Thought this document might be interested to some who have not yet seen it. It was written back in the film days by Jun Hirakawa (using the U.S. way of designating names). The english is a translation. Some interesting bits in there.
http://gw.org.za/images/Lens%20Technical%20and%20Trial%20Use%20Reports.%20SMC%20Pentax%20FA77mm%20and%20FA43mm.%20Hirakawa%20Jun%20and%20Adachi%20Masamitsu,%202000.pdf Mr. Hirakawa was a longtime Pentax optical designer responsible for such lenses as: FAレンズ (FA lens) SMC Pentax-F 17-28mm F3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye SMC Pentax-FA☆ 24mm F2 AL [IF] SMC Pentax-FA 28mm F2.8 AL SMC Pentax-FA 28mm F2.8 Soft FA 43mm F1.9 Limited FA 77mm F1.8 Limited SMC Pentax-FA☆ 85mm F1.4 [IF] SMC-Pentax FA 28-105mm F4-5.6 SMC Pentax-FA 70-200mm F4-5.6 SMC-FA☆ 80-200mm f/2.8 [IF] ED SMC Pentax-FA☆ 300mm F2.8 ED [IF] SMC Pentax-FA☆ 600mm F4 ED [IF] DAレンズ (DA lens) smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mmF3.5-4.5ED (IF) smc PENTAX-DA 14mm F2.8 ED(IF) smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited smc PENTAX-DA 40mmF2.8 XS HD PENTAX-DA 40mmF2.8 Limited smc PENTAX-DA☆ 55mm F1.4 SDM smc PENTAX-DA 50-200mm F4-5.6ED smc PENTAX-DA 50-200mm F4-5.6ED WR smc PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8ED HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8ED WR When Hoya purchased Pentax he was dismissed and went to work for Tamron where he is is apparently responsible for the improved Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2,8 Di VC (which, sadly, is not available in a Pentax mount). I believe he also had a hand in the Tamron SP 70-20mm f/2.8 Di VC. Both are highly regarded lenses. Asahi Man on dpreview called Hoya "bloody idiots" for letting him go. -- Life is too short to put up with bad bokeh. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
