Ricoh/Pentax Pentax HD D FA 85mm F/1.4 ED SDM AW

Ricoh/Pentax Pentax HD D FA 85mm F/1.4 ED SDM AW – Large-aperture medium-telephoto with advanced optics and weather resistance

The HD PENTAX-D FA★85mm F1.4ED SDM AW is a large-aperture, medium-telephoto lens designed for use with PENTAX K-mount DSLRs. It is the second fixed-focus lens in the new-generation PENTAX Star (★) lens series and forms part of PENTAX’s top-of-the-range lineup, developed to meet elevated in-house standards for imaging performance.

High imaging performance for current and future DSLRs

PENTAX reviewed its standards thoroughly when developing the new-generation Star series. This lens aims to deliver the highest imaging performance available from PENTAX lenses, including optical performance that does not rely solely on the camera sensor or image processor. As a result, photographers see sharp, clear detail directly through the camera’s optical viewfinder and can enjoy the full experience of composing and taking images.

Optical design and image quality

The lens uses state-of-the-art optical technology to minimize aberrations and enhance resolving power. It incorporates multiple specialized elements and coatings to control color fringing, distortion and flare.

• Three Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optical elements to minimize chromatic aberration and to reduce axial chromatic aberration, helping to prevent purple fringing in backlit conditions.
• A glass-molded aspherical optical element to compensate for spherical and chromatic aberrations and field curvature, improving edge-to-edge sharpness even at wide apertures.
• High-grade, multi-layer HD Coating that reduces average reflectance in the visible spectrum to less than 50% of conventional multi-layer coatings, thereby minimizing flare and ghosting in demanding lighting such as backlighting.
• Optical design that reduces distortion to nearly zero at a focusing distance of four meters, which is particularly beneficial for portrait work and other medium-range compositions.

Large maximum aperture and photographic uses

The extra-large F1.4 maximum aperture gives photographers more creative control. It supports:

• Portraiture with a beautifully defocused background.
• Handheld shooting in indoor or low-light situations.
• High image rendition at close range and pleasing bokeh (defocus) effects.

Autofocus and handling

PENTAX developed a new SDM ring (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) specifically for this lens to move heavier optical element groups in unison. This SDM design generates approximately 1.3 times the torque of the unit used in the HD PENTAX-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW, resulting in high-speed, smooth autofocus operation. The lens exterior also provides a secure grip to facilitate precise manual-focus adjustments when needed.

Durability and weather resistance

This lens is built as an AW (All Weather) model with dependable dustproof and weather-resistant construction. It includes eight special seals to prevent water intrusion into the lens barrel. When paired with a dustproof, weather-resistant PENTAX DSLR body, the combination offers a durable and reliable digital imaging system suitable for demanding shooting environments, including rain, mist, or locations prone to water splashes or spray.

Key features at a glance

• Large F1.4 maximum aperture for shallow depth of field and low-light shooting.
• Designed for PENTAX K-mount DSLRs and as part of the new-generation Star (★) series.
• Three Super ED elements plus a glass-molded aspherical element to control aberrations and maintain edge-to-edge sharpness.
• Newly designed, large SDM ring for powerful, high-speed autofocus (approx. 1.3× torque vs. HD PENTAX-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW).
• HD Coating to reduce reflectance to less than 50% of conventional multi-layer coatings in the visible spectrum.
• Distortion reduced to nearly zero at a focusing distance of four meters.
• Dustproof, weather-resistant AW construction with eight special seals.

Technical specifications

FAQ

• Question: Is this lens suitable for shooting in adverse weather conditions?
  Answer: Yes. The lens features AW (All Weather) construction with eight special seals to prevent water ingress. When matched with a dustproof, weather-resistant PENTAX DSLR body, it forms a durable system for use in rain, mist, or near water splashes.
• Question: How does the autofocus perform on this lens?
  Answer: The lens uses a newly designed, large SDM ring developed specifically for this model. It generates approximately 1.3 times the torque of the SDM unit in the HD PENTAX-D FA 50mm F1.4 SDM AW, providing smooth, high-speed autofocus even while shifting heavier rear optical groups.
• Question: What optical elements help control chromatic aberration and purple fringing?
  Answer: The lens incorporates three Super ED glass elements to minimize chromatic aberration and an aspherical element to further correct spherical and chromatic aberrations. These elements work together to reduce axial chromatic aberration and help prevent purple fringing in backlit situations.
• Question: Will the lens produce pleasing out-of-focus backgrounds (bokeh)?
  Answer: Yes. The extra-large F1.4 maximum aperture and the lens’s optical design deliver attractive bokeh and strong subject separation, which are useful for portraiture and close-range shooting.
• Question: How does this lens handle flare and ghosting in backlit scenes?
  Answer: PENTAX applies a high-grade multi-layer HD Coating to the lens elements. This coating reduces average reflectance in the visible spectrum to less than 50% of conventional multi-layer coatings, helping to minimize flare and ghost images under challenging lighting conditions.