Ricoh unveils Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens

Ricoh has finally introduced the rumored Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens for K-mount DSLR cameras, that will deliver high-quality images at an affordable price.

At the Photokina 2014 event, Ricoh displayed mock-ups of three new lenses. One of them has been revealed by the rumor mill in recent times. This does not matter now, as the product has been announced officially as the HD Pentax DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR.

The brand new Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens has been designed for K-mount DSLR cameras with APS-C-sized image sensors and will become available in multiple markets by the end of November 2014.

The Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens has been announced by Ricoh. It will be be released in November 2014 for K-mount DSLRs.

Ricoh introduces HD Pentax DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR lens

The new lens is described as a standard zoom optic which covers wide to telephoto angles. The HD Pentax DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR will offer a 35mm equivalent of approximately 24.5-130mm, which means that it will be useful for landscapes as well as portraits.

Ricoh has confirmed that Pentax K-mount users will benefit from this lens in multiple shooting scenarios, including when the environmental conditions are not the best. This is possible because the lens comes with 11 seals, thus being weathersealed.

The Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens is rugged, so water and dust should not enter inside it. Additionally, the optic can withstand low temperatures, therefore snowy conditions should not deter photographers from going outside.

Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens offers high image quality

Beside its ruggedness, the Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens is also pretty good when it comes to image quality. Its HD coating reduces ghosting and flare, in order to provide very sharp photos.

The internal design consists of 16 elements split into 12 groups with Extra-Low Dispersion and aspherical elements to reduce optical flaws, such as chromatic aberration and bleeding.

Its autofocus system is based on a DC motor, which is both smooth and silent. The lens does not feature an image stabilization system, however, lots of K-mount cameras come with built-in Shake Reduction technology, so you should be safe in low-light conditions.

Availability details

Ricoh will release the Pentax 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 weathersealed lens sometime in November 2014 for a price of $749.95.

The optic weighs 488 grams / 1.08 lbs and measures 78mm / 3.07-inches in diameter. Its lengths stands at 94mm / 3.7-inches, while its filter is sized at 72mm.

Pentax K-mount DSLR owners can already pre-order the lens at B&H PhotoVideo.