Press Release:
Pentax announces the development of the new smc Pentax-D FA interchangeable lens series, designed to optimize image quality in digital SLR photography. The series also features an image circle covering accommodating the 35mm-format film. As the first models of this new series, PENTAX will market two compact, lightweight macro lenses for close-up photography up to a life-size magnification. Taking advantage of its advanced optical design technologies, Pentax successfully optimized the optical characteristics of these new lenses for digital photography, including lens coating and curvature and positioning of optical elements. In particular, flare and ghost images have been reduced to minimum for clear, high-quality digital images.

Major Features

1. Image Circle Compatible with 35mm-Format SLR Cameras
The new lenses features an image circle accommodating the image size (36mm by 24mm) of 35mm-format SLR film cameras. As a result, they produces high-quality images with edge-to-edge sharpness and free of vignetting, even when mounted on conventional 35mm-format SLR cameras.

2.Aperture Ring for Fingertip Aperture Control
The new series comes equipped with an aperture ring to accommodate the lens-set Aperture-Priority AE and Metered Manual modes, assuring fingertip aperture control from the shooting position.

3. Compact, Lightweight Design
Both the smc Pentax-D FA Macro 100mm F2.8 and the smc Pentax-D FA Macro 50mm F2.8 are designed to be extremely compact and lightweight, compared to conventional macro lenses. The drastic downsizing and weight reduction were achieved through the development of compact, high-performance optical elements and the incorporation of durable yet lightweight exterior components. The filter size is standardized at 49mm.

4. Life-Size Macro Photography
The new lenses offer a maximum magnification of 1X (life size), producing impressive, well-defined macro images.

5. Exceptional Image Definition over the Entire Focusing Range
The smc Pentax-D FA Macro 100mm F2.8 incorporates the FREE (Fixed Rear Element Extension) focusing system, while the smc Pentax-DA FA Macro 50mm F2.8 features the dependable floating system. These systems ensure exceptional focusing distance to infinity - by effectively reducing annoying aberrations at any focusing distance.

6. Smooth, Effortless Operations
A wide focusing ring assures speedy, high-accuracy focusing operations in the manual-focus mode. In the autofocus mode, it is uncoupled with the autofocus mechanism and locked in place without rotation.

7. Quick-Shift Focus System
When mounted on the Pentax istD, these lenses feature the innovative Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows the photographer to first capture the subject focus in AF mode, then move to manual focus without the need to perform mode switching operations.

8. Other Features
 - Built-in focus-clamp mechanism to fix focus at any distance;
 - Large lens hood to effectively shield the lens surface from excessive incident light;
 - Metallic lens mount for extra durability.