given that even the names are finalised yet, there’s no prices or pre-order available on these yet. But, there are expected release dates. The 50mm f/1.4 is scheduled for release in spring of 2018. The 11-18mm f/2.8 is set for a summer 2018 release. Both lenses will be on display as reference products at Photo Plus Expo in New York.