The new Pentax H 60mm f/8 "Optical"
A new introduction to their impressive line of limited lenses, the new Pentax-H ("Optical") is a 60mm "pancake" manual focus lens.
Features:
- 1 group, 1 element construction. Pentax has finally decided to abandon the much hyped SMC treatment in favor of clear plastic, which doesn't need coatings to perform at its best.
- Fixed f/8 diaphragm.
- Unique icon-based focusing system. Continuing with the trend initiated with the ZX-7 icons, the new lens lets the user focus by selecting from a user-friendly list of options. The icons in this lens don't light up, though.
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- New "Bokeh on Demand" (TM) feature, throws the area around the center of the image out of focus. Besides being an artistic tool, this is Pentax's response to many critics who complain about having only central autofocus sensors in their cameras.
The lens is solidly yet simply constructed. Note the rear element, which acts the part of a front element when viewed from the front.
Note also the sturdy plastic helicoid, which provides the smooth focus feel of an old manual lens.
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The use of plastic rids the lens of those annoying multiple reflections of its SMC counterparts.
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The mount, machined in handsome black plastic, lacksome black plastic, lacks the "A" contacts. This is an attempt to court the still growing group of photographers who prefer full manual control.
Note the carefully placed notch for the K-mount locking pin, and the "JAPAN" legend inscribed in the back.
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The lens' compact design perfectly matches the ZX line of bodies.
Note how the front element is protected with a cone of black plastic, color-matched to the rest of the lens. No more fingertips in the front element!
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Here the icon correspoding to "Landscape" can be seen.
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Field tests
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Here is the new H-series lens in action. Note how the Bokeh on Demand ("BoD") feature helps isolate the central subject, despite the guy with glasses on the left, who is staring at the tester.
These three pictures were taken with the Limited H mounted on a ZX5N body, at 1/60s on Fuji Neopan 100.
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The new BoD feature lets the photographer achieve pictures that until now were only possible with the Power Zoom functions of the previous Pentax generation.
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The landscape mode, represented as a mountain in the distance scale, can actually be used in cathedrals too.
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