HD Pentax-FA 35mm f/2 AL Lens Announced

Pentax has announced the new HD Pentax-FA 35mm f/2 AL lens, an update of the SMC Pentax-FA 35mm f/2 AL lens, a full-frame lens that works on full-frame Pentax DSLRs as well as APS-C DSLRs. 

The new 35mm f/2 AL lens features an updated exterior design to match current cameras and lenses. The lens has gone through a complete review of the "entire lens coating process." 

The new HD coating reduces ghost images, and improves anti-reflective performance, giving improved light transmission. There's a fluorine coating on the front surface of the lens, to protect the lens and repell water and grease, as well as dust, water drops and oils. It should also make it easier to clean the lens. The lens also features an aspherical element at the rear of the lens.

The lens will be available from 22nd February 2019, with an RRP of £399.

Pentax has shared a number of full-size images from the new lens, taken by Keita Sasaki, with the Pentax K-1 Mark II:

Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 35mm f/2 AL Other sample images

From Pentax: A single-focus, wide-angle lens for use with K-mount digital SLR cameras, featuring latest lens coatings to further upgrade image quality.

London, 30 January 2019 - RICOH COMPANY, LTD. and RICOH IMAGING EUROPE S.A.S. are pleased to announce the launch of the HD PENTAX-FA 35mmF2. Despite its compact dimensions, this high-performance wide-angle lens covers the full-frame image circle of PENTAX K-mount digital SLR cameras.

This new lens is based on the smc PENTAX-FA 35mm F2 AL — a very popular multi-purpose, wide-angle lens used on film-format SLR cameras and is introduced following a thorough review of lens coatings. The high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating applied to the optical elements produces high-contrast images with edge-to-edge sharpness, free of flare and ghost images.  Whilst, the highly stain-repellent SP Coating applied to the front surface improves the lens’ usability outdoors. The redesigned exterior matches the design of latest PENTAX K-mount digital SLR models, while its compact, portable body makes it perfect for everyday use.

HD Coating to enhance imaging power

After a thorough review of the lens coatings applied to the popular smc PENTAX-FA35mm F2 AL, PENTAX applied the latest HD Coating* to this lens.

Compared to conventional multi-layer coatings, this high-performance, multi-layer coating reduces average reflectance and improves light transmittance to deliver extra-clear, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even in demanding lighting conditions such as backlighting.
* HD stands for High Definition. 

SP Coating to repel stains

Applied to the lens’s front surface, the SP (Super Protect) Coating is highly repellent to water and grease, making it easy to wipe off any stains. This frees the photographer from worries in outdoor photography.

New exterior design to match latest digital SLR models

While retaining the overall size of the original smc PENTAX-FA35mm F2 AL, this lens features a totally new exterior design, similar to that of the latest DA- and D FA-series lenses. This new appearance makes this single-focus lens a perfect partner for latest K-series digital SLR models. 

Since this lens retains the aperture ring, it also accommodates many of the functions provided by film-format SLR cameras and older K-mount digital SLR models, making it possible to enjoy photography using a greater range of cameras.

Easy-to-use standard lens

When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this lens provides a moderately wide 35mm angle of view with a full-frame model, or a standard 53.5mm angle of view with an APS-C-format model. Since it provides a natural perspective similar to that of the naked eye, it can be used as a multi-purpose standard lens in a wide range of applications, including snapshooting, scenic photography and portraiture. It also features a minimum focusing distance of 0.3 meters.

Compact, portable design

Weighing approximately 193 grams and measuring a mere 44.5 millimeters in length, this lens has been designed to be extremely compact and highly portable for carefree photography at any location and on every occasion.

Hybrid aspherical optical elements

The lens incorporates hybrid aspherical optical elements to effectively compensate for various aberrations. Thanks to these elements, it delivers extra-clear, high-contrast images from the minimum focusing distance to infinity, and edge-to-edge sharpness even at open aperture.

Price & Availability

HD PENTAX-FA 35mm F2 - RRP £399.99

Available: February 2019