The Pentax (designers) Way

There's some discussion over on the US Pentax Forum on the subject of the new 100mm Macro lens that they have just added to the roadmap - it appears to be identical in form to the existing WR model but one of the designers had been frustrated with the Purple Fringing that can be seen in some images that he decided to have a go at fixing it in his spare time!! It looks as though he has used some "new materials" in the optical design to bring about the improvements.

The post over on that forum will no doubt battle out the negatives (no focus limiter, old style AF, etc) against the positives (PF reduction) - but what I take from this announcement is the dedication and effort that an employee of Ricoh is prepared to put in to make a small but significant improvement.

The new roadmap: https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/images/K_Mount_Lens.pdf

I've been following this development for the past couple of days.

Personally I can't say i've ever noticed any PF on my copy...will reserve judgement on it until I've read the reviews but wonder just how much optical improvement there could be given that the form factor remains the same.

I hope its not more of an exercise in profit gouging.

On a more positive note i'm eagerly awaiting the new 70-300...would be nice to see that out before Christmas.

Interesting. The dedication of the employee who used his own time to start improving the design is indeed impressive. But equally impressive is that Ricoh/Pentax seem to have been willing to take up what he started and run with it - they didn't say 'it isn't in our strategy/plan so we're not interested'. Not every company would have done that.

Steve

The Q I have is will it be any better that the very very good 55-300 HD WR PLM lens ?

On a more positive note i'm eagerly awaiting the new 70-300...would be nice to see that out before Christmas.[/quote]

It will be for people who use a K1.

Steve