Press Release , Aug 8, 2004 - PENTAX Imaging Company will bring the best of both worlds to photographers with two smc PENTAX-D FA interchangeable lenses - the smc PENTAX-D FA Macro 100mm F2.8 and the smc PENTAX-D FA Macro 50mm F2.8. The latest series is designed to optimize image quality in both digital SLR and film photography. Each lightweight macro lens features an image circle to accommodate 35mm format and offers close-up to life-size magnification.

Major features of the lenses include:

High-performance Optical Design to Optimize Digital Imaging
Well known for advanced optical design technologies, PENTAX optimizes the optical characteristics of the new lenses with lens coating and curvature and positioning of optical elements. In particular, lens flare and ghost have been reduced to a minimum for clear, high-quality digital images.

Image Circle Compatible with 35mm format SLR Cameras
The new lenses feature an image circle accommodating the image size (36mm x 24mm) of 35mm format SLR film cameras. As a result, the lenses produce high-quality images with edge-to-edge, vignette-free sharpness even when mounted on conventional 35mm format SLR cameras.

Aperture Ring for Fingertip Aperture Control
Each lens is 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.

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. Downsizing and weight reduction are achieved through the compact, high-performance optical elements and the incorporation of durable yet lightweight exterior components. The filter size is standardized at 49mm.

Comparisons of the new lenses with conventional smc PENTAX-FA Macro Lenses include:

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

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.

Smooth, Effortless Operations
The wide focusing ring assures speedy, high-accuracy focusing operations in Manual-focus mode, while the ring is uncoupled with the autofocus mechanism and locked in place without rotation in Auto-focus mode.

Quick-Shift Focus System
When mounted on the PENTAX ?istD, these lenses feature an innovative “Quick-Shift Focus System” that allows photographers to instantly switch the focus mode from auto to manual with a slight twist of the focus ring.

Additional Features Include: