The HD Pentax-D FA 50mm f1.4 Star lens will be available in Australia from August for an RRP of $1649.

The weather-sealed fast 50mm prime lens is the first of Pentax’s new premium Star series for K-mount DSLR cameras, such as the K-1 and K-1 Mk II.

It has 15 elements in nine groups – one aspherical and three anomalous (super low) dispersion elements, to effectively compensate for chromatic aberration.

The lens features two new coatings, Aero Bright II and HD, to help produce sharp, high-contract images with minimal flare and ghosting. Super Protect coating additionally keeps the front surface free of dust and spots.

Pentax says the lens minimises distortion, even at a focusing distance of one metre, resulting in crisp images.

A new ring-type supersonic direct-drive motor (SDM) generates as much as 7.5 times the torque as the SDM installed in previous-generation lenses, and assures a smooth, high-speed focusing operation of the rear multi-element lens group.

Other features include:
– Nine-blade, round-shaped diaphragm produces a bokeh effect up to an f2.8 aperture setting;
– A minimum focusing distance of .4 meters, effective for capturing images with a bokeh effect;
– Electromagnetic diaphragm-control mechanism, for high-precision exposure control during movie recording;
– Weighs 910 grams.