A few days ago, Ricoh filed a patent application in Japan for three new full-frame telephoto lenses, one of which is for mirrorless cameras. These aren’t the first they’ve filed, either, having filed patents for a couple of other mirrorless lenses a month ago. Could this be a turning point for Pentax, the one company that’s been holding onto DSLRs for dear life while the rest of the world goes mirrorless? The three new lenses described by the patent aren’t particularly high end. They’re all variable aperture, although the one for mirrorless has a max variable aperture of f/2.8-4, so not too terrible. It’s doubtful, though that Pentax is planning to pursue the mirrorless market. At least, not yet.
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 (for DSLRs)
Focal length: 72.08-291.32F value: 4.6-5.7Half angle of view: 17.2-4.2Image height: 21.64Overall length: 190.18-259.23Back focus: 42.56-66.55
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 (for DSLRs)
Focal length: 103.00-388.00F value: 4.6-5.7Half angle of view: 11.7-3.1Image height: 21.64Overall length: 234.40-340.41Back focus: 55.31
100-300mm f/2.8-4 (Mirrorless)
Focal length: 103.00-292.00F value: 2.9-4.1Half angle of view: 11.9-4.1Image height: 21.64Overall length: 259.72Back focus: 18.00
The obvious giveaway on that last one being a mirrorless lens is that 18mm flange distance. It’s physically impossible for a DSLR to have one that short due to the size of the mirror. Of course, it’s entirely possible that Ricoh is designing this lens for somebody else – assuming it ever actually comes to fruition – and they’re not planning to go mirrorless at all (which is what Asobinet believes). But, the idea of Pentax finally caving and going the mirrorless route is quite interesting. They do have a couple of interesting innovations in their DSLRs that could potentially apply well to mirrorless, especially if they target the relatively untapped mass consumer market. [Asobinet via Pentax Rumors]
