

Some more interesting comments from asahi man – first regarding the HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens and its cousin the Tokina Opera (he also provided the optical design of the new Pentax 50mm lens – 15 elements in 9 groups):

Very special focus group

Very heavy because of the new ultrasonic drive

The goal of this new line is to be comparable to the current Zeiss line and it looks very good

This 50 is sharper from corner to corner than Sigma Art

Everything of this lens is developed and patented by Pentax and Pentax produced (source)

The Tokina is made by Tokina but uses the Pentax patent and different coatings (source)

Concerning the revamping of some of the current, but aging DA★ lenses: