Comments Suggest the Newly Announced Pentax FA* 85mm f/1.4 Is Just a Rehoused Sigma Lens — Probably Not

Comments Suggest the Newly Announced Pentax FA* 85mm f/1.4 Is Just a Rehoused Sigma Lens — Probably Not

When Pentax released its 24-70mm f/2.8 lens back in 2016, people quickly realized that it was little more than a rehoused Tamron lens without the VC feature. More recently, Pentax has announced that it's developing a new FA* 85mm f/1.4. Although there are certain physical similarities to a Sigma lens, I doubt that it's the same lens. 

At this stage, it's difficult to make any definitive conclusions about what this latest lens from Pentax is or isn't. Most of the specifications have not yet been released. We don't currently know how many optical elements and groups will be contained in this newly announced lens. 

Having said that, Pentax has released enough information for us to have some warranted suspicions. First of all, just look at the lens. I mean, putting it side by side with the Sigma, as I have done in the lead image of this article, you can see some very significant similarities. The bulbous top section of the lens with a slimmer lower section looks very similar to the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art lens, but with a different housing. The comment sections for several sites are discussing this very point too. 

If, however, you go to the Ricoh website, you'll see that they have released some of the major specifications for this upcoming lens. Aside from the physical similarities, which are striking, the paper specs don't fit the theory. Although the minimum focusing distance and the minimum aperture are the same as the Sigma, the remaining specifications are not. The Pentax lens, for example, contains three low dispersion elements, whereas the Sigma only contains two. In my view, this alone makes the Pentax a different lens from the Sigma. Other differences include the filter thread size and the physical dimensions of the lens too. 

If this newly announced lens from Ricoh is in fact a rehoused Sigma lens, I don't think that's a bad thing by any means. First of all, the Sigma 85mm is one of the best on the market. In my experience, it produces brilliant results. Wide open, this lens is able to capture lots of detail, and it's one of the sharpest on the market right now. If Ricoh has rehoused this for their K-mount, maybe that's not a bad thing.

The Pentax 24-70mm is lighter than the Tamron lens, and even the physical dimensions are different too. Ricoh obviously made some changes to their version, and in my view, improved it. I think a mid-range zoom lens doesn't require stabilization, especially considering the fact that the K1 Mark II already contains IBIS. Therefore, having a lighter full-frame zoom lens is essentially more useful. 

If Ricoh has rehoused the Sigma, my guess is that they've probably improved on this already incredible lens. Based on that, I don't think anyone is going to be overly disappointed if that is the case. Taking a look at the filter threads on both lenses, the Pentax lens tapers on the top, and maybe that slight change allowed the smaller size. That in itself is a very useful change, because filters above 82mm are harder to find and more expensive.

Of course, as of right now, this is merely speculation in the comments sections, and although at first glance, it appears that Ricoh has rehoused the Sigma, I'm not convinced that is the case. I think that this is more than likely an original lens from Ricoh, which Pentax shooters should be very happy about. 

Usman Dawood's picture

Usman Dawood is a professional architectural photographer based in the UK.

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9 Comments

Why would it matter as long as Pentax users have another modern lens they can mount on their bodies? A good number of their lenses are third-party, it won't really matter if this is yet another one, as long as it's competitively priced.

If you would be familiar with Pentax history, you would know that all the "star" lenses are in house design, sometimes licenced to other manufacturer. Some of the non-star lenses are indeed outsourced design (DFA 15-30 for ex).

I recall the 15-30mm rubbing people the wrong way because it was more expensive than the Tamron "version" by a few hundred dollars. Also VC was removed and while, yes, I'm aware that Pentax bodies have IBIS shouldn't that translate to a less complex lens with fewer components, and therefore be at least a little more reasonably priced? I'm very curious what they're going to price this new 85mm at.

I'm guessing/hoping around $1400. They are hyping the lens quite a bit and talking about image quality and so on. The extra elements don't come cheap so it could even be more than that.

Could be an awesome lens for Pentax shooters.

I think Ricoh will have a hard time getting Pentax shooters to part with $1400 for this lens, they would rather buy a 20 year old used 85 1.4 for a few hundred.

I'm thinking around $1400 because the 70-200 is around $1800 and the 50mm about $1100.

Obviously if this lens is cheaper then that's great, but I'm not sure that will be the case.

Great investigative reporting Usman.

You missed the most obvious clue: in your assembled image you can see these lenses’ focus mechanisms rotate in opposite directions.

Now let’s focus [pun!] on the important stuff: Will the Pentax lens hood be black?

You realise we’re on the same side of the argument here right?

It is an over-regurgitated fallacy that Pentax lenses are rebranded Tamrons but like many untruths acquires credence through repetition.Those lenses sharing similar designs are made under licence by Tamron but to different construction standards and materials spec, unique coatings and weathersealing. Similar, yes, but the same, no. There is no way Sigma would make a lens for Pentax now, they are going all out for mirrorless and wouldn’t interrupt their production lines for a relatively small market.